330 Biographical Sketch of Baron Edelcrantz. [May, 



ProtocoUer), and we have it yet more decisively established by 

 looking at the correspondence which he personally maintained 

 in uninterrupted frequency, with not fewer than 22 Economic 

 Societies; a field of occupation surely suflBciently ample to 

 engage the whole of an ordinary man's attention, but which, as 

 we have already seen, was shared bv Edelcrantz with other 

 engagements that alike surprise us by tlieir number, their diver- 

 sity, and their importance. Yet, perhaps, the strongest proof 

 of the sincerity with which all these pursuits engaged his mind, 

 may be confidently referred to the irrepressible ardour with 

 which he laboured to stimulate the activity of the man of science, 

 to awaken the energy of the philosophical agriculturalist or 

 artizan, and the zealous alacrity which he ever evinced to disse- 

 minate new facts, to promulgate discoveries, to abolish pre- 

 judices of feehng or of habit, and to infuse Ufe and health into 

 the remotest ramifications of the arts of his country. 



On the 24th April, 1813, Edelcrantz was named President of 

 the Royal and National College of Commerce. In this office 

 his talents were admirably fitted to produce the happiest effects 

 upon the most momentous interests of the country. He distin- 

 guished himself particularly on the occasion of the discussion 

 relative to the Baltic Company on 1st Nov. 1814; on the 

 important point over which so many prejudices have balefully 

 hung in every country, of permitting the use of foreign vessels 

 for the exportation of Swedish wood, on the 12th May, 1817 ; on 

 the regulation relative to the use of native shipping in the export 

 of the commodities of the country (Product-placat), and its 

 abrogation in favour of the vessels belonging to the Netherlands 

 and North America, on the 30th Aug. 1819, &c. On these great 

 questions of state economy, Edelcrantz always advocated the 

 abolition of unnecessary and ill-judged fetters and restraints 

 upon the freedom of commerce between nation and nation ; nor 

 did he hesitate acting on the dictates of conscientious duty, 

 fully and freely to lay before the government and the public, his 

 opinions on these subjects, even when he stood alone, or in a 

 small minority of that Board of Commerce already mentioned, 

 of which he was the official head. The merits of the principles 

 of liberal intercourse which he then advocated, it is not the pro- 

 vince of his biographer to enlarge upon ; but even those who 

 may choose to question the soundness of the principles on 

 which he acted, must confess that they never were supported by 

 a greater weight of reason, or experience, or practical detail, 

 than when they were urged by Edelcrantz. There are few cases 

 in which the proposal of any change nmst necessarily awaken 

 more keenly conflicting and opposite interests than those that 

 touch commercial regulations of old standing; but to the honour 

 of Edelcrantz with respect to his conduct even here, his memory 

 has already received justice, and in proportion as prejudices 



