[ .2 ] 



to foar above the common termination of academical 

 ftudies, and to be lifted into the regions of fancy and 

 invention. At this time he compofed the firft rudiment, 

 of his immortal fyftem, under the title of Nuptiae plan- 

 tarum ; and his Hortus Uplandicus, or enumeration ef 

 plants in the feveral Svvedifh gardens, for the ufe of the 

 pupils. He had likewife during his flay at Upfal form- 

 ed a friend(hip with Artedi, afterwards fo celebrated for 

 his fkill in ichthyology ; a friendfhip which fimilarity of 

 fortunes and purfuits had faRened with its firmeft bonds. 



In the year 1731, the royal academy of fciences at 

 Upfal determined to fend a perfon, properly qualified, to 

 examine the natural productions of the wild and exten- 

 five regions of Lapland. This had already been done 

 under the aufpices of Charles XI. by the elder Olaus 

 Celfius: but the whole of his collections and manu- 

 fcripts, together with his intended Campi Elifii, except 

 two folio volumes w^hich were afterwards publifhed by 

 Dr. Smith under the denoftiination of Reliquiae Rud* 

 beckian^e, were deflroyed by the great fire at Upfal in 

 the year 1702. This appointment was given to Lin- 

 naeus, at the recommendation of Profeflbrs Celfius and 

 Rudbeck. 



Upon the return of the following fpring, after 

 having vifited his parents and his old benefactor Stobasus, 

 Linnaeus prepared to adventure upon this dangerous and 

 unknown journey: and in the beginning of May, fur- 



