282 THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSULTING THE BIAS OF YOUTH 



sentiment in the case of Linneus, youthful propensities are often too 

 capricious or unreasonable to justify parents in yielding to inclina- 

 tions not less unequivocally expressed than in the instance in ques- 

 tion. Nor should it be concealed that Botany, besides holding out 

 no immediate or remote hopes of subsistence or honour, was not by 

 any means regarded, at the period and place alluded to, even among 

 th© learned, with that respect, as a science, which the labours and 

 fame of Linneus and of other modern cultivators have secured for it. 



Honoured, however, be the name of the man who rescued talents 

 so promising from the degradation which the father of Linneus was 

 thiis persuaded to think advisable and necessary. The venerable 

 minister was grieved and vexed that so much time should have been 

 spent, as he thought, to so unprofitable a purpose, and that his in- 

 come, limited as it was, should have been burdened with expenses 

 which had proved so useless and unavailing. Whilst under the influ- 

 ence of these feelings he had occasion to consult Rothman, an emi- 

 nent physician, and professor of medicine in the college of Wexio, 

 respecting a complaint with which he had for some time been trou- 

 bled. After describing his symptoms, he could not refrain from 

 telling the professor, in the fulness of his heart, the sad and painful 

 disappointment which he had recently suffered, and which threaten- 

 ed to dispel, in a moment, the bright visions of hope that had hi- 

 therto promised to cheer the evening of his days. Rothman was 

 much interested by the recital, and told his patient that he could 

 not only effect his restoration to health of body, but that he could 

 also, in that instance at least, " minister to a mind diseased." He 

 said that if the sciences to which the youth had devoted himself 

 disqualified him for theological studies, his diligence and taste held 

 out an assurance that in medicine he would become useful and emi- 

 nent, and that he would ultimately distinguish himself in the wide, 

 but almost untrodden, field of Natural History. So confident was 

 Rothman of the correctness of these views and expectations that, to 

 remove all scruple and uneasiness from the mind of his father, he 

 generously offered to take the young outcast into his own house and 

 under his own especial charge, during the remainder of his term at 

 the gymnasium. This promise he punctually performed, and, in 

 addition, gave him private lessons in Physiology, and explained to 

 him the principles of the Tournefortian System of Botany, which 

 was then universally and, considering the state of science, deservedly 

 popular. 



Thus, through the penetration and benevolence of Dr. Rothman, 

 the prospect of a new career was opened before Linneus,. and he 



