2 Biographical Memoir of the late Friedrich Hoffmann. 



a number of mills of various kinds, at that time under the su- 

 perintendence of his father, who, born in Silesia, and having 

 had the advantage of a scientific education at a gymnasium, and 

 afterwards at an university, commenced this occupation in the 

 year 1791. He left the place in May 1798 and went to Ko- 

 nigsberg, where he obtained a situation in the service of the 

 state, that eventually caused him to remove to Berlin, in which 

 capital he has acted as director of the statistical department 

 since its establishment in the year 1810. It was necessary to 

 mention these circumstances respecting the changes of residence 

 and occupation of the father, as they influenced very materially 

 the education and destiny of the son. The latter received in- 

 struction in the lower and middle classes of Friedrich's Col- 

 lege, from the time he reached a proper age for school until the 

 period when the family quitted Konigsberg. His father taught 

 in that institution from 1798 to 1807 ; and, vmder the direction 

 of Counsellor Waldt, much time was there bestowed on the 

 sciences, as well as the ancient languages. Friedrich Hoffmann 

 early exhibited great facility in remembering facts and events, 

 and in communicating to others the information he had ac- 

 quired. The searching after plants and insects, whose names 

 and properties he had learned at school, or accidentally from his 

 father, seemed even then to occupy him more earnestly and un- 

 interruptedly than it did his fellow scholars, who, however, 

 were also generally pretty much interested in such pursuits. 

 After the beginning of the year 1809j Hoffmann, now removed 

 to Berlin, attended the Friedrichs Werderische Gymnasium ; 

 which institution was selected owing to the remoteness of the 

 other academies from his father's house ; but, while there, he was 

 not among the most distinguished pupils. His taste for search- 

 ing after and examining plants and animals had now become so 

 preponderating, that it essentially interrupted the study of the 

 languages, which ought to have been his chief occupation ;- the 

 instructions in mathematics were also neglected, and the defi- 

 ciency thus produced was only supplied at a later period of 

 life by the assistance'of a friend. 



In February rl813, Hoffinann's elder brother obeyed the 

 royal summons, and joined the companies of volunteer rifles, 

 then being formed at Breslau ; Friedrich remained most unwil 



