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446 [Doc. 256.
TESTIMONY OF CONTEMPORARIES.
world without reserve and with full confidence. It almost
seemed as if his eyes possessed the faculty of imposing silence
on every one.
7. He lived with simple burgher folks, who kept a shop
in which they sold chintz, muslin, handkerchiefs, and the
like, and who had quite a number of little children. I in
quired of the landlady whether the old gentleman did not
require very much attention. She answered, "He scarcely
requires any; the servant has nothing else to do for him,
except in the morning to lay the fire for him in the fire
place. Every evening be goes to bed at seven, and gets up
in the morning at eight. We do not trouble ourselves any
more about him. During the day he keeps up the fire him
self; and on going to bed takes great care, lest the fire should
do any damage. He dresses and undresses himself alone,
and waits upon himself in every thing, so that we scarcely
know whether there is any one in the house or not. I should
like him to be with us during the rest of his life. My children
will miss him most ; for he never goes out without bringing
them home some sweets ; the little rogues also dote upon the
old gentleman so much, that they prefer him to their own
parents. I imagine, that he is very rich."
8. This last remark of the good lady must be very true;
and we may infer it from this circumstance alone that he
has published his manifold writings in England and in this
country entirely at his own expense ; and has never gained a
farthing from their sale. All these writings are printed on
large and expensive paper; and yet he gives them all away.
The booksellers to whom he gives them for sale charge as
much for them as they can get. Indeed, they sell them dear
enough, as I found out by my own experience ; for I had to
pay four florins and a half to the bookseller Schreuder in this
town for a copy of his Apocalypsis Revelata. The bookseller
himself, however, mentioned to me that the author never de
mands an account either from himself, or any other dealer.
I have been told that Mr. Swedenborg has a draught for
2000 ducats, at three days’ sight, on the large firm of Messrs.
Hope & Co., at whose house he often dines ; and that he has
not touched this sum for many months, although he daily
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