INTENDED SUCCESSOR 
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before him: (i) that Linne during his period of rest, 
should work for science and the national credit, and 
(2) he should during his lifetime see that his successor 
did not depart from the methods introduced by Linne, 
and upon which he built, so that science should not 
suffer loss for several generations. In a later letter, 
he added, that if Linne continued his tasks, he advised 
that the Archiater should not stay his important 
instruction, for the times were troublesome, and 
conspiracies and intrigues everywhere. This advice 
Linne hastened to follow and informed the Chancellor 
in an official memorial, that as he had regarded science 
more than his life, he had worn out his body, shortened 
his days, and brought on too soon the infirmity of old 
age. On account of this, he begged that his son, 
Demonstrator Carl von Linne, whom he had reared 
from childhood as his successor, though with the 
proviso that so long as his own powers lasted for 
academic affairs, he should continue his professorial 
labours, to give his son time to improve himself in his 
duties, to travel, and work under his own supervision, 
and he hoped that the science which he had worked 
so hard for, should also, in his time, attain widespread 
prominence. This letter was submitted to the King 
by the Chancellor, the Royal intimation expressing a 
hope that the Archiater would continue his duties for 
a time, but as he could not escape the application, the 
appointment of the younger Linne as professor was 
ordained. 
This appointment, whereby a young man, who had 
only just completed his twenty-second year, and who 
had not undergone any academic examination, was 
made professor, could not fail to rouse in high 
measure both remark and disapprobation, especially 
among Linne’s pupils. Complaints were therefore 
made, and with some reason. But it must not be 
forgotten that Linne for his method of producing 
pearls had never enjoyed both pecuniary reward and 
the right to name his successor, but declared himself 
