SMITH’S OFFER FOR COLLECTIONS 347 
very great importance. I would caution you against 
the enthusiasm of a lover; or the heat of an ambitious 
man.” 
By the middle of February, Acrel’s answer, accom¬ 
panied by the desired catalogue, arrived, and a still 
later letter came a fortnight afterwards. In this it was 
related that the younger Linne had ordered that the 
collection of plants he possessed before his father’s 
death, the so-called small herbarium, should be given 
up to Baron C. Alstromer in satisfaction of 200 riks- 
dalers [^45 16s. 6d.] which the Baron had advanced 
for his travels abroad, and that therefore for this, a 
reduction of 100 guineas should be made. At the 
same time, Acrel felt himself bound to say, that the 
heirs, to avoid dividing the collections, considered that 
they ought to offer the whole to Alstromer, also that a 
rich Russian nobleman, acting on a commission of 
Catherine II., offered an unlimited sum, but would wait 
until the decision of Smith’s reply. The latter, which 
was at once sent off, contained some dissatisfaction at 
the changes made, but definitely accepted the offer 
just received. In May, Acrel proposed his terms, 
namely, half of the purchase money, i.e., 450 guineas, 
to be paid at once, and the remainder to be defrayed 
three months later. After Smith had agreed to this, 
and stated that the money was already in the hands of 
a trading firm in Amsterdam, who would transmit the 
same without delay, the matter was completely settled. 
Acrel now began the packing up, which was pushed on 
with such ardour, that altogether twenty-six large cases 
were sent off from Uppsala to Stockholm, where they 
lay for safety in a warehouse. Here they remained 
for six weeks, for it was not till the 17th September that 
they left Stockholm on the English brig, Appear¬ 
ance, commanded by the Swedish captain, Axel 
Daniel Svederus, arriving in London at the end of 
October. The English Government waived the 
customs duty, except a trifling sum for the books. For 
freight, Smith paid ■£ 50, with five per cent, to the 
