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BISHOP NORDIN. 1231
courtier, a secret minister, but a public favourite.’ He was initiated
into the secrets of the state, was employed as a means of inter
communication between the court and the foreign ministers ; and he
was the centre around which revolved all the political plans and
projects of his period so far as they emanated from or affected the
Swedish Court. As his services were required even abroad in the
capacity of a negociator he was appointed in 1767 knight of the
Polar star, in order, under the title of ’ chevalier,’ which means much
or little, to have open access to all circles. When the party at
court resolved that the Crown-Prince 12 should undertake a journey
to France, chiefly for the purpose of making sure of King Louis’s
assistance at a proposed change in the government, Beylon was
sent in advance, in order to confer with the Duc de Choiseul, and
prepare for the reception of the Prince. After Gustavus had ascended
the throne, Beylon often received the difficult and unpleasant com
mission to mediate between him and his mother, who could never
pardon her son for making her, who had held the reins of govern
ment, a mere Queen Dowager. In the revolution of 1772 Beylon
was the invisible, but most powerful instrument in Gustavus’s hand.
He it was who treated with the sharp-sighted, but economical French
minister Vergennes ; he, again, carried on the negociations with the
house of Le Grand ; and through his hands went all the moneys
which the King received from the house of Grill. After the revo
lution Beylon considered himself superfluous, and quietly withdrew.
By the liberality of Queen Louisa Ulrica and Gustavus III, and by
annual pensions which he drew from Spain and France, Beylon had
all he wanted for his table ; the only enjoyment to which he was
inclined. His house, the modest dwelling near Ulriksdal, which after
him was called Beylonshof, was the place of meeting of the dis
tinguished, the literary, artistic, and fashionable world. Ministers,
statesmen, and artists visited there the modest ’ chevalier’ whose
judgment was considered infallible, whether it concerned diplomacy,
literature and science, or fashion and cookery. Beylon died November
12, 1779."
NOTE 252.
BISHOP NORDIN.
Charles Gustavus Nordin, who supported the explanation which
the Berlinische Monatsschrift for 1783 gave of the Queen’s ex
perience with Swedenborg (see Document 276, B, pp. 675 et seq.),
was born in 1749. After passing through the University of Upsal
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