280 
LINNAEUS 
all that I have done, but spared his body and mind.” 
Such a period of depression occurred in 1748, when 
he threw his pen away and declared that hereafter 
he would only publish a few dissertations. One of 
these disturbing causes was a letter from Harleman 
“ which nearly killed him, and his sleep was broken 
during two months after,” because he had been 
accused secretly by one whom he had greatly helped. 
Another “ death-blow ” was that the State Chan¬ 
cellery issued an order that no Swede should print or 
publish anything abroad, in pain of a fine of 1,000 
silver dalers [,£75], which was clearly aimed at Linne. 
A third annoyance was that Linne had a disputation 
5< De curiositate naturali in laudem Creatoris ” [Of a 
natural curiosity in praise of the Creator] which his 
best friend Halenius publicly opposed. After this, 
Linne never trusted in any priest, to whom he had 
previously shown a disputation. A further light is 
thrown upon this affair by the theological minutes of 
the 30th June, when it was alleged that the disputation 
contained statements which did not accord with 
sound doctrine; but the decision being made that it 
was not injurious to theological truth, the faculty 
decided that the Dean should pronounce that verdict 
before the University, and so ended the inquisition. 
Linne practically treated this occurrence as a trifle, 
not alluding to it in his autobiography, nor even in 
his confidential letters to Back. Although he ex¬ 
pressed himself dissatisfied with the conduct of the 
affair, yet he soon resumed his customary methods. 
It has been previously related (p. 112) that 
Smaland’s Nation in 1734 wished their countryman 
“ much success in his travels and enterprises.” Nearly 
seven years later, he was installed as professor, and 
naturally the Nation did not hesitate to congratulate 
him on the honour thus acquired, resolving to make 
him a present in the shape of a silver drinking cup, 
costing 313 dalers 16 ore in copper [£6 17s.] which 
was gratefully received. 
