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62 DOCUMENTS CONCERNING SWEDENBORG.
« Sir,
" By the letter with which you have honored me, dated Berhn the 6th of
December last, which came late to hand, I perceive that you desire to have some
of the works pubhshed by the late Assessor, Emamiel Swedenborg; as also a
relation of the particulars that passed at my meeting with him during his life-
time ; and that my friends, Messrs. de Nordenskjold, have directed you to me
for such information : in regard to which, I shall satisfy your desires on those
heads, so far as my strength and sight will permit me, which have failed me
considerably within the last two years, and which, on my approaching near to
my seventy-ninth year, is indeed less to be wondered at.
" It is to be observed, that Assessor Swedenborg was not a count, but a simple
gentleman up to the year 1719. His father, Jasper Swedberg, was bishop of
Skara, and a man of great learning ; but this Emanuel Swedenborg was gifted of
God with greater endowments. His knowledge and sincerity were both very
remarkable. He was constant in friendship, extremely sober in his diet, and
plain in his clothing. His common food was bread and butter, and milk and
coffee ;
yet at times he was wont to eat a little fish, but very seldom any meat;
he never drank above two glasses of wine, and that only in company. He dis-
regarded places of honor, and therefore determined, about the year 1746, to re-
quest his discharge from the place he had so long occupied : but the king
granted him, as a pension, the salary of his office, which he enjoyed to the time
of his decease. It gives me a very particular pleasure to understand that you,
Sir, intend to translate some of his works, to the intent that they ma}’’ become
more generally Itnown; and that you propose beginning with that entitled.
Arcana Ccciestia. It is in eight vols., and sells for eight guineas. His last tract,
entitled, Coronis seu Appendix ad Veram Christianam Religionem., sells for two shil-
lings. The expense for the carriage may be about three shillings more, so that
the total will amount to eight pounds thirteen shillings. An opportunity of
sending them by Hamburg may be found during any month in the year.
" I waited. Sir, on the Count de Luzi, and informed him of your commission
to me respecting these books. He told me, that he had not received any ad-
vice, but as he was well acquainted with you it was sufficient, and that he
w-ould take upon him to advance the money for the purchase of the books
;
adding afterwards, that it might not be amiss, that you should be informed of
the high price of them before they were sent. It will, therefore, entirely depend
upon you. Sir, to inform me whether you wish to have them sent.
" I apprehend. Sir, that you must be possessed, of another Latin work of the
late Swedenborg, entitled, De Calo et Inferno. 1 could wish, nevertheless, that
you were also possessed of the English translation of that work, which was
performed by the learned doctor in divinity, Thomas Hartley : in the margin of
that work are to be met with notes and observations of the translator. His trea-
tise cost ten shillings.
" This Dr. Hartley has likewise translated into English, with notes and learned
observations, a small treatise of the late Swedenborg, entitled, A Theosophic Lu-
cubration on the nature of Influx^ as it respects the Communication and Operation of the
Soul and Body, in 4to. The price of that translation is two shillings and six-
pence : it concludes with a letter from Swedenborg to Dr. Hartley, concerning
his family and connexions.
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