MEMOIR OF LINN^US. S3 



commenced the foundation of several of his works, the 

 Bibliotheca Botanica, Classes et Genera Plantarum. 



Thirty-six years before this time, Professor Rudbeck 

 had been employed, by the command of Charles XL, 

 to make the tour of Lapland, but the whole fruits of 

 that expedition had been destroyed in the dreadful fire 

 at Upsala in 1702. The Royal Academy again medi- 

 tated the design of fitting out a second expedition, and 

 the friends of Linnaeus had sufficient interest to procure 

 his appointment to the laborious undertaking of ex- 

 ploring Lapland. They could not have entrusted it to 

 any one better qualified ; and although agriculture and 

 botany were the branches to which he was required 

 principally to direct his attention, he omitted nothing 

 which could improve his knowledge of the country, its 

 productions, and inhabitants. 



On account of the season, the journey could not be 

 commenced before the spring, and Linnseus did not set 

 out till the 13th May 1732. He commenced the 

 journey in high spirits, and in love with nature ; tra- 

 velled on horseback, and carried his whole baggage on 

 his back. It may be worth while to describe his dress 

 and implements in his own words, from the narrative 

 laid before the Academy of Sciences. " My clothes 

 consisted of a light coat of West-Gothland linsey- 

 woolsey cloth, without folds, lined with red shalloon, 

 having small cuffs and collar of shag ; leather breeches, 

 a round wig, a green leather cap, and a pair of half 

 boots. I carried a small leathern bag half an ell in 

 length, but somewhat less in breadth, furnished on one 



