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iu 1709, and that it was his brother-in-law, Eric Benzelius, who advised
liirn to apply himself to thos.e subjects, is proved by Swedenborg’s
remarks in his earliest letters to Benzelius, and in the dedication of the
work »On the Infinite.» 1
We shall not, at present, concern ourselves with an analysis of
Swedenborg’s early treatises on a variety of mathematical and scientific
subjects, written and partly published before the year 1722, but rather
attempt further to deline with some precision the sources and
develop-ment of his general philosophy of nature during this early period. An
abundance of evidence shows that Swedenborg had great confidence in
the work of Eric Benzelius and Christopher Polhem, and that he
admir-ed and studied the works of Descartes, Newton, Pufpendorf and
Rud-beck. In the earliest work published by Swedenborg after leaving
Up-sala, — a »Festive Applause», printed at Greifswald in 1714 in
conune-moration of the return of Charles XII. from Turkey to Swedish
Pome-rania, — Swedenborg begins by referring to a doctrine of the
Pytha-goreans that all things develope in cycles, proceeding and then returning
to the point of departure. The student of Swedenborg’s works will find
this doctrine developed from time to time, especially in the »Principia»
and »Worship and Love of God». Again, in a sliort paper »On the
Causes of Things»,""—whether it be by Swedenborg or Polhem we
can-not be certain, perhaps it is the result of joint labor, the doctrines of a
series of particles, differing in size and variously compounded, derived
from the Infinite, and in vortices, may be traced quite clearly. These
doctrines, greatty developed, reappear in the »Precursor» 1 of 1721 and
1 In his first letter to Benzelius, written at Brunsbo, July 13th, 1709, thus only a few
Aveeks after having defended his thesis at Upsala, and as Ave A\ould term it today
»graduated», Swedenborg mentions his plans for the journey to England, Avhich
had evidently been discussed before he left Upsala. He also refers to his plans for
future study, proposing to choose a certain subject AA’hich might in time be
completed. He has ahvays desired to deri ve use and improvement from »the studies, which
I selected with your advice and approval, my dear Brother». He sIioavs his interest
in Physics and »Natural History,» Avhich in those days meant natural science and
philosophy in general, and declares his intention to collect mathematical knoAvledge, also
expressing his desire to have access to the mechanical inventions of Polhem, before
anything mortal happen to him. All these early dreams of Swedenborg Avere
after-Avards fulfllled, and in later years, after the publication of his »Opera Philosophica
et Mineralia», he dedicates to his adviser Benzelius the »Prodromus de Intinito»,
referring gratefully to the valuable counsel of his early guide.
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