36 MEMOIR OF LINNAEUS. 



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He set out, therefore, to the great Swedish mining 

 districts, to improve his knowledge in mineralogy, and 

 the art of assaying ; and at Fahlun was introduced to 

 the Baron Reuterholm, Governor of Delarne, by whom 

 he was employed to investigate the productions of the 

 province. For this purpose he was accompanied by 

 seven young men, whom he superintended ; to each a 

 distinct department was assigned, and a report was 

 given in at the end of every day's journey, according 

 to written rules which had been prepared before start- 

 ing. The mountains of Dalecarlia were twice explored, 

 and a part of Norway, and the materials collected 

 formed the Iter Dalecarlium, a work which never 

 seems to have been printed under the superintendence 

 of its authors. 



On his return, he was introduced to Dr Moreus, an 

 eminent physician, and being often at his house, be- 

 came deeply enamoured with his eldest daughter. Her 

 father thought well of Linnaeus, but not of his pro- 

 spects in life : he wavered in giving his consent to the 

 union "vojuit et noluit," expressively writes Linnaeus 

 to a friend and ultimately decided that a probation of 

 three years should be undergone, when his decision 

 would be given. All the efforts of the naturalist 

 were -now turned to that of bettering his condition in 

 life. Medicine was chosen as a profession, but for 

 this a degree must be acquired, and he resolved to 

 proceed to the university of Harderwick. He travel- 

 led by Hamburgh, through Holland, to the place of 

 his destination ; and at the former place, had nearly 



