SCIENTIFIC PURSUITS AT HOME
In October of the same year, 1718, he writes again from his father's home at Brunsbo—
"Most honored and dear brother,—I am just starting for Carlsgraf, after having been here about three weeks. Meanwhile I have seen Dædalus, part vi, through the press. It contains the following articles: 1. Directions for Pointing Mortars, by C. Polhem; 2. An Easy Way of Counting Balls which are Stored in the Shape of a Triangle, by Em. S――; 3. Useful Directions in Ship-Building; 4. A Proof that our Vital Nature consists of Small Tremulations, with a great Number of Experiments; 5. Respecting a Curve the Secant of which forms Right Angles with it. I have sent this, the figures and letter-press, to his Majesty. As soon as I have an opportunity I will send it over to you."
The close of this year, 1718, was the close of the life of Charles XII, killed on his expedition to Norway, and the end of his important projects. It is a year later when we hear again from Swedenborg, writing from Stockholm to Benzelius—
"What I have in hand consists, first, of a minute description of our Swedish blast-furnaces;
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