176 
LINNiEUS 
when necessary. This lady was playing at cards with 
the Queen Ulrika Eleonora, when she was obliged to 
take a pill from her box. On the Queen asking what 
it was, as she herself had a cough, she was given her 
excellent physician’s name; Linnaeus was called in, 
and his prescription having the desired effect, he be¬ 
came known and consulted among the highest ranks 
of society.” 
This had the further consequence, that Linnaeus 
in Stockholm, as in other places where he stayed, 
found an influential and zealous protector, who in 
every way smoothed his path. This was the well- 
known Count Carl Gustaf Tessin, the head of the 
“ Hats ” party and Speaker of the Nobility in the 
Riksdag. He took the liveliest interest in art and 
science, and making acquaintance with the young 
physician, heard of the great celebrity which he had 
gained in other countries by his many writings. This 
was enough for Tessin to seek for State help to secure 
support for him till he could earn sufficient remuner¬ 
ation. He called Linnaeus to him, to ask if he had 
any request to make to the Riksdag, being sure that 
the authorities would regard it as a pleasure to favour 
a Swede who had so greatly distinguished himself in 
foreign parts. When Linnaeus asserted that he had 
nothing to ask, he told him to think it over till the 
next day and to come again. Encouraged by this, 
Linnaeus, on the 24th of November, presented a 
request addressed to the Secret Committee of the 
Riksdag in which he related his attainments in 
Natural History. He further stated that, while 
abroad, he had published fourteen works on botany, 
which were used by the Leyden University, so that 
now he applied for a grant for his support, and until 
this was supplied, asked for some public appointment. 
No specified sum was named nor the source from 
which it might come. A new friend, Captain Marten 
Triewald, urged that as Linnaeus understood miner¬ 
alogy, he should apply for 100 ducats [about 
