104 BOTANICAL REFORM. 
lean labours to which he had dedvoted the elapsed year, could not but 
aft with malign 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 Hartecamp for the last time, to enjoy the 
sweets of the vernal year, and to effeft a complete restoration of his 
declining health. 
Cliffort had visited him during his illness at Leyden , and seemed 
displeased with his residing in that city. cs If it was your wish to stay 
“ longer in Holland ,” said he, l( I had the first right to your company, 
li and could have paid you your annual stipend as formerly.” — During 
the latter part of the time Linnaeus 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 of his 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 of his 
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 Linnaeus still remained abroad in the fourth year. His 
friend, to whom the letters of hisE l i s a b e t h were entrusted, and for whom 
he had obtained a professorship, endeavoured to take advantage of this 
long absence, and to obtain the hand of Miss Morbus for himself, by 
representing that her lover would never return to Sweden , and by so 
doing he almost had his wishes sanctioned by her father’s consent. For- 
tunately another friend of Linn.eus interposed for him, confirmed the 
reliance upon his constancy and fidelity, and thus dislodged this trea- 
cherous 
I 
