EUROPEAN HISTORY 391 
aid of the great naturalist in arranging and classifying 
them. 
The ** Caps ” came into power in 1765, but their 
administration (though taking an opposite course to that of 
the “ Hats ” whom they displaced) was so unfortunate, 
that, three years later, they had to yield once more to the 
supremacy of the “ Hats.” 
Adolf Fredrik died in 1771, and his son Gustaf III. 
succeeded. In a few months, by a bloodless military 
revolution in 1772, he ended the “ Era of Liberty,” and 
acquired the sole executive power. He, however, used 
his victory with moderation, abolished torture, brought in 
liberty of the press, and promoted commerce, science and 
art. During his early years on the throne, his relations 
with Linne were cordial and generous until the death of 
the great naturalist, who had been in his grave for nearly 
twenty years, when the King was shot at a masked ball, by 
Count Ankarstrom, dying a few days afterward. The 
assassin was scourged during three successive days, and 
then executed. 
A paragraph may be devoted to reminding the reader of 
current European history outside Sweden during the period 
of 1707-78. 
The political union of Scotland with England took place 
in 1707; the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, closing the war of 
the Spanish succession; the death of Louis XIV. occurred in 
1715, and in the same year the Earl of Mar conducted the 
rising in Scotland in favour of the son of James II., the 
“ Old Pretender.” The excitement of the South Sea 
Bubble reached its height in 1720; the Quadruple Alliance 
was formed in 1721, and war with Spain began in 1739; 
battles were fought at Dettingen in 1743, and Fontenoy in 
1745; the latter year also witnessed the attempt of the 
“ Young Pretender,” who suffered a total defeat at 
Culloden in 1746. The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle closed 
the war of the Austrian succession, the Seven Years’ War 
lasting from 1756 to 1763, the battle of Rossbach being 
fought in 1756; the conquest of India began under Clive in 
1757 culminating in his victory at Plassey; the victory and 
death of Wolfe took place at Quebec in 1759, with the 
conquest of Canada the year after, and the war for the 
independence of North America began in 1773. The 
period thus briefly traced extended from the middle of the 
reign of Queen Anne, the whole of those of George I. and 
George II., and the first eighteen years of George III. 
