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DOCUMENTS CONCERNING SWEDENBORG. 85
was once passing along St. John’s-street, London, in the neigborhood of which^
Swedenborg lodged, when he met an old gentleman of a dignified and most vene-
rable appearance, whose deeply thoughtful yet mildly expressive countenance,
added to something very unusual in his general air, attracted his attention very
forcibly: he turned round, therefore, to take another view of the stranger, who
also turned round and looked again at him. Some years afterwards, when Mr.
Servante had received the truth in the manner above stated, he called on Mr,
Hindmarsh for some of the writings; when seeing in that gentleman’s parlor a
portrait of the author, he instantly recognized in it the venerable stranger whose
appearance had so much interested him. The portrait which he saw was
copied from the print engraved by Martin, representing Swedenborg in advanced
age, the fidelity of which is thus singularly proved."
XII.
REFUTATION OF THE FALSE REPORT
THAT SWEDENBORG,
A FEW HOURS BEFORE HIS DEATH,
HAD RETRACTED HIS WRITINGS.
This report was first propagated in. Holland; it was not heard of till several years
after Swedenborg’s death. As the receivers of Swedenborg’s writings in Holland were
greatly concerned to hear this report, especially as it was said to have emanated from
the persons at whose house Swedenborg lodged and died, and they wrote to Mr. Robert
Hindmarsh, in London, requesting liim immediately to inquire of the persons in ques-
tion, who were still living, and to ascertain whether the report were true ^ false. The
following is Mr. Hindmarsh’s letter, in reply to the inquiry from Holland, together with
the affidavit, taken before the Lord Mayor of London, by Mr. and Mrs. Shearsmith, at
whose house Swedenborg died :
*’
Sir,
**
I am in possession of the most authentic proof of the falsity of the report
you mentioned to have gained credit in Holland, regarding Baron Swedenborg’s
having disowned, or retracted, his doctrines and communications when he was
drawing near his end. The persons in whose house he lived, and where he
died, upon being told this circumstance, freely offered, of their own accord, to
take their oaths before a magistrate, that the whole of the said report is totally
void of foundation, to the best of their knowledge . You will see this accordingly
confirmed by the enclosed document, sworn to in the presence of the Lord Mayor
of this city, and of which you are at full liberty to make whatever use you may
think proper, in order to destroy the influence of so malevolent an insinuation.
Allow me to add here, what I have further learnt from Mr. Springer, a Swedish
gentleman residing here, and a very intimate friend, as you may have heard, of
Swedenborg’s :
—’ When the deceased found his end approaching, and expressed
a wish to have the communion administered to him, somebody present at the
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