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EULOGIUM OF SANDEL. 27
when we shall find him occupied with Mathematics and Mechanics. His at-
tainments in these sciences soon procured him an acquaintance, and an intimate
connexion during many years, with the Archimedes of Sweden, Christopher
Polhammar, then Assessor and afterwards Counsellor of the Chamber of Com-
merce, and Commander of the Order of the Polar Star, and who was known
afterwards under the name of Polheim. By this connexion he not only ac-
quired great attainments in the science of Mechanics, but obtained the further
advantage of partaking of the very particular confidence with which Polham-
mar was honored by his late Majesty, Charles XII., and which was afterwards
equally shared by them both. The diploma appointing him to his office of As-
sessor, given at Sunden, the 19th of December, 1716, states, that the king had a
particular regard to the knowledge possessed by Swedberg in the science of
Mechanics, and that his pleasure was, that he should accompany and assist
Polhammar, in constructing his various mechanical works. This diploma,
together with all that is related by Dr. Nordberg, in his History of Charles XII.,
of the conversations that this monarch often had with these two great men, on
Mechanics and other parts of Mathematics, evinces how much he esteemed
these two geniuses, who seemed formed to assist each other, and destined to
labor together. He often made use of their knowledge and talents ; which in
both of them, especially on the subject of Mechanics, were accompanied with
the gift of the most happy invention.
This is not the place to speak of the great undertakings of Polheim : other-
wise I should mention the famous dyke of Lyckeby, the locks of Trolhatta, the
bason of Carlscrona, and other works executed by him.
Of such works, Swedenborg, for his part executed one of the greatest import-
ance, during the siege of Frederickshall, in 1718. He contrived to transport over
valleys and mountains, by the help of machines of his own invention, two gal-
leys, five large boats, and a sloop, from Stromstadt to Iderfjol, which divides
Sweden from Norway towards the south ; that is to say, the distance of two
miles and a half.* By this operation, the king found himself in a situation to
carry on his plans ; for under the cover of these galleys and boats, he transport-
ed on pontoons his heavy artillery, which it would have been impossible to
have conveyed by land, under the very walls of Frederickshall. It is thus that
the sciences and arts, judiciously applied, become universally useful, and effect
objects, which, without their aid, no human power could accomplish.
But Mechanics alone did not occupy all his time. In 1717 and 1718 he pub-
lished the continuation of his Dcedalus Hyperboreus. In the latter year he print-
ed an Introduction to Algebra, under the title oi Regel-Konsten ; in 1719, a Proposal
for fixing the value of the Coin, and determining the Measures, of Sweden, so as to sup-
press Fractions, and facilitate Calculations : and in the same year, a treatise on the
position of the Earth and the Planets ; with another on the Height of the Tides, and
the greater Flux and Reflux of the Sea informer ages,- with Proofs furnished by vari-
ous appearances in Sweden. He had begun, at the same time, several other works ;
of which we shall soon learn the particulars by advice from abroad.
He had not yet taken possession of his office of Assessor of the Royal Board
of Mines ; because he was unwilling to exercise the functions of it before he
* Equal to about fourteen English miles.
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