28 
IFB OP LINNjEUS. 
years. During this period he had out¬ 
stripped all his companions as a botan¬ 
ist and naturalist, but, unfortunately, 
he had made little proficiency in some 
of those studies which were intended 
to qualify him for the sacred calling. 
In his seventeenth year he left the 
grammar-school, and was received in 
the superior college at Wexicoe. Here 
the deficiencies, before alluded to, be¬ 
came more obvious ; and the slowness 
of his progress at length induced some 
of the professors to complain of him to 
his father, and to send him home with 
unfavourable testimonials. His parents 
were overwhelmed with sorrow and 
disappointment. Linnaeus, with filial 
obedience, professed his readiness to 
pursue the study of divinity, if they still 
desired it ; but, at the same time, 
avowed his disinclination, and total un- 
fitness for the sacred office. They 
thought it in vain to press the point fur- 
