76
LINNTEUs's
RETURN
TO
SWED'EJST.
circumstances connected with his scientific pursuits* t o exceed
the time he had at first allotted to himself for staying in France.
It was originally his intention to have visited Haller, at G o t tingen; for the purpose o f viewing his herbarium, and to have
also inspected some o f the German mines, Frisch's collection
o f insects, and Hebenstreif s shells; but finding it necessary t o
return from France by sea, he o f course could not accomplish
this plan, which, however, he resolved to consider as postponed
rather than as wholly relinquished*.
Linnaeus embarked at Rouen, and arrived at Helsinborg in
July, 1738. H e n o sooner landed at this last-mentioned place
than he set out for Stenbrohult, in order to visit his aged father,
with whom he passed a few days, and then proceeded to Fahluii.
H e was soon afterwards formally betrothed to the lady who had
been the constant object o f his affections, Sarah Elizabeth,
^daughter o f Dr. Moraeus.
In the month of September, in this year, Linnaeus settled as.
a physician at Stockholm, Avhere he seems to have met with con­
siderable opposition, and to have laboured under great disad­
vantages. " Irrisus ab omnibus ob meam Botanicen, (says he)
quot iusomnes nodes et laboviosas hovas tvansegcvim, mdlus dixit;
quam vero a Siegesbechio~y cram annihilatus, omnes nno ore acclamar
bant; non erat qui vel servum mihi curandum obtulit," A t length,
however, his merits triumphed over all difficulties, and he at-
* " Quce mihi diti promiserantfata in Belgio, aliturus non olitinui omnia; debiti itaque
privati ab exoplata dm vestra patria ; debiti per mare, viam brevissimam, redire in patriam meam ; sed quamprimum ibi mikimet aliquot pecunias camparavcrim, iterum abiba;
flagro cnim videre fodinas vestras, Frischii insecta, Hebcnstreitii conchas, et te et Inas
planlos."
(Stoever—Coli. Epist. p. 3 8 . )
t The nature of the attack made upon Linnaeus by Siegesbcck will be explained
hereafter.
tained