[ 39 3 
Here, while he was forming plans for his future fame 
and the advancement of fcience, he was feized with a 
bilious fever ; and after feveral relapfes, he died on the 
firft of November 1783, in the forty-fecond year of 
his age. 
By the death of the younger Linnatus, the male 
branch of the family became extinfl ; and his poffeffions 
devolved to his mother and fifters. Thefe ladies, will- 
ing to difpofe of what to them was a mere fplendid incum- 
brance, by the advice of their friends, offered the mufeum 
and the whole of the colledions and correfpondence to 
Sir Jofeph Banks, as the mod liberal and wealthy natu- 
ralift in Europe, for the fum of a thoufand guineas. 
Sir Jofeph himfelf declined the purchafe, but recom- 
mended it to the confideration of his friend Dodor J. E. 
Smith. After fome negociation the bargain was made, 
■which feems to have been conduaed on all fides with much 
honour and integrity, and thefe ineftimable treafures were 
fent to England in twenty-fix large packages. They con- 
tained the whole of the colledions of both father and 
fon' the library, confiding of about 2,500 volumes ; 
and the manuferipts and correfpondence. 
During this tranfadion the king of Sweden was 
abfentfrom his dominions: but returning foon after the 
fltip had failed for England, and unwilling that his 
country Ihould be deprived of thefe inedimable treafures, 
he fent an armed veffel to bring the (hip back ; but fortu- 
