VISIT TO ENGLAND 
163 
other writings, shown his connection with so famous a 
garden as that of Clifford. 
The administrator of Leyden’s botanic garden was 
Boerhaave, who arranged it after his own system. 
This was ignored by others, and Professor van Roijen 
had quite decided to abolish it and take up the 
Linnean. It was for this that Linnaeus’s help was 
wanted, and 800 florins [,£66 13s. 4d.] assigned for it. 
There was no complaint to bring against van Roijen, 
and there was no cause to seek a motive for this 
resolve. There was a report that Boerhaave had 
suggested the marriage, with a dowry of a million 
gulden [more than ,£85,000], of his only daughter and 
Linnaeus; but it was only a mere rumour, and without 
any support; she subsequently married Count Toms. 
Meanwhile Linnaeus would not permit of this shock 
to one who had been so good to him, but as Boerhaave’s 
method was not to remain, he helped van Roijen to 
work out a special one. The plants were reviewed by 
van Roijen and Linnaeus, who also contrived new 
names, and arranged the details of instruction in the 
new philosophy. To Linnaeus’s delight he found that 
the pupils at Leyden would hear his “ Fundamenta” 
publicly explained. 
The reasons why Linnaeus considerately tried to 
avoid wounding Boerhaave’s feelings are easy to see. 
As already set forth he was indebted to him for much 
kindness, benefiting by his public and private lectures, 
and receiving from him clinical instruction at the 
hospitals. Not long before also Boerhaave had given 
him a new and striking testimony as to his confidence 
in him. In the year 1737 there was a vacancy in the 
medical service in Surinam, which could be filled by 
Boerhaave, who, however, offered it to Linnaeus, 
pointing out that his predecessor had within five years 
amassed several “ tons of gold ” [a ton= ;£ 1,400], as 
the only doctor in the place. He also tried to lure 
him by an account of the splendid plants that could be 
found in so fine a climate, but love for his affianced 
