58 GAEL LINN^US. 



truth, Linnaeus's financial prospects were not 

 bright. The University of Upsala did not want 

 him, and there seemed to be no hope of writing 

 or publishing his books on botany. But a man 

 usually achieves little, who does not fight his 

 way at every step. Now, indeed, for love's sake 

 he must make his mark. 



After saving about fifteen pounds he decided 

 to go to Germany, and take his doctor's degree; 

 but first he must visit his home, out of which his 

 beloved mother had gone at forty-five. " Alas ! 

 alas, my mother ! " was all he could say as the 

 tears fell fast upon her grave. She had witnessed 

 his poverty and his heroism ; she was not to witness 

 his great renown. 



At Hamburg he spent a month, receiving civili- 

 ties from many scientific men. He showed his 

 good sense in feeling in no wise humiliated be- 

 cause he was poor, a valuable lesson for poor young 

 men and women to learn. At Leyden, good for- 

 tune came to him. Dr. Gronovius was so pleased 

 with the manuscript of his " Systema Naturae " that 

 he requested to publish it at his own expense. By 

 his adyice, Carl waited upon the celebrated physi- 

 cian, Boerhaave, and after eight days gained ad- 

 mittance. So famous was this man that when the 

 Emperor of China sent a letter to "Boerhaave, the 

 famous physician in Europe," it easily reached him. 

 He advised a rich banker, Mr. Clifford, to have 

 Linnaeus describe his magnificent collection of 

 plants, and to send him to England and elsewhere, 



