6 J. V. HULTKEANTZ 



»An American physician liad become so enthusiastic over Swe- 

 denboeg's writings that he imagined there was sometliing superhuman 

 in his person. He hit upon the idea tliat a man so much associated 

 witli the spirit world, while he wandered here in the corporeal world, 

 must have been removed thence in some extraordinary manner, and 

 not have died and been buried like other human beings. In order to obtain 

 more definite information concerning this he sailed over to London, at 

 the close of the decade 1780 — 1790, and addressed himself to the mem- 

 bers of the New Jerusalem there, who also assured him that the great 

 spiritual man had, in the most natural and usual manner, gone the way 

 of all the world, and been buried under the Swedish Church. But he, 

 who believed so much that was incredible, could not possibly desist 

 from believing the most improbable. This American Thomas required 

 more than mere assurances for his conviction. Through the help of a 

 follower and countryman of Swedenborg, still famous at that time', he 

 persued his way to his [the seer's] resting-place. Why this happened 

 without the knowledge of the Swedish pastor and with the consent 

 only of the clerk, to which weighty causes undoubtedly contributed, 

 can easily be imagined. Without hesitation, a kind of burglary was 

 made into the dwellings of the dead. That coffin which the clerk, who 

 had himself 17 years before attended the burial, declared to be the 

 right one, was separated from the rest. But as no inscription certified 

 his statement, the matter still remained somewhat doubtful. Neverthe- 



' By this is probably meant one of the most renowned Swedish Swedenborgians of those 

 days, Augustus Nobdenskjöld, or Ch. Berns Wadström, both of whom, Uved in London about 

 1790 and seem to have played a special rôle in the circle of Swedenborg's followers, but 

 afterwards in various ways had »an unfortunate career». 



A. NoRDENSJKÜLD, bom 1754, mineralogist, master mining engineer in Finland, was at 

 one time employed as alchemist in the service of King Gustaf ill., but left Sweden in 1789 

 and spent his remaining years in London and on travels. Died during an expedition to Sierra 

 Leone in 1792. From his youth an enthusiastic admirer of Swedenborg's doctrines, he took 

 great pains in preserving and publishing the manuscripts of Swedenborg. Published in 1790 

 a work: OiyjaiUMition of the Church in the New Jeniaaleiii, in which he defends concubi- 

 nage, which aroused great indignation amongst Swedenborgians, who also besides charged him 

 with great moral depravity. 



Ch. Berns W.4DSTRÖM, born 1746, mechanician, philanthropist and o))poneut of slavery. 

 Lived some years before and after 1790 in London, where he was a lively participator in the New 

 Church propaganda, and m 1790 held every week in his home meetings for the friends of 

 the New Church. He afterwards became »involved in troublesome consequences», and in 1795 

 left England »in distress». Died at Paris in 1799. 



