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GENERAL TUXEN. 1147
respecting the King of Sweden." This seems to have been the time
to which the first part of his story in respect to Count Ekeblad
refers. For, as appears from Anrep, Count Ekeblad returned from
his mission as ambassador to France in 1744 ; and after his return
to Sweden both he and Springer took an active share in politics,
especially during the Dict of 1746.
The latter part of the story, namely, that Count Ekeblad sought
to bribe him with 10,000 rix-dalers, probably belongs to a later
period; for as appears from Note 121 (Vol. I, p. 707) Springer was
employed by the English government in 1762 to obtain peace
between Sweden and Frederic the Great. And the means the
English government thought fit to employ consisted in conveying
the sum of £ 100,000 into the hands of the King of Sweden, in
order that by the employment of this sum he might obtain a majority
in the Swedish Diet. At that time Count Ekeblad, after the retire
ment of Count Höpken, held the premiership of Sweden, and it is
quite possible that he had a suspicion of England’s policy in respect
to Sweden, and that he intended to apply the sum of 10,000 rix
dalers to induce Springer to act in the interest of the ruling
party in Sweden, who were opposed to the conclusion of peace.
Dr. Spence relates, that "Mr. Springer each time, for he told it
more than once, threw down his handkerchief on the floor while
relating that part by my fireside, to shew with what abhorrence he
refused the purse." Count Ekeblad must have made use of a third
party in offering the money to Springer ; as the Count was at that
time in Sweden and Springer was in London, and it is not recorded
that either left his place of residence at that time.
As Swedenborg, in conversing about Count Ekeblad, called him
"their once adversary in politics," it seems that he did not fully
endorse, after 1761, the policy of the party of the "hats," to which
Count Ekeblad belonged, and that together with Springer he himself,
was in favour of a speedy conclusion of peace with Frederic II.
As Count Ekeblad was born in 1708 he was nearly sixty-three
years of age when he died.
NOTE 201.
GENERAL CHRISTIAN TUXEN.
General Tuxen, the personal friend of Swedenborg, who wrote
the valuable account of his acquaintance with him contained in
Document 255, was born on February 15, 1713. To his testimony
concerning Swedenborg he appended the following account of him
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