LINN.EUS AND NATURAL HISTORY I21 
though he lacked the necessary funds, one circumstance con- 
tributed to bring about this end: he had formed an attach- 
ment for the daughter of a wealthy physician, named Moré 
or Moreus, and on applying for her hand in marriage, her 
father made it a condition of his consent that Linnzeus should 
take his medical degree and establish himself in the practice 
of medicine. The young lady, who was thrifty as well as 
handsome, offered her savings, amounting to one hundred 
dollars (Swedish), to her lover. He succeeded in adding to 
this sum by his own exertions, and with thirty-six Swedish 
ducats set off for Holland to qualify for his degree. He had 
practically met the requirements for the medical degree by 
his previous studies, and after a month’s residence at the 
University of Hardewyk, his thesis was accepted and he was 
granted the degree in June, 1735, in the twenty-eighth year 
of his age. 
Instead of returning at once to Sweden, he went to 
Leyden, and made the acquaintance of several well-known 
scientific men. He continued his botanical studies with great 
energy, and now began to reap the benefits of his earlier 
devotion to natural history. His heart-breaking and harass- 
ing struggles were now over. 
The Systema Nature.—He had in his possession the 
manuscript of his Systema Nature, and with the encourage- 
ment of his new friends it was published in the same year. 
The first edition (1735) of that notable work, which was 
afterward to bring him so much fame, consisted of twelve 
printed folio pages. It was merely an outline of the arrange- 
ments of plants, animals, and minerals in a methodical cat- 
alogue. This work passed through twelve editions during 
his lifetime, the last one appearing in 1768. After the first 
edition, the books were printed in octavo form, and in the 
later editions were greatly enlarged. A copy of the first 
edition was sent to Boerhaave, the most distinguished pro- 
