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COUNT THOTT. 1153
NOTE 203.
COUNT THOTT.
Count Otto Thott, to whom Swedenborg asked General Tuxen
to forward a copy of his letter addressed to the King of Sweden
(see Document 245, W, p. 372), was born in 1703. In 1735 he
was called to the College of Commerce and the Bank of Denmark ;
and he was successively president of the College of Chancery, and
head of the treasury department. Through his instrumentality the
island of Aroe was added to Denmark. Yet it was not in the
character of public administrator that Count Thott distinguished
himself most. He was besides a most learned man, and thoroughly
versed in ancient and modern literature so that his eulogist, Jacob
Baden, observed that "he became an oracle for the learned at home
and abroad; and hardly any one ever applied to him, without receiving
the desired information." He had a most penetrating mind, and a
most remarkable memory, which he retained to the end of his life.
In his youth he was acquainted with, and enjoyed the teaching of,
the best Danish teachers such as Grammius, Magnæus, and Rostgard.
He studied in the Universities of Halle and Jena ; and at that time
already began collecting books for a library. His first library was
destroyed in the conflagration of 1738. He formed a new library
afterwards, his pecuniary means having meanwhile been enlarged by
marriage. He purchased the library of the Earl of Oxford, and
several other libraries, and at his death left a collection of books
scarcely ever equalled by any private library. It consisted of over
100,000 volumes, 3000 MSS. , and 300 MSS. written on parchment.
Of early printed works he owned upwards of 2000 volumes. These
and his MSS. he presented to the Royal Library. He instituted
also a cabinet of coins and early gems, and treasured up ancient
armour. He was so well versed in Latin, that when he wanted to
compose anything in his own language, he first wrote it out in
Latin. He was a great patron of the university; he was instrumental
in the appointment of a professor of natural history, and he interested
himself in the Astronomical Observatory, and also in the botanical
garden. Count Thott died in September, 1785.
73
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