6 
INFANCY 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 school-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 viaorious. The 
slowness of his progress induced at last some of the professors and 
leBurers 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 prospeft of having their fondest hopes undermined. 
LinnjEUS 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 Muses, and to bind him apprentice 
.0 an honest shoe-maker and cobler. 
The 
