MEMOIR OF OERSTED. 1G7 



The wic;-maker further taught him additi'ou and suhtractiun ; it was all he 

 hitnsflf knew oi" arithmetic ; but with a sliij-ht help iVoui others, and a book Ibund 

 at his lather's^ the child was not slow in learnin<^ the rest as far as the rule uf 

 three, inclusive; no equivocal proof of unusual precocity of intellect. An extra- 

 ordinary memory was early remarked in him, and was retained till death, equally 

 with all the other happy endowments which he had received from nature. 



When Christian had reached the age of 12, he and his brother, who was then 

 11, entered as apprentices the pharmacy of their father, whereby their secret 

 wishes were at first contravened, for both had conceived the project of devotin"- 

 themselves to the study of theology. The elder of the two, however, soon beo-an 

 to acquire a taste for pharmaceutical operations, and labored zealously in the 

 paternal laboratory, reading at the same time all the books of cheraikry and 

 natural history which fell into his hands. Thus early was developed the incli- 

 nation which led him to the study of nature. A student in theology daily devo- 

 ted some hours to the instruction of the brothers in Greek and Latin. The elder 

 applied himself moreover to the acquisition of the French, the younger to that of 

 the English language. From this period the former evinced a decided taste for 

 poetry, a taste which adhered to him all his life. He translated about this 

 time several odes of Horace and a part of the Ilcnriade into Danish. 



These rather precarious means of instruction still bore happy fruits. In the spriii"- 

 of the year 1794, the brothers, aged respectively 17 and 16, were qualified to pro- 

 ceed to Copenhagen, where, after but a few months' preparation by a skillful master, 

 who perfected them in the study of the ancient languages, they sustained with 

 much honor an examination at their exit from the academy. Some two years 

 afterwards Christian, who had in the mean time earned testimonials of distinction 

 on all hands, bore off an academic prize for his reply to a question " On the 

 shades to be observed in the choice of expressions, according as one writes in 

 prose or in verse." Finally, during the autumn of 1799, he obtained the degree 

 of doctor of philosophy npon the presentation of a thesis in metaphysics, (de 

 forma metapltysices demcntaris naturce externcv.J 



In the year last named, and those immediately following, he published divers 

 short dissertations and critical analyses, which were generally inserted in the 

 periodical collections. He thus evinced in turn the tendency of his mind to 

 literature, to poetry, and to philosophy. These formed, indeed, only an accessory 

 occupation; but, apart from his natural predisposition, favoraljle circumstances 

 rendered these momentary efforts of singular advantage in the develoi)ment of his 

 faculties. His brother, Avith whom he always lived in the most cordial intimacy, 

 had chiefly devoted himscdf to the study of })hilosophy, and the habit, which was 

 maintained during life, of a daily interchange of ideas, led our physicist to a profit- 

 able participation in the same pursuit. Having become familiar with the 

 writings of Kant, Fichte, Schelling, he caught sight of a great general law of 

 unity in the physical world, which continued always to bo one of the habitual 

 suV)jects of his meditation. Struck at the same time Avith the beauty of natm-al 

 laws, he became sensible of something profoundly poetic in nature, on which his 

 innate taste for poetry seized with avidity. 



His first essays, which had fixed the attention of the citizens of Copenhagen, 

 placed him on terms of friendly intimacy with most of his young (ujtenqioraries 

 who were rising into distinction, particularly with Oelenschliiger, who, as a poet, 

 achieved some years afterwards so brilliant and well-merited a reputation. This 

 attractive intercourse impelled him to the study of belles-lettres. To no import- 

 ant production of Danisli or German literature, or of the elder French literature, 

 was he a stranger. His admirable memory was garnished with the choicest pas- 

 sages, which, even at an advanced age, he was wont to cite with singular ap])osite- 

 ness. Nor did he fail sometimes to exercise his own poetic powers, and, in the 

 eyes of persons competent to judge of Danish verse, an Ode to the French, wliich 

 he composed about this time, appeared to give indications of genuine talent. A 



