LINNiEUS. 



219 



before it was sent to press. About the same time he 

 received a letter from Haerlem^ which he says nearly 

 cost him his life, and prevented him from sleeping 

 for two months. The purport of this communica- 

 tion has not been disclosed; but, surely, if he had not 

 placed too much value on the opinion of the world, 

 he would have allowed the malice of his enemies to 

 vent itself in impotent rage. 



His self-love, however, was soon gratified by the 

 arrival of a pupil from Paris, the first who had 

 come to him from a foreign country, and by the 

 presence of several persons of distinction at his ex- 

 cursions. This year he had a hundred and forty 

 students at his lectures. 



The following year, after publishing a work on 

 I\Iateria Medica, he was directed by the Diet to 

 make a journey to Scania or Schonen, the most 

 northern of the Swedish provinces, for the purpose 

 of examining its natural productions. This was the 

 sixth and last tour which he made in his native 

 land. On returning he visited his brother Samuel 

 at Stenbrohult. During his absence he was ap- 

 pointed rector of the university, and towards the 

 end of the year entered upon the duties of his new 

 office. 



In 1750, he continued his lectures with his wonted 

 energy and success. The king and queen had com- 

 menced a collection of objects belonging to natural 

 history, which were kept at Ulrichsdahl or Drott- 

 ningholm, about eight Swedish miles from Upsal. 

 Thither he used to repair during the summer and 

 winter vacations, for the purpose of arranging and 

 describing the various specimens. But a violent 



