1825.] Biographical Sketch of Baron Edelcrantz. 323 



being the King's birth- day, he had also enjoyed the distinction 

 of pubhcly reading a poem of his own composition to the Aca- 

 demy when solemnizing the occasion. Again in 1778, the 

 recurrence of the same day furnished Clewberg with another 

 theme for his muse, and his " Discourse on the King's Birth- 

 day " was read before the Society Utile Dulci, and printed 

 afterwards in the fourth volume of the Vitterhets-nbjen (or Col- 

 lection of Poetical Essays). 



It seems probable that the attention of Gustavus III. was first 

 attracted to the young Clewberg by the mode in which his 

 poetic genius thus developed itself; and the monarch's regard 

 was probably afterwards confirmed when Clewberg tuned his 

 lyre to strains of sorrow on the occasion of the death of the 

 Queen Dowager Louisa Ulrica in 1782, in his " Funeral Dis- 

 course " on that subject. This appears the more Hkely, as it 

 was the peculiar pleasure of that monarch to search out from 

 among his subjects, those whose singularly happy mental endow- 

 ments enabled them to unite to a talent for poetry, a zeal for the 

 literature of Sweden. In the mean time, the young poet and 

 philosopher was still allowed to remain in the Academy, where, 

 however, he had been, in the year 1780, advanced to the situa- 

 tion of Librarian, in the room of Olof. Schalberg. In this office, 

 his Majesty was pleased in 1783 to confer upon him, as a proof 

 of his personal regard, the comphment of having his salary 

 placed on a similar footing with that of the Professors them- 

 selves. 



The conferring of this privilege was not the only proof of the 

 royal regard which the resolution conveying it contained ; for it 

 is there expressly mentioned that " the honour is owing not 

 more to the recommendation of the Chancellor of the Aca- 

 demy, than to the decisive proofs he had himself given of great 

 acquirements, elegant taste, and superior genius." 



The residence of Clewberg this year in Stockholm, and the 

 surprising acquaintance he already displayed with the important 

 yet delicate tactics connected with the management of the public 

 theatres of the capital, induced the king, Gustavus 111. to call 

 the highly gifted young man from the country to the metropolis, 

 in which the elegance and literature of the kingdom alike cen- 

 tered. His Majesty's mandate of 23d Sept. 1783, appointing the 

 Librarian Clewberg to be Royal Secretary, stated this office to 

 be conferred upon him as a testimony of the Royal esteem for 

 his literary attainments and useful accomplishments. It was 

 then by no means rare, that the cultivation of letters alone, should 

 lead to situations of the greatest elevation and trust in the 

 Slate. 



The poetical reputation of Clewberg now became rapidly 

 extended and established. This arose in part from his labours 

 for the theatre, among which we may notice his " Epilogue to 



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