X 
PREFACE 
ments required for a complete biography are dispersed 
over the whole learned world, in public and private 
libraries. Nor is this all; the numerous writings, 
great and small, which flowed from his pen; the more 
prominent of his biographies; the letters from his 
contemporaries; his pupils’ notes from his lectures, 
and conversations with them; all had to be gone 
through, so as to glean from them everything which 
could throw light upon material brought together from 
other quarters. 
Fully conscious of these difficulties, I fear I may 
have over-estimated my own powers, when taking upon 
myself the burden of producing a new and detailed 
“ Linne-biography.” My excuse is, that, animated 
by my father’s admiration and love for the “ Flower- 
king,” I have for more than thirty years devoted my 
time, when other compulsory objects have permitted, 
assiduously collecting material for such a work. I am 
quite aware that this material, the result of persistent 
search, may still be added to, but increasing age 
warns me no longer to delay the drawing up of a 
narrative, which I wish to put forward as a small 
tribute of respect and gratitude to the Master’s 
memory. 
How far I have succeeded, must be left to the 
judgment of others. A few remarks as to the 
principles I have kept before me during the collecting 
and writing of these pages, may be permitted. 
Warned by experience of the untrustworthiness of 
certain current statements, hitherto considered as 
almost infallible dogmas, I have made it a rule, 
critically to test everything, even to the smallest 
detail. Hence it has been needful to go back to 
original sources, particularly official records and other 
documents to be found in London, Stockholm, 
Uppsala, Lund, Vaxjo and elsewhere. I am 
especially indebted to the collections belonging to 
the Swedish Academy of Science which were made 
by the late Dr. Ahrling, who, by his short biography 
