i04 B O T 1 C A L REFORM. 



lean labours to which he had dedvoted the elapsed year, could not but 

 aft with mahgn influence upon his health. Towards the close of Ja- 

 nuary he was seized with a violent fever, which lasted upwards of six 

 weeks. In March he visited Hartccamp for the last time, to enjoy the 

 sweets of the vernal year, and to effetl: a complete restoration of his 

 declining health. 



Clip FORT had visited him during his illness at Leyden, and seemed 

 displeased with his residing in that city. " If it was your wish to stay 

 " longer in Holland," said he, " I had the first right to your company, 

 " and could have paid you your annual stipend as formerly." — During 

 the latter part of the time Linn^.us resided at Hartecamp he received 

 a ducat per day. 



His extreme application to study, was considered by his friends as the 

 source of his discontented and sickly condition. But the sole and real 

 cause ofhis disquietude and illness was Sarah Elisabeth, his intended 

 bride. He had corresponded with her during the whole time of his stay 

 in Holland. Her letters to him were constantly forwarded by one ofhis" 

 friends. As we have already observed, his future father-in-law had 

 fixed the marriage at the expiration of three years, which were already 

 elapsed, and Linn.eus still remained abroad in the fourth year. His 

 friendjto whom the letters of hisELis abeth were entrusted, and for whom 

 he had obtained a professorship, endeavoured to take advantage of thig 

 long absence, and to obtain the hand of Miss Mor.t.us for himself, by 

 representing that her lover would never return to Sweden, and by so 

 doing he almost had his wishes sanftioned by her father's consent. For- 

 tunately another friend of Linnaeus interposed for him, confirmed the 

 reliance upon his constancy and fidelity, and thus dislodged this trea- 

 cherous 



