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Doc. 267.] 561
TESTIMONY OF FERELIUS.
[15. It was among his peculiarities that he never washed
his face and hands, nor brushed his clothes, saying that no
dust or impurity clung to him.*]
16. He could not bear linen sheets, but lay between
.
English blankets.
But I have to close here after retailing some anecdotes,
which were not known before. I beg, however, expressly that
you will not mention my name in connection therewith, during
my life-time.
Commending myself to your customary favour, I am, with
great esteem,
Your obedient servant,
ARVID FERELIUS.
Sköfde, March 17, 1780.
P. S. A violent anti- Swedenborgian, Bishop Lamberg,’
of Gottenburg died recently.
178
That the above copy of Dean Ferelius’ letter to Professor
Trägård of Greifswalde, agrees in every particular with the
This statement seems exceedingly improbable to us, and we agree
with Dr. Im. Tafel, that it was one of those falsehoods which were circulated
about Swedenborg, and which Ferelius reported on mere hearsay. Dr. Im.
Tafel says, "In respect to the wonderful quality attributed here to Sweden
borg’s face, hands, and clothes, Ferelius does not say that he was informed
concerning it by Swedenborg himself, nor does he say that Swedenborg’s
words on this subject were addressed to himself. Besides, there is no
internal probability at all that Swedenborg of himself should have talked
on this subject with Ferelius or any one else. And how else should it
have been known?" Besides, we add, Shearsmith is silent about this, and
Robsahm, and in fact every one who gives his testimony respecting Sweden
borg’s exterior. And should the reverse have been true, i. e. should Sweden
borg have had an unwashed appearance, and should his clothes have appeared
dusty, not only Ferelius, but others also would have commented on this
circumstance. Moreover, Robsahm informs us (Document 5, no. 3) that
Swedenborg required of his gardener’s wife that she should daily place
"a large jug of water in his ante-room," and C. F. Nordensköld learnt
from her besides (see Vol. I, p. 53), that "Swedenborg gave orders that
they were not to awake him, nor to touch him when he lay in bed, but to
place a basin of water before his bed." Surely this "large jug of water"
in Swedenborg’s ante-room, and the "basin of water" which was placed
before his bed, could only have been for the purpose of washing. We
36
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