LINNAEUS IN HOLLAND. 
74 
journed with great pleasure for about a month, notwithstanding such 
a delay little corresponded with his pecuniary resources. 
He now continued his journey to Holland , and at the end of May 
reached Hardcrwyk in Gueldtrland. Botany had always been his chief 
study, and physic that of his leisure-hours. Even in the latter he dis- 
played his original spirit of investigation. He had chosen for his thesis 
of installation a new hypothesis of the causes of the cold intermitting 
fevers, especially in his own country. In this dissertation he assigns as 
one of the principal causes, the water impregnated with argillous sub- 
stances; — an hypothesis, which he took pains to render valid by many 
arguments and ingenious asseverations. “These,” Baegk. says, « make 
« one willing to credit the author, though the principal point might 
« still be subje& to doubt.” The envy of the celebrated Waller, 
his countryman, raised afterwards a thousand objections to this dis- 
sertation. After a triple examination and public defence of his 
treatise, Linnaeus obtained on the 24th of June, in the 28th year 
of his age, that dignity which he had long ago deserved*. Baron 
Haller, one of the greatest geniuses of our age, whom Linnteus 
respefted as a friend and dreaded as a rival, had it conferred upon 
him nine years before at Leyden , in the 18th year of his age. 
The chief end for which Linnteus had undertaken this journey 
with the assistance of his future bride, was now accomplished. His 
intended father-in-law had advised him to return to Sweden immediately 
after he had taken his degree of doftor, to settle there as a praaical 
physician. Linnaeus was willing to comply, but he would not quit 
* Hypothesis Nova de. Febrlum intermittentium causa , quam -pro gradu do&ons obti- 
nendo proposuil Car, Linnaeus, Suecus ; Hardero<vici Die 24. Jun. 1735. 
Holland 
