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work. The Consistory at once replied to Linnaeus 
with the request that he should offer the appointment 
to Nietzel on advantageous terms. The offer was 
accepted, and Sweden secured the services of this 
extremely skilful and diligent man, who afterwards 
contributed to the world-wide reputation of the 
Uppsala garden. He arrived at the end of June, 
with many rare trees and plants, and threw himself 
energetically into his work. Soon after the garden 
had taken on an improved appearance, Rudbeck 
died, after ten days’ illness, on the 23rd March, 1740. 
Thus the chair of botany, anatomy and other 
departments at length became vacant. On the 
28th April, Linnaeus sent in his application, 
recounting his scientific merit and experience. Rosen 
and Wallerius did not delay to make similar 
applications. 
According to academic constitutions, these applic¬ 
ations were referred to the medical faculty, that is to 
say, to the surviving member, Roberg. Because of 
his unquestionable merit, he assigned the first place 
to Rosen, the second to Wallerius, also on the ground 
of his long service at the University, and the third 
place to Linnaeus, for his European reputation in 
botany. 
In the Consistory which discussed the question 
two months after Rudbeck’s death, opinions were 
divided; most members put Rosen first, only 
Professor Roberg, A. Celsius and Dean O. Celsius 
preferring Linnaeus. The votes appeared thus: 
Rosen, 12 first, 2 second and 1 third; Linnaeus, 3, 6 
and 6; and Wallerius, 6 in the second and 8 in the 
third place, with one vote for Professor Sporing at 
Abo, although he was not a competitor. 
It cannot be denied that both those who supported 
Rosen, and those who preferred Linnaeus, had good 
reasons for their choice. For the vacant professor¬ 
ship, the chief objects were botany and anatomy; 
Linnaeus’s overwhelming superiority in the first 
