200 LINNiEUS. 



who had received assistance from the government, 

 and had become able practitioners. The young na- 

 turalist readily believed the representations of one 

 who had taken so much interest in him, and re- 

 solved to follow his advice. At setting out, his 

 father gave him a sum of money equivalent to 

 about £8 sterling ; informing him at the same time 

 that he could do no more for him. 



With this slender provision Charles proceeded 

 to the University of Upsal, where, although he had 

 no reason to expect a kind reception, he hoped at 

 least to obtain more ample means of scientific re- 

 search. The professors, however, were not such as 

 they had been represented, nor did any of them 

 show the smallest attention to the poor student. 

 Before he had been a year there his pecuniary re- 

 sources failed ; so that he was in a manner cast upon 

 the charity of his companions, among whom he was 

 glad to accept an occasional meal, and even a worn- 

 out article of clothing. The old shoes which they gave 

 him, he was often obliged to mend with pasteboard 

 and birch-bark before he could render them tole- 

 rably efiicient. He now found reason to sigh for 

 the comfortable home which he had left at Lund ; 

 but to it he could not return, for as he had quitted 

 his benefactor Stobaeus abruptly, and without so 

 much as apprizing him of his intentions, he justly 

 dreaded his displeasure. Aware that he could not 

 obtain aid from his father, destitute of friends, and 

 even of the hope of procuring a livelihood by the ex- 

 ertion of his talents, he was reduced to the extre- 

 mity of indigence : yet he despaired not ; nature had 

 at all times charms to support his spirits ; he strug- 

 gled with his fate and conquered. On an important 



