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, honored him on the same ground, being themselves scholars and well bred persons. He could therefore assure his friend (Dr. Hartley) that he was in no danger of persecution.

'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 Coelestia, 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 Dr. 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 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, agreeable to the Swedish custom : he was also, like pensive men in general, fond of this beverage. We conversed for nearly 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 the spirits of deceased persons. I presumed, therefore, to request of him as a great favor, 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. He showed me the garden. It had an agreeable building; a

wing of which was a kind of 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.'

In a letter addressed by Mr. Collin to the Rev. John Hargrove, of Baltimore, dated Philadelphia, March 16, 1801, which was lately found among the papers of Mr. H., after his decease, Mr. C. makes the following statement:

'Swedenborg was universally esteemed for his various erudition in mathematics, mineralogy, &c., and for his probity, benevolence, and general virtue. Being very old when I saw him, he was thin and pale, but still retained traces of beauty, and had something very pleasing in his physiognomy, and a dignity in his tall and erect stature. On my requesting his aid in procuring an interview with a brother lately deceased, he answered very properly, that the partition wall between this and the other world, could not be opened without some important cause, and not to gratify mere curiosity. When I come to Baltimore some time this spring, I shall tell

I am,
&c.

you more. NICHOLAS COLLIN.'

CHAPTER IV.

VARIOUS TESTIMONIES TO THE REALITY OF SWEDENBORG'S INTERCOURSE WITH THE SPIRITUAL WORLD, AND OF HIS FORETELLING EVENTS.

VERY little importance is attached, by members of the New Church to the external evidences of Swedenborg's intercourse with the spiritual world. Being satisfied, from the truths contained in his writings, of his almost constant intercourse with that world for the last thirty years of his life, no external evidence can add at all to their belief in its reality. But as they are among the facts known concerning Swedenborg, and therefore make a part of his life, and as much importance seems to have been attached to them by those about him at the time of their occurrence; and as there may still be those whose minds may be somewhat influenced in favor of investigating his writings, by a knowledge of them, it has been thought best to insert them. It is, however, to be remarked that Swedenborg never attempted to convince any one of the truth of his doctrines, or the certainty of his intercourse with the spiritual world, by testimonies such as we are about to relate, although he had it in his power constantly and daily to do so; but these testimonies were sought by others. He was ever ready to communicate freely to those who were disposed from proper motives to inquire of him concerning their departed relatives and friends.

We here introduce the relation which passed between Swedenborg and the Swedish Queen Louisa Ulrica, wife of King Adolphus Frederic, and sister of

Frederic the Great of Prussia. In a work entitled Original Anecdotes of Frederic the Great, King of Prussia,' by M. Dieudonne Thiebault, Professor of Belles Lettres in the Royal Academy of Berlin, there is the following anecdote:

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I know not,' says M. Thiebault, on what occasion it was, that, conversing one day with the Queen on the subject of the celebrated visionary, Swedenborg, we (the members of the academy) expressed a desire, particularly M. Merian, and myself, to know what opinion was entertained of him in Sweden. Queen, after having alluded to some anecdotes relative to Swedenborg's interviews with the spiritual world, replied, that though she was but little disposed to believe in such seeming miracles, she nevertheless had been willing to put the power of M. Swedenborg, with whom she was acquainted, to the proof; • 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 she 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. At their subsequent interview, the Queen,' says M. Thiebault, said that Swedenborg addressed her as follows: "You took, madam, your last leave of the Prince of Prussia, your late august brother, at Charlottenburg, on such a day, and at such an hour of the afternoon; as you were passing afterwards through the long gallery, in the castle of Charlottenburg, you met him again; he then took you by the hand, and led you to such a window, where you could not be overheard, and then said to you these words 'The Queen,' says M. Thie

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