6 INF ANCY OF 



was also a lover of botany. He grew fond of a youth who at so early 

 an age displayed the most extraordinary talents; he formed a proper 

 judgment of his genius and application, while Charles's $chool-fellows 

 considered him as a vagabond truant, who wasted his time in useless pur- 

 suits and running about. Upon the whole, Linnaeus was much behind 

 in the different instructions which were to qualify him for his future 

 clerical avocation. 



This backwardness manifested itself in a particular manner, when 

 after having been in the grammar-school during seven years, he 

 was received in the superior college at Wexicoe, in 1724. Dog- 

 matical acquirements, the Hebrew language, and the more solid 

 branches of scholastic science had been forgotten amidst the allure- 

 ments of the goddess Flora, and still continued to enjoy their usual 

 share of oblivion. All admonitions to a closer application to the 

 studies of theology, were bestowed in vain. The passion strongly in- 

 grafted by Nature combated against them, and proved victorious. The 

 slowness of his progress induced at last some of the professors and 

 lecturers of the college to complain to his father, and furnish him 

 with bad testimonials. This his parents took much to heart, as they 

 foresaw only a prospeCt of having their fondest hopes undermined. 

 Linn -/E. us stood bordering on the brink of the decision of his des- 

 tiny. With filial obedience he avowed his readiness to study divinity; 

 but owned at the same time, his want of inclination, and his great aver- 

 sion to that sacred pursuit. His father, therefore, resolved to make 

 his son take absolute leave of the Myses, and to bind him apprentice 

 to an honest shoe-maker and cobler. 



The 



