LINNEUS OF TORNEA.

It is an observation that has not I think been unfrequently made, that it is the honour of a nation to distinguish and reward those of her subjects who have distinguished themselves, by rising above the ordinary standard of attainment in any of the Arts and Sciences. Professor Smith has observed, that "in Sweden, Natural History is the study of the schools in which men rise to pre

ferment, and there are no people with more acute, or better regulated minds than the Swedes.

Dr. Clarke in his travels met with an interesting youth of whom he records the following anecdote, which will serve to confirm the above observation, and is an illustration in point of fact, to show how the love of such pursuits affected a young and friendless Swede, who has been styled by a friend of science, "The young Linnæus of Tornea." Dr. Walker describes the town of Tornea, as being situated at the northern extremity of the gulf of Bothnia,

on a small island at the mouth of the river of Tornea. The Laplanders, Russians, and Norwegians resort hither to barter their skins and other things for what they want. In one of the churches which is built of timber, Divine service is performed. in the Swedish language, and in another, on an island near the town, built with stone, the service is performed in the Finnean language. Tornea is said to be the oldest town in the Country. This young Swede is thus introduced to us by Dr. Clarke.— "We had sent to the apothecary of the place for a few jars of the conserved berries of the rubus articus. They were brought

by a boy without either shoes or stockings, who, having executed his master's orders, began to cast a longing eye towards the books of plants which we were engaged in turning over, being then busied in arranging our specimens, when' to our astonishment, he named every one of them as fast as they appeared, giving to each of them with great accuracy, its Linnæan appellation. This extraordinary youth, with whom we soon became better acquainted, was the dutiful son of a poor widow named Pyppon, living at Uleaborg, who having bestowed upon her child the best education she could afford, had

placed him as an apprentice to this apothecary."

The apothecary had himself a turn for natural history, but did not choose that his little pupil, should quit the pestle and mortar, for the pursuits of botany and entomology: "it interrupted", as he said, and perhaps very truly, "the business of his shop." The consequence was that this young Linnæus carried on his studies unknown to his master, concealing his books and plants, and rising every morning before three o'clock, that he might snatch a few stolen hours from the duties of his profession,

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