ADANSON’S DEATH. : 97

the Invitation, as he had not shoes. The Minister
of the Interior granted him a pension.

Adanson died in 1806, cherishing to the last
the hope of seeing his great work completed.
Surely from such an original must Walter Scott’s
gardener Abbot have been drawn. My readers
will recall the scene in the cottage of the old man
on the night of Queen Mary’s escape from Loch-
leven, and will remember his pettish reply to her
profters of remuneration :— May it please your
Grace, if your Grace’s servants have occupied my
house so that I could not call it my own; if they
have trodden down my flowers in the zeal of their
midnight comings and gvings, and destroyed the
hope of the fruit-season by bringing their war-
horses into my garden, I do but crave of your
Grace in requital, that you will choose your resi-
dence as far from me as possible. I am an old
man, who would willingly creep to my grave as
easily as I can, in peace, good will, and quiet
labour.”