t i8 ] 
degree, declared that his daughter fhould reiuaiu unmar- 
ried three years longer, at the termination of which, he 
Would make his decifion as to the match. 
it was at that time the habit of the Swedifh {Indents 
in medicine, to graduate in oiie of the univerfnies of 
Holland. Collefting therefore what little money he 
CUuld procure, and allifted by the amiable young lady to 
whom he had betrothed himfelf, he prepared for the ex- 
pedition, upon the fuccefs of which depended all his 
future hopes ofhappinefs arid honours. 
In the fpring of 17J5, he began his tour, travelling 
through the fouthern parts of Sweden, and acrofs Den- 
tnark to Hamburg in Oermany. In this city he rc- 
mriined some time, enriching his stores of knowledge by 
a careful examination of whatever was rare and curious 
in its libraries or colleSions, and in becoming known to 
the ihoft learned of its profefTors. And here he gave an 
unlucky exainple of that critical acutenefs in the inves- 
tigation of the works of nature, by which all his future 
writings were so highly illuminated. 
Spreckelfen, a fecretary df the cou^icil and a corifi- 
derable naturaliftj had in his poffefllon a monllrous pro- 
dudlioh, which till that time had been confidered the moft 
valuable curiofity in Europe, and was received as a pledge 
fbr the loan of ten thoufand marks, a fum equal to feven 
