68 BIOGRAPHIES OF SCIENTIFIC MEN 



Linnaeus there was little or no attempt to illuminate 

 the science of botany from the standpoint of evolution. 

 Advance, however, in this direction was commenced late 

 in the Victorian reign. 



In 1730 Linnaeus was appointed Lecturer on Botany 

 at Upsala. The vivacity and novelty of his lectures 

 charmed his audiences, and he was greatly esteemed by 

 the college authorities. 



The Royal Academy of Sciences sent Linnseus to 

 collect the flora and fauna of Lapland, and on 17th May, 

 1732, at the age of twenty-five, he started on his ever 

 memorable journey with only ten pounds. Riding and 

 walking were the modes of conveyance. Hardships and 

 difficulties surrounded him ; rivers, bogs, forests, and want 

 of food, however, did not stop his enthusiasm. " Nothing 

 ventured, nothing won." Trees, shrubs, herbs, animals, 

 mountains, etc., became the objects of his observation and 

 attention. He used to rest his weary limbs in Laplanders* 

 huts. It can be well imagined that the journey was a 

 lonely and perilous one, when it is borne in mind that 

 Lapland in those days comprised only thirty-two scattered 

 villages. 



Linnaeus travelled over four thousand miles, and 

 brought back to Sweden over a hundred plants previously 

 unknown. He also studied the fauna and inhabitants of 

 this inhospitable country ; and in 1748 he published a 

 book on his travels. 



