290 THROUGH THE FIELDS WITH LINN^US 



becoming dignity. How fine is the view of Amsterdam 

 seen beyond the watery landscape on entering the city 

 by the Y, and how profuse is the distribution of gold 

 jewellery among the well-to-do womenfolk ! Alas for 

 these poor young doctors, who can hardly muster a 

 stiver between them, and who cannot even exercise 

 their new profession for want of knowing Dutch! 

 They must look out for learned patients who can con- 

 verse fluently of their ailments in the Latin tongue. 

 A poor prospect for Linnaeus. 



The pressing questions are, How can he work his 

 passage home to Sweden ? and How will his Elizabeth's 

 papa receive him when he gets there ? He faced both 

 questions like a man. It seems Class Sohlberg had cash 

 enough left to go home with, for we hear no more of him, 

 nor of any difficulty in his finances. Probably a remit- 

 tance awaited him at Amsterdam. Linnaeus may not have 

 been so good a man of business as Sohlberg, but then he 

 had more to do and to see wherever he went, and sight- 

 seeing in towns involves fees. Perhaps, too, he was 

 more unskilful in paying and giving away. Goldsmith, 

 writing in 1759, 'Would you believe that in Sweden 

 highway robberies are not so much as heard of? For 

 my part, I have not seen in the whole country a gibbet 

 nor a gallows ! ' Linnaeus, used to his own truthful 

 people, was possibly often taken in. 



