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who united in his own person powers of conception； will； and
imagination； would surely have invented better if he had invented at
all。 The fantastic literature of the East offers nothing that can give
an idea of this astounding work； full of the essence of poetry； if it
is permissible to compare a work of faith with one of oriental fancy。
The transportation of Swedenborg by the Angel who served as guide to
this first journey is told with a sublimity which exceeds； by the
distance which God has placed betwixt the earth and the sun； the great
epics of Klopstock； Milton； Tasso； and Dante。 This description； which
serves in fact as an introduction to his work on the Astral Regions；
has never been published； it is among the oral traditions left by
Swedenborg to the three disciples who were nearest to his heart。
Monsieur Silverichm has written them down。 Monsieur Seraphitus
endeavored more than once to talk to me about them； but the
recollection of his cousin's words was so burning a memory that he
always stopped short at the first sentence and became lost in a revery
from which I could not rouse him。〃
The old pastor sighed as he continued： 〃The baron told me that the
argument by which the Angel proved to Swedenborg that these bodies are
not made to wander through space puts all human science out of sight
beneath the grandeur of a divine logic。 According to the Seer； the
inhabitants of Jupiter will not cultivate the sciences； which they
call darkness； those of Mercury abhor the expression of ideas by
speech； which seems to them too material；their language is ocular；
those of Saturn are continually tempted by evil spirits； those of the
Moon are as small as six…year…old children； their voices issue from
the abdomen； on which they crawl； those of Venus are gigantic in
height； but stupid； and live by robbery；although a part of this
latter planet is inhabited by beings of great sweetness； who live in
the love of Good。 In short； he describes the customs and morals of all
the peoples attached to the different globes； and explains the general
meaning of their existence as related to the universe in terms so
precise； giving explanations which agree so well with their visible
evolutions in the system of the world； that some day； perhaps；
scientific men will come to drink of these living waters。
〃Here；〃 said Monsieur Becker； taking down a book and opening it at a
mark； 〃here are the words with which he ended this work：
〃'If any man doubts that I was transported through a vast number of
Astral Regions； let him recall my observation of the distances in that
other life； namely； that they exist only in relation to the external
state of man； now； being transformed within like unto the Angelic
Spirits of those Astral Spheres； I was able to understand them。'
〃The circumstances to which we of this canton owe the presence among
us of Baron Seraphitus； the beloved cousin of Swedenborg； enabled me
to know all the events of the extraordinary life of that prophet。 He
has lately been accused of imposture in certain quarters of Europe；
and the public prints reported the following fact based on a letter
written by the Chevalier Baylon。 Swedenborg； they said； informed by
certain senators of a secret correspondence of the late Queen of
Sweden with her brother； the Prince of Prussia； revealed his knowledge
of the secrets contained in that correspondence to the Queen； making
her believe he had obtained this knowledge by supernatural means。 A
man worthy of all confidence； Monsieur Charles…Leonhard de
Stahlhammer； captain in the Royal guard and knight of the Sword；
answered the calumny with a convincing letter。〃
The pastor opened a drawer of his table and looked through a number of
papers until he found a gazette which he held out to Wilfrid； asking
him to read aloud the following letter：
Stockholm； May 18； 1788。
I have read with amazement a letter which purports to relate the
interview of the famous Swedenborg with Queen Louisa…Ulrika。 The
circumstances therein stated are wholly false； and I hope the
writer will excuse me for showing him by the following faithful
narration； which can be proved by the testimony of many
distinguished persons then present and still living； how
completely he has been deceived。
In 1758； shortly after the death of the Prince of Prussia
Swedenborg came to court； where he was in the habit of attending
regularly。 He had scarcely entered the queen's presence before she
said to him： 〃Well； Mr。 Assessor； have you seen my brother？〃
Swedenborg answered no； and the queen rejoined： 〃If you do see
him； greet him for me。〃 In saying this she meant no more than a
pleasant jest； and had no thought whatever of asking him for
information about her brother。 Eight days later （not twenty…four
as stated； nor was the audience a private one）； Swedenborg again
came to court； but so early that the queen had not left her
apartment called the White Room； where she was conversing with her
maids…of…honor and other ladies attached to the court。 Swedenborg
did not wait until she came forth； but entered the said room and
whispered something in her ear。 The queen； overcome with
amazement； was taken ill； and it was some time before she
recovered herself。 When she did so she said to those about her：
〃Only God and my brother knew the thing that he has just spoken
of。〃 She admitted that it related to her last correspondence with
the prince on a subject which was known to them alone。 I cannot
explain how Swedenborg came to know the contents of that letter；
but I can affirm on my honor； that neither Count H （as the
writer of the article states） nor any other person intercepted； or
read； the queen's letters。 The senate allowed her to write to her
brother in perfect security； considering the correspondence as of
no interest to the State。 It is evident that the author of the
said article is ignorant of the character of Count H。 This
honored gentleman； who has done many important services to his
country； unites the qualities of a noble heart to gifts of mind；
and his great age has not yet weakened these precious possessions。
During his whole administration he added the weight of scrupulous
integrity to his enlightened policy and openly declared himself
the enemy of all secret intrigues and underhand dealings； which he
regarded as unworthy means to attain an end。 Neither did the
writer of that article understand the Assessor Swedenborg。 The
only weakness of that essentially honest man was a belief in the
apparition of spirits； but I knew him for many years； and I can
affirm that he was as fully convinced that he met and talked with
spirits as I am that I am writing at this moment。 As a citizen and
as a friend his integrity was absolute； he abhorred deception and
led the most exemplary of lives。 The version which the Chevalier
Baylon gave of thes