Page:The Life and Mission of Emanuel Swedenborg.djvu/66

 cable now, and we have to wait, it could be done with the greatest ease by dispensing with some of the professorships which are least necessary. . . . But as it would probably take from six to ten years before this could be carried out, it would be well if meanwhile some other arrangement could be made; and this your prudence will be best able to find out."

Benzelius, on the 2d of April, announces the completion of the Dædalus, part second, and adds,—

"With regard to the salary of a Professor of Mechanics, I know nothing better than that Mr. Polhammar be made an ordinary assessor of the College of Commerce; that you be made director in his place; that the mechanical laboratory be removed here to Upsal, and that the director's rank be made the same as that of the professors. The rest is in my opinion a mere chimera. For the ordinary professor of geometry is obliged to lecture on mechanics, and he has also done so. Further, when the ordinary professorships were appointed, a fine of ten thousand dalers in silver was imposed by his Majesty upon any one who desired a change."

To this Swedenborg answers immediately: First, that no vacancy exists in the College of Commerce. Second, that it might happen, with such a change in the directorship, that Polhammar would resign his office; that he himself cannot say a word on the subject, lest it seem to be unfriendly; but if by any means the assent of Polhammar should be obtained, he would make every exertion to secure the position. In the same letter he states that he has completed the manuscript for the next number of the Dædalus, and that he has a little poetical work in the press, Ludus Heliconius, a collection of Latin poems written in various places. He remains at Brunsbo till some opening appears, in order to be nearer at hand to advocate his Dædalus with the King.

Every letter at this period is loaded with directions about the printing, the engraving, etc., of the Dædalus. Now and then occurs a mournful remark about the condition of the