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566 [Doc. 268.
TESTIMONY OF CONTEMPORARIES.
firm conviction of the rationality and truth of the heavenly
doctrines promulgated in those invaluable writings, which
doctrines he zealously laboured to disseminate during the
remainder of his natural life.
"That Mr. Smith was a man of undoubted veracity, can
be testified by several persons now living, besides myself; the
fact, therefore, that such a correspondence did take place between
the Honourable Emanuel Swedenborg and the Rev. John Wesley,
is established upon the best authority.
"On referring to Mr. Wesley’s printed journal, it may be
seen, that he left London on the 1st of March in the year 1772;
reached Bristol on the 3rd, Worcester on the 14th, and Chester
on the 29th, which was the day of Swedenborg’s final departure
from this world. Mr. Wesley, in continuing his circuit, visited
Liverpool, and various towns in the north of England, and in
Scotland, returning through Northumberland and Durham to
Yorkshire, and thence through Derbyshire, Staffordshire, and
Shropshire, to Wales ; thence to Bristol, Salisbury, Winchester,
and Portsmouth, to London, where he arrived on the 10th of
October in the same year, having been absent rather more than
six months.
"I feel it my duty to accede to your request, and allow my
name to appear as your immediate voucher.
"I remain, dear Sir,
"Yours very sincerly,
"JOHN ISAAC HAWKINS. " 239
"To this I can add, that the Rev. M. Sibly240 has assured
me, that he has heard Mr. Smith relate the above anecdote;
and that he could mention, if necessary, several other persons
still living who must have heard it too.. He fully, also, supports
Mr. Hawkins’ statement in regard to Mr. Smith’s veracity.
Thus it is impossible to doubt that Mr Smith affirmed it ; and
it is difficult to suppose that he could either wilfully or unin
tentionally misrepresent an incident which must have impressed
him so strongly, and of which his consequent adoption of
Swedenborg’s sentiments formed a collateral evidence. *
* Mr. Hawkins ’ letter to Mr. Noble was inserted by Robert Hindmarsh
in his "History of the Rise and Progress of the New Jerusalem Church"
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