128 THE BOTANISTS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



father of his denomination," deeply impressed the imagina- 

 tion of De Schweinitz, who very early conceived the laudable 

 desire of entering upon a career of similar activity. This 

 was the initiative step towards literary and scientific 

 acquisitions. 



He was placed, in 1787, in the institution of the 

 Moravian community at Nazareth. Here he remained for 

 eleven years, and during this time, was a pupil most 

 industrious, observant and successful. It w^as at Nazareth, 

 though before he was a pupil in the institution, that he refers 

 his first impulse to the study of botany. He visited the 

 place in company with his grandfather, Bishop de Watte- 

 ville, and noticed on the table in one of the rooms of the 

 school, a lichen whose name and characters were commented 

 upon ; and from this time forward he was a most enthusiastic 

 student of the vegetable kingdom. One of the teachers at 

 Nazareth gave him instruction in botany, and while he was 

 a student at the place he prepared " A Partial Flora of 

 Nazareth," which is still among his unpublished manu- 

 scripts. He made such progress in his studies, and his 

 deportment also was such as to secure his appointment as 

 instructor to some of the classes while he was yet a student 

 in the institution. In 1798 his father was called to Germany. 

 His family accompanied him, and De Schweinitz was placed 

 in the theological institution at Niesky, in upper Lusatia. He 

 was associated with young men of talent and energy, and 

 his activities were here redoubled. J. B. d'Albertini was 

 professor in the institution — a man of great learning and 

 decision of character. To him De Schweinitz was drawn by 

 strong sympathy, and their mutual esteem afterward 

 developed into the closest intimacy. After completing his 



