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Doc. 309.] 815
THE MISSING MANUSCRIPTS.
Messrs. Nordensköld [ ?] and Chastanier, and an index to a
part of the Diarium Majus prepared by her revered father.
"At the next meeting of the Printing Society’s Committee,
in April, Mr. Bateman laid the MSS. on the table, stating
what had taken place. The Committee, after deliberating
what was best to be done under the circumstances, came to
the conclusion to pay the purchase-money amongst themselves,
and then present them to the Society. This was done accord
ingly, and after having their homely covers exchanged by
Mackenzie for a handsome and substantial binding, they were
safely deposited with the trustees of the Society.
"But the Committee did not rest there. Having now ob
tained nearly all the Swedenborgian MSS. known to exist in
this country-part by the kindness of Mr. Peckitt, and part
by this purchase from Miss Sibly-it was determined to
ascertain the validity of their title to them, by a direct appli
cation to Stockholm, believing it was a duty either to restore
.
or purchase them if they belonged to the Academy ; and if
the penalty spoken of had been paid as a purchase by Wad
ström’s representatives, it was equally a duty to restore to
those representatives either the penalty or the MSS. This
subject was brought before the Society at its annual general
meeting on the 19th of June, 1841 , when the Committee was
authorized to procure the necessary information in regard to
them. Numerous letters were written accordingly, to different
gentlemen, both in this country and on the continent, from
whom there was any probability of obtaining information—
and also to the Academy of Sciences at Stockholm.
"From the answers received, it became evident that the
trustees of the Royal Academy of Sciences were the rightful
owners of the MSS.; that no penalty had ever been levied
on Wadström’s heirs for their non-return ; and that the Aca
demy did not feel itself justified in selling them, although it
had long since abandoned all expectation of ever seeing them
in its library again.
"A general meeting of the Printing Society was called for
the 29th of September, 1842 ; when evidence being produced
in proof of the above facts, and Mr. M’Nab having kindly
placed his MS. in the same category with the rest, the Society
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