Placidus Tixlmlllner, the AJlrortorrter . %6$ 



viciate at Kremsmunfter in 1737, and next year he publicly 

 took the vows before his uncle, the abbot Alexander. 



After a (lay of two years in the convent his ohetm fent him 

 again to Salzburg to complete his (Indies in jurifprudence 

 find theology; but at the fame time he applied with great 

 affiduity to 'the mathematics, languages, hi (lory, and anti- 

 quities. He learned alfo to play on the harpfichord' and organ; 

 and made fo much progrefs in mufic, that he compofed fe- 

 yeral pieces both in the (acred and theatrical ftyle. He dif- 

 puted in fome theological thefes ; obtained the degree of 

 doctor in theology; and in 1745 returned to his convent, 

 where he was confecrated to the priefthood. 



About this time the Ritterfchule having been eftablimed 

 at Kremsmunfter, Placidus was appointed profeflbr of canon 

 law; a department in which he had acquired great reputation 

 at the univedity. This office he held for forty years, and 

 refigned it only a fliort time before his death. Almoft about 

 the fame period he was appointed dean of the higher fchool, 

 and foon after principal regent over the young nobility; 

 which places he retained alfo till his death. He poffelied 

 great knowledge of the canon laws, and on that account was 

 often employed in procefies and other affairs relating to the 

 convent : he was likewife inferibed Notarius afojlolicus in 

 curia Romana. 



In the year 1760 he publifhed a theological work under 

 the title of Reipublica Sacr<& Origines Divine; but he ac- 

 quired far more celebrity by his aftronomieal labours, both as 

 an obferver and a writer. The abbot Alexander Fixlmillner, 

 a great friend of the fciences, and particularly of the mathe- 

 matics, having refolved, in the year 1747, to form an efta- 

 blifhment in his convent for promoting the latter, firft let 

 apart a fpacious apartment for the purpofe of containing ma- 

 thematical and philofophical inftruments. This paved the 

 way for fomething further; and he determined, for the im- 

 provement of his'conventuals in aftronomy, to ere& an ob- 

 fervatorv. Among thofc convents which for a long time 

 have devoted their leifure and riches to the advancement of 

 fcience and the good of mankind, none has diftinguifhed 

 itfelf more than that of Kremsmunfter. This very old abbey 

 is not the feat of infidelity and indolence, but a patron of 

 the nobleft branches of fcience. The obfervatory founded in 

 1748 was completed in 1758, and the fuperintendence of it 

 was intruded to Eugenius Dobler, a brother of the order. 



Alexander's (ucceifor, the abbot Berthold Vogel, who 

 long reiided at Salzburg as profeflbr of canon law and re&or 

 of the umveriity, being well acquainted with Fixlmillner*! 



great 



