THE KNIGHT OF THE POLAR STAR 317 



3, 1758. He received from Count Tessin the 

 handsome gold medal struck in honour of the lately 

 published ' Systema Naturae,' with the inscription 

 ILLUSTRAT and three crowns symbolising the three 

 kingdoms of Nature. 



His days were still ' marked for what they brought, 

 not for what they took away.' 



' 1759. My only son was appointed demonstrator in 

 Upsala garden. During the autumn term I was rector, 1 

 their Majesties and Prince Gustaf, with the princess, 

 visited the university, and I made an oration ' 2 (in 

 Swedish). The king delighted to honour him, and 

 came expressly to Upsala to distinguish him in his 

 office as rector. 



4 1760-1. Large fees came in from the Demidoffs 

 and other Russians.' 



c It having been understood in the Diet that Linnaeus 

 possessed the art of making pearls, he was ordered to 

 attend, and discovered the whole art, for which he 

 received from Bagge, merchant at Gothenburg, 1,800 

 copper dollars ' 3 (520/.). Pulteney says 1,800 dollars is 

 about 440?. The secret passed by inheritance to Oscar 

 Dickson, the present great Gothenburg merchant. 



Linnaeus was now a rich man, so careful was his 

 Elizabeth, who even grudged postage, I fear. He could 

 afford to buy himself the possession which was as a 

 vision of paradise in the days of his poverty at Upsala 

 the rocky ground and woods which protect the fertile 



1 It seems for the third time. 2 Diary. Ibid. 



