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Doc. 37.] SWEDENBORG TO ERICUS BENZELIUS. 203
time ; and as I can be there with greater advantage during
summer than during winter, and as everything then is
more bright and enjoyable, I am still less opposed to going.
I have little desire to remain here much longer; for I
am wasting almost my whole time. Still, I have made such
progress in music, that I have been able several times to take
the place of our organist; but for all my other studies this
place affords me very little opportunity; and they are not at
all appreciated by those who ought to encourage me in them ,
Some time ago a levy of all the country people was
ordered here ; and when the time came for assembling,
they committed an unheard of outrage upon their own
bailiff; for they first ill-treated and then killed him, after which
they fired several hundred shots at him as a target, so that
there was scarcely any part of him left entire ; and even then
they would have allowed the hogs to eat him , if the pastor
of Horn had not restrained them . Magister Fegræus inter
posed his authority, but they threatened him with the same
treatment, unless he would keep silence; two country-men and
one country -woman, who expressed sorrow at this occurrence,
were also killed. Magistrate Aurell took refuge with the
pastor of Horn, whom I mention above, and concealed himself
in a dark room in the cellar. The parsonage was surrounded
and searched in every corner, but they had to retire without
having effected their purpose. Part of them lay down near
Billingen, and threatened every one with death who should go
further. The provincial governor was then compelled to issue
furloughs to all of them ; for they gave him to understand,
that they had determined to treat in this way all the officers
they would have on their march. May God prevent our
having an insurrection here ; but it looks very much as if we
should have one.
Four or five weeks ago the bones of a giant * were sent
* These bones which were those of a whale are still preserved in the
museum at Upsal, and, if we are not mistaken, Emanuel Swedenborg is
marked as their donor. He discusses these bones at large on p. 29 of his
little work, Om Watnenshögd,&c., where he says that when they were dug
out at first, they were supposed to be the bones of a giant, but after they
had been joined together, it appeared that they were those of a large fish
or whale.
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