L 9 ] 
to fupply iiimfelf began to diminifh, and in lefs than a 
year his wants became fo oppreffive, that he was con- 
ftrained to fubfift on whatever precarious fuppor.t acci- 
dent or the kindnefs of his fellow ftudents afforded him. 
Sp wretchedly abjed were his circumftances at one time, 
that he covered himfelf with the caft-off clothes of his 
more wealthy companions, and himfelf mended the old 
fhoes wiiich were given him with the bark of trees. 
Yet in this penury and diftrefs the vigour of his mind 
was never depreifed, nor his piety leffened. In his pub- 
lic oration on entering the office of profeffor, he offers 
humble thanks to his Maker, that in all his difficulties 
and under the fevereft preffure of poverty, the influence 
of divine providence bad guarded and fupported him. 
At this time Olaus Celfius, principal profeffor in 
divinity, and whom Linna:us afterwards deferibes in a 
letter to Baron Haller as the only truebotanift in Sweden, 
returned from Stockholm to Upfal. Accidentally find- 
ing Linnteus in the botanical garden, he was ftruck with 
the uncommon learning and accuracy of his obfervations, 
heard of his diftrelTes and inoffenfive mode of life, and 
received him into his houfe. The advantages of this 
conneaion were mutual. Linmeus was removed from 
poverty and want, kindly cheriflied by his proteaor, 
had the ufe of one of the mod valuable libraries in 
Sweden, and opportunities of converfing with the moft 
learned men: Celfius was then preparing his Hiero- 
VOL. VII. — Zz 
