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Doc. 253.] 419
COLLIN’S TESTIMONY.
to the son, I will candidly mention the only fact within my
knowledge, which may be so construed : a female head-dress,
called in French fontange, made up of laces or ribbons to a
monstrous height of several stages, had long been an object of
his indignation. In a parish of his diocese, a female still-born
child had a monstrous excrescence on its head, very similar
to this ornament of the ladies. He regarded this as an ominous
commination from heaven against the sinful vanity, and published
a very spirited poem, with a drawing of the hideous forms.
Those who sarcastically criticise this, ought, however, to reflect,
that the most learned physiologists cannot yet decide what
effect monstrous figures may, by affecting the mother, produce
on the unborn babe. Certain it was, that the Bishop struck
a death-blow to many thousand fontanges, and so far saved
many fathers and husbands from expense and vexation.*
"Swedenborg is silent on the merits of his youth, which
were great. The author of a dissertation on the Royal Society
of Sciences at Upsal, published in 1789, thus mentions him as
one of its first and best members: ’His letters to the Society
while abroad, witness that few can travel so usefully. An
indefatigable curiosity directed to various important objects,
is conspicuous in all. Mathematics, astronomy, and mechanics
seem to have been his favourite sciences, and he had already
made great progress in these. Everywhere he became ac
quainted with the most renowned mathematicians and astro
nomers, as Flamstead,50 Delahire,59 Varignon, &c. This pur
suit of knowledge was also united with a constant zeal to
benefit his country. No sooner was he informed of any useful
discovery, than he was solicitous to render it beneficial to
Sweden, by purchase, or sending home models. When a good
book was published, he not only gave immediate notice of it,
but contrived to procure it for the library of the University.’
"That Swedenborg, on his return, was honoured by fre
quent conversations with Charles XII,3 may well be believed
by all who knew the real character of that King : he was not
a mere warrior, but fond of useful sciences, though impeded
* See also Vol. I, p. 150.
See Documents 40 to 45.
27*
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