10 



THE YOUNG 



NATURALIST. 



gan to form a herbarium or Hortus siccus, 

 Next year he removed to Upsala, where 

 there was an extensive botanic garden. 

 His parents could only allow him a very 

 small sum, and while here he was at 

 one time barely able to procure the 

 necessaries of life. But he soon made 

 new friends and became assistant to Dr. 

 Celsius, in whose house he now resided. 

 It was here that he first saw the impor- 

 tance of the stamina and pistils of 

 flowers, and the first sketch of his 

 system, De Nuptitt Arhorum^'* was 

 written here. He began to lecture 

 publicly, and to take the students on 

 botanical expeditions in the neighbour- 

 of Upsala. 



In the year 1731 he obtained an 

 appointment through the interest of his 

 friends to explore Lapland for the Royal 

 Academy. Most of the journey was 

 performed on foot, and he traversed not 

 less than 4000 miles, taking note of 

 everything he saw, discovering new 

 plants, &€., &c. On his return he was 

 rewarded with the payment of his 

 expenses, some £10, and considered 

 himself amply repaid by the information 

 he had gained and the new plants he 

 had discovered. 



Linnaeus at this time applied himself to 

 the study of mineralogy, and proposed 

 to deliver a course of lectures, but other 

 lecturer?, jealous of his reputation* 

 objected that he had not the necessary 

 qualification, that of doctor of medicine. 

 The lectures were therefore not proceeded 

 with, and his financial position became 

 anything but satisfactory, Money, 



however, never seems to have been a 

 consideration with the young naturalist, 

 and he set out on an expedition to the 

 great Swedish mining district to improve 

 his knowledge of mineralogy. On his 

 return he was introduced to Dr. Morens, 

 and fell in love with his eldest daughter. 

 But however little the enamoured youth 

 thought about money, the prudent 

 father, who liked his proposed son-in- 

 law well enough, thought it would be 

 better if he had some means of main- 

 taining a wife before he took one. 

 They were to wait three years, and if 

 at the expiration of the time his prospects 

 were more favourable he might expect 

 an affirmative. He now decided to 

 follow medicine, and set out to Harder- 

 wick where he soon received the degree 

 of M.D. On his return he stayed some 

 time at Amsterdam, and Dr. Gronovius 

 was so pleased with his sketch of the 

 Systema NaturcB that he ofiered to pay 

 the cost of publication. It was printed 

 in the form of tables, and so was com- 

 menced that system, the advantages of 

 which we are yet enjoying. Erom 

 Amsterdam Linnseus came to England, 

 but was very coolly received by Sir 

 Hans Sloane and Dillenius, to whom he 

 had flattering testimonials He returned 

 to Holland, visited Paris, and then 

 returned to Sweden, where he com- 

 menced to practise as a physician in 

 Stockholm. He soon had an extensive 

 practise, and receiving some lucrative 

 appointments was now in a position to 

 marry, and Dr. Morens raising no further 

 objection, the marriage was solemnized 

 on the 26th June, 1739. 



