168 
LINNAEUS 
that which appealed to his soul’s most stirring 
dictates. One must also ascribe his great success to 
gaining powerful and devoted friends, who willingly 
took upon themselves everything which would have 
crippled his activity, and who by advice and deed, 
contributed to those departments in which he was not 
versed. The man to whom Linnaeus was deeply 
indebted, was J. F. Gronovius, who “ laboured for him 
night and day, year in, year out, on the correction of 
his work, and made it what it was.” He who reads 
his many letters to Linnaeus while in Holland can 
only marvel at the perseverance and self-sacrifice 
with which he devoted himself to the duty of proof¬ 
reading, seeing the work through the press, enduring 
the many disagreeables which printer, engraver, and 
publisher caused him. One instance may be cited of 
his care and industry: for the correction of only one 
plate in “ Flora lapponica,” he spent six days, and at 
last gladly reported that it was beautifully printed. 
Neither did he confine himself to mere mechanical 
details, for he subjected the manuscripts to a close 
and intelligent scrutiny. This led to many and long 
letters, in which small incongruities were pointed out, 
suggestions for changes in expression, additions 
hinted at, errors corrected, and so on. It must 
undoubtedly be maintained, that without the aid of 
Gronovius the nervously and abruptly drafted works 
of Linnaeus would no doubt have exhibited many 
blemishes from which they are free. Similar help, if 
not so extensive, was derived from Bartsch, especially 
on the “ Flora lapponica,” Lawson, Burman and van 
Roijen. It happened as though a young foreigner sat 
in the Clifford library as a king, and had a whole staff 
of diligent and experienced helpers, who took charge 
of the fulfilment of his wishes and orders. 
If Linnaeus in this aspect can be reckoned 
fortunate, it was certainly in a high degree owing to 
his lucky appearance at the right moment. The 
work to which naturalists now applied themselves, 
