Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Sidor ...
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
Doc. 73.] 285
SWEDENBORG TO BENZELIUS.
I found him cold and indifferent about it, inasmuch as it does
not emanate directly from the faculty at Upsal; we shall have
to wait therefore for an opportunity. The Councillor of Com
merce [Polhem ] has resolved to trouble himself about no
thing, except what concerns himself; since he has noticed
that many new things are given into his charge, about
which he has no knowledge whatever. Still the salt-boiling
will go on, His Majesty having resolved to grant great and
important privileges, which will perhaps induce many zealous
persons to venture their means in the affair; and should there
be a scarcity of shareholders in other places, Lund with its
attorneys may perhaps do the most. The establishment of
canal locks, between Gottenburg and Wenersborg, is also
in good trim. I have besides been busy with a new method
of counting which His Majesty has hit upon, viz. to let the
numeration reach 64, before it turns, in the same way as the
ordinary method of counting turns at 10. He has himself
devised new characters, new names, &c., for this purpose ; and
has written and changed a number of points with his own
hand. This paper, which I have in my possession, will in
time deserve a distinguished place in a library. This
method of counting is difficult in multiplication, &c.; but it is
useful and speedy in division, in the extraction of the square,
cube, and biquadratic roots, all of which terminate in 64; as
well as in the solution of smaller numbers. His Majesty has
great penetration.
With a thousand remembrances to sister Anna, and little
brother Eric, I remain, honoured and dear brother,
Your most faithful brother,
EMAN . SWEDBERG.
Lund, June 26, 1717.
P. S. I wrote the preceding for the last post. The
privileges of the Salt Company have since been signed ; they
are fairly advantageous, as those who wish to interest
themselves with the Councillor of Commerce [Polhem] in a
Salt Company, have liberty to purchase any forest that can
be bought, and to select any place they choose ; are exempt
from taxation for twenty years, and are subsequently never to be
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
