others, was eager to establish with him a literary correspondence, and consulted him on many intricate subjects. Count Hopken, prime minister of Sweden, was also on intimate terms with him, as well after as before, his illumination. He has left his testimony of the character of Swedenborg, which is valuable; for if Swedenborg had exhibited any of those frailties, after his illumination, which his enemies attribute to him, they must have been noticed by Count Hapken, who was acquainted with his whole life. We here insert a letter written by Hopken to General Tuxen, which throws much light on the character of Swedenborg.

'SIR: My stay in the country, at a distance from the capital and the great world, is the cause of my answering later than I ought the letter of April 21st, with which you have honored me. The office with which I was invested in my country, has often made it my duty to give my opinion and counsel in delicate and difficult matters; but I do not recollect any one so delicate ever to have been submitted to my judgment, as that which you have been pleased to propose to me. Such sentiments and persuasions as one person may entertain, do not always suit others; and what may appear to me probable, manifest, certain, and incontestable, may to others seem dark, incomprehensible, nay, even absurd. Partly natural organization, partly education, partly professional studies, partly prejudices, partly fear of abandoning received opinions, and other causes, occasion a difference of ideas in men. To unite and settle them in temporal concerns is not hazardous; but in spiritual matters, when a tender conscience is to be satisfied, I have not the spirit requisite for this, and I am also bound to confess my want of knowledge. All I could say

by way of preliminary on this subject, regards the person of the late Assessor Swedenborg.

'I have not only known him these two-and-forty years, but have also for some time, daily frequented his company. A man, who like me has long lived in the world, and even in an extensive career of life, may have numerous opportunities of knowing men as to their virtues or vices, their weakness or strength; and in consequence thereof, I do not recollect to have ever known any man of more uniformly virtuous character, than Swedenborg; always contented, never fretful or morose, although throughout his life his soul was occupied with sublime thoughts and speculations. He was a true philosopher and lived like one; he labored diligently, lived frugally without sordidness; he travelled frequently, and his travels cost him no more than if he had lived at home.

He was

gifted with a most happy genius, and a fitness for every science, which made him shine in all those he embraced. He was without contradiction probably, the most learned man in my country; in his youth a great poet: I have in my possession some remnants of his Latin poetry, which Ōvid would not have been ashamed to own. His Latin, in his middle age, was an easy, elegant, and ornamental style; in his latter years it was equally clear, but less elegant after he turned his thoughts to spiritual subjects; he was well acquainted with the Hebrew and Greek; an able and profound mathematician; a happy mechanic, of which he gave proof in Norway, where by an easy and simple method, he transported the largest galleys over the high mountains and rocks to a gulf where the Danish fleet was stationed: he was likewise a natural philosopher, yet on the Cartesian principles. He detested metaphysics, as founded on fallacious ideas, because they transcend our sphere, by means

of which theology has been drawn from its simplicity and become artificial and corrupted. He was perfectly conversant with mineralogy, having a long time been assessor in the mineral college, on which science he also published a valuable and classical work, both as to theory and practice, printed at Leipsic in 1734. If he had remained in his office, his merits and talents would have entitled him to the highest dignity; but he preferred ease of mind, and sought happiness in study. In Holland he began to apply himself to anatomy, in which he made singular discoveries, which are preserved somewhere in the Acta Literaria. I imagine this science and his meditations on the effects of the soul upon our curiously constructed body, did by degrees lead him from the material to the spiritual. He possessed a sound judgment upon all occasions; he saw everything clearly, and expressed himself well on every subject. The most solid memorials and the best penned, at the diet of 1751, on matters of finance, were presented by him. In one of these he refuted a large work in quarto on the same subject, quoted all the corresponding passages of it, and all this in less than one sheet.'

For further testimony from the same source see Appendix No. II.

It was stated that Count Hopken was prime minister of Sweden. He was also one of the institutors of the Swedish Royal Academy of Sciences, and served, for several years, as secretary to that institution. In public life he was distinguished for his integrity and assiduity in the discharge of the duties of his office; while as a private man, he was no less distinguished for his social virtues. He died in 1790, at the age of 77 years.

The following is a letter written by Swedenborg to the Rev. Dr. Hartley, of England, giving, in answer

to Dr. Hartley's questions, a general account of his life.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

'I take pleasure in the friendship you express for me in your letter, and return you sincere thanks for the same; but as to the praises which you bestow upon me, I only receive them as tokens of your love of the truths contained in my writings, and so refer them to the Lord our Saviour, from whom is all truth, because he is The Truth. (John xiv. 6.) It is the concluding part of your letter that chiefly engages my attention, where you say as follows:

"As after your departure from England, disputes may arise on the subject of your writings, and so give occasion of defending their author against such false reports and aspersions, as they who are no friends to truth may invent to the prejudice of his character, may it not be of use, in order to refute any calumnies of that kind, that you leave in my hands some short account of yourself; as concerning for example, your degrees in the university, the offices you have borne, your family and connexions, the honors which I am told have been conferred upon you, and such other particulars as may serve to the vindication of your character, if attacked; that so any ill-grounded prejudice may be obviated or removed? For where the honor and interest of truth are concerned, it certainly behoves us to employ all lawful means in its defence and support." After reflecting on the foregoing passage, I was induced to comply with your friendly advice, by briefly communicating the following circumstances of my life.

'I was born at Stockholm, in the year 1689,* Janu

It has been ascertained that this should be 1688.

ary 29th. My father's name was Jesper Swedberg, who was bishop for West Gothland, and a man of celebrity in his time. He was also elected a member of the [English] Society for the propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts; for he had been appointed by King Charles XII. as bishop over the Swedish churches in Pennsylvania and London. In the year 1710 I began my travels, first going to England, and thence to Holland, France and Germany; whence I returned home in 1714. In the year 1716, and afterwards, I had many conversations with Charles XII. king of Sweden, who was pleased to bestow on me a large share of his favor, and in that year appointed me to the office of Assessor of the Metallic College, in which I continued till the year 1747, when I resigned it; but I still retain the salary annexed to it, as an appointment for life. My sole view in this resignation was, that I might be more at liberty to devote myself to that new function to which the Lord hath called me. On my resigning my office a higher degree of rank was offered me; but this I utterly declined, lest it should be the occasion of inspiring me with pride. In 1719 I was ennobled by Queen Ulrica Eleonora, and named Swedenborg; from which time I have taken my seat with the Nobles of the Equestrian Order in the Triennial Assemblies of the States of the Realm. I am a Fellow, by invitation, of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Stockholm; but I have never sought admission into any other literary society, as I belong to an angelic society, wherein things relating to heaven and the soul are the only subjects of discourse and entertainment; whereas the things which occupy the attention of our literary societies are such as relate to the world and the body. In the year 1734, I published at Leipsic the Regnum Minerale, in three volumes, folio; and in 1738 I took a