90 THROUGH THE FIELDS WITH LINNAEUS 



Linnaeus's especial ambition, the dream of his life, and 

 his friend Count Tessin warmly recommended him to 

 Count Gyllenborg, the chancellor of the university. But 

 Rosen had a prior claim he had been at Upsala the 

 longest, and from his merits, for he was a worthy rival 

 to Linnaeus, it was impossible to pass him over ; and 

 even Linnaeus admitted the justice of the claim. 



Linnaeus was promised the next vacancy, which 

 must occur soon, in view of Professor Roberg's advanced 

 age, and Rosen obtained the coveted chair of botany. 

 Linnaeus, with his softened heart and enlarged views, 

 was able to allow that people, including even Rosen, 

 4 may be better than we fancy, and have more in them 

 than we fancy.' 



War began, and in his position as naval physician 

 Linnaeus feared that he should have to attend the fleet ; 

 but for the present he only remained attached to the 

 hospital at Stockholm. His departure at one time 

 seemed so imminent that it seems to have been his 

 reason for sending or taking his wife to the care of her 

 father at Falun. On January 20, 1741, his eldest son 

 Carl was born at Falun, and in the spring of this year 

 an order came from the Academy of Sciences for 

 Linnaeus to go and explore the islands of Oland and 

 Gothland on behalf of the Government, and make a full 

 report upon them their products, capabilities, and their 

 natural history in general with a view to advancing 

 the home manufactures. 



The family returned, accompanied probably by a 



