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254 ( Doc. 58.
SWEDENBORG’S CORRESPONDENCE .
I was very glad to hear your opinion and ideas upon my
proposition. I have never been, and I never will be, so
forgetful of myself and of my standing at Upsal, as to expect
that the professors would support me to their own prejudice;
but I thought that by such a desperate and execrable pro
position I should compel your prudence and imagination to
discover something better for me ; the whole of it was conceived
merely as a joke, and this can very easily be mended en
disant la verité — by telling the truth about it. Besides,
it is impossible for it to spread further, inasmuch as I had
concealed it well in the envelope directed to you, and had
stamped my seal upon it, so that no one could have peeped
into it. Still it would be very desirable that such a faculty
should be established, and if it is not practicable now , and
we have to wait, it could be done with the greatest ease
by dispensing with some of the professorships which are least
necessary, e. g. in course of time one professorship might
be spared both from theology and medicine, and the professor
ship of Oriental languages might be transferred either to a
professorship of theology, or to the professorship of Greek;
so also that of morals might be transferred to the professor.
ship of history ; especially, as there are few universities where
there are so many professorships established. But as it would
probably take from six to ten years before this could be
carried out, it would be well if meanwhile some other
arrangement could be made; and this your prudence will be
best able to find out.
By the last post I sent 150 dalers in copper for the liqui
dation of my debt. I do not know whether this is sufficient,
as I do not know what I have sent over on the former account,
except two glasses to Valerius, and also the Transactions of the
Royal Society, which was fifteen shillings, and a few other small
books ; the whole account ofwhich amounted to about four pounds,
more or less. My travelling-book, in whichthose and other things
are entered, lies at Hamburg. Whatever may be wanted besides,
shall be remitted immediately, with much gratitude. I should
ere now have discharged my debt on this score in Stockholm ;
but I scarcely knew then how I should square my accounts,
and every stiver was then of consequence to me. This also
a
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