ADVENTURES OF LINN M US. 
4i 
statutes, which the senate were bound to enforce, by forbidding Lin- 
naeus to continue his leftures. 
This was a blow which hurled down in a moment the brightest 
hopes of our hero. His glad prospers changed into dreary views. 
His ambition was hemmed in the sphere of its operations, and his aftive 
diligence at once bereft of the only means by which he could support 
himself. No wonder if the wrath of Linn.eus burst forth in a most 
unbounded manner. In the access of his rage he forgot himself, his 
future happiness, and every moral consideration. When Rosen left 
the senate, Linnaeus waited on him, with desperate fury drew his 
sword, and was ready to run it through the body of his enemy, had 
not the bye-standers fortunately wrested from him that instrument ol 
his vengeance. This violent step excited universal notice. Rosen, 
who was a member of the academy, complained of this gross assault, 
and of this daring violation of the laws of public safety. The drawing 
of the sword was alone sufficient to annihilate the whole subsequent 
plan of botanical reform. The rigor of the law threatened Linnaeus 
with proscription, and he could never afterwards have made his ap- 
pearance at Upsal. The bad consequences of this decree were, however, 
warded off by the friends and proteftors of Linnaeus. Olaus Cel- 
sius interposed, allayed the resentment occasioned by this event, and 
brought matters so far that punishment was changed into a bare repri- 
mand. 
Linnaeus was now spared, but he still cherished the idea of ven- 
geance. His sanguine temper almost drove him to desperation. Still 
did he meditate the design of stabbing Rosen if he should meet with 
him in the streets. While this desperate resolution had insinuated 
itself 
G 
