HIS FRIENDS 
293 
Back’s remaining children enjoyed with their father 
the constant affectionate attention of Linne. Many 
times he urged their visits to Hammarby in order to 
enjoy the fresh air: “ Let the poor little ones who have 
no mother, enjoy themselves with my girls this 
delightful summer.” Back had the pleasure before his 
death of seeing two of them grown up and married. 
In 1772 Back invited the entire household of Linne 
to come to Stockholm for the coronation of Gustaf III.; 
his wife and three younger girls went, but Linne was 
too busy to accompany them. On their return he 
wrote that they would never forget the time they had 
had, nor would he during “ his short days.” Needless 
to say that Back was a welcome guest at Uppsala when 
he did come, and in 1775 he paid what proved to be a 
farewell visit, for the old friends never saw each other 
again. 
Among Linne’s friends from his student days were 
two with whom he remained in close companionship 
till death closed the bond. Both attained high office 
in the church, and played a considerable part during 
the Era of Liberty. These two were Johan Browallius 
and Carl Fredrik Mennander. 
It has previously been recorded that the former 
had an influential share in Linne’s career (p. 107). 
In 1737, he was appointed Professor of Physics in Abo 
University. His love for natural history was main¬ 
tained even when in 1746 he became Professor of 
Divinity, and in 1749 Bishop of Abo, which latter 
office he filled most successfully. An opponent of 
Linne was J. G. Siegesbeck (p. 170), who wrote 
condemning the sexual system root and branch, while 
Browallius took up the cudgels in his friend’s behalf. 
In his “ Examen epicriseos in systema plantarum 
sexuale Cl. Linnaei ” (see p. 183), he doughtily 
defended Linne’s arrangement, no reply to this being 
forthcoming. 
Another debate on “ Vattuminskingen ” or decrease 
in water level, started by Anders Celsius in 1743, and 
