LINNEZAN ADDRESS—GREENE. 693 
soon to be able to give to the public. At Fahlun he won the esteem 
and friendship of the Rev. Johan Browallius, at that time private 
chaplain to a certain nobleman, subsequently a professor at the Uni- 
versity of Abo, and Lutheran bishop of that diocese. This man 
urged Linneus to circumvent his powerful antagonist at Upsala 
by going abroad, and taking his degree in medicine at some foreign 
university. Following this counsel, Linneeus, in the beginning of 
the year 1735, sailed for Germany and the Netherlands, taking with 
him a finished medical thesis for presentation at some school of medi- 
cine and also the manuscripts of several books of botany. Before the 
end of June he had passed the examinations, successfully defended 
his thesis, and obtained the degree of doctor of medicine; this at 
Hardewyk in Holland. 
The primary object of his trip abroad having been attained, there 
were reasons why he might have been expected to take advantage 
of the first opportunity that should present itself for his return to 
Sweden. Before leaving his native land Linneus had acquired what 
is said to be easily gained by even a poor young man when he 
happens to be of good presence, polite accomplishments, and some 
personal magnetism; he had provided himself with a rich and elderly 
prospective father-in-law. Said prospective father-in-law had re- 
turned the compliment by providing Linnzus with some traveling 
funds and the needful university fees. Before bidding’ the pros- 
pective son-in-law farewell, Doctor Morzus, as if endowed with some 
of that wisdom that men say comes with years, and as if doubting 
that the prospective bride would surely speed the young man’s early 
return, enjoined it upon him that he must come back and begin the 
practice of medicine, whensoever he should have gained the doctorate. 
But that which had long been uppermost in Linneeus’s mind had 
been, not medicine, but systematic botany. In the direction of the 
latter all his ambition led him. The manuscripts of what he hoped 
would be immortal books of botany—and they became such—he had 
brought with him. No one in Sweden would have published them. 
In Germany, in Holland, and in France there were many and 
splendid botanical establishments, and several learned botanical pro- 
fessors of world-wide fame. His books if published must have the 
approval of these in order to insure for them success. He must see 
these men, ingratiate himself with them personally, show them his 
manuscripts, discuss with them the merits of his system, for it was 
new, and in its leading characteristics altogether revolutionary. 
His money was now almost all gone, but what of that? He had 
often been in such straits before, but some provision had always 
hitherto been made for him. 
Levden was the seat of what, at the time, was the most celebrated 
university in Holland, and, for botanical gardens and botanical celeb- 
