MEMOIR OF LINNAEUS. 75 



for a beloved study ; returning to his native land 

 the most accomplished botanist of his age; and 

 finally having all his wishes crowned by being 

 elevated to the chair he most coveted, and one of 

 the highest honours to which, in Sweden, a man of 

 science can aspire. There he reigned supreme, 

 exercising an influence over the world of science 

 unparalleled since the days of Aristotle. In the 

 ancient halls of the Northern Athens he devoted 

 himself exclusively to his professional labours, with- 

 out mixing with court intrigues, or taking any 

 share in the political events which then agitated 

 Europe. He acquired wealth without selling his 

 independence, and fame without tarnishing the re- 

 putation of others. 



In bringing this Memoir to a close, it may perhaps 

 gratify the reader to select a few anecdotes illus- 

 trating some passages in hislife, which have been 

 only briefly alluded to in the foregoing pages. Of 

 his journey to Lapland some notice has been taken ; 

 but it is scarcely possible, without reading the tour 

 itself, to form an idea of the fatigues and privations 

 he encountered. In his journal for the month of 

 June 1732, he gives the following account of his 

 adventures in attempting to penetrate the country 

 beyond the river Umea: 



" On Sunday I left Lycksele, taking with me 

 only three loaves of bread and some rein-deer 

 tongues by way of provision. I presumed that I 

 should procure among the Laplanders flesh of the 



