258 THROUGH THE FIELDS WITH LINNAEUS 



friends and relations, 1 in preparing his academical dis- 

 sertations, and arranging the collections of his materials 

 of reform, which he considered his most valuable 

 treasures, Linnaeus at the age of twenty-eight began, 

 in April 1735, his travels in foreign countries the 

 Wander jahr which ' ancient custom rendered necessary, 

 and which became pleasant by the happy prospects of 

 his further improvement and the enterprises he had 

 planned.' He was not one of those who wait to do 

 great things till they are rich and have time. 



It seems from what Stoever says, that Linnaeus could 

 not resist making a hurried farewell visit to Falun. I 

 fancy Elizabeth forgave him this pardonable misuse of 

 some of her copper dollars. 



1 So says Pulteney, but as Stoever asserts he left Falun in April, 

 and as we know he visited Stenbrohult in his southward journey, it 

 is most probable he spent the winter in Upsala, as he went there to 

 look after his Wrede pension, which, he says, his enemies caused 

 him to lose. 





