celebrated Muschenbrock, with whom he was on terms of intimacy. His studies were commenced at Utrecht, but he afterwards removed to Upsal, where he had the advantage of enjoying the combined instructions of Linnæus, Celsius, and Klengenstiern. Under such masters his progress in physical science was rapid; and it was not long before opportunities occurred to afford proofs of his proficiency.
By the death of an uncle, he came into possession, at an early age, of one of the largest fortunes in Sweden. The extensive iron mines of Dannemora became his property; and he expended large sums in improving the mode of working them. Every scheme tending to promote the prosperity of his country, and the spiritual and temporal welfare of its inhabitants, found in him a zealous and intelligent patron. His wealth he liberally shared with the poor, and devoted no small part of his income to the repairing of churches, and the founding of hospitals and schools But these philanthropic objects did not divert his attention from the pursuits of science; on the contrary, he continued to cultivate his favourite branch of Natural History with the utmost zeal and assiduity. As a member of the Academy of Stockholm, he regularly attended its meetings, and supplied many interesting memoirs in different departments of knowledge. His observations on insects were now beginning to accumulate, and he read a few papers on the subject to the society, which are inserted in the early volumes of their Transactions. But these observations soon became so extensive and import-
