ft Memoir of the Life ofM, Fraunhqfer. 



of its fabric, and draw the voice of sorrow from its inmost re- 

 cesses. To those who have not studied the writings, or 

 used the instruments of the illustrious subject of this memoir, 

 these observations may seem extravagant and inapplicable; 

 but there is not a philosopher in Europe who will not ac- 

 knowledge their truth, as well as their application ; and there 

 is not a practical astronomer within its widest boundaries that 

 has not felt the tide of grief for the loss of Fraunhofer flow- 

 ing within his own circle. 



Joseph Fraunhofer was born at Straubing, in Bavaria, on 

 the 6th March 1787. His occupations in the workshop of 

 his father prevented him from giving a regular attendance at 

 the public schools. At the early age of eleven he was de- 

 prived of both his parents, and the person to whose charge he 

 was entrusted destined him for the profession of a turner ; but 

 his weak frame being ill suited to such an occupation, he was 

 apprenticed to M. Weichselberger, manufacturer and polisher 

 of glass at Munich. Being too poor to pay any thing to his 

 master, he was taken on the condition that he should work for 

 him six years without any wages. 



At Munich Fraunhofer frequented the Sunday school, but 

 as his attendance was irregular, it was a long time before he 

 learned to write or to count. In 1801, in the second year of 

 his apprenticeship, an accidental circumstance gave a new 

 turn to his fortune. Two houses having tumbled down sud- 

 denly, Fraunhofer, who lived in one of them, was buried un- 

 der its ruins ; but while others perished, he fortunately occu- 

 pied a position to which it was considered practicable to open 

 a passage. While this excavation was going on, the King 

 Maximilian often came to the spot to encourage the workmen 

 and the young prisoner ; and it was not till after a labour of 

 four hours that they were able to extricate him from his peri- 

 lous situation. His majesty gave directions that his wounds 

 should be carefully attended to, and as soon as he had recover- 

 ed, he was sent for to the palace to give an account of the pe- 

 culiarities of his situation during the accident, and of the feel- 

 ings with which he was actuated. On this occasion his sove- 

 reign presented him with eighteen ducats, and promised to 

 befriend him in case of need. 



