LINN^US. 237 



the acquaintance of many persons of influence^ by 

 whose means his credit was greatly extended. 



Being now in prosperous circumstances^ he resolv- 

 ed to complete the contract into which he had enter- 

 ed with the daughter of old Morse us, and proceed- 

 ing to Fahlun, received her in due form. After 

 spending a month of merrymaking, he returned to 

 Stockholm, In September he resigned the presi- 

 dency of the Academy, and, agreeably to the rules 

 of the institution, delivered on that occasion a dis- 

 course on insects (De Memorabilibus in Insectis), 

 which was afterwards printed. 



In the summer of 1740, he delivered a course of 

 lectures on botany, and published a new edition of 

 his Fundamenta Botanica, which he dedicated to 

 Dillenius, Haller, Van Roy en, Gronovius, Jussieu, 

 Burmann, and Ammann ; showing, in this classifi- 

 cation, his opinion of the comparative merits of the 

 most eminent botanists of that time. His medical 

 practice continued to increase ; and with his lec- 

 tures, his private studies, and his duty as physician 

 to the Admiralty, his time was fully and satisfac- 

 torily occupied. His former protector, Olaus Rud- 

 beck the younger, professor of botany, having died 

 in the spring of this year, Linnaeus, Rosen, and Wal- 

 lerius offered themselves as candidates for the vacant 

 office. Count Tessin supported the first mentioned ; 

 but the chancellor. Count Gyllenborg, gave Rosen 

 the preference, as he had taken his degrees before 

 the other, and had acquired stronger claims on the 

 public by a longer residence at Upsal. The king, 

 however, was desirous of bestowing the office on the 

 great botanist, who was consoled for the loss by the 

 promise of succeeding Roberg, who held the chair 



