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MEMORIAL OF THE HONORABLE EMANUEL SWEDENBORG. 177
rule ; but what each fosters in his heart and keeps studiously apart from the
outward man, is known only to God, to himself, and to his private friends,
through whom, however, what is hidden occasionally manifests itself. I shud-
der when I reflect what may happen, and probably will happen, if private inter-
ests, subverting the general welfare into a gross darkness, should here attain
the ascendancy. I must observe, also, that I see no difference between a king
in Sweden, who possesses absolute power, and an idol ; for all turn themselves,
heart and soul, in the same way to the one as to the other, obey his will, and
worship what passes from his mouth.
" With regard to the other subject of consideration, our relations with foreign
powers, and especially with France, it is well known, that already, at the com-
mencement of our good government, the high States of the empire, and parti-
cularly the secret committee, and subsequently the senate, declared, that an
alliance with France was the best calculated to forward the interests of the state
and to ensure its preservation, in case neighboring powers should cause us any
unquiet; and this principally for the reason, that that kingdom, being situated
at a distance from Sweden, and our relative positions necessarily precluding, the
occurrence of any differences between us respecting the partition of lands and
provinces, can look upon the increasing wealth, industry, and prosperity of
Sweden without jealousy. With England the case is different; for since that
country and Hanover have been united under one sovereign (who, as elector of
Hanover, has come into possession of lands—how is not now the question
—
which formerly belonged to the kingdom of Sweden), his interests are turned
against us, and ours against him,—and it is not possible that this can be over-
looked or forgotten by either party ;
yet until this takes place, our respective
interests must remain constantly irreconcilable. It follows, therefore, that as
long as England and Hanover are united under one sovereign, agreeably to the
natural interests which bind one with the other, we can form no such alliance
with England as may be concluded with France.
"From the alleged grounds, the above two important subjects of consideration,
namely, our excellent government and our alliance with France, have, since the
commencement of our present constitution, which has been in force now for
forty years and upwards, engaged the particular attention of the States of the
empire, who have protected and maintained both, through the secret committee
and its circumspect consideration, and through other arrangements ; and at the
same time have confided their admmistration to the senate and to the Diet.
" Now, as there are three senators, namely—Barons Hopken, Palmstjerna, and
Scheffer, who have given adequate proof of the interest they take, as well in the
internal government of the state as in its foreign alliances, and-have accordingly,
together with the other members of the senate, supported the two ground pil-
lars upon which the welfare and the safety of the state depend ; and as they are
no longer in the senate, I think I am justified in venturing to propose, that they
be recalled, and that Baron Hopken be especially solicited to return. This is the
more urgent, now that justice has proved to be upon their side ; and equity de-
mands it, since all the other senators who voted for war are to be retained.
" I have not the least doubt, that the six newly added members of the senate
have the welfare of Sweden equally at heart, and, as they are gentlemen of under-
standing, penetration, and integrity, that they will, with the same zeal and
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