LINN^US. 221 



one of the wealthiest individuals in the district. 

 He had two daughters, of whom the elder, Sarah 

 Elizabeth, was in all respects to the mind of Lin- 

 naeus, who became a frequent visiter, and soon in- 

 gratiated himself with the family. Finding that the 

 object of his choice was not less pleased with his 

 person and manners, he determined to ask her in 

 marriage ; and, summoning all his resolution, made 

 known his views to her father, who, although he 

 had no objection to the character of the suitor, was 

 little satisfied either with his fortune or his pros- 

 pects. However, he promised that, should he suc- 

 ceed in obtaining his diploma, the young lady should 

 be consigned to him after a period of three years. 



It was customary at this time for Swedish students 

 to take their degree at some foreign university, where 

 it could be procured at the least expense. Hither- 

 to Linnaeus had been unable to qualify himself in 

 this respect for the practice of his profession ; but 

 love now came to the aid of ambition. Miss Mo- 

 raeus, who was thrifty as well as handsome, had 

 saved about 100 dollars of the pocket-money which 

 she had received at various times, and offered them 

 to her lover. To this sum he succeeded in adding 

 a little by his own exertions, though the whole did 

 not amount to more than thirty-six Swedish ducats. 



After visiting his friends, weeping over the grave 

 of his mother, who had died some months before, 

 preparing his academical dissertations, and arrang- 

 ing his papers, he set out from Fahlun, in April 

 1735, accompanied by a young man named Shol- 

 berg. Travelling through the southern provinces 

 of Sweden, Jutland, and Holstein, he arrived at 

 Hamburg, where he remained for some time, in- 



