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54 DOCUMENTS CONCERNING SWEDENBORG.
Count Hôpken to General Tuxen.
LETTER V.
" SIR,
"I have had the honour of receiving your letter dated
Elsineur, June 16th. But I am very sorry that I could
only enjoy an hour of the edifying and learned conver
sation of Dr. Bastholm, and that I could not shew him
more attention and civility, as he was to continue his
journey the next day through Upsal, without returning to
Stockholm. I found him to be a very rare clergyman,
for he spoke reasonably, and without acrimony, of all the
different opinions which have of late arisen in matters of
religion. He was by no means a Swedenborgian, for he
did not understand his memorable relations; and I could
wish the happy deceased had left them out, since they
may prevent infidelity from approaching towards his
doctrines. I represented to him these inconveniences ;
but he said that he was commanded to declare what he
had seen in the other world ; and he related it as a proof
that he did not reveal his own thoughts, but that they
came from above. As for the rest, I find in his system
a simplicity and gradation, and such a spirit as the work
of God in nature everywhere proves and exhibits ; for
whatever man creates is complicate, laboured, and subject
to vicissitude. The authors of the Monthly Review, who
every month publish criticisms that are rather severe,
speak of Swedenborg as an extraordinary and wonderful
man, and, without adopting his principles, treat him with
much regard and respect. The sentence said to have
been pronounced on Swedenborg by a committee during
the diet, which you request of me, has not reached my
knowledge, and probably does not exist in the manner of
approbation. The matter began at Gottenburg, particu
larly against the late Dr. Beyer, and was continued here
by the chancellor of justice, but came to nothing ; for
neither the accuser nor the judges understood Sweden
borg, and had no lights, or capacity to judge of such
matters. Dr. Beyer has employed a vast deal of pains
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