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URBAN HJÄRNE. 663
case is, that he is sober and saving, does not run into expenses, and
has a good and pious wife.” The name of his estate was Sweden.
dahl ; from that place he addressed a letter in 1740 to Ericus
Benzelius (Document 126), in which he asks his assistance to obtain
from Lars Benzelstiernas money which he wrongly withheld from
him. The year of his death is not recorded. He had ten children
(see Document 9, p. 92); eight of whom were daughters. From his
son Jesper Gustav, who was born in 1736, the Swedenborg family
of the present day are descended.
NOTE 53.
URBAN HJÄRNE.
Urban Hjärne, a celebrated Swede, was born in Ingermanland in
1641. He was considered one of the greatest scientific men in
Sweden of his time. He first studied medicine ; but in 1675 he
became Assessor in the College of Mines, a position which he filled
until 1696, when he was appointed physician to the King. In 1678,
he made known the virtues of the mineral spring at Medevi, which
was opened for patients in the following year. Soon after, he in
stituted the first chemical laboratory in Sweden, by which he esta
blished his reputation as a chemist. He also directed the attention
of his country to the mining interest, and was instrumental in open
ing again the mines at Sala and Fahlun. In 1713, he was appointed
Vice-President of the College of Mines, in which capacity he made
the acquaintance of Swedenborg who was appointed extraordinary
Assessor in the College, in 1716. Hjärne seems to have been steadi
ly opposed to Swedenborg, looking upon him as having received his
office through royal favouritism , and not from his scientific attain
ments. Perhaps Hjärne visited upon young Swedenborg the wrath
he entertained against his father, Bishop Swedberg, whose publication,
" The Shibboleth," treating on Swedish orthography, he opposed and
criticised in terms of unmeasured severity, (see Document 10, p. 133,
and Documents 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18). In Document 76, Sweden
borg says concerning him , “ What ought to be done with this Hjärne ?
Should he be allowed to make such a scandalous personal attack?
If he had only attacked the subject itself, and supported it with
arguments — but he makes a personal assault. I have read through
his Chemistry, and find that he is but slightly grounded in the
principles upon which chemistry is founded." In Document82 he writes :
"By the first opportunity I will send Dedalus, Part VI, to Vice
President Hjärne with a courteous, but at the same time decided
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