MANNER OF LIFE IN LATER PERIOD
pany quite pale and alarmed. He said that a dangerous fire had just broken out in Stockholm, in the Södermalm (Gottenburg is about three hundred miles from Stockholm), and it was spreading very fast. He was restless and went out often. He said that the house of one of his friends, whom he named, was already in ashes, and his own was in danger. At eight o'clock, after he had been out again, he joyfully exclaimed, 'Thank God! the fire is extinguished, the third door from my house.' The news occasioned great commotion throughout the whole city, but particularly amongst the company in which he was. It was announced to the governor the same evening. On Sunday morning Swedenborg was summoned to the governor, who questioned him concerning the disaster. Swedenborg described the fire precisely—how it had begun, and how it had continued, and in what manner it had ceased. On the same day the news spread through the city and, as the governor had thought it worthy of attention, the consternation was considerably increased, because many were in trouble, on account of their friends and property which might have been involved in the disaster. On Monday
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