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Dr. Olaus Celfius^ at that time profeflbr of divinity^ 

 and the reftorer of natural hiftory in Sweden ; fince 

 fo diftinguifhed for oriental learning, and more 

 particularly for his Hierobotanicon^ or Critical Bif- 

 fertations on the Plants mentioned in Scripture, This 

 gentleman is faid to have given Linn^us a large 

 ftiare of his efteem, and he was fortunate enough 

 to obtain it very early after his removal to Upfal. 

 He was at that time meditating his Hierobotanicon^ 

 and being ilruck with the diligence of Linn^eus^ in 

 defcribing the plants of the Upfal garden, and his 

 extenfive knowledge of their names, fortunately 

 for him, at that time involved in difficulties, from 

 the narrow circumftances of his parents, Celfius not 

 only patronized him in a general way, but admitted 

 him to his houfe, his table, and his library. Un- 

 der fuch encouragement, it is not ftrange that our 

 author made a rapid progrefs, both in his ftudies, 

 and the efteem of the profeflbrs : in fadl:, we have 

 a very ftriking proof of his merit and attainments, 

 inafmuch as we find, that after only two years re- 

 fidence, he was thought fufficiently qualified to 

 give ledlures occafionally from the botanic chair, 

 in the room of profeflbr Rudbeck. 



In the year 1731, the royal academy of fciences 

 at Upfal having for fome time meditated the dcfign 

 of improving the natural hiftory of Sweden^ at the 

 inftance particularly of profcflbrs Celfius and Rud- 

 becky deputed Linn^us to make the tour oi Lap- 

 landy with the fole view of exploring the natural 

 hiftory of that ar^lic region to which underta- 

 king, his reputation, already high as a naturalift, 

 and the ftrength of his conftitution, equally re- 

 ^ commended 



