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664 NOTES TO VOLUME I.
letter, warning him to stop his impertinencies ; because it is quite
possible that some one may show up the puerilities and short-comings
in scientific matters, which he has had the daring to publish." Still
from expressions in some of his later letters, Swedenborg seems to
have thought better of Hjärne, and to have been on better terms
with him. After the death of Charles XII, Hjärne was one of those,
who took a leading part in limiting the royal power , and Ulrica
Eleonora being elected sovereign of Sweden, he resigned his various
offices, and soon after, in 1724, died in his eighty-third year. Although
Hjärne mixed up the natural sciences with mysticism , and had a
leaning towards the ancient alchemists, still he did a great amount
of good to his country; and although impetuous, he was sincere.
Compare on this subject, “The spiritual Diary ," no. 6036.
NOTE 54.
PROFESSOR ELFVIUS.
Per Elfvius was professor of astronomy and a member of the
Literary Society of Upsal. Although not possessed of much original
genius himself (see his remarks on Newton’s theory of gravitation in
Document 42, p. 227), he seems to have had the power or art of
awakening genius in others, and of stimulating their zeal for the
advancement of science. This appears from a letter (Document 42)
which he addressed to Swedenborg when in London in 1711, and in
which he urges him to visit the Royal Astronomer Flamsteed, at
Greenwich, and instructs him how to turn his visit to the greatest
advantage. This appears also from the interest he took in young
Vassenius (see the Swedish Biografiskt Lexicon ," Vol. 20, p. 337), and
p
from the great affection and respect in which he was held by Sweden
borg till the time of his death in 1718 (see Document 77, p. 322).
His son Per, who was eight years old at the time of his father’s
death, became more generally known as an astronomer and mathe
matician; through his influence, while he was Secretary of the Aca
demy of Sciences, the astronomical observatory in Stockholm was
erected. Professor Elfvius, the elder, married Annica Spole, daughter
of Anders Spole, professor of mathematics at Upsal; her brother
Lars, who on being ennobled was called Rosenborg, was married to
Magdalena Schönstrom, first cousin of Emanuel Swedenborg (see
Document 9, p. 85).
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