SWEDISH MONEY AND MEASURES 389 
Tullhus, Custom-house; Tullport, the town gate where 
customs were levied. 
Vice-Rektor, the Dean or Prorektor. 
Vartermin, spring term, 15th January—1st June. 
The value of Swedish money varied during the “ Era of 
Liberty,’’ but the following values have been assigned as 
the average: 
1 daler, copper coinage, equalled 6 pence. 
1 daler, silver coinage, equalled 18 pence. 
1 plat (pi. platar), 2 silver dalers, equalled 3 shillings. 
3 silver dalers equalled 1 riksdaler; in 1761, 4 shillings 
and pence (later about 4 shillings and 5 pence). 
1 ducat equalled 9 shillings and 2 pence. 
The length of the Swedish mile was 6‘6423, or nearly 6§ 
of an English statute mile; as the Swedish mile was so long, 
it was often reckoned by the quarter mile, rather less than 
one mile and three-quarters English. 
Other measures were: 
1 inch (turn) = 0*97 English inch 
1 foot (fot) = 11*69 >> inches 
2 feet = 1 (aln) ell= 1*95 ,, feet 
1 quarter (of wine), slightly more than half-a-pint. 
APPENDIX VI 
SKETCH OF SWEDISH HISTORY DURING 
LINNE’S TIME 
The following short sketch of Swedish history, including 
the life-time of Linne, may help to recall the circumstances 
under which his work was done, and some of the influences 
which moulded public life at that period. 
In 1682 the Diet had entrusted Carl XI. with sole 
executive power, and one of his latest decrees was intended 
to reform the Calendar (see p. 2). Dying in 1697, he 
was succeeded by his son Carl XII, whose personal 
absolutism was fraught with disastrous consequences. He 
was clever, well educated, and energetic, but reckless and 
self-willed; succeeding his father when only fifteen, his 
autocratic power became exercised from early youth. In 
1699, an alliance between Denmark, Russia and Poland was 
concluded against Sweden, leading to the great northern 
