330 JOHANN CHRISTIAN POGGENDORFF. 



Gitagovinda, with notes and Latin version ; part of the drama Malati- 

 Madhava ; a Sanskrit Anthology, with glossary ; and an elaborate Prakrit 

 grammar : also, a host of important articles in Oriental journals. Of 

 the Zeitschrift fur die Kunde des Morgenlandes he was long editor and 

 chief author. He by no means, however, confined his studies to India. 

 His aid in the decipherment of the Persian cuneiform inscriptions was 

 very important ; and he tried his hand also, with effect, yi])0\x the 

 Umbrian. The Zend and modern Persian were subjects included in 

 his University lectures. 



Lassen was admirable for singleness and simplicity of character, 

 freedom from affectation or pedantry, and courtesy and helpfulness to 

 his pupils. A contented cheerfulness of disposition, too, was a striking 

 characteristic. Few men have combined a life so splendid in the eyes 

 of the learned world with such narrowness of means and such physical 

 trials. The failing of his eyes, probably brought on by excessive use 

 in difficult collations, began to grow serious after 1840 ; and it was fol- 

 lowed by other weaknesses, which compelled him to spend the greater 

 part of his time i-eclining on a lounge, and to be wheeled about in a 

 chair. His lectures came to an end in 1864. His last literary work 

 was done by the aid of his wife and of a reader and amanuensis. He 

 lost until the very end neither his memory nor his keen interest for 

 every thing that bore upon the studies of his life. He was married in 

 1849, and leaves no children. 



JOHANN CHRISTIAN POGGENDORFF. 



The story of the noble and useful life of Johann Christian Poggen- 

 dorff may be told in a few words. He was born at Hamburg, Dec. 29, 

 1796 ; received his early education at the Gymnasium in that city ; and 

 at the age of sixteen entered the shop of an apothecary, where he re- 

 mained eight years. In 1821, he became a student in the University 

 of Berlin, and in the following year published his first paper, in which 

 he described the galvanometer, since, in its improved form, so necessary 

 an instrument of physical research. The true work of his life began in 

 1824, when he issued the first number of the '• Annalen der Pliysik 

 und Chemie " as a continuation of the " Annalen der Physik " of Gil- 

 bert. During fifty-three years, Poggendorff directed the publication 

 of the "Annalen," — the noblest scientific periodical which has ever 

 appeared, the one work which is indispensable to the student of physi- 

 cal science. Every important memoir in any department of physics 

 appeared in this journal. Almost the whole scientific life of Berzelius, 



