SIR CHARLES LINNiEUS. 13 



number of stamina or dust-threads, and the pistilla 

 or dustways. From this work his system first dated. 



The Royal Academy of Sciences, at whose sugges- 

 tion he had made this journey, gave him very little 

 encouragement on his return. They generously 

 elected him an academician, but did not amend the 

 insignificant allowance which they had made towards 

 his expenses. Shortly after his return to Upsala he 

 commenced to give lectures ; but the success of these 

 led to a complaint being made to the heads of the 

 college that it was against the charter of the university 

 that lectures should be given by any but those who 

 had obtained the fidl academical degree. This 

 opposition to Linnseus was carried to such an extent 

 that, enraged and baffled, it was on one occasion 

 only the interposition of the bystanders which pre- 

 vented him from using his sword on the body of 

 his chief opponent. 



His situation became trying and critical. A few 

 fellow- students rallied round him, and in 1733 they 

 resolved to visit some of the mountainous regions 

 of the country, and placed Linnaeus at their head. 

 Mineralogy was to be their especial study ; and at 

 Fahlun, noted for its rich copper mines, he was intro- 

 duced to Baron Eeuterholm, the governor of the 

 province, who delighted in studies of nature. He 

 grew fond of Linnaeus, and eventually placed his 

 two sons under his care during a travelling tour which 

 the baron wished them to undertake. A few other 

 young nobles joined them, and each had assigned to 

 him a particular and separate branch of observation. 



