sinful vanity, and published a very spirited poem, with a drawing of the hideous forms. Those who sarcastically criticise this, ought however to reflect, that the most learned physiologists cannot yet decide what effect monstrous figures may, by affecting the mother, produce on the unborn babe. Certain it was that the bishop struck a death blow to many thousand fontanges; and so far saved many fathers and husbands from expense and vexation.

Swedenborg is silent on the merits of his youth, which were great-The author of a dissertation on the Royal Society of Sciences at Upsal, published in 1789, mentions him as one of its first and best members, thus: "His letters to the Society while abroad, witness that few can travel so usefully. An indefatigable curiosity directed to various important objects, is conspicuous in all. Mathematics, astronomy and mechanics, seem to have been his favourite sciences, and he had already made great progress in these, Every where he became acquainted with the most renowned mathematicians and astronomers, as Flamstead, Delahire, Varignon, &c. This pursuit of knowledge was also united with a constant zeal to benefit his country. No sooner was he informed of some useful discovery, than he was solicitous to render it beneficial to Sweden, by purchase, or sending home models. When a good book was published, he not only gave immediate notice of it, but contrived to procure it for the library of the university."

That Swedenborg on his return, was honoured by frequent conversations with Charles the XII, may well be believed by all who knew the real character of that king: he was not a mere warrior, but fond of useful sciences, though impeded from their promotion by a long unremitted warfare, which was indeed, after the defeat at Pultowa, a necessary struggle for the independence of his country. He had also acquired some knowledge of the mathematics, and used, at leisure hours, to amuse himself and his officers with the solution of problems.

Swedenborg composed an Algebra in the Swedish language, published in 1718. His Regnum Minerale, which he mentions, is well known; and may be seen in the library of Philadelphia. The office of counsellor in the Metallic College was conferred on him by King Charles, as a reward for knowledge acquired by, the labours of youth, and a means of making it very beneficial

to the nation: that board having inspection over the mines and metallic works, so important in that country; and being a constitutional department of the government.

Swedenborg asserts with truth, that he was in favour with the royal family, and generally respected by the first classes. This was due to his learning and excellence of character. The then queen, Louisa Ulrica, sister of Frederic, the celebrated king of Prussia, had extraordinary talents and literary acquisitions. She patronized the arts and sciences in Sweden. Her large and excellent library, which I have seen, employed much of her time. Gustavus her son, then hereditary prince, afterwards king, was distinguished by his talents and promotion of the sciences, both useful and ornamental. The prelates and others of the clergy, many of whom were his relatives and friends, honoured him on the same ground, being themselves scholars and well bred persons. He could therefore assure his friend that he was in no danger of persecution; besides, the National Church has never been severe; and his works were at that time in the Latin language, beyond the reach of the common people. I must, however, observe, that but few paid him this respect, on account of his fellowship with angels. Some rather considered his theological theories, as imbecilities; the author above-mentioned, so candid in his eulogium, laments, nevertheless, the striking contrast between the algebra and the visions of the New Jerusalem.

Swedenborg states properly his rank of nobility. He had the common degree; and was not, as many in America stile him, a Baron; which title denotes the second class of noblemen; the first among the three classes being Counts.

My conversation with Swedenborg, and other authentic sources of information concerning him.

In the course of my education at the University of Upsal, I had free access to its excellent library, which, by its own revenue, and by donations, receives continually one or more copies of every interesting new book. There I perused the theological treatises of Swedenborg, published till the year 1765; among them, Arcana Celestia, De Coelo et Inferno, &c. In that year, I went to reside at Stockholm, and continued partly in that city, and partly in its vicinity for near three years. During that time, Swedenborg was a great object of public attention in this metropolis, and his extraordinary character was a frequent topic

of discussion. He resided at his house in the southern suburbs, which was in a pleasant situation, neat and convenient, with a spacious garden, and other appendages. There he received company. Not seldom he also appeared in public, and mixed in private societies. Therefore, sufficient opportunities were given to make observation on him. I collected much information from several respectable persons, who had conversed with him; which was the more easy, as I lived the whole time, as private tutor, in the family of doctor Celsius, a gentleman of distinguished talents, who afterwards became bishop of Scania; he and many of the eminent persons that frequented his house, knew Swedenborg well.

In the summer of 1766, I waited on him at his house; introducing myself, with an apology for the freedom I took; assuring him that it was not in the least from youthful presumption: (I was then twenty,) but from a strong desire of conversing with a character so celebrated. He received me very kindly. It being early in the afternoon, delicate coffee without eatables was served, agreeably to the Swedish custom: he was also, like pensive men in general, fond of this beverage. We conversed for near three hours; principally on the nature of human souls, and their states in the invisible world; discussing the principal theories of psychology, by various authors; among them the celebrated Dr. Wallerius, late professor of Natural Theology at Upsal. He asserted positively, as he often does in his works, that he had intercourse with spirits of deceased persons. I presumed therefore, to request of him as a great favour, to procure me an interview with my brother, who had departed this life a few months before; a young clergyman officiating in Stockholm, and esteemed for his devotion, erudition, and virtue. He answered that God having for wise and good purposes separated the world of spirits from ours, a communication is never granted without cogent reasons; and asked, what my motives were? I confessed that I had none besides gratifying brotherly affection, and an ardent wish to explore scenes so sublime and interesting to a serious mind. He replied, that my motives were good, but not sufficient; that if any important spiritual or temporal concern of mine had been the case, he would then have solicited permission from those angels who regulate those matters. He showed me the garden. It had an agreeable building; a wing of

which was a kind of a temple, to which he often retired for contemplation; for which, its peculiar structure, and dim, religious light, were suitable.

We parted with mutual satisfaction; and he presented by me, to the said Dr. Celsius, an elegant copy of his Apocalypsis Revelata, then lately printed at Amsterdam.

I should have improved this personal acquaintance; but Swedenborg went soon afterwards on his last travels, from which he did not return; he died in London, and was buried in the cemetery of the Swedish church.

ANECDOTE OF SWEDENBORG.

[The following account is extracted from a work, entitled, "Original anecdotes of Frederick the Great, king of Prussia. Translated from the French of Dieudonné Thiebault, professor of Belles Lettres, in the Royal Academy of Berlin," As the author of this work cannot be supposed to have had any connection with the New Church, we give this article as an example of foreign testimony, in favour of what we believe to be fully established in the writings of Swedenborg; and we presume that it is entitled to as much credit, as any of the relations which are contained in the book of memoirs, from which it is copied. The inconsistent conduct of the queen, in stating that she did not believe that Swedenborg had conversed with her deceased brother, although she acknowledged that what he told her could not have been derived from any living source, can be accounted for, upon the supposition, that she was fearful that a confession of faith in spiritual intercourse, would have been regarded by the learned as a proof of mental weakness. If, however, she did not, as she asserted, believe, it affords a striking instance of the truth of Swedenborg's declaration, that in the present state of the christian world, miracles themselves are not capable of producing conviction upon the minds of men, and that neither" will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead."] ED.

PRINCESS ULRICA, QUEEN DOWAGER OF SWEDEN.

"I know not on what occasion it was that, conversing one day with the queen on the subject of the celebrated visionary Swedenborg, we expressed a desire, particularly M. Merian and my

self, to know what opinion was entertained of him in Sweden. I on my part related what had been told me respecting him by chamberlain d'Hamon, who was still alive, and who had been ambassador from Prussia both to Holland and France. It was that his brother-in-law, ambassador from Holland to Stockholm, having died suddenly, a shopkeeper demanded of his widow the payment of a bill for some articles of drapery, which she remembered had been paid in her husband's lifetime: that the widow not being able to find the shopkeeper's receipt, had been advised to consult with Swedenborg, who she was told could converse with the dead whenever he pleased: that she accordingly adopted this advice, though she did so less from credulity than curiosity: and that at the end of a few days Swedenborg informed her that her deceased husband had taken the shopkeeper's receipt for the money on such a day, and at such an hour, as he was reading such an article in Bayle in his cabinet: that his attention being called immediately afterwards to some other concern, he had put the receipt into the book to mark the place at which he left off, where in fact it was found at the page described. The queen replied, that though she was but little disposed to believe in such seeming miracles, she had nevertheless been willing to put the power of M. Swedenborg, with whom she was acquainted, to the proof: that she was previously acquainted with the anecdote I had related, and it was one of those that had most excited her astonishment, though she had never taken the pains to ascertain the truth of it: that M. Swedenborg having come one evening to her court, she had taken him aside, and begged him to inform himself of her deceased brother the prince royal of Prussia, what he said to her at the moment of her taking leave of him for the court of Stockholm. She added, that what he had said was of a nature to render it impossible that the prince could have repeated it to any one, nor had it ever escaped her own lips: that some days after Swedenborg returned, when she was seated at cards, and requested she would grant him a private audience; to which she replied, he might communicate what he had to say before the company; but that Swedenborg assured her he could not declare his errand in the presence of witnesses; that in consequence of this intimation the queen became agitated, gave her cards to another lady, and requested M. de Schwerin, who was also present when she related the story to us, to accompany her: that they accordingly