332 LINN^US. 



that Siegesbeck had annihilated me. There was 

 nobody who would put even a servant under my 

 care. I was obliged to live as I could, in virtuous 

 poverty. By very slow degrees I began to acquire 

 some practice. But now my adverse fate took a 

 sudden turn, and after so long a succession of cloudy 

 prospects the sun broke out upon me. I emerged 

 from my obscurity, obtained access to the great, and 

 every unfavourable presage vanished. No invalid 

 could now recover without my assistance. I began 

 to get money, and was busy in attendance on the 

 sick, from four in the morning till late in the even- 

 ing ; nor were my nights uninterrupted by the calls 

 of my patients. Aha ! said I, Esculapius is the 

 giver of all good things ; Flora bestows nothing up- 

 on me but Siegesbecks ! I took my leave of Flora ; 

 condemned my too-numerous observations a thou- 

 sand times over to eternal oblivion ; and swore 

 never to give any answer to Siegesbeck. 



" Soon afterwards, I was appointed first physician 

 to the navy. The magistracy immediately confer- 

 red upon me the regius professorship, that I might 

 teach botany in the seat of government at Stock- 

 holm, with the addition of an annual stipend. Then 

 my fondness for plants revived. I was also enabled 

 to present myself to the bride to whom I had been 

 for five years engaged, and was honourably received 

 as her husband. My father-in-law, rather fond of 

 his money, proved not very liberal to me ; but I 

 can do without it, and those who come after me will 

 enjoy it. 



" Just now, both the medical professorships are 

 likely to become vacant. Professors Rudbeck and 

 Roberg, both advanced in age, are about offering 



