324 Biogruphkal Sketch of Baron liidelcranlz. [MAt, 



the Opera of Atis," which was brought forward in 1784, and io 

 part from the pubHcation of several poems in the Vitterl)ets- 

 ncijen ; yet perhaps more than either, from his famous " Ode 

 to the Swedes," which was published in 1786. For these efforts 

 he received a recompense of the most gratifying description, in 

 his election upon 19th Oct. 178tj, to be one of the eighteen of the 

 Swedish Academy, after the death of C. T. SchefFer, Counsellor 

 of Stale. Upon the 2d Dec. of the same year, he delivered an 

 " Introductory Discourse," of which his distinguished predeces- 

 sor formed the theme. 



Clevvberg's connexion with the King and the capital now 

 became more and more intimate. He was chosen Private 

 Secretary by his Majesty on the 31st May, 1787 : he had 

 already been appointed to the care of the Privy Purse ; he was 

 moreover second in the management of the Spectaklerne, or 

 Public Amusements, and he was named a Member of the Gene- 

 ral Board of Customs on 17th Oct. 1787. 



After this period, the life of Clewberg could no longer be so 

 exclusively devoted to the pursuit of letters or science as it pre- 

 viously had been, but was divided between these and the labours 

 of public office. And this crisis in his history was stamped by 

 a distinguished mark of the Royal regard for his merits, by his 

 elevation to the rank of nobility on the 28th April, 1789. After 

 this event he was introduced to Court on the 9th Nov. of thl 

 same year, under the lNo.2153, and with the name of Edelcrantz. 

 That these new honours and duties did not induce him to under- 

 value or abandon the cause of science or literature, we need 

 hardly mention. But it would be an omission not to state that 

 at this time, though as yet he had had no means of accumulating 

 money, yet such was his zeal for the cause of philosophy, that 

 he now presented to the Academy of Abo a collection of books, 

 for which a letter of the Academie Consistorium of 25th Sept. 

 1788, signed by Calonius, Porthan, and many others, conveys 

 their grateful acknowledgments. 



During the years 1790 and 1791, the country of Edelcrantz 

 was deprived of his presence ; in which time it was not the im- 

 mediate theatre of his exertions, but he laboured with the same 

 zeal abroad in her service. He was then, at the special request 

 of Gustavus, occupied in a journey through England and France, 

 respecting which unfortunately no authentic details have been 

 yet recovered. 



We may fix on the year 1793 as that in which the pecuniary 

 circumstances of Edelcrantz were first established upon a more 

 liberal and certain footing, by his obtaining, as Secretary to the 

 King, 1 100 rix dollars from the privy purse, and from the funds 

 of the theatre. On the 1st Nov. of the same year was performed 

 his opera of " Alcides's Entrance into the World," which was 

 thea newly composed by hinn. At this titae also, the title of 



