JOURNEY ABROAD 
131 
thoughts was impossible. A decision must be made. 
After long thought he made a declaration to her 
parents asking for the love of their dearest child. 
This happened on the 20th January, but the answer 
was withheld till the 27th, for though the father, who 
entertained the best hopes for Linnaeus, had not the 
heart to refuse him, the mother cherished other ideas. 
When Linnaeus at last received the desired yet 
dreaded answer, he found to his surprise, that it sur¬ 
passed his boldest expectations, but the wedding was 
not to take place till three years after his departure 
on his foreign travels. During the suspense he had 
not failed to visit his beloved, and on the 22nd he 
gave her the betrothal ring. 
The month which followed seems to have been 
taken up with a lover’s usual thoughts and occupation, 
exchanging visits with friends and acquaintances. 
Visits to the father and mother-in-law elect, did not 
become fewer, and on the 3rd February he gave a 
written declaration of fidelity. Meanwhile the hour 
of parting drew near. The 18th and 19th were 
employed in leave-taking and in receiving congratu¬ 
lations and presents. He had agreed with his intimate 
friend Browallius to take charge of his sweetheart’s 
letters, while he was living abroad. 
It was on the 20th February that Linnaeus and his 
travelling companion, Claes Sohlberg, set out from 
Falun, provided with the usual passports from the 
Royal Council. As to their equipment, we only know 
that Linnaeus had at least the chief of his manuscripts, 
and his Lapp costume, which in Holland afterwards 
occasioned much attention. His means, he himself 
reported, consisted of 260 silver dalers (less than 
f £ 20), an amount less than he had reckoned on before¬ 
hand. He had expected to receive from Inspector 
Sohlberg an annual allowance of 300 copper dalers 
\£y ios.] and he had a claim on the two Sohl- 
bergs of 30 platar [£4 ios.] due on their 
agreement for assaying. But when the journey was 
