92 
LINNAEUS 
and during this period he began a series of lectures 
on mineralogy, lasting a month. Probably this 
suggested to him to employ his knowledge of assaying 
ores and minerals, which he gained under Svanberg 
the previous year. He therefore drew up a brief 
handbook, “ Vulcanus docimasticus,” and with the 
approval of the academic authorities, issued a notice 
inviting attention to it. In this he maintained the 
importance of the subject, especially in a country rich 
in metals and minerals, undertaking to explain matters 
so that his hearers could afterwards perform the 
experiments. For this, including materials and imple¬ 
ments, his fee was only thirty copper dalers [fifteen 
shillings] whilst other teachers charged ten times that 
amount. Those who wished to take part were invited 
to the lodgings of Linnaeus in the house of the widow 
Rodde, whose husband, the academic dancing master, 
had died in 1712. 
The result was entirely satisfactory; both the 
subject, which was new to the University, and the 
lectures, attracted as many as his room could hold, so 
that by December he had received 200 silver dalers 
[,£15], and amongst the audience were several 
notable personages, including Adjunct Rosen. 
After the heavy work of term, Linnaeus considered 
himself entitled to use some of his unaccustomed 
wealth upon a little travel. He left Uppsala on the 
20th December and stayed at Falun in the province 
of Dalecarlia, as the guest of his friend and fellow- 
student, Claes Sohlberg, who liberally entertained him 
in his father’s house. “ Dalecarlia’s sirens,” he wrote 
to Mennander, “ have tempted me to forget both 
friends, cares, reflections, troubles, home, studies, and 
time! I cannot close my ears to their songs; without 
joking, I have enjoyed myself extremely well.” 
However, the main object of this excursion was 
not the pleasures of the place, but to gain opportunities 
of increasing his insight into mineralogy and mining. 
He stayed therefore some time at Falun, exploring the 
