CHARLES VON LINNÈ, the son of a Swedish divine, was born May 24, 1707, at Roeshult, in the province of Smaland, in Sweden; of which place his father had the cure, when this son was born, but was soon after preferred to the living of Stenbrihult, in the same province, where dying in 1748, at the age of 70, he was succeeded in his cure by another son. We are told, in the commemoration-speech on this celebrated man, de­livered in his Swedish majesty's presence, before the royal academy of sciences at Stockholm, that the ancestors of this family took their sirnames of LINNAEUS, Lindelius, and Tiliander, from a large lime-tree, or linden-tree, yet standing on the farm where Linnaeus was born; and that this origin of sirnames, taken from natural objects, is not very uncommon in Sweden.

[Page 2] This eminent man, whose talents enabled him to reform the whole science of natural history, ac­cumulated, very early in life, some of the highest honours that await the most successful proficients in medical science; since we find that he was made professor of physic and botany, in the university of Upsal, at the age of 34; and six years afterwards, physician to his sovereign, the late king Adolphus; who in the year 1753 honoured him still farther, by creating him knight of the order of the Polar Star. His honours did not terminate here, for in 1757 he was ennobled; and in 1776 the present king of Sweden accepted the resignation of his office, and rewarded his declining years by dou­bling his pension, and by a liberal donation of landed property, settled on him and his family.

It seems probable, that his father's example first gave Linnaeus a taste for the study of nature; who, as he has himself informed us, cultivated, as his first amusement, a garden plentifully stored with plants. Young Linnaeus soon became acquainted with these, as well as the indigenous ones of his neighbourhood. Yet, from the straightness of his father's income, our young naturalist was on the point of being destined to a mechanical employ­ment: fortunately, however, this design was over­ruled. In 1717 he was sent to school at Wexsio, where, as his opportunities were enlarged, his progress in all his favourite pursuits was propor­tionably extended. At this early period he paid attention to other branches of natural history; par­ticularly to the knowledge of insects: in which, as is manifest from his oration on the subject, he must [Page 3] very early have made a great proficiency, since we find that he was not less successful herein, than in that of plants, having given them an arrangement, and established such characters of distinction, as have been universally followed by succeeding ento­mologists.

The first part of his academical education, Lin­naeus received under professor Stobaeus, at Lund, in Scania, who favoured his inclinations to the study of natural history. After a residence of about a year, he removed in 1728 to Upsal. Here he soon contracted a close friendship with Artedi, a native of the province of Angermannia, who had already been four years a student in that university, and, like himself, had a strong bent to the study of na­tural history in general, but particularly to Ich­thyology. He was moreover well skilled in chemistry, and not unacquainted with botany, having been the inventor of that distinction in umbelliferous plants, arising from the differences of the involucrum. Emulation is the soul of improvement, and, heigh­tened as it was in this instance by friendship, proved a most powerful incentive. These young men prosecuted their studies together with uncom­mon vigor, mutually communicating their observa­tions, and laying their plans, so as to assist each other in every branch of natural history and physic.

Soon after his residence at Upsal, our author was also happy enough to obtain the favour of several gentlemen of established character in litera­ture. He was in a particular manner encouraged in the pursuit of his studies by the patronage of [Page 4] Dr. Olaus Celsius, at that time professor of divinity, and the restorer of natural history in Sweden; since so distinguished for oriental learning, and more particularly for his Hierobotanicon, or Critical Dis­sertations on the Plants mentioned in Scripture. This gentleman is said to have given LINNAEUS a large share of his esteem, and he was fortunate enough to obtain it very early after his removal to Upsal. He was at that time meditating his Hierobotanicon, and being struck with the diligence of Linnaeus, in describing the plants of the Upsal garden, and his extensive knowledge of their names, fortunately for him, at that time involved in difficulties, from the narrow circumstances of his parents, Celsius not only patronized him in a general way, but admitted him to his house, his table, and his library. Un­der such encouragement, it is not strange that our author made a rapid progress, both in his studies, and the esteem of the professors: in fact, we have a very striking proof of his merit and attainments, inasmuch as we find, that after only two years re­sidence, he was thought sufficiently qualified to give lectures occasionally from the botanic chair, in the room of professor Rudbeck.

In the year 1731, the royal academy of sciences at Upsal having for some time meditated the design of improving the natural history of Sweden, at the instance particularly of professors Celsius and Rud­beck, deputed LINNAEUS to make the tour of Lap­land, with the sole view of exploring the natural history of that arctic region; to which underta­king, his reputation, already high as a naturalist, and the strength of his constitution, equally re­commended [Page 5] him. This tour had been made for the first time, with the same view, by the elder Rudbeck, in 1695, at the command of Charles XI; but unfortunately the whole fruit of that expedi­tion, except two or three copies of the Campi Elysii, perished in the dreadful fire of Upsal, in 1702.

As this expedition could not take place till the succeeding summer, LINNAEUS spent his winter with his friends and relations in the south; and particu­larly paid a visit, in January 1732, to his former preceptor Stobaeus, at Lund; whom he left in Fe­bruary, to visit his native province of Smaland, and returned to Upsal about the middle of April, to prepare for his journey. He left Upsal the 13th of May, and took his route to Gevalia, or Gevels, the principal town of Gestricia, 45 miles distant from Upsal. Hence he travelled through Helsingland, into Medalpadia, where he made an excursion, and as­cended a remarkable mountain, before he reached Hudwickswald, the chief town of Helsingland. From hence he went through Angermanland, to Hernosand, a sea-port on the Bothnic gulph, seventy miles dis­tant from Hudwickswald. When he had proceeded thus far, he found it proper to retard his journey, as the spring was not sufficiently advanced; and took this opportunity of visiting those remarkable caverns on the summit of mount Skula, though at the hazard of his life.

When LINNAEUS arrived at Uma, in West Bothnia, about 96 miles from Hernosand, he quitted the public road, and took his course through the woods westward, in order first to traverse the most southern parts of Lapland. Being now come to [Page 6] the country that was more particularly the object of his enquiries, equally a stranger to the language and to the manners of the people, and without any associate, he committed himself to the hospi­tality of the inhabitants, and never failed to expe­rience it fully. He speaks in several places, with peculiar satisfaction, of the innocence and simpli­city of their lives, and their freedom from diseases. In this excursion, he reached the mountains to­wards Norway, and, after encountering great hard­ships, returned into West Bothnia, quite exhausted with fatigue. He seems to have been much struck with the singular use that the Laplanders make of the Pinguicula vulgaris, which we call Butterwort, or Yorkshire Sanicle: They receive the milk of the rein-deer upon the fresh leaves of this plant, which they immediately strain off, and set aside, till it becomes somewhat acescent, and the whole ac­quires, in a day or two, a consistence equal to that of cream, without separating the serum; and by this method it becomes an agreeable food. When thus prepared, a small quantity of the same has the property of rennet, in producing the like change on fresh milk. But to return: Our tra­veller next visited Pitha and Lula, upon the gulph of Bothnia, from which latter place he took again a western route, by proceeding up the river of that name, and visited the ruins of the temple of Jock­mock, in Lula-Lapland or Lap-Mark; thence, he tra­versed what is called the Lapland Desert, destitute of all villages, cultivation, roads, or any conve­niences; inhabited only by a few straggling people, originally descended from the Finlanders, and who [Page 7] settled in this country in remote ages, being en­tirely a distinct people from the Laplanders. In this district he ascended a noted mountain called Wallevari, in speaking of which he has given us a pleasant relation of his finding a singular and beautiful new plant (Andromeda tetragona) when travelling within the arctic circle, with the sun in his view at midnight, in search of a Lapland hut. From hence he crossed the Lapland Alps into Finmark, and traverfed the shores of the North sea as far as Sallero.

These journies from Lula and Pitha, on the Bothnian gulph, to the north shore, were made on foot, and our traveller was attended by two Lap­landers; one his interpreter, and the other his guide. He tells us that the vigour and strength of these two men, both old, and sufficiently loaded with his baggage, excited his admiration, since they appeared quite unhurt by their labour, while he himself, although young and robust, was fre­quently quite exhausted. In this journey he was wont to sleep under the boat with which they forded the rivers, as a defence against rain, and the gnats, which in the Lapland summer are not less teazing than in the torrid zones. In de­scending one of these rivers, he narrowly escaped perishing by the oversetting of the boat, and lost many of the natural productions which he had collected.

LINNAEUS thus spent the greater part of the summer in examining this arctic region, and those mountains, on which, four years afterwards, the [Page 8] French philosophers secured immortal fame to Sir Isaac Newton. At length, after having suffered incredible fatigues and hardships, in climbing pre­cipices, passing rivers in miserable boats, suffering repeated vicissitudes of extreme heat and cold, and not unfrequently hunger and thirst; he re­turned to Tornoa in September. He did not take the same route from Tornoa as when he came into Lapland, having determined to visit, and examine, the country on the eastern side of the Bothnian gulph: his first stage, therefore, was to Ula, in East Bothnia; from thence to Old and New Carleby, 84 miles south from Ula. He continued his route through Wasa, Christianstedi, and Biorneburgh, to Abo, a small university in Fin­land. Winter was now setting in apace, he there­fore crossed the gulph by the island of Aland, and arrived at Upsal in November, after having per­formed, and that mostly on foot, a journey of ten degrees of latitude in extent, exclusive of those de­viations which such a design rendered necessary.

The result of this journey was not published till several years afterwards, during his residence in Holland. For the present he only gave in to the academy a Florula Lapponica, consisting of a very few pages in the Acta Upsaliensia for the years 1732 and 1734. In this little catalogue the plants are disposed according to the system which was after­wards called the sexual; and which we should not have mentioned here, but to prove how early Lin­naeus had laid the foundation of that method, which he afterwards wrought up to such perfection.

[Page 9] In 1733 he visited and examined the several mines in Sweden, and made himself so well ac­quainted with mineralogy, and the docimastic art, that we find he was sufficiently qualified to give lectures on those subjects, upon his return to the university. The outlines of his system on mi­neralogy appeared in the early editions of the Systema Naturae; but he did not exemplify the whole until the year 1768.

In the year 1734 LINNAEUS was sent by Baron Reuterholm, governor of Dalekarlia, with several other naturalists, into that province, to investigate the natural productions of that part of the Swedish dominions. Each gentleman had his particular department assigned; and they noted daily the ob­servations made relating to geography, &c.; but particularly, and as their principal object, the eco­nomical and natural history, and mineralogy. A full account of these observations was intended to have been published, but the design was laid aside. It was in this journey that our author firft laid the plan of an excellent institution, which was after­wards executed in a certain degree at least, by himself, with the assistance of many of his pupils, and the result published under the title of Pan Suecus, in the second volume of the Amaenitates Academicae.

After the completion of this expedition, it ap­pears that LINNAEUS resided for a time at Fahlun, the principal town in Dalekarlia; where he tells us that he taught mineralogy, and the docimastic art, and practised physic; and where he was very hospitably treated by Dr. More, the physician of [Page 10] the place. It also appears, that he contracted at this time an intimacy with one of that gentleman's daughters, whom he married about five years afterwards, upon his settling as a physician at Stock­holm.

In this journey he extended his travels quite across the Dalekarlian Alps into Norway; but we have no particular account of his discoveries in that kingdom. From its situation, however, in the same parallels of latitude and of longitude, nearly, with Sweden, as well as from the face of the country, but little variety could be expected; and from the Flora Norwegica of Bp. Gunner, since published, the vegetable productions of na­ture appear to be nearly the same, except that the Norway coast abounds with fuci or sea-wracks, not known in the Baltic.

In the year 1735, LINNAEUS travelled over many other parts of Sweden, some parts of Denmark and Germany, and fixed in Holland, where he chiefly resided until his return to Stockholm, about the year 1739. He here took his doctor's degree in physic, in June 1735. How clearly the great Boerhaave saw his merit will appear hereafter. On the present occasion he sustained a thesis under the title of HYPOTHESIS NOVA de febrium inter­mittentium causa. It is an enquiry into the causes of the frequency of that distemper in Sweden, particularly in Upland, and the south-east parts of that kingdom; which he was inclined to attribute to a local cause, after the most minute scrutiny into the soil and situation of those places where this distemper was so remarkably prevalent and [Page 11] obstinate; and finally proposes, Whether it might not be owing to the strong impreg­nation of the water with argillaceous particles? Whether or not he afterwards adhered to this opinion, we are uncertain, as it is but justice to observe, that he did not republish this tract himself, since it was placed at the head of the first volume of the Amaenitates, printed at Ley­den, as we believe, without his knowledge, by Dr. Peter Camper. In the mean time we may observe, that howsoever insufficient this hypothesis may be to solve the difficulties that have at­tended the search into the remote causes of this disease; the advocates of the modern theory, re­lating to it, may think the author's facts, of its frequency in low situations, confirm and illustrate in no small degree their own, according to which it is imputed to miasmata arising from moist and marshy ground.

In this year LINNAEUS also published the first sketch of his Systema Naturae, in a very com­pendious way, and in the form of tables only, in twelve pages in folio. By this it appears, that he had at a very early period of his life (cer­tainly before he was 24 years old) laid the basis of that great structure which he afterwards raised, not only to the increase of his own fame, but to that of natural science.

In 1736, LINNAEUS came into England, and vi­sited Dr. Dillenius, the late learned professor at Oxford, whom he justly considered as one of the first botanists in Europe. He mentions with par­ticular respect the civilities he received from him, [Page 12] and the privileges he gave him of inspecting his own, and the Sherardian collections of plants. It is needless to say, that he visited Dr. Martyn, Mr. Rand, and Mr. Miller, and that he was in a more singular manner indebted to the friendship of Dr. Isaac Lawson. He also contracted an intimate friendship with Mr. PETER COLLINSON, which was reciprocally increased by a multitude of good offices, and continued to the last without any diminution. Dr. Boerhaave had furnished him with letters to our great naturalist Sir HANS SLOANE; but, it is with regret that we must ob­serve, they did not procure him the reception which the warmth of his recommendation seemed to claim.

Dr. Boerhaave's letter to Sir Hans Sloane, on this occasion, is preserved in the British Museum, and runs thus— LINNAEUS, qui has tibi dabit literas, est unice dignus te videre, unice dignus a te videri; qui vos videbit simul, videhit hominum par, cui simile vix dabit orbis.—This encomium, howsoever quaintly expressed, yet was in some measure pro­phetic of Linnaeus's future fame and greatness, and proves how intimately Boerhaave had penetrated into the genius and abilities of our author; and, strained as this parallel might be thought, it is likely however that the opening of the sexual system, so different from Ray's, by which Sir Hans Sloane had always known plants, and particularly the in­novations, as they were then called, which LIN­NAEUS had made in altering the names of so many genera, were rather the cause of that coolness with which he was received by our excellent naturalist. [Page 13] Probably we have reason to regret this circum­stance; for otherwise LINNAEUS might have obtained an establishment in England, as it has been thought he wished to have done; and doubtless his op­portunities in this kingdom would have been much more favourable to his designs, than in those arctic regions where he spent the remainder of his days. In the mean time, we may justly infer the exalted idea that Linnaeus had of England, as a land eminently favourable to the improvement of science, from that compliment which, in a letter to a friend, he after­wards paid to London, when, speaking of that city, he called it "Punctum saliens in vitello orbis." However, the English naturalists may now con­gratulate themselves on having adopted a most excellent disciple of the Linnaean school; who, with an illustrious associate, shared the perils of a navigation round this globe, incited by thirst of knowledge alone; and who now enjoys that general esteem among us which is due to his extensive science, and to his singular liberality of mind and manners.

One of the most agreeable circumstances that happened to LINNAEUS, during his residence in Holland, arose from the patronage of Mr. Clifford, in whose house ^*he lived a considerable part of his time, being now as it were the child of fortune:— Exivi patriâ triginta sex nummis aureis dives—are his own words. With Mr. Clifford, [Page 14] however, he enjoyed pleasures and privileges scarcely at that time to be met with elsewhere in the world; that of a garden excellently stored with the finest exotics, and a library furnished with almost every botanic author of note. How happy he found himself in this situation, those only who have felt the same kind of ardour can conceive.

Whilst in Holland, our author was recom­mended by Boerhaave to fill the place, then va­cant, of physician to the Dutch settlement at Suri­nam; but he declined it, on account of his hav­ing been educated in so opposite a climate. He recommended, however, to that department a young German physician of great merit, who had the misfortune to fall a sacrifice, partly to the climate, and partly perhaps to ill usage from the governor, in half a year after his arrival: A circumstance which LINNAEUS has very pathe­tically lamented in the Flora Suecica, N ^o 515, when treating of a plant to which he has given this gentleman's name.

Besides being favoured with the particular patronage and friendship of Boerhaave and Mr. Clifford, as is above-mentioned, our author had also the pleasure of being contemporary with, and of reckoning among the number of his friends, many other learned persons, who have since proved orna­ments to their profession, and whose merit has most deservedly raised them to fame and honour. Among these we may properly mention Dr. John Burman, professor of botany at Amsterdam, whose name and family are well known in the republic of [Page 15] letters, to whom our author dedicated his Biblio­theca Botanica, having been greatly assisted in com­piling that work, by the free access he had to that gentleman's excellent library; John Frederick Grono­vius, of Leyden, editor of Clayton's Flora Virginica, and who very early adopted Linnaeus's system; Baron Van Swieten, late physician to the Empress Queen; Isaac Lawson, before-mentioned, after­wards one of the physicians to the British army, who died much regretted at Oosterhout, in the year 1747, and from whom Linnaeus received singular and very important civilities; Kramer, since well known for an excellent treatise on the Doci­mastic Art; Van Royen, botanic professor at Leyden; Liëberkun, of Berlin, famous for his skill in microscopical instruments and experiments. On this occasion it is not foreign to our plan to remark, that LINNAEUS, being present with several of these gentlemen, at a meeting when the latter was exhibiting the animalcules in semine masculino, openly declared his opinion, that these moleculae were not true animalcules; and he appears ever afterwards to have retained the same opinion re­lating to them. To these may be added also the names of Albinus and Gaubius, and of others, were it requisite, to shew that our author's talents had very early rendered him conspicuous, and gained him the regard of all those who cultivated and patronized any branch of medical science; and to which, doubtless, the singular notice with which Boerhaave honoured him, did not a little contri­bute.

Early in the year 1738, after LINNAEUS had left [Page 16] Mr. Clifford, and, as it should seem, when he re­sided with Van Royen, at Leyden, he had a long and dangerous fit of sickness; and upon his re­covery, went to Paris, where he was properly entertained by the Jussieu's, at that time the first botanists in France. The opportunity this gave him of inspecting the Herbaria of Surian and Tour­nefort, and those of the above-named gentlemen, afforded him great satisfaction. He had intended to have gone from thence into Germany, to visit Ludwig, and the celebrated HALLER, with whom he was in close correspondence; but he was not able to compleat this part of his intended route, and was obliged to return without this gratification.

Our author did not fail to avail himself of every advantage, that access to the several museums of this country afforded him, in every branch of natural history; and the number and importance of his publications, during this absence from his native country, sufficiently demonstrate that fund of knowledge which he must have imbibed before, and no less testify his extraordinary application. As these works laid the foundation of his future fame, and distinguished character, it will be incum­bent on us to enumerate them, and give a brief account of each, as nearly as we can in the order of time in which they were published, before we accompany our author into Sweden; whither he returned to receive at length the reward of his merit.

The first of these was the SYSTEMA NATURAE, five regna tria Naturae systematicè proposita, per [Page 17] classes, ordines, genera et species. Lugd. Bat. 1735. fol. pp. 14, in Latin, with the Swedish names annexed. As this is little more than the general outlines of his work, we shall reserve a fuller account of it till we come to the enlarged editions; in which it was fully exemplified by the introduction of the species.

FUNDAMENTA BOTANICA, quae majorum operum prodromi instar, theoriam Scientiae Botanices per breves Aphorismos tradunt. Amst. 1736, 12 ^o, pp. 35. The science of botany is in this work reduced to 365 aphorisms, or canons; and what Sethus Calvisius has said of Ptolemy's canon, mutatis mutandis, may be truly said of this work.— Omni auro pretiosior est, si dudum innotuisset, nec adeo in diversas sectas BOTA­NICI abiisent, sed RES BOTANICAE, multo melius se haberent. It passed through several editions, and was published with a comment upon each aphorism in 1751, under the title of Philosophia Botanica, hereafter to be noticed.

BIBLIOTHECA BOTANICA, recensens libros plus mille de plantis hucusque editos, secundum Systema Auctorum naturale in classes, ordines, genera et species dispositos, additis editionis loco, tempore, forma, lingua. Amst. 1736, 12 ^o, pp. 153, and afterwards in 8 ^o, 1751, much enlarged. Botanic writers are in this work distributed into 16 classes, and it is by no means so unentertaining as might be expected from the general idea of a catalogue merely; as the author has frequently subjoined short characters of the books; and at the beginning of each class, as also in the orders or subdivisions, takes occasion to ex­plain several of his terms used in his subsequent [Page 18] writings. The preface contains a short history of the rise and progress of botany, and an acknow­ledgment of the aid the author received in the compilation of this work, by his free access to the libraries of Mr. Sprekelsen at Hamburgh, Dr. Gro­novius at Leyden, and particularly to those of his patron Mr. Clifford, and Dr. Burman, professor of botany at Amsterdam. Authors are classed in this work as follows:

• 1. Patres.
• 2. Commentatores.
• 3. Ichniographi.
• 4. Descriptores.
• 5. Monographi.
• 6. Curiosi.
• 7. Adonistae.
• 8. Floristae.
• 9. Peregrinatores.
• 10. Philosophi.
• 11. Systematici.
• 12. Nomenclatores.
• 13. Anatomici.
• 14. Hortulani.
• 15. Medici.
• 16. Anomali.

Subjoined to the last edition, we have a biogra­phical table, exhibiting, in chronological order, the names of 139 botanic authors, from the time of Avicenna in 981, to Mr. Catesby in 1749, specifying, wherever it was possible, the year of their birth and death.

The flowering of the Plantain or Banana (Musa paradisiaca) this year, a thing not seen in Europe before more than thrice, in the garden of our au­thor's patron M. Clifford, produced a compleat his­tory of that plant from LINNAEUS'S pen, under the title of MUSA CLIFFORTIANA florens Hartecampi 1736 prope Harlemum. Lugd. Bat. 4 ^o, pp. 46. This piece is drawn up with the utmost precision, ac­cording to the author's own Methodus Demonstrandi, [Page 19] printed at the end of the Systema, and is a model for Monographers in this way. It is embellished with two plates, one representing the plant at large, the other, the parts of fructification separately.

GENERA PLANTARUM eorumque Characteres na­turales secundum numerum, figuram, situm, et proportio­nem, omnium fructificationis partium. Lugd. Bat. 1737, 8 ^o, pp. 384. In this work, which exhibits what LINNAEUS has called the natural characters of the genera of plants, the classes are established upon the number or situation, or both conjointly, of the stamina, analogically considered as the male parts; and the orders or subdivisions of the classes, upon the pistils, analogous to the female parts: and the genera themselves from the agreement of all the parts of fructification compared with each other, as they agree in number, figure, situation, and pro­portion. Hence the Linnaean characters of plants are applicable to any classical method founded on the parts of fructification alone, in which respect they have the advantage over those of all foregoing writers, and will probably stand firm, even al­though the classical part of the system should be set aside. This is to be considered as one of the capital of Linnaeus's works. He tells us, that before the publication of the first edition, he had examined the characters of 8000 flowers. Those alone who have been accustomed to examine plants with a scientific view, can judge how arduous this undertaking must have been, and how great the application that he must necessarily have bestowed thereon, and that at an early period of life. Neither can any others sufficiently admire that accuracy with which [Page 20] so great a number of flowers have been examined and compared, or see the aptitude of that assem­blage of terms, which were invented by LINNAEUS, to express the different figure, situation, and pro­portion, that exist in such a variety of subjects. If this was a proper place to expatiate upon this sub­ject, by extending the idea to all that LINNAEUS has done, respecting every other part of plants, as considered in their specific distinctions, it must still farther exalt the merit of the author, and place him above all praise. At the latter end of this work was given the general plan of a system invented by LINNAEUS, and founded upon the different kinds, and arrangement, of the calix or cup of the flower, in plants: but this was omitted in the lat­ter editions. Also a fragment of that primum et ultimum in botany, the natural method.

The first edition of this book contained 935 genera: the sixth and last, at Stockholm, in 1764, hath extended the number to 1239, and the Mantissae since to 1336. It has been thought by some, that the first idea of the sexual me­thod was received from the writings of Jungius, a learned professor, first at Helmstadt, and after­wards rector of the Gymnasium at Hamburgh, where he died in 1657, and whose works contain an uncommon display of original observations on the subject of plants; and prove him to have been a most accurate observer of nature. He has not only discriminated with peculiar nicety, the struc­ture, and several parts of plants, but he hath also, with equal judgment, shewn the impropriety of many of the old generical and specifical distinc­tions, [Page 21] and has given rules for forming them anew, that have been of the greatest service to his suc­cessors in the science, and of which they have not failed to avail themselves. But Jungius did not, however, exhibit any plan, by which it appears that he laid the basis either of the sexual, or any other system.

Before the conclusion of the same year (1737) our author published the COROLLARIUM GENERUM, cui accedit METHODUS SEXUALIS, in 8 ^o; the for­mer contained only the addition of sixty new genera of plants; all which were taken into the next edition of the foregoing book; and the latter ex­hibits a brief view of the sexual system, as far as respects the classes and orders. Neither would it be of importance to mention a small piece published in the same year, during his residence with Mr. Clif­ford, under the title of VIRIDARIUM CLIFFORTIA­NUM, were it not incumbent on us to mention all that came from our author's pen.

In this year, 1737, appeared likewise the result of the Lapland expedition, as far, at least, as re­lates to the plants of that country; for we are now deprived of the expectation of ever seeing the Lachesis Lapponica, intended to complete our au­thor's history of this country through all its parts. This volume includes the plants of a tract of country not less than 100 Swedish miles (nearly equal to 600 English) in length, and 50 in breadth, under the title of FLORA LAPPONICA, exhibens Plan­tas per Lapponiam crescentes, secundum Systema sexuale, collectas in itinere impensis Societatis regiae Litterariae et Scientiarum Sueciae An. 1732 instituto, additis syno­nymis, [Page 22] et locis natalibus omnium, descriptionibus et figuris rariorum, viribus medicatis et oeconomicis pluri­marum. Amst. 1737, 8 ^o, pp. 372, tab. 12. This work is much more than a bare enumeration of synonyms; the preface contains an account of the author's journey, and his acknowledgment to the members of a literary society, by whose munifi­cence this work was adorned with the plates, on which are engraven 58 of the more rare, and chiefly alpine plants. This is preceded by ad­ditional Prolegomena, in which the geographic and natural description of the country is set forth, and the difference between the Alps and the Desart dis­tinctly marked; concluding with some observations on alpine plants in general. The work is interspersed with many very curious observations relating to the inhabitants, their simplicity of life and man­ners, their diseases; the animals of the country; the medical and economical uses of many of the plants; descriptions at large of such as were not well described before; and critical observations, in a botanical way, upon others.

To instance briefly a few only of our author's observations. Under

N ^o 16. The dropsy very frequent in East Both­nia; owing to the intemperate use of spirits.

N ^o 22. The down of the Cotton Grass, used for bedding among the poor, instead of feathers.

N ^o 62. Astonishing growth of the Great Plantain. The spikes 4 or 5 feet high. In other situations, the whole plant not an inch.

N ^o 80. The wretched inhabitants sometimes obliged to make bread of the roots of the Marsh [Page 23] Trefoil. The scurvy unknown in Lapland; although vegetable productions have scarcely any share in the Lapland diet, which is almost wholly the recent flesh of the rein-deer: a fact which Sir John Pringle has made good use of, among others, in his dis­course "On the means of preserving the health of "mariners."

N ^o 101. Symptoms of the Colica Lapponica, (Sauvag. Nosol. II. p. 103) a most excruciating disease, for which the Laplanders use the root of Angelica.

N ^o 103. The deleterious effects of the Cicuta virosa, Water Hemlock, largely discussed.

N ^o 136. The pernicious effects of the Anthericum ossifragum, Lancashire Asphodel, on sheep.

N ^o 143, 144, 145. Manifold uses of the black and red Whortleberries, and Cranberries.

N ^o 160. Various economical uses of the Andro­meda polifolia, Marsn Cistus.

N ^o 200. Observations on the gout, whether owing to the use of spirituous and fermented liquors. Reflections on the health and vigour of the Lap­landers.

N ^o 311. The Achillaea Millefolium, Yarrow, used sometimes in Dalekarlia instead of hops, and said to render the drink very intoxicating.

N ^o 328. Singular economical uses of the Carices, or Sedges, amongst the Laplanders.

N ^o 341, 342. Uses of the Birch-tree; and the Dwarf Birch, beyond almost all others. The thick woods of this tree frequently set on fire by light­ning, and consumed for miles. Moxa of the Lap­landers [Page 24] prepared from a part of this tree: their universal remedy in painful diseases.

N ^o 345. The leaves of Sparganium natans, Bur­reed, preferred by horned cattle and horses to other grass. Observations on the immense number of Water Fowl, and Waders, in Lapland, and on their migration.

N ^o 395. Uses of the Polytrichum commune, or Golden Maidenhair; and N ^o 415, those of the Sphagnum Palustre, or Bog-Moss, among the Lap­land women; to which he has annexed some curious observations relating to the state of the menstrual evacuations in the sex, in those northern regions.

N ^o 437. Observations on the rein-deer, and their food, the Lichen rangiferinus.

N ^o 445. On the Lichen islandicus, on which M. Scopoli has of late written largely.

N ^o 517. In treating on the Agarics, he recites the baneful effects of the Oestrus Tarandi, Gad-fly, on the whole economy of the rein-deer. More largely discussed in the Amoenitates.—But to re­turn:

In this work, moreover, our author has first exemplified, what he ever afterwards laboured to bring to its greatest perfection, in all his writings, and particularly in the Species Plantarum, a work not published till sixteen years afterwards, the spe­cific names of plants, not taken, as had been custom­ary with former authors, from the colour of the flower, relative size of the plant, smell, taste, place of growth, time of flowering, name of the dis­coverer, virtues, uses, duration; none of which are [Page 25] sufficiently permanent: but from those invariable and essential parts, which fully and clearly distin­guish each species under the same genus, and in the compass of ten or twelve words convey such an idea of the plant intended, as will more effec­tually distinguish it, than the verbose descriptions of many foregoing authors. LINNAEUS has taken in­credible pains with this part of his system, which is certainly as difficult as any that leads to the perfection of the science, since it depends upon a nice inspection of every species belonging to each genus, and of every actual variety belonging to each species.

The plants of Lapland are but few, not amount­ing to more than 537 species; and in this number are included upwards of an hundred discovered by Linnaeus in this journey, not known to be natives of Sweden before; and of which some were non­descripts: among the former, there seems to be a propriety in mentioning specially the Campanula serpyllifolia, or thyme-leaved Bell-flower, which, as it turned out to be a new genus, was appropriated to our author by Dr. J. Gronovius, and engraved in this volume by the name of LINNAEA.

No part of LINNAEUS'S writings had given more offence to the contemporary botanists, than the liberty he had taken in changing the generic names of plants, which had necessarily taken place in many instances, from the rules established by the Fundamenta. Even DILLENIUS was by no means reconciled to this innovation. LINNAEUS, who had entertained an high opinion of our English pro­fessor, having said of him— nullus est in Anglia qui [Page 26] genera curat, vel intelligit praeterquam Dillenius—probably, therefore, dedicated to him his next publication, the CRITICA BOTANICA, in qua No­mina Plantarum generica, et specifica, et variantia exa­mini subjiciuntur, selectiora confirmantur, indigna re­jiciuntur, simulque doctrina circa Denominationem Plan­tarum traditur. Lugd. Bat. 1737, 8 ^o, pp. 270. This is a large comment upon the 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th parts of the Fundamenta, from Aphorism 210 to 324 inclusive; in which he has amply explained all his reasons for these alterations; and there were at that time many who saw the justice of his remarks. Ludwig says, when speaking of this work— "rigo­rosus quidem, sed saepissime faelix botanicorum censor est." The work is rendered very applicable to use, by two excellent indexes.

LINNAEUS printed, at the end of this volume, Discursus de introducenda in scholas et gymnasia Histo­riae naturalis lectione, pp. 24, written by Dr. Bro­wallius, who afterwards defended very ably the system of Linnaeus against professor Siegesbeck of Petersburgh.

In 1737 was likewise published the most splendid of all our author's writings, the Hortus Cliffortianus Plantas exhibens quas in Hortis tam vivis quam siccis, Hartecampi in Hollandia, coluit Vir Nob. et Gen. Geor­gius Clifford, J. U. D. reductis varietatibus ad species, speciebus ad genera, generibus ad classes, adjectis locis plantarum natalibus, differentiisque specierum. Amst. 1737, fol. pp. 501, t. 32. As this book was printed at the expence of Mr. Clifford, it is orna­mented with an elegant frontispiece, and adorned with some of the finest engravings of plants that [Page 27] are extant, the drawings for which were made with all possible accuracy by the late Mr. Ehret. By the munificence of Mr. Clifford, many of the cele­brated botanists received a present of this book. How rich this garden was in plants, the book will testify. They are arranged, as in all our author's succeeding works, in the sexual method; the varie­ties are reduced to their several species, the natural places of the plants are particularly noticed, many new genera, and species under former genera, are introduced, with their descriptions at large, and curious observations interspersed throughout the whole. And, what must have been more especi­ally acceptable to those who began to relish our author's system, was, the farther exemplification of his specific characters, which the vast number of plants included in this work necessarily led to. Add to this, that from the copious number of synonyms, it is almost a pinax of every plant therein mentioned; and on this account, as well as others, will yet retain its value, though superseded in a great degree by the Species Plantarum. To the curious and critical botanist also it is no small satisfaction now, to see in this volume, compared with later works, the progress of the author's own knowledge, manifest by the removes and altera­tions that better information enabled him to make. In the dedication our author enumerates those patrons who have cultivated botanical gar­dens so greatly to the emolument of the science: he gives a list of the Cliffortian library, and an­nexes two tables, with explanations of all the variety of leaves, according to his new method [Page 28] of defining them. This addition was very neces­sary, as the number of plants synonymed in this volume amounts to near 2,500. We conclude with Gesner's opinion of this work, in a letter to the celebrated Haller: Opus sane egregium et acerrimi judicii, nec minoris eruditionis, quo dif­ficulter botanicus carebit.—Mihi perplacet ab eo in nominibus specierum notas earum essentiales exhiberi, quod ante vix quisquam botanicus recte praestitit.

The last book which LINNAEUS published of his own, during his stay in Holland, was the CLASSES PLANTARUM, seu Systemata Plantarum om­nia a fructificatione desumta, quorum 16 universalia et 13 partialia, compendiose proposita secundum classes, ordines et nomina generica, cum clave cujusvis methodi et synonymis genericis. Lugd. Bat. 1738, pp. 656. This work is a very large illustration of the second part of the Fundamenta, from aphorism 53 to 78, and contains a compendious and useful view of all the systems of botany, or methods of classing plants, both general and partial, from Caesalpinus, in 1583, who is considered as the inventor, to LINNAEUS himself in 1735. To the generical name in every system, he has added that by which it stands in his own, which is a great advantage in the use of this book. A new edition, with the requisite additions, would be very acceptable to the public even now. The systems at large that are displayed in this book, are those of Caesal­pinus, Morison, Ray, Knaut, Herman, and Boerhaave, founded on the fruit: Rivinus, Ruppius, Ludwig, and Knaut, on the number of petals in the flower: Tournefort and Pontedera, on the figure of the [Page 29] same: and of Magnol and LINNAEUS, on the cup of the flower. After these follow LINNAEUS'S sexual system, and his fragments of the natural method. We say nothing of the arrangement of particular classes, such are the composite flowers, the umbelliferous plants, the graminaceous, the ferns, &c. A very large index, referring to every genus in each system, concludes the volume.

LINNAEUS, whilst in Holland, sustained a very severe loss in the premature death of his friend and fellow student Artedi; with whom, as has been before observed, he had contracted the firmest friendship whilst they resided at Upsal; insomuch that they had, in case of death, mutually be­queathed to each other their manuscripts and collections in natural history. Artedi had been particularly assiduous in arranging anew, and describing all such fishes as had fallen under his own inspection; and had taken a voyage to Eng­land in 1734, to give more perfection to his plan. Our author, after his death, procured, though with some difficulty, all Artedi's papers, and put the finishing hand to them, and published them at Leyden in 1738, in octavo, under the title of Petri Artedi, Sueci Medici, ICHTHYOLOGIA: sive opera omnia de piscibus, scilicet Bibliotheca Ichthyo­logica; Philosophia Ichthyologica; Genera Piscium; Synonymia Specierum; Descriptiones Specierum. Om­nia in hoc genere perfectiora quam antea ulla. Post­huma vindicavit, recognovit, cooptavit, et edidit, Caro­lus LINNAEUS. In this work fishes are arranged in an entire new method, and which our author adopted with little or no variation, and continued [Page 30] through all the former editions of his System to the tenth; when he removed the cetaceous order into the class of the mammalia; and instead of re­taining in the remaining orders the distinctions arising from the bony or cartilaginous texture of the fins; he established them on the situation of the ventral fins, which he considers as analogous to the feet in other animals, as they are placed either before, underneath, or behind the pectoral fins.

In this work Artedi has exhibited an instance of genius, labour, and application, that cannot fail to excite the greatest regret at his early death. He has given to Ichthyology that degree of perfec­tion, which his friend afterwards extended through all the animal kingdom, and which must remain a lasting monument of his abilities. In parti­cular, his descriptions of the indigenous fishes of Sweden, are scientific to a degree that had never before been seen; and we cannot sufficiently ad­mire the pains he must have taken to extricate the synonyms from every author on the subject. Artedi, after his return from England, was re­tained, at the recommendation of LINNAEUS, by Seba of Amsterdam, to complete that part of his Thesaurus relating to fishes, and was unfortunately drowned in one of the canals in that city. LIN­NAEUS, in a short account of the author's life, has lamented his untimely decease, in a manner which does no less honour to his friend than to his own feelings.

We must now accompany our author into Sweden, whither he returned about the latter end [Page 31] of the year 1738, or the beginning of the next, and settled as a physician at Stockholm, where he seems to have met with considerable opposition, and was oppressed with many difficulties; all of which at length he overcame, and got into ex­tensive practice; and, soon after his settlement, married the lady before spoken of. By the interest of Count Tessin, who was afterwards his great patron, and even procured medals to be struck in honour of him, he obtained the rank of physician to the fleet, and a stipend from the citizens for giving lectures in botany. And what at this time especially was highly favourable to the advancement of his character and fame, by giving him an opportunity of displaying his abilities, was the establishment of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Stockholm; of which LIN­NAEUS was constituted the first president, and to which establishment the king granted several pri­vileges, particularly that of free postage to all pa­pers directed to the secretary. By the rules of the academy, the president held his place but three months, at the expiration of which, he made his ORATIO de memorabilibus in Insectis, Oct. 3, 1739; in which he endeavours to excite an atten­tion and enquiry into the knowledge of insects, by displaying the many singular phaenomena that occur in contemplating the nature of those animals, and by pointing out, in a variety of instances, their usefulness to mankind in particular, and to the economy of nature in general.

During all this time, however, LINNAEUS appears to have had his eye upon the botanic and medical [Page 32] chair at Upsal, at this time occupied by Rudbeck, who was far advanced in life. We learn in­deed that he was so intent on pursuing, and per­fecting, his great designs in the advancement of his favourite study of nature, that he had deter­mined, if he failed in procuring the professorship at Upsal, to accept the offer that had been made to him by Haller, of filling the botanic chair at Gottingen. However, in course of time, he obtained his wish. In the year 1741, upon the re­signation of Roberg, he was constituted joint pro­fessor of physic, and physician to the king, with Rosen, who had been appointed in the preceding year on the death of Rudbeck. These two col­leagues agreed to divide the medical departments between them; and their choice was confirmed by the university. Rosen took anatomy, physiology, pathology, and the therapeutic part. LINNAEUS, natural history, botany materia medica, the dietetic part, and the diagnosis morborum.

During the interval of his removal from Stock­holm to Upsal, in consequence of this appointment, our professor was deputed by the states of the kingdom, to make a tour to the islands of Oëland and Gothland, in the Baltic, attended by six of the pupils, commissioned to make such enquiries as might tend to improve agriculture, and arts, in the kingdom; to which the Swedish nation had for some time paid a particular attention; awakened, as it were, by the desolating wars of Charles the XIIth, to extend their commerce, and cultivate the arts of peace. The result of this journey was very successful, and proved fully satisfactory to [Page 33] the States, and was afterwards communicated to the public.

LINNAEUS, on his return, entered upon the pro­fessorship, and pronounced before the university his ORATION de Peregrinationum intra Patriam neces­sitate, Oct. 17, 1741; in which he forcibly displays the usefulness of such excursions, by pointing out to the students that vast field of objects which their country held out to their cultivation; whether in geography, physics, mineralogy, botany, zoology, or economics; and by shewing the benefit that must accrue to themselves and their country as re­wards to their diligence. That animated spirit which runs through the whole of this composition, renders it one of the most pleasing and instructive of all our author's productions. That intimate knowledge which LINNAEUS himself had acquired of his own country by his repeated travels (fraught as he was too with every requisite for making use­ful observations) enabled him to point out with the utmost precision the most proper objects of investigation, in every part of nature; and his love to his country gave a zeal to his wishes, that shewed him on this occasion to great advan­tage; not to add, the aid arising from that self­congratulation, which he must feel, having just gained, by his late appointment, the summit of his wishes.

The ITER OELANDICUM ET GOTLANDICUM, in 8 ^o, pp. 284, were printed at Stockholm, in 1745, in the Swedish language; as was also the ITER SCANICUM, in 1751, 8 ^o, pp. 435. We cannot help regretting that these Itinera have not made [Page 34] their appearance in the English, or some other language besides that of Sweden; for though, in a country cultivated like ours, many hints, perhaps, might not be drawn from these volumes, of real importance to agriculture here; yet they are so replete with curious and philosophical observa­tions, that they could not fail to be an acceptable present to the public; as the general scope of these volumes is to adapt natural history to eco­nomical purposes. In the Iter Gothlandicum et Oelandicum, LINNAEUS'S instructions were di­rected principally to these particulars:—He was to endeavour to find some kind of earth proper for making pottery-ware in imitation of the porcelaine of China: he was to notice every production of nature that might supersede the necessity of the importation of any article, used either in physic or manufactures: and in fine, he was to have a regard to every part of natural history. In the execution of his plan, however, he went much farther than his commis­sion extended, having interspersed a number of observations relating to the antiquities of these islands, the mechanic arts, to the manners of the people, their fishery, and various other articles. He was, as might reasonably be expected, un­successful in the first part of his commission, since the two islands are almost entirely com­posed of limestone, or coral rocks, which abound in a remarkable degree in the Baltic.

As a proof of the little attention that had been paid to natural history in Sweden, we may observe, [Page 35] that our author in this journey discovered above an hundred plants, which before were not known to be indigenous; many of which were such as are used in physic, and in dyeing. He pointed out to the natives several plants of great use in rustic economy, and shewed them the advantage of planting the Sea-reed grass (Arundo arenaria) to arrest the sand, and form soil on the shores; to which it is extremely well adapted by the length of the roots. In the ITER OELANDICUM there occurs a curious remark in vegetation, confirming the annual increase of the wood in an oak-tree, in which was perfectly distinguished the hard winters of 1578, 1687, and 1709, by the narrow­ness of the circles in those years. He describes the process for making tar, as practised by these islanders; and further, intersperses many observa­tions relating to mineralogy in general; to iron in particular, with which Sweden abounds; de­scribes the iron mountain Taberg, (See Phil. Transact. vol. xlix. p. 30.) the alum mines of Mockleby; the Poma chrystallina, or aëtites marmo­reus, which illustrates the formation of chrys­tals, &c.

In the ITER SCANICUM, performed in 1749, our author treats largely on the culture of marshy grounds; on the useful and noxious herbs, for instance, the Stakan, supposed to be the Phellan­drium aquaticum, or Water Hemlock, which it is believed renders horses that eat it paralytic; on the Gramen Mannae, or Festuca fluitans, the seeds of which are so particularly useful in fattening geese; on the Agaricus muscarius, &c.

[Page 36] In 1743, on occasion of conferring a degree on Dr. J. Westman, the professor delivered his third ORATION de Telluris habitabilis incremento: an elaborate and ingenious defence of that hypo­thesis, which Sir Isaac Newton, and several other philosophers, have inclined to, That the pro­portion of water on the globe of this earth is constantly decreasing. This leads the pro­fessor also to discuss the 132d section of the Philosophia—Initio rerum ex omni specie viventium unicum sexus par creatum fuisse suadet ratio.—The visible recession of the waters of the sea in divers parts of the earth, particularly apparent in the Baltic, had inclined the Swedish philosophers to this opinion of Sir Isaac Newton's. The position of the Philosophia, he thinks naturally deducible from the foregoing hypothesis, and necessarily so from the Mosaic history. In solving the difficul­ties attending the latter part of the hypothesis, he is led by his subject to enter largely into a part of the economy of nature, which renders his dis­course highly interesting, independently of ali con­jectures relating to the main argument: this re­lates to the various ways in which vegetables are disseminated, and by which they find their way to every part of the globe. To this effect winds, rain, rivers, the sea, animals, &c. are all subser­vient, as well as the various structure and pro­perties of the seeds themselves; in illustrating which last affair the professor has taken great pains, and constructed tables of the genera, founded on these different properties of the seeds. In the introduction to this oration, our author turns the [Page 37] attention of his readers to some of the more re­markable discoveries that had lately been made in natural history and philosophy; such were those relating to the Polype, Rattlesnake, and the Senega, &c.; among others also, he mentions a remarkable fact that had been communicated by Sauvages of Montpelier, respecting the effect of the berries of the Coriaria myrtifolia, Spec. pl. 1467 (Myrtle-leaved Sumach) in occasioning instant epilepsy.

The three orations of LINNAEUS are subjoined to the second volume of the Amoenitates Academicae, printed in 1752.

In 1745, the professor published his FLORA SUECICA exhibens Plantas per Regnum Sueciae cres­centes, systematice cum differentiis specierum, synonymis autorum, nominibus incolarum, solo locorum, usu Pharmacopoeorum, 8 ^o, Holm. pp. 392, 1745; and again, with many additions, in 1755, pp. 464. The first edition contains 1140 plants. In the second they are increased, by his own, and the discoveries of his pupils, to 1296. No generical characters are introduced into this work, but re­ferences made to them as they stand in the Genera Plantarum, before spoken of. A number of select synonyma is added to his own specific name, under each plant; and not only the Swedish names in general, but the provincial ones: highly worthy this of imitation in works of this kind, and quite ne­cessary in so extensive a kingdom. Many of the rare plants are described at large, and botanical criticisms added to many others. In the last edi­tion the author has interspersed a great number [Page 38] of curious observations relating to the economical and medical uses of the plants; and has particu­larly noted those that are capable of being ap­plied to the purposes of dyeing. The author moreover never fails to mention euporistic medi­cines, which he seems to think, perhaps very justly, have not been attended to by physicians as they deserve. The plan of this work has been a pattern for all succeeding writers of local cata­logues, more especially those who have followed the Linnaean system, and has been very little im­proved by any; perhaps excelled by none. The plants of Lapland are all included in this work; and the preface, besides the account of Swedish authors on botany, contains a curious division of the several provinces of the kingdom, in respect to their different soils and situation, as adapted to particular plants, specifying under each pro­vince the plants found therein.

In 1746 appeared the FAUNA SUECICA, sistens Animalia Sueciae Regni: Mammalia, Aves, Amphi­bia, Pisces, Insecta, Vermes; distributa per classes et ordines, genera et species, &c. Stockholm 1746, 8 ^o; and again, greatly augmented, in 1761, pp. 556. The first edition contained 1350 subjects, the latter comprehends not less than 2266. Neither in this work are any classical, ordinal, or generical notes given at large. The world had never seen so compendious, and it may be truly said, at the same time, so complete a zoology before. Here, as in plants, the author has given to each animal a new specific name, expressive, as far as possible, of its essential character. The synonyms are added, [Page 39] or referred to, from almost every author on the subject, and almost every animal is moreover com­pendiously described. Insects make a very consi­derable part of this catalogue; near 1700 species, all found in that kingdom, are enumerated, distin­guished, and methodized, in a manner entirely new, and which has been adopted by nearly every writer on the subject since. We shall speak more fully of the classification in the abstract intended to be given of the Systema Naturae. A compendious manual of English Zoology on this plan, is a work much wanted; though we think it could not fail to enhance its value, if the tables of the genera were prefixed to each class, and the characters to each genus, as in the System of our author. Two plates, of some of the rarer birds chiefly, accom­pany this volume, on which are explained the technical terms used in ornithology. The number of each class of animals stands thus:

1. Mammalia—

53

2. Aves—

195

3. Amphibia—

25

4. Pisces—

77

5. Insecta—

1691

6. Vermes—

198.

An accident having thrown into the hands of the professor an Herbarium, consisting of five large volumes of plants, he discovered that it was the collection of the famous Dr. Paul Herman, which had been made in the island of Zeylon, by that gentleman, at the expence of the Dutch East India Company. This Herbarium had been lost for up­wards of half a century, until chance threw it into the hands of M. Gunther, apothecary to the king of Denmark, who sent it to LINNAEUS, re­questing [Page 40] the professor to examine it, and affix the names to the plants of this superb collection. Its great value, as being collected by so eminent a man, induced our author to examine the whole with great attention; and he was thereby enabled to form many new genera, and settle many doubt­ful species. He published the result of his la­bour under the title of FLORA ZEYLANICA, sistens Plantas indicas Zeylonae Insulae, quae olim 1670—1677 lectae fuere, à Paulo Hermanno Professore Botan. Ley­densi; demum post 70 annos ab A. Gunthero orbi redditae. Holm. 1747, 8 ^o, pp. 254, tab. 4.

This work is yet of use as a pinax of these plants, and as a Linnaean catalogue of Burman's Thesaurus Zeylanicus, published in 1738, and illus­trated with the figures of upwards of 200 of these plants. Many of the rare species are described, and a very copious number of synonyms added to several of the East Indian plants. The Her­barium consisted of about 660 plants, of which the true places in the system are assigned to up­wards of 400, and the remainder were too im­perfect to admit of distinction. This volume is rendered valuable by a concise history of the pro­gress of botany, from the restoration of learning in the 16th century; a natural history of the island, and its general produce; the life of Dr. Herman; a short account of J. Hartog, who was sent by Dr. Sherard to make collections in this island; and of Burman's Thesaurus Zeylanicus. LINNAEUS authenticates this Herbarium to have been Herman's, by shewing that the numbers, and [Page 41] the plants, answer to his Museum Zeylanicum, pub­lished in 1717.

We now see LINNAEUS fixed in the situation that was so well adapted to his character, his taste, and abilities, and which seems to have been the object of his ambition, and center of his hopes. Soon after his establishment, he laboured to get the Academical Garden, which had been founded in 1657, put on a better footing, and very soon effected it; procuring also a house to be built for the residence of the professor. The whole had been in ruin ever since the fire in 1702, and at the time Linnaeus was appointed professor of botany, the garden did not contain above 50 plants that were exotic. His correspondence with the first botanists in Europe, soon supplied him with great variety. He received Indian plants from Jussieu of Paris, and from Van Royen of Leyden; European plants from Haller and Ludwig; American plants from the late Mr. Collinson, Mr. Catesby, and others; and variety of annuals from Dillenius: in short, how much the garden owed to his diligence and care, in a few years, may be seen by the catalogue published under the title of HORTUS UPSALIENSIS exhibens Plantas exoticas horto Upsaliensis Academiae a sese (Linnaeo) illatas ab anno 1742, in annum 1748, additis, differentiis synonymis, habitationibus, hospitiis, rariorumque descriptionibus, in gratiam studiosae ju­ventutis. Holm. 1748, 8 ^o, pp. 306, tab. 3. By this catalogue it appears that the professor had introduced 1100 species, exclusive of all the Swedish plants, and of varieties; which latter, in ordinary gardens, amount not unfrequently [Page 42] to one third of the whole number. The preface contains a curious history of the cli­mate at Upsal, and the progress of the seasons through the whole year. From these observa­tions we learn, that the greatest degree of heat, in the summer of 1747, at Upsal, was on the second day of July, when Celsius's thermometer stood at 30 degrees above 0; that the greatest degree of cold, on the 25th of January 1740, was 28 de­grees below 0. In this thermometer the freezing point is 0, and boiling water 100. From seven years observations on the leafing of the oak, it was found never to push before the 6th of May, or to be retarded beyond the 22d.

About this period it was, that LINNAEUS made a remarkable discovery, relating to the generation of pearls in the river Pearl-Muscle (Mya Margaritifera, Syst. 1112.) This shell-fish must not be confounded with what is called the Mother of Pearl Shell, as that belongs to another genus, is a sea-shell, and an inhabitant of the warmer countries only. The shell-fish in question is found in rivers, in all the northern parts of the world; in Norway and Sweden it abounds; it is found in the rivers of the county of Tyrone in Ireland, and in those of Done­gall; in Scotland, the Don is said to abound with it; and it is not unfrequent in the rivers of Eng­land. This fish will bear removal remarkably well; and it is said, that in some places they form reservoirs for the purpose of keeping it, and taking out the pearl, which, in a certain period of time, will be again renewed. From observa­tions on the growth of these shells, and the num­ber [Page 43] of their annular laminae, or scales, it is sup­posed the fish will attain a very great age; 50 or 60 years are imagined to be a moderate computation. The discovery turned on a method, which LIN­NAEUS found, of putting these muscles into a state of producing pearls at his pleasure; though the final effect did not take place for several years: he says, that in 5 or 6 years after the operation the pearl would have acquired the size of a Vetch. We are unacquainted with the means by which he accomplished this extraordinary ope­ration, but it was probably published at the time, and considered as important, since it is cer­tain that the author was rewarded with a munifi­cent praemium, from the States of the kingdom, on this account. We regret that we cannot speak more fully on this head; but may ob­serve, that it is probable, from a paper published many years afterwards in the Berlin Acts, that the method consisted in injuring the shell externally, perhaps by a perforation; as it has been observed, that these concretions in shell-fish are found on the inside, exactly opposite to perforations and injuries made from without by serpulae, and other animals.

From the time that LINNAEUS and Rosen were appointed professors at Upsal, it should seem that the credit of that university, as a school of physic, had been increasing; and the fact in­deed is certain, that numbers of students re­sorted thither from Germany, attracted by the character of these two able men: and certainly in Sweden itself, many young men were invited to [Page 44] the study of physic, by the excellent manner in which it was taught, who otherwise would have engaged in different pursuits. We must not deviate into the line of Rosen's department: suf­fice it to say, that these two eminent men, by their united zeal and abilities, failed not to exalt, together with their own fame, that of their uni­versity. LINNAEUS, in teaching the diagnosis mor­borum, had adopted the plan, with some alteration, of M. Sauvages's Nosology, of which we shall be led to give some account hereafter. In the year 1749, he published, for the use of his students, MATERIA MEDICA, Liber I. de Plantis digestus secundum genera, loca, nomina, qualitates, vires, dif­ferentias, durationes, simplicia, modos, usus, synony­ma, culturas, praeparata, potentias, composita. Holm. 1749, 8 ^o, pp. 252. The compendious method in which this work is executed, and the several useful preliminary papers annexed, render it a very useful and instructive manual to students in medicine. A materia medica of the vegetable king­dom, in which every simple was ascertained by so able a botanist as LINNAEUS, was a very con­siderable acquisition to science. In this volume are arranged 535 subjects, and several are for the first time reduced to their proper genera; such are the Ipecacuanha, Pareira brava, Coculi Indici, and others. The method pursued in this volume is as follows. The author gives,

1. His own specific character of the plant.

2. C. Bauhine's synonym: or, if the plant was unknown to him, that of the first discoverer.

3. The country where it is produced. In [Page 45] the same line is expressed, by a single epithet, whether it be an herb, shrub, or tree: whether it be annual, biennial, or perennial: also, whether it be indigenous; or if not, whether it thrives well by common cultivation in gardens, or requires de­fence from the cold of the winter in Sweden; or whether it will not endure that climate.

4. The Swedish officinal name, what part is in use, or what preparation of it, if any; and the doses of each.

5. The sensible quality of the plant; whether bitter, aromatic, acid, astringent, &c.; whether fra­grant, foetid, or inodorous; whether gummy, resinous, or milky. Its reputed quality; whether uncertain, well-known, and approved; or whether to be cau­tiously used. Whether chiefly used in physic, or for culinary purposes.

6. Its reputed effects on the human body, whether purging, emetic, diuretic, &c.

7. The diseases in which it is most frequently prescribed.

8. The compound medicines into which it en­ters in the Swedish dispensatory.

At the end of the volume is an index morborum, with the simples appropriated to each: and an index virium, adapted to a preceding classification, founded on their qualities or effects, either on the solids or fluids of the human body.

In the year 1749 was published the first volume of a collection of Theses in 8 ^o, under the title of Amoenitates Academicae, seu Dissertationes variae, phy­sicae, medicae, et botanicae. This publication has [Page 46] been continued, from time to time, to the com­pletion of the seventh volume in the year 1769. Holm. These volumes, as soon as published, were constantly reprinted in Germany and Hol­land. As these academical dissertations were sustained under LINNAEUS in his professorial character, and were selected by himself, they have been regarded as of equal authority nearly with his own writings; and many of them do in a particular manner extend and exemplify divers parts of his works, the subjects having been pointed out by himself, in many instances, for that purpose. For these reasons we shall, in the course of this volume, give a very brief ac­count of the purport of each dissertation, since they contain a great variety of curious intelligence on the subjects of physic and natural history, every where digested in the most scientific taste.

Whilst LINNAEUS was meditating one of his capital performances, which had long been ex­pected, and greatly wished for, he was interrupted by a very long and painful fit of the gout, which left him in a very weak and dispirited state; and, according to the intelligence that his friends gave of him, nothing was thought to have contributed more to the restoration of his spirits, than the seasonable acquisition, at this juncture, of a col­lection of rare and undescribed plants.

Upon the recovery of his health, he published his book; PHILOSOPHIA BOTANICA in qua expli­cantur fundamenta botanica cum definitionibus partium, exemplis terminorum, observationibus rariorum, ad­jectis [Page 47] figuris aeneis. Stockh. et Amst. 1751, 8 ^o, pp. 362, tab. 11. This must be considered as the in­stitutions of the Linnaean system of botany, and is a work which none, who wish to be acquainted with the sexual system, can be without, as it is the author's own comment on his Fundamenta, first published in 1736, and which are comprized in 365 aphorisms, divided into 12 chapters. The author's original intention was to have explained all these aphorisms at large, in the manner that had been done in the Bibliotheca Botanica, Classes Plantarum, Sponsalia Plantarum, Critica Botanica, and Vires Plantarum; but he says his numerous avocations did not allow him requisite time.

Ch. 1. Exhibits a systematical distribution of the principal botanical writers, and is that part which is treated of at large in the Bibliotheca.

Ch. 2. Systemata. A view of all the botanical systems, being a compend of the Classes Plantarum, but here brought down somewhat later, so as to comprehend the general view of Van Royen's, Haller's, and Wachendorf's.

Ch. 3. Plantae. Explains the terms used in de­scribing the different kinds of roots, stalks, and leaves of plants.

Ch. 4. Fructificatio. Describes the parts of fructification, and defines all the terms used re­specting their number, figure, proportion, situation, and uses.

Ch. 5. Relates to the sexes of plants, a subject which is more copiously treated in a paper called Sponsalia Plantarum, printed in the first volume of the Amoenitates Academicae.

[Page 48] Ch. 6. Characteres. Rules and definitions for establishing the characters of classes, orders, and genera.

Ch. 7. Nomina. Rules for rightly forming ge­nerical names, and those of orders and classes.

Ch. 8. Differentiae. Rules for establishing the specific characters of plants.

Ch. 9. Varietates. Rules for distinguishing va­rieties among plants.

Ch. 10. Synonyma. Rules relating to the right disposition of synonymical names in botanic writ­ings.

The four chapters last mentioned make the sub­ject of the CRITICA BOTANICA, in which work every aphorism is much more largely explained than in the present.

Ch. 11. Adumbrationes. Rules for properly de­scribing and naming the species, and for giving their complete history in a scientific manner.

Ch. 12. Vires. Relates to the virtues of plants, as deducible from their agreement in their charac­ters, as of the same genus, the same natural order, or class. The subject of this chapter is treated in a more comprehensive manner in the Vires Plantarum, printed in the first volume of Amoeni­tates Academicae. To give a few instances how­ever as illustrations:—The Scammony, Me­choacan, Turbith, and Sea Bindweed, are all species of the genus Convolvulus, and all agree in possessing a purgative quality. The Mallow, Marsh-mallow, and Cotton-bush, are so many distinct genera, under a natural order, called columniferous, and agree in being all mucilaginous. [Page 49] Of the umbelliferous plants, such as grow in dry places are aromatic, and considered as sudorifics and carminatives: those growing in watery places, on the contrary, are mostly of a quality to be justly suspected, and not a few of them quite noxious. Plants of the papilionaceous class are all excellent food for cattle. The syngenesious, com­monly bitters. The coniferous class, all evergreens and resinous, are considered as diuretics.

Ten explanatory plates are added to this vo­lume, on which are described the different leaves, and their situations on the stalk, &c. different stalks, roots, flowers, &c. The first part of these plates, relating to the leaves, had been given in­troductory to the Hortus Cliffortianus. Some new terms in botany▪ which have been invented since the publication of the Philosophia, may be found in a paper under the title of Termini Botanici, in the 6th volume of the Amoenitates.

In this work of LINNAEUS it is difficult to de­termine, whether we ought most to admire the ge­nius of its author in his inventive power, or that exquisite scientific arrangement which he has given to the whole; and which, both together, constitute this a most excellent performance.

At the end of the volume we meet with several curious fragments: such are,

1. Directions to botanic pupils.

2. The method of constructing an herbarium.

3. Method of conducting botanical excursions.

4. Method of laying out a botanic garden.

5. Plan for naturalists in travelling and con­structing [Page 50] their journal; with an enumeration of all those subjects that demand their attention.

6. Idea of a compleat botanist. Some of the principal botanists are here enumerated.

7. A compend of the philosophy of vege­tation.

In 1753, appeared the Professor's Opus maximum et aeternum, the SPECIES PLANTARUM exhibentes Plantas rite cognitas, ad genera relatas, cum differentiis specificis, nominibus trivialibus, synonymis selectis, locis natalibus, secundum systema sexuale di­gestas. Tom. II. Holm. 8 ^o, 1753, pp. 1200; and a second time in 1762, pp. 1684. To give this work its utmost perfection, had been the author's object for many years, and to this all his other bota­nic productions are in some measure only prepara­tory; especially the local catalogues; as the rightly ascertaining the species is the great object of all me­thod. In this work Linnaeus takes in every plant that had come sufficiently under his own inspec­tion; seldom admitting any on the authority of others; and wheresoever he has done it, the plant is distinguished by a proper mark. The plan of this work is, in general, agreeable to that of all his other local catalogues; no other part of the system being exemplified except the species: and as it is entirely botanical, none of the uses of the plants are here introduced. Every plant has its specific name, constructed according to the rules established in the eighth part of the Philo­sophia Botanica, with a reference to all, or any of his own works, in which it has been mentioned be­fore; [Page 51] and the synonym is given, if it be different from the present. Then follow the synonyms of the best authors, and constantly, where the plant is at all rare, or newly-discovered, there is a reference to the best figures. The country in which the plant grows is then added, and frequently a sym­bol, expressive of its duration, whether annual, biennial, or perennial.

In this work, for the first time, the professor has given to each plant, what he calls a trivial name: that is, a single epithet, which may be ex­pressive, as far as possible, of the essential specific difference, among the species of the genus: this, however, can take place but rarely; in other in­stances it is expressive of some, the most striking and obvious difference; and not seldom it is a lo­cal term; or the name of the first discoverer. The latter method, could it have taken place, would have had the advantage of conveying, somewhat like a chronological history of each plant, and at the same time perpetuating due credit to the dis­coverer. These trivial names are printed in the margin, to catch the eye instantly, which is a great advantage. The invention of trivial names, the hint of which was probably borrowed from Rivini, by assisting the memory, has much promoted the knowledge of plants, and must be considered as a capital improvement. Their use in speaking of plants, and forming compendious catalogues, has been acknowledged by every botanist since the introduction of them.

In the preface the author gives an ample ac­count of the assistances he received, and of the [Page 52] pains he had taken, to bring this work to its pre­sent state. To this end, he specifies, the coun­tries he had travelled over; the many botanic gardens he had visited; the various excellent her­baria that he had examined, in Sweden, Holland, England, and France; the names of his pupils educated under him, and their various peregrina­tions; from all which he reaped great advantages, as from these he received various new plants: and, finally, he acknowledges the many liberal communications of seeds and specimens, sent to him from all parts of the world by the first bota­nists of the time.

As this work contains all the plants of the known world which had come to Linnaeus's knowledge, or rather inspection; which, at the publication of these volumes, appear to have amounted to about 7,300 species, all varieties excluded, the professed botanist has only to regret, that it could not have been extended by the author himself, to a com­pleat pinax, and history of every plant therein de­scribed.

In this year also LINNAEUS published MUSEUM TESSINIANUM, opera Ill. Comitis C. G. TESSIN, Regis Regnique Senatoris, &c. &c. collectum. Holm. 1753, fol. pp. 90. tab. 12. This is a description of the cabinet of LINNAEUS'S first patron and great friend Count Tessin, at that time preceptor to the Prince Royal, now King of Sweden, who had spared no expence in collecting a rich museum, principally consisting of subjects in mineralogy, and particu­cularly abounding in fossils of the figured or ex­traneous kind. The work is in Swedish and Latin; [Page 53] and the tables represent several scarce and very valuable figured fossils, not to be seen elsewhere.

The petrifactions or figured fossils in this work, are arranged in four orders, founded on the dif­ferent modes of the formation of them.

1. Fossilia, commonly so called; shells, corals, animal remains, unchanged, except by being de­prived more or less of the connecting animal gluten.

2. Redintegrata. Earthy, stony, or chrystalline fossils, formed within any crustaceous or testaceous body, as in a mould; thus retaining the cast, without the external coat.

3. Impressa. Impressions only: as of fishes and capillary plants, or ferns, &c.

4. Transubstantiata. Perfect petrifactions, in which the original organic parts are perfectly filled up with stony particles, and retaining the exact structure, externally and internally, of the origi­nal body.

In 1754 was published MUSEUM REGIS ADOL­PHI Suecorum, &c. in quo Animalia rariora, imprimis et exotica Quadrupedia, Aves, Amphibia, Pisces, In­secta, Vermes describuntur et determinantur, Latine et Suetice. Fol. 1754, pp. 135. tab. 33. This splen­did volume is frequently referred to by our author in his Systema, on account of the figures of so many of the rarer serpents, and fishes, here engraven. Of the former there are 48 species, and of the lat­ter 32; specimens of which are all preserved in spirits in the royal museum; in the palace of Ulricksdahl.

The fame which our author had now acquired [Page 54] by his Systema Naturae, of which a sixth edition, much enlarged, had been published at Stockholm, in 1748, in 8 ^o, pp. 232, with eight tables, expla­natory of the classes and orders; and which was also republished by Gronovius at Leyden; had brought, as it were, a conflux of every thing rare and valuable in every branch of nature, from all parts of the globe, into Sweden. The king and queen of Sweden had their separate collections of rarities; the former at Ulricksdahl, as hath just been mentioned; the latter, very rich in exotic insects and shells, procured at a great expence, at the palace of Drottningholm. These our author was employed in arranging and describing. Be­sides these, the museum of the royal academy of Upsal had been augmented by a considerable do­nation from the king, whilst hereditary prince, in 1746; by another, from Count Gyllenborg, the year before; by a third, from M. Grill, an opulent citizen of Stockholm. The contents of these three collections are given in the first volume of the Amoenitates Academicae. We mention them here only to shew that LINNAEUS now began to enjoy ample resources in every branch of natural history at home; besides that many ingenious men, who had been educated under him, were now dispersed into various quarters of the globe; and that from their letters he received great intelligence and satisfaction. Seeds and specimens of plants were sent him from Siberia, by Gmelin; from America, by Dr. Mitchel and Governor Coldingham; from England, by Mr. COLLINSON; Mr. Ellis; as also from his friends in Holland, and various other parts [Page 55] of Europe. And thus it will be seen, that he be­gan scarcely to feel the disadvantages of his northern situation.

We shall now also begin to see the professor in a more elevated rank and situation in life. His reputation had already procured him ho­nours from almost all the Royal Societies in Eu­rope. Into the Imperial Academy, he had been very early received, and distinguished, according to the custom of that institution, with a classic name, having most aptly been called DIOSCORIDES secun­dus: and in the year 1753 he received this honour from the Royal Society of London; and his own sovereign, truly sensible of his merit, and greatly esteeming his character and abilities, favoured him with a mark of his distinction and regard, by creating him a KNIGHT of the POLAR STAR. It was now no longer Laudatur et alget. His emo­luments kept pace with his fame and honours; his practice in his profession became lucrative, and we find him soon after possessed of his country house and gardens at Hammarby, about five miles from Upsal. He had moreover received one of the most flattering testimonies of the extent and magnitude of his fame, that perhaps was ever shewn to any literary character, the state of the nation which conferred it, with all its circumstances, duly considered. This was an invitation to Ma­drid, from the king of Spain, there to preside as a naturalist, with the offer of an annual pension for life of 2000 pistoles, letters of nobility, and the perfect free exercise of his own religion. An offer not readily parallelled in the history of modern [Page 56] times! That he did not accept of it is cer­tain, having, after the most perfect acknowledg­ments of the singular honour done him, returned for answer, that, if he had any merits, they were due to his own country.

In the year 1755, the Royal Academy of Sciences at Stockholm honoured our professor with one of the first premiums, agreeably to the will of Count Sparre; who had decreed two gold medals, of ten ducats value each, to be annually given by the academy, to the authors of such papers, in the preceding year's Stockholm Acts, as should be ad­judged most useful in promoting agriculture par­ticularly, and all branches of rural oeconomy. This medal bore on one side, the arms of the Count, with this motto— Superstes in Scientiis amor FREDE­RICI SPARRE.—LINNAEUS obtained it in consequence of a paper de Plantis, quae Alpium Suecicarum in­digenae, magno rei oeconomicae et medicae emolumento fieri possint, and the ultimate intention was to re­commend these plants, as adapted to culture in Lapland. This paper was inserted in the Stockholm Acts for 1754. Vol. XV.

LINNAEUS also obtained the praemium centum au­reorum, proposed by the Imperial Academy of Sciences at Petersburgh, for the best paper written to establish, or disprove, by new arguments, the doc­trine of the sexes of plants. On this occasion the professor wrote his DISQUISITIO de quaestione ab Acad. Imper. Scient. Petrop. in annum 1759 pro praemio proposita: SEXUM PLANTARUM argumentis et experi­mentis novis, praeter adhuc jam cognita, vel corroborare vel impugnare, praemissa expositione historica et physica [Page 57] omnium Plantae partium, quae aliquid ad faecundationem et perfectionem seminis, et fructus conferre credun­tur; ab eadem Academia die 6 Sept. 1760, in con­ventu publico praemio ornata. Petrop. 1760, 4 ^o, pp. 32.

Apart from all foregoing arguments, facts, and experiments, brought in support of this question, the professor has in this little tract sufficiently proved, by a series of new facts, that the dust of the Antherae, analogically called the male parts, is absolutely necessary to be shed on the stigma or female part, in order to render the seed fertile. His theory of vegetation, prefixed to this paper, is explained more at large in the Prolepsis Planta­rum, printed in the 6th volume of the Amoenitates.

It was, if possible, an additional glory to LIN­NAEUS to have merited this premium from the Peters­burgh academy; inasmuch as a professor of that society, a few years before, had with more than common zeal, although with a futility like that of the other antagonists of our author, endeavoured to overturn the whole Linnaean system of botany, by attempting to shew that the doctrine of the sexes of plants, had no foundation in nature, and was unsupported by facts and experiments.

The great character of LINNAEUS, and that of his colleagues, particularly of Rosen, in the medical departments, and their united endea­vours, had very considerably raised the credit of the university of Upsal, as we have before ob­served. It is certain, that the number of stu­dents are, at this time, nearly double what they are said to have been in accounts written 30 and [Page 58] 40 years ago. The emulation excited among the students amply rewarded those gentlemen for their pains, by the vast harvest of useful information flowing in, particularly on the subjects of natural history, from their pupils, now dispersed in every part of the world. Many of these young men, after being properly grounded in the principles of physic, had, with an ardour which nothing but the strongest love of science could inspire, volun­tarily undertaken the most distant and perilous voyages, supported by the munificence of parti­cular patrons or societies, to gratify their taste in the pursuits of natural history, and other useful knowledge. Several of these young men perish­ed, from change of climate, or various other causes, and much of the fruit of their labour was lost with them. Such was the fate of Ternströem, at Pulicandor, in 1745; of Hasselquist, who went into Aegypt and Palestine, and died at Smyrna, in 1752; of Loefling, who died in Cumana, in 1756. Of the first of these we have no remains. The papers of Hasselquist were redeemed by the queen of Sweden, and published by LINNAEUS, under the title of ITER PALAESTINUM, in 1757, in 8 ^o; and those of Loefling, under the title of ITER HISPANICUM, in 1758; to each of which is pre­fixed a short account of the author. We have also the fruit of Kalm's journey in N. America, and of the voyage of Osbeck and Toren, who both went chap­lains to Swedish East India ships. These are here mentioned particularly, as they are all translated, and published since in the English language. We yet deplore the more recent fate of Forskal, and his [Page 59] unfortunate associates, in Arabia, and the more so, since his posthumous pieces, published at Copen­hagen in 1775, are sufficient to convince us, that the fruit of that expedition would have been rich and large, had it not been so unfortunately blasted.

There were also several others, who made less remote journies for the same purpose; such were L. Montin, who visited Lula-Lapmark in 1749; M. Koehler, who travelled into the southern part of Italy in 1752; Dr. SOLANDER, who visited Pitho-Lapmark, and Torno-Lapmark, in 1753, where he made several discoveries, and brought back divers rare plants, and other subjects in natural history, which had escaped the diligence of his great master; D. Rolander, who visited Surinam and St. Eustatia, in 1755; A. R. Martin, who searched Greenland in 1758, as C. Alstroëmer did the southern parts of Europe in 1760. We do not mention others, who re-visited the isle of Gothland in 1752 and 1760, after Linnaeus's own tour into that place.

The travels of these gentlemen afforded great sources of information, and furnished ma­terials for our author, that proved very favour­able to the last editions of his Systema Naturae, and Species Plantarum: insomuch, that we shall see him exemplifying, in a much more perfect and de­tailed manner, his System of Nature.

This work, as far as respected the vegetable kingdom, had been separately and largely exhi­bited, as before mentioned, in the Genera Plan­tarum, and the species given in the several Florae of [Page 60] our author, and finally in the Species Plantarum. As yet, however, although it had passed through nine editions, little more had appeared in the ani­mal kingdom than the generical characters, with a single specific name; insomuch that the ninth edition at Leyden, in 1756, was contained in a small octavo of 226 pages. This it must be ob­served notwithstanding, was only a republication of the author's sixth edition in 1748. The scheme therefore cannot be considered as perfected by the author, until the publication of the 10th edition, in 1758, the first part of which, relating to the animal kingdom, makes a volume of 821 pages; and the same part, in the 12th and last edition, is augmented by the addition of new subjects to 1327 pages. This work therefore, published in two volumes at Stockholm, in 1766 and 1767, is to be considered as having received the author's finishing hand, as far as possible, since he pro­fesses to describe only such animals as had fallen under his own inspection, except in some instances, where his dependence upon other authority ren­dered it justifiable. The title of this enlarged edition runs thus:

SYSTEMA NATURAE per regna tria Naturae secun­dum classes, ordines, genera et species, cum charac­teribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Holm. 1766, I. 1767, II. 1768, III.