bo o k . <t anc| often favoured us w i t h occafional inftruttions. During
. A . o our unrelirained intercourse, he would frequently burftdnto
t< loud fits of laughter; his countenance would brighten with
a pfeafure; and his mind would expand with a degree of
cc opennefs and freedom, which ihowed his natural inclina-
“ tion to fociablenefs and friendfhip. Not lefs joyous was our
u country life. We dwelled in a peafant’s cottage at a fmall
“ diftance from his habitation. Linnaeus in fummer gene-
cc ¡-ally rofe at four*; would frequently call upon us at fix;
“ and, having breakfaifed, would read ledtures upon the Or-
tc dines naturales plantarum until ten. Then we attended
« Lim to the neighbouring rocks, where he had fufficient
“ employment in defcribing and detailing their different pro-
ci dactions till mid-day, the ufual hour of his dinner , after
u which we repaired to his houfe, and paffed the evening in
“ his company.
ii Every Sunday we received a vifit from Linnaeus and his
“ whole family; on which occafion we always provided a
<c peafant who played upon a kind o f violin, and danced in
“ the barn with infinite fatisfadlion. In truth, though our
“ ball was not very fplendid, our fociety not numerous, our
“ mufick not fuper-excellent, our minuets and Poliih dances
“ not diverfified, yet we amufed ourfelves not a little. The
“ old man, who generally fat fmoking his pipe with my
“ friend Zoega, and looked on, would now and then ftart up
“ and join himfelf in a Poliih dance, in which he far fur-
“ paffed the youngeft of the- company. Thofe days and
“ hours will never be forgotten by me, but will always be
“ recolledted with pleafore.”
* “ In fummer,” fays D r . B a c k , “ he “ ceived h im fe lf fa tigu e d w ith too much
m
”“ u fu a lly flep t on ly from to to 3 ; and in “ ap plication, h e 'tfo ittcd Ins ftu d y , and re-
“ winter from 9 to 6 . W h en e ve r he per - “ lieved h im fe lf w ith fo c ie ty . Linnseus
“ Linnseus Was fmall in ftature, and appeared ffill ihorter CHAP-
fl from a habit of Hooping. He was thin, but well made ; 1— »— i
“ and when I knew him, age had already begun to mark his
“ forehead with wrinkles. His countenance was open ; al-
“ moil always ferene ; and his eyes were the moil expref-
“ five I ever beheld : they Were fmall indeed, but lively and
“ piercing beyond defcriptioh ; I do not recoiled! their co-
“ lour, but their glances would now and then penetrate and
“ read my very foul. The engraving prefixed to the Species.
“ Vlaiitarum is 'a very ftriking referrjblance o f him. His •
<( mind was noble; his undefftanding was quick and acute.
“ His great pre-eminence confifted in the regular connedtion
“ of his ideas'; and all his words and adtions were orderly and
“ fyftematick. In his youth his memory was ftrong, but be-
“ gafi to fail at a very early period o f his life. I perceived
gj feveral inftances of his not being able to remember the
“ names of his nearell acquaintance ; and once in particular
“ found him in great diftrefs, having juft written a letter to
“ his father-in-law, whofe name he had abfo'lutely forgotten-
“ His heart was open to every impreffion of jo y ; lie
“ loved pleafantry, and was fond of fociety; an excellent
8 companion; cheerful and agreeable in his converiation ;.
“ of fanciful w i t ; and pofleffed a happy talent o f introduc-
“ ing and applying appofite anecdotes. His paffions were
“ llrong and violent; he was hafty and cholerick, bnt foon
“ appeafed. His friendlhips were warifi and unalterable,.
“ and more particularly to his favourite fcholars ; his attach-
“ ment was always founded upon a love o f fcience ; he was
“ fo fortunate as to experience few inftances o f ingratitude ;
“ ^nd it is well'known with what zeal his difciples returned
“ his friendfhip, and how frequently they engaged in his
“ defence.
u Though