20 MEMom OF CURCKIIARDT. 



ill an establishment at Neuchatel, had been hitherto 

 conducted under the care of a domestic tutor re- 

 siding in the family. 



In 1800, our traveller, having then reached the 

 age of sixteen, was carried by his father to the 

 University of Leipzig; and from thence, after a 

 stay of nearly four years, he was removed to Got- 

 tingen. In both places, his exemplary conduct and 

 high sense of honour, his distinguished talents and 

 ardent zeal for knowledge, insured him universal 

 respect and esteem ; while a remarkable frankness, 

 cheerfulness, kindness, and equanimity of temper, 

 made him particularly beloved by his more intimate 

 associates. After leavinof Gottingren in 1805, he 

 returned to his father, and also paid a short visit to 

 his mother, who still remained at Basle. The state 

 of Europe at that time was such as to hold out but 

 small chance of enabling him to gratify his military 

 propensities. There was scarcely a nation on the 

 continent which was not either subject to the 

 French, or in alliance with them ; and for this 

 reason he declined an offer to engage in a diplo- 

 matic mission, made to him by one of the royal 

 courts of Germany. 



Uncertain what plan to pursue, he at length re- 

 solved upon proceeding to England, in the hope of 

 meeting some employment congenial to his wishes, 

 in the service of this country. In the month of 

 July, 1806, he arrived in London, bringing with 

 him several excellent letters of introduction, among 

 which was one from the celebrated Blumenbach, 



