xxvi TRANSLATOR'S INTRODUCTION. 



of extraordinary mental capacity, but always 

 nervous. 



Janos, a lively, spirited boy, was taught 

 mathematics by his father. His progress was 

 marvelous. He required no explanation of 

 theorems propounded, and made his own dem- 

 onstrations for them, always wishing his 

 father to go on. "Like a demon, he always 

 pushed me on to tell him more." 



At 12, having passed the six classes of the 

 Latin school, he entered the philosophic-cur- 

 riculum, which he passed in two years with 

 great distinction. 



When about 13, his father, prevented from 

 meeting his classes, sent his son in his stead. 

 The students said they liked the lectures of 

 the son better than those of the father. He 

 already played exceedingly well on the violin. 



In his fifteenth year he went to Vienna to 

 K. K. Ingenieur-Akademie. 



In August, 1823, he was appointed "sous- 

 lieutenant" and sent to Temesvar, where he 

 was to present himself on the 2nd of Sep- 

 tember. 



From Temesvar, on November 3rd, 1823, 

 Janos wrote to his father a letter in Magyar, 

 of which a French translation was sent me by 

 Professor Koncz Jozsef on February 14th, 



