C 9 ] 



to fupply himfelf began to diminidi, and in lefs than a 

 year his wants became fo oppreflive, that he was con- 

 flrained to fubfift on whatever precarious fupport acci- 

 dent or the kindnefs of his fellow (ludents afforded him. 



So wretchedly abje£t; wei:e his circumftances at one time, 

 that he covered hirnfelf with the caft-ofF clothes of his 

 more wealthy companions, and himfelf mended the old 

 flioes which were given him with the bark of trees. 

 Yet in this penury and diftrefs the vigour of his minci 

 was never depreffed, nor his piety leflened. In his pub- 

 lic oration on entering the office of profellbr, he offers 

 humble thanks to his Maker, that in all his difficulties 

 and under the fevereft preffure of poverty, the influence 

 of divine providence had guarded and fupported him. 



At this time Olaus Celfius, principal profelFor in 

 divinity, and whom Linnaeus afterwards defcribes in a 

 letter to Baron Haller as the only true botanift in Sweden, 

 returned from Stockholm to Upfal. Accidentally firid- 

 ing LinncEus in the botanici^l garden, he \yas ftruck with 

 the uncommon learning and accuracy of his obfervati^jnSj 

 heard of his diftreiTes and inofFenfive mode of life, and 

 received him into his houfe. The advantages of this 

 conne£lion were mutual. Linnseus was removed from 

 poverty and want, kindly cherifiied by his protector, 

 had the ufe of one of the moft valuable libraries in 

 Sweden^ and opportunities of converfing with the moft 

 learned men: Celfius was then preparing his Hiero- 



VOL. vir. — Z z 



