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MEMORANDA RESPECTING SWEDENBORG. 181
•’
It seems, by the account of Mr. Shearsmith, that the Baron had visited Eng-
land three or four different times. He had lodged in Cold Bath Fields, and
upon his return to England came to the same place, but the people had removed,
and he was recommended to Mr. Shearsmith, where he lodged about two years;
then he left England, and went to Amsterdam in Holland, at which place he
had published many of his Latin works. He staid there some time, and then
returned to England, and came to the same place to lodge with Mr. Shearsmith,
and remained at his house till his death, which might be about two years.
" The dress that he generally wore when he went out to visit, was a suit of
black velvet, made after an old fashion, a pair of long ruffles, a curious hilted
sword, and a gold headed cane.
" He ate little or no animal food, only sometimes a few eels. His chief suste-
nance was cakes, tea, and coffee, made generally exceedingly sweet. His drink
was water. He took a great deal of snuff.
" Mr. Shearsmith was affrighted when he first lodged with him, by reason of
his talking in the night and day. He said, [he] w^ould sometimes be writing,
and sometimes stand talking m the doorstead of his room, as if he was holding
a conversation with some persons ; but as he spoke in a language Mr. S. did
not understand, he could not make anything of it.
" During the time he was at Mr. S.’s, he had some learned men that came to
converse with him, especially a Rev. Mr. Hartley, of East Mailing, in Kent, and
a pliysician called Messiter.
" He did not know the English language so as to hold a running conversation
in it.
" He had an impediment in his speech.
" He laid some weeks in a trance without any sustenance, and came to him-
self again ; this w^as not long before his death.
" He seldom or never complained of any bodily pain, but was attacked before
his death Avith a kind of paralytic stroke.
" He had no books, no, not so much as a Directory. He was far from being
verbose.
" It was said he had conversation, in spirit, with Luther and Calvin.
" During his last visit to England, he chose to be mostly retired or private,
" It seems he had no particular regard for times or seasons, or days or nights,
only took rest when nature required —did not indulge. He went not to any
place of worship during his abode with Mr. Shearsmith.
" He did not want money.
" Dr. Messiter had some Manuscripts he had by him at the time of his death.
" The grand quantity were sent into Sweden, and are in one of the libraries.
" The above is what I gathered from Mr. Shearsmith.
«’ December the 4th, 1783. Went again to Mr. S.’s to read over to him this
above account, to know if it was just in every observation, and he told me it
was. Mr. S. not being at home, I staid till he came in, and had some conver-
sation with the maid that attended him, the Baron. She said, he was a good-
natured man, and that he was a blessing to the house, for that they had harmony
i
and good business.
I
•’ She said, that before he came to their house he was offered another lodging
I
in the neighborhood ; but he told the mistress, there wanted harmony in the
house, which she acknowledged, and recommended him to Mr. Shearsmith’s.
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