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458
[Doc. 164.
SWEDENBORG’S OFFICIAL LIFE.
B.
SWEDENBORG TO THE COLLEGE OF MINES,
Most well -born Baron and President, and also well-born and
esteemed Councillors of Mines, and Assessors.
A few months ago I applied most humbly to
His Royal Majesty for gracious leave of absence, to make
a journey abroad on my own resources for the purpose of
seeing through the press a work which is the continuation
and end of one which had been begun and promised ;
when I received orally the gracious answer through Mr.
Boneauschöld,180 the Secretary of State, that my applica
tion had been graciously entertained, but that on a point of
order it ought to be announced first at the College. Now,
as ever since my return I have in addition to my official
duties constantly laboured to accomplish this work and as
I have now completed it so far, that after collecting some
necessary information in the libraries abroad, I shall be
able to publish it at once, and thus fulfil what I have
promised, and what is I find desired by many abroad ; I
therefore entreat the honourable Royal College in the most
humble manner that it would kindly accede to my wishes.
As far as my individual preference and pleasure are concerned,
assure you that I should a thousand times prefer to
stay at home in my native country, where it would be a
pleasure to me to serve in so illustrious a College, and to
contribute my own small share to the public good ; at the
same time to watch opportunities for improving my condition,
and attend to the little property I have acquired, and thus
live at home and have pleasant times, which, as long as
my health and means with God’s help continue, nothing
would disturb – than to travel abroad, exposing myself, at my
own by no means inconsiderable expense, to danger and
vexation, especially in these unquiet times, and undergoing
severe brain work and other hard labour with the probability
of meeting in the end with more unfavourable than favourable
judgments. But notwithstanding all this, I am influenced
interiorly by the desire and longing to produce during my
* This letter is preserved in the College of Mines among the Bref
och Suppliquer addressed to it in 1743, p. 93.
I can
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