160 
LINNAEUS 
friends with whom his correspondence was specially 
animated. It is true that sometimes these letters only 
contained notes about a few plants, or well-turned com¬ 
pliments, with which letters then abounded, but usually 
they contained many scientific details, accurate explana¬ 
tions which were asked for, and extensive inquiries and 
sources of information. In whatever case it was, it 
demanded considerable time, especially as Latin was 
the only language, accept in letters to Sweden, which 
Linnaeus could employ. 
During this hurried, nervous work the only recrea¬ 
tion which Linnaeus allowed himself, was a visit 
occasionally to Amsterdam, where Burman lived, and 
there he was always welcome, and where he interested 
himself with Ceylon and African plants: also to Leyden, 
where he sometimes listened to Boerhaave’s lectures, 
or took part in a disputation, whether Linnaeus’s method 
was the best. Liberal hospitality was afforded by 
Botanical Professor Adrian van Roijen, by Lawson and 
particularly Gronovius, in whose household he was an 
intimate friend. There was always a room placed at 
his service, and he was invited to celebrate the host’s 
birthday and Christmastide. Friendly reproaches were 
sent to him from Gronovius’s wife, when he once failed 
in his promise to spend several days at their house, and 
when there to add to their amusement by donning his 
Lapland dress, an offence which could only be atoned 
for by a speedy visit. After such an event, Gronovius 
could not refrain from telling, with a certain pride, how 
all his friends talked about his guest, and how he could 
hardly go out without meeting someone, who in the 
choicest language, would ask after Linnaeus, his travels, 
and his Lapland journey. It is quite evident that what 
Linnaeus had to relate about Lapland and the Lapps 
(about whom at that time the most fantastic and laugh¬ 
able representations were current) attracted eminently 
flattering attention. A journey to Lapland then 
seemed uncommon, and was regarded as united to great 
dangers and fatigue, such as, in our days, a voyage of 
