310 RAMBLES OP A NATURALIST. 



de Tessin *, he was appointed physician to the king in 

 1739, and was at length enabled to marry the young 

 girl, who had divined his genius, and secured his 

 glory. 



In 1741, Linnaeus was named Professor of Botany at 

 the University of Upsala, where the high character of 

 his lectures and of the works which he soon published, 

 attracted a crowd of pupils from all parts of the world, 

 who spread abroad the fame of their great teacher. He 

 was soon rewarded with academic and civic honours ; but 

 without suffering himself to be intoxicated with his good 

 fortune, he continued his labours unremittingly, centering 

 his happiness in the circle of his family and in the pur- 

 suit of science. For thirty-two years he preserved all 

 his original activity, but then a marked feebleness of 

 memory appeared as the precursor of those infirmities 

 which rendered his old age painful. Two attacks of 

 apoplexy deprived him of almost all his faculties? 

 and he finally died of dropsy at the age of seventy-one. 

 Sweden knew at any rate how to appreciate the loss 

 which she had sustained, and the funeral of Linnaeus was 

 conducted with all the pomp which is usually reserved for 

 princes of the blood royal, while King Gustavus the Third 

 himself composed the funeral oration. 



Linnaeus may be regarded as one of our greatest 

 scientific lawgivers ; and he influenced all scientific 

 movements, not only in his own country but throughout 

 all Europe. Some few minds, either from a faithful 



His memoirs bear the impress of a keen and patient intellect, 

 associated in a high degree with talents for observation. He 

 published in French a large work entitled, like that of Reaumur* 

 Memoires pour servir a I'Histoire des Insectes. 



* In gratitude for the patronage and friendship of the Count, 

 Linnscus has immortalised his name by dedicating to him his 

 Systema Natures. 



