The following year, after publishing a work on Materia Medica, he was directed by the Diet to make a journey to Scania or Schonen, the most northern of the Swedish provinces, for the purpose of examining its natural productions. This was the sixth and last tour which he made in his native land. On returning he visited his brother Samuel at Stenbrohult. During his absence he was appointed rector of the university, and towards the end of the year entered upon the duties of his new office. In 1750, he continued his lectures with his wonted energy and success. The king and queen had commenced a collection of objects belonging to natural history, which were kept at Ulrichsdahl or Drottningholm, about eight Swedish miles from Upsal. Thither he used to repair during the summer and winter vacations, for the purpose of arranging and describing the various specimens. But a violent attack of gout obliged him to relinquish for a time all his occupations. On his recovery he laboured at his Philosophia Botanica, which appeared in the following season, together with an account of his journey to Scania. During this and the preceding year, he sent out several of his most distinguished pupils to travel in various parts of the world. SECTION VI. _Travelling Pupils of Linnaeus._ Enthusiasm excited by the Lectures of Linnaeus--Ternstroem dies on his Voyage to China--Hasselquist, after travelling in Egypt, Arabia, and Palestine, dies at Smyrna--Forskal perishes in Arabia; Loefling in South America; Falk in Tartary--Kalm sent to Canada; Rolander to Surinam; Toren to Malabar; Osbeck to China--Sparrmann travels in the Cape, and accompanies Cook on his second Voyage--Thunberg visits Japan, Ceylon, and other Countries--Various parts of Europe visited by Pupils of Linnaeus--Remarks on the Accumulation of Facts produced by their Exertions. The enthusiasm excited by the lectures and demonstrations of Linnaeus, seems to have exceeded that produced by the efforts of any other professor. The fervour of the teacher, his ardent love of nature, his eloquence, and the kindliness of his disposition, made an indelible impression upon his pupils, many of whom were anxious to devote their lives to the extension of their favourite science. Upsal became the centre of botanical, if not of zoological knowledge; and while students flocked to it from all parts of Europe, there were proceeding from it those whom we may call the devoted heroes of science, and who were resolved to enlarge its boundaries, by exploring regions previously unknown to the natural historian. An account of these men belongs in some measure to the life of their master, in which it will form an interesting episode.