AT STOCKHOLM 
181 
obtain contributions to the Transactions. He set an 
example in his “ Report on planting, founded on 
Nature/ 5 In his speech on relinquishing the presi¬ 
dency, he counted up eighteen observations on diverse 
subjects by fifteen members. 
Linnaeus had a strong influence in this direction. 
Pure science was less frequently in evidence, but 
much discussion took place on such subjects as to how 
stones became loose in the earth, or on mountains, 
and if they came from the Flood. The diminution 
of the water-level was also discussed. 
Much time was taken up by matters of organiza¬ 
tion, details of printing, ceremonies at the meetings, 
and sending an application to the King to prevent 
any reprinting from the Transactions, also making a 
device for the title-page, which by Linnaeus’s sugges¬ 
tion was the representation of an old man planting a 
palm-tree, with the inscription: “For efterkom- 
mande ” [For those who come after]. For style, either 
in Latin or Swedish, Major Pihlgren was chosen, as 
being proficient in Swedish, to read through the 
papers passed for printing. He himself felt weak 
in Swedish, therefore he strongly urged that the 
mother-tongue should be purified and trimmed before 
publication. 
At the end of September, 1739, the time came for 
Linnaeus to lay down his office, and according to the 
rules, to deliver a short discourse on doing so. But 
Linnaeus, instead, delivered a formal oration, “ On 
curiosities in insects,” which set the example for all 
succeeding presidents. At the request of the mem¬ 
bers this speech was printed at the expense of the 
Academy. The satisfaction given by Linnaeus as 
President was shown by the fact, that when a new one 
for the last quarter of 1740 had to be chosen, Linnaeus 
was one of the four named, though the lot fell upon 
another. 
After Linnaeus had ceased to be the official leader 
of the Academy’s labours, during his stay in Stock- 
