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64 DOCUMENTS CONCERNING SWEDENBORG.
that, when he let his hands fall down, we heard him say with a loud voice. My
God ! But we could not hear what he said more. He remained afterwards very
quietly in his bed. I entered into the chamber with the master of the house,
and asked him if he was ill. No, said he ; but I have had a long discourse with
some of the heavenly friends, and am at this time in a great perspiration. And
as his effects were embarked on board the vessel, he asked the master of the
house to let him have a shirt; he then went again to bed and slept till morning.
" When the captain of the vessel came to fetch Swedenborg, I took my leave
of him, and wished him a happy voyage : having then asked the captain if he
was provided with good and necessary provisions, he answered me, that he had
as much as was needful for the voyage. On this Swedenborg said, ’
My friend,
we have not need of a great quantity ; for this day week we shall, by the aid
of God, enter into the port of Stockholm at two o’clock.’ On Captain Dixon’s
return, he related to me that this happened exactly as Swedenborg had foretold.
"Two years afterwards, Swedenborg returned to London, where we continued
our ancient friendship. He informed me that he had sent his works to the Swe-
dish bishops, but without fruit, and that they were received by them with the
same indifference as he had experienced on the part of the English bishops. I
observed a remarkable change amongst the bishops in London; for before, his
voyage to Sweden, they received his works with indifference, but after it, with
great respect. I asked him whence this change happened ? He replied, ’ God
knows the time when His church ought to commence.’
" His intimate friends here were the doctor in divinity, Thomas Hartley ; the
deceased doctor in philosophy, Hampe, a learned man, who was preceptor to
George L; and the doctor in medicine, Messiter : But Dr. Hartley, a man of pro-
found learning and a true servant of God, was his most intimate friend. It was
he who translated into English (as was observed above,) the work of Sweden-
borg, entitled, J)e CcEloet Inferno, with the learned observations thereon; as also
that which is entitled, A Theosophic Lucubration on the nature of Influx, with notes
of a like kind. This doctor is still alive, but far advanced in years.
" As to what relates to myself, I cannot, Sir, point out the reason of Sweden-
borg’s great regard for me, who am not a man of literature. It is true that we
were good friends in Sweden, but that this friendship should have continued be-
tween us with such constancy as it did, is what I did not expect.
*’
The whole of what he has related to me, concerning my deceased friends
and enemies, and of the secrets w^iich existed only between them and me, is al-
most past belief. He even explained to me in what manner the peace was con-
cluded between Sweden and the King of Prussia ; and praised my conduct on
that occasion. He pointed out to me the three great personages whose services
I made use of in that circumstance, which was, nevertheless a great secret be-
twixt us. I asked him how he could be instructed of these particulars, and who
had discovered them to him ; to which he replied, ’ Who informed me of your
affair with Count de C—E—d ? You cannot deny the truth of what I have just
related to you. Continue (added he) to merit his reproaches ; depart not from
the good way, either for honors or money ; but, on the contrary, continue as
constant therein as you have been hitherto, and you will prosper.’
" I wish, Sir, that I was capable of reporting to you all that he told me ; but I
must finish my letter ui assuring you of the esteem with which I am, yours, &c.,
" London, January 18th, 1782." «*
C. Springer.
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