Pmfejhr bf Mathematics at Crotihigen. itt 



A geographer and aftronomer being wanted to accompany 

 the travellers fc<it at the cxpenfe of the Danifli government 

 to the Eaft, in confequcnce of a propofition made by MI- 

 chatilis, Mayer reconmiendcd one of his fcholars 5 ijut as he 

 refufed the offer, Kallner recommeiided Niebuhr, one of his 

 piipilsj who was deftlned to be an engineer. Niebuhr agreed 

 to the propofiil, but was under the neceffity of obtaining in- 

 flru6lion in two brandies of knowledge which he did not 

 before confidcr as neceflary to his views : he was obliged to 

 learn Arabic with Miehaelis, and to make ailronomical ob- 

 servations under Mayer. How well he employed his know- 

 ledge in ihefe refpcols may be feen by the account of his tra- 

 vels ; and ic may whh jullice be faid^ that the fuccefsful refult 

 of the expedition was in a great meafure owing to Kallner. 



Kaftner having received a refcvipt from Hanover, in which 

 it was ftated tliat, the obfervatory not being employed for 

 the benefit of the univerfity, as was wifhed, if he would agree 

 to take a fliare in it he fhould be allowed the free ufe of it 

 along with Mayer; he returned for anfwer, that *^ as Mayer's 

 great fervice to allronomy was well known, he could not fee 

 how the obfervatory could be employed to better advantage 

 than under his direetion." When Kallner had fent off this 

 anfwer, he tranfmitted a copy of it^ along with the refcriptj 

 to Mayer, who was highly fatisfied with his condutl on the 

 occafion. Mayer at the fame *time faid^ that if any other 

 perfon had been fiiffercd to participate with him in the cai'e 

 of the obfervatory, he Ihould have refi^ned his office altoo;e- 

 thei'j adding, that " it would be an unfortunate thing for a^ 

 man to become old in Gottingen." Mayer, indeed, did not 

 live to become old, for he died three days after he had com- 

 pleted his 39th year. Kiiltner was then fccrctary of the 

 Koyal Society of Gcittingen, and on the 13th of March 1762 

 he read before that body an eulogy on Mayer, which he after- 

 wards publiflicd. 



After Mayer's death, the care of making obfervations was 

 committed to Lowitz, who at the fame time received an in- 

 ci"cafe of his falary ; and Kallner was appointed to aflifl him. 

 Lowitz, however, would not accept of Kaftner in that capa- 

 city, and the latter did not choofe to importune liim. In 



tha 



