MEMOIR OF LINN^US. 43 



holm, where he commenced practising as a physician, 

 but met with much opposition, on account of his 

 botanical studies. His perseverance, however, suc- 

 ceeded, and he obtained extensive practice. Writing 

 to a friend, he says, " I am undeservedly got into so 

 much practice, that from seven o'clock in the morning 

 till eight in the evening, I have not even time to take 

 a short dinner." He beeame acquainted with Captain 

 Triewald, who was endeavouring to establish an 

 Academy of Sciences ; and in conjunction with this 

 gentleman and the Baron Hbpken, a society of some 

 note was instituted, the presidency of which devolved 

 upon himself. This was the origin of the present 

 Academy of Stockholm. By the interest of one of its 

 members, he was soon afterwards appointed physician 

 to the navy ; and with a fixed salary, he was chosen 

 to give public lectures upon botany and mineralogy. 



By these lucrative appointments, and the money he 

 had saved during his residence in Holland, he was 

 now in a situation of comparative independence, and 

 was enabled formally to apply to Dr Moreus for the 

 hand of his daughter ; and no plea for rejection now 

 existing, Linnaeus was united to Sarah Elizabeth 

 Morea, on the 26'th of June 1739. 



Our illustrious naturalist might now be said to have 

 reached the height of his earthly happiness ; indepen- 

 dent in his. circumstances at peace, and beloved by 

 his family, and looked up to and honoured by the 

 heads of sciences in Europe. " He was not, how- 

 *ver/' says one of his biographers, " destined to 



