Lehal Library

For a long time it has been known that certain people have possessed a faculty of viewing events at a distance. This faculty has been dubbed "travelling clairvoyance", a nomenclature which satisfied everyone, since no one knew what clairvoyance was, nor could conceive how it travelled. The classical example of the kind, though by no means the most impressive, was provided by Emmanuel Swedenborg, one of the greatest scientists, engineers and mathematicians of his day, who, later in his life, developed psychic powers. Towards the end of September, 1756, Swedenborg had just landed at Gothenburg, where he had been invited to stay at the house of a friend, named Castel, along with a number of other guests. About six o'clock in the evening he went out of the house, returning somewhat later looking pale and much upset. Asked what troubled him, he explained that he had become conscious that a terrible fire was raging in Stockholm, on the Sudermalm, three hundred miles away, which was increasing in violence at that very moment, and was causing him the greatest anxiety, as the house of one of his friends had already been destroyed and his own house was in danger. He thereupon went out again, and, returning at eight o'clock, exclaimed: God be praised, the fire has been extinguished at the third house from my own!" This statement, which caused an immense sensation, reached the Governor's ears the same evening, and the next day, Sunday, he sent for Swedenborg, who described for him the exact nature and extent of the conflagration, how it had begun, and the time during which it had continued. As the story spread, many of the citizens of Gothenburg were greatly concerned, having friends and property in Stockholm. On Monday evening, official news was brought by