FATE OF COLLECTIONS 
343 
she and her children should receive an annual pension 
of 200 riksdalers [^45 i6s. 6d.]. 
The question of Linne’s scientific effects, library, 
and collections, must be considered at some length. It 
must be first noted that in a document which he had 
tendered to the Chancellor in 1759, recommending his 
son's appointment as Demonstrater, he urged as a 
reason that as the holder of the aforesaid position, he 
could consult daily the valuable botanic library and 
collection of plants, which he himself possessed, and of 
which his son would eventually become the possessor. 
This view of the future fate of the library and 
collections he seems to have abandoned soon after, 
probably because the son would thus have been unduly 
favoured at the expense of the daughters. In a will 
prepared on the 17th July, 1769, and witnessed by 
his wife, he provided that his son should receive only 
the library, with a simple share in the house and 
effects, the reason being given that as his son was 
to succeed him in the chair, he would thereby be 
benefited more than his sisters altogether; he therefore 
ordered that his herbarium, the largest the world had 
ever seen, should be sold on account of the daughters, 
and hoped that the University would acquire it, as it 
might never again have the chance of possessing a 
similar collection. The other parts, such as the 
shells, insects and minerals his son was to possess. 
This will was renewed on the 20th August, 1776, with 
a few trifling alterations; it being in 1778 produced in 
the Svea Court, and, in October of that year, 
recognized by the son. 
The provisions of Linne as to his scientific 
belongings are summarized in a document he left 
behind him thus: 
“ Voice from the grave to her who was my dear wife. 
“ 1. The two herbaria in the museum : let no rats 
or moth injure them. Let no naturalist steal a single 
plant. Be firm and careful as to whom they are shown. 
