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Doc. 270.] 611
REV. S. NOBLE ON MATHESIUS.
states in the preface,* that Mathesius had become insane, and
was then living in that state in that city. The same is affirmed
in the New Jerusalem Magazine ; one of the editors of which
was Mr. C. B. Wadström,36 a Swedish gentleman of great re
spectability, well known for his efforts in the cause of the
abolition of the slave-trade, and who must have had ample
means of knowing the fact. In a MS. minute, also, in my
possession, of a conversation held by Mr. Provo, May 2, 1787,
with Mr. Bergström,224 master of the King’s Arms (Swedish)
Hotel, in Wellclose-square ; the latter says as follows : ’Mr.
Mathesius was an opponent of Swedenborg, and said that he
was lunatic, &c.; but it is remarkable that he went lunatic
himself; which happened one day when he was in the Swedish
church and about to preach : I was there and saw it: he has
been so ever since, and sent back to Sweden, where he now
is : this was about four years ago.’ All the accounts agree :
and thus evident it is, that into the pit which this unhappy
man digged for another, did he fall himself. "
Additional testimony to the effect that Mathesius actually
became insane is furnished by Mr. Springer (see Document 270,
D, no. 3, and F, no. 4) , and likewise in the published " Re
cords of the Swedish Church in London" (Anteckningar rörande
Svenska Kyrkan i London) where we read (p. 89) : "In the
summer of 1783 Pastor Mathesius was overtaken by a severe
illness, whereby he was disabled from continuing his office. At
the quarterly meeting which was held on August 18 of the
same year, it was announced that Ambassador Baron von
Nolcken had made arrangements with the Danish minister to
hold services in the Swedish Church every alternate Sunday.
On May 16, 1784, in the presence of Mathesius, Magister
Andreas Leufenius was installed as his successor. Mathesius
had been so far restored that, after being relieved from the
ministerial office, he was able to return to his native country,
where he remained until his death."
It is true, the nature of Mathesius’ illness is not stated
here, but this information has been supplied by two of his
parishioners, who were at the same time members of the church
* On page lxx. + See p. 224. See Document 263, no. 8.
39*
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