28 
MEMOIR OF LINNjEUS 
and he endeavoured to advance the clerical education 
of his son as far as his means would permit. At 
the age of seven, Linnaeus was placed under the pri- 
vate charge of John Tiliander, and two years after- 
wards, was entered at the school of Wexio ; but in 
both these places, the discipline is said to have been 
severe, and not well fitted for the advancement of a 
young man of his inild temper, and he was soon after 
placed under another private tutor, who possessed a 
more conciliating disposition. His distaste for ordinary 
studies could not be so easily overcome, and it was not 
till three years after that he received promotion to a 
higher form in the school, called the circle. In this 
rank he was allowed more leisure, which was inva- 
riably devoted to his favourite pursuits, and chiefly his 
earliest, that of plants. 
According to the system of education at this time 
employed in Sweden, it was necessary that young 
men should pass from the schools, or from private 
teachers, to what was called the Gymnasium, where 
the higher branches of literature were taught ; and at 
the age of sixteen, Linmeus was placed at this semi- 
nary. Here he still continued his dislike for those 
studies particularly necessary for a divine, and began 
to show a more decided taste for botany, by forming a 
small library of such books upon this science as he 
could procure, and from his studious perusal of them, he 
acquired the college name of the “ Little Botanist.” 
Nearly two years after, the elder Linnaeus came to 
Wexio to ascertain the progress of his son’s studies. 
