ANECDOTES OF BOTTGER. 



11. John Frederick Bottger (or Bottcher) was born at Schlaiz, 

 iu Voigtland, on the 4th of February, 1682. He was brought up at 

 Magdeburg, where his father had a place in the Mint. The father 

 was given to alchemy, and pretended to the discovery of the 

 philosopher's stone, the secret of which he was reputed to have 

 imparted to his son. In the superstitious spirit of the age, Bottger 

 believed himself gifted with the power of divining the future, in 

 consequence of being a "Sabbath child," having chanced to come 

 into the world on a Sunday. 



He was apprenticed to an apothecary named Zorn, at Berlin, 

 but the fascinations of alchemy did not long permit him to give 

 his attention to the preparation of medicines ; and he deserted his 

 master and his business. He was soon, however, obliged to 

 return, and was received and forgiven, on the condition of 

 abandoning his favourite study of alchemy. 



Soon after this, being informed that the fame of his researches 

 and the rumours of his prospects of successful results, which gave 

 him among his fellow citizens the name of the " Goldmaker," had 

 reached the ears of Frederick I. of Prussia, and fearing, or 

 affecting to fear, that he would be seized by royal order for 

 the purpose of extorting his secret from him, he again fled, and 

 took refuge in Saxony, where his arrest was procured by the 

 Prussian authorities. The Elector of Saxony, however, having 

 resolved not to surrender so precious a personage, had him carried 

 away from Wittemberg, and secretly confined, but well cared for 

 and treated. 



He was supplied with all the means necessary to carry on his 

 chemical researches, but was kept under constant surveillance, and 

 was in reality a prisoner. 



12. After some time the Elector, finding that the labours and 

 researches of Bottger were without any practical results, and 

 suspecting all the prospects of success so much vaunted to be mere 

 illusions, but finding nevertheless that his protege and prisoner 

 was endowed with considerable natural genius, combined with 

 much acquaintance with chemical science, such as it was at that 

 time, resolved on endeavouring to turn Bottger to better account ; 

 and, with this view, put him in communication with EHREXFBIED 

 WALTHER DE TscmnxHArsEX, who was then occupied in experi- 

 mental researches directed to the improvement of the fabrication of 

 earthenware, and more especially to the discovery of means for the 

 production of the oriental porcelain. 



Bottger himself, having probably some misgivings as to his 

 eventual success in the fabrication of gold, was the more ready 

 to give ear to the counsels and suggestions of Tschirnhausen, and 

 was soon brought to cooperate with that person, and to deliver 



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