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Doc. 273.] THE CONFLAGRATION IN STOCKHOLM. 629
In the year 1759, * towards the end of September, † on
Saturday, at four o’clock, p.m., Swedenborg arrived at Gotten
burg from England, when Mr. William Castel invited him to
his house, together with a party of fifteen persons. About
six o’clock, Swedenborg went out, and returned to the com
pany quite pale and alarmed. He said that a dangerous fire
had just broken out in Stockholm, at the Södermalm, (Gotten
burg is about 50 German miles from Stockholm), and that
it was spreading very fast. He was restless, and went out
often. He said that the house of one of his friends, whom
he named, was already in ashes, and that his own was in
danger. At eight o’clock, after he had been out again, he
joyfully exclaimed, ’Thank God ! the fire is extinguished, the
third door from my house.’ This news occasioned great com
motion throughout the whole city, but particularly amongst the
company in which he was. It was announced to the governor
the same evening. On Sunday morning, Swedenborg was
summoned to the governor, who questioned him concerning
the disaster. Swedenborg described the fire precisely, how it
had begun, and in what manner it had ceased, and how long
it had continued. On the same day the news spread through
the city, and, as the governor had thought it worthy of attention,
the consternation was considerably increased ; because many
were in trouble on account of their friends and property, which
might have been involved in the disaster. On Monday evening
a messenger arrived at Gottenburg, who was despatched by the
Board of Trade during the time of the fire. In the letters
brought by him, the fire was described precisely in the manner
stated by Swedenborg. On Tuesday morning the royal courier
arrived at the governor’s, with the melancholy intelligence of
the fire, of the loss which it had occasioned, and of the houses
it had damaged and ruined , not in the least differing from that
which Swedenborg had given at the very time when it happened ;
for the fire was extinguished at eight o’clock."
* The German original has 1756; see Introduction to Document 271.
The conflagration did not take place in September, but on July 29;
see Document 271 , A.
About 300 English miles.
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