Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London - University Library

28 PEOCBBDIISIGS OF THE
and am happy that Sweden appears satisfied with what I have
done for the iionour of Linnaeus and for the science to which I
have devoted myself, in humble imitation of that great man.
" I believe I am possessed of manuscripts of his own explaining
the secret of producing pearls. I have also in his own cabinet of
shells specimens of pearls so produced, and of the muscle-shells,
in various states upon whicli experiments have been made. I
have no intention of carrying on the scheme— still less of paying
c£500 for any further information, nor, in short, of entering at all
on the subject, for which I have no leisure.
" I return you my best thanks for the trouble you have already
taken, but beg you will take no more on my account.
" I am, Sir,
" Your very obedient servant,
J. E. Smith."
Linnaeus wrote, on Peb. 6th, 1761, "I have heard of people
existing who pretended to make gold, but never of anyone who
could produce pearls,"—and again, " I have with infinite care taken
pains to explore the cause of pearls being generated and how
nature proceeds to accomplish it."
In thinking that no one else before that time had produced
pearls Linnaeus was apparently wrong, as we find that in his own
country a decade earlier, between 1751 and 1754, a certain Inspector
Frederic Hedenberg was paid a salary to inoculate the pearl
mussels of Lulea in Lappmark with " pearl-seeds," which he manufactured,
and then re-plant the mussels. Certain pearls were
produced by the Inspector which it is recorded were sold for some
300 silver dollars.
Linnaeus's first experiments with pearls date back, however, to a
still earlier period, for in the 2nd vol. of Linnaeus's Correspondence,
published by Sir J. E. Smith (p. 428), there is a letter from
Linnaeus to Haller, dated Upsala, 13th Sept. 1748, saying: "At
length I ha\'e ascertained the manner in which pearls originate
and grow in shells ; and 1 am able to produce in any mother-ofpearl
shell that can be held in the band, in the course of 5 or
6 years, a pearl as large as the seed of a common vetch.''
To this the Editor appends the remarks :
" ' Eor this discovery the illustrious author was splendidly re-
warded by the States of the Kingdom.'—Haller."
" Specimens of pearls so produced by art in the Mya margaritifera
are in the Linnsean Cabinet. The shell appears to have been
pierced by flexible wires, the ends of which perhaps remain
therein."
J. P. Bagge says in regard to the above remark by Sir J. Smith
" This is the nearest I have seen anyone come to truth, but still
it will be remarked by reading the Seci'et that more information is
required to enable persons to practise the art."
Herr Bagge, in a MS. entitled "Statement," tells how his
grandfather, being otherw-ise occupied, made no use of the
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