198 Biographical Notice of H, O. Florke. 



any opportunity of instruction, here attended at the same time 

 courses of philology and mathematics. 



After three years of study at this obscure university, Florke 

 was desirous, agreeably to the German custom, to visit a foreign 

 university; but the straightened circumstances of his parents 

 would not permit him even to think of such an advantage. He 

 was therefore compelled to accept the place of tutor in a noble 

 family living at Kitten dorf in Mecklenburg. 



Florke had the good fortune to secure the attachment of this 

 family ; and when his young pupil was of an age to commence 

 his superior studies, he attended him to the University of Got- 

 tingen, where the celebrated Blumenbach, in all the glory of his 

 reputation, at that time instructed. The years passed at Gottin- 

 gen were the most delightful ones of Florke's life. Besides his 

 acquaintance with Blumenbach, who taught natural history 

 generally, he also made acquaintance with HoflPmann and the 

 celebrated Persoon ; and there can be no doubt that it was his 

 connexion with these three savants which determined his voca- 

 tion as a naturalist and botanist. 



Florke nevertheless professed only a moderate esteem for 

 Hoffmann, and frequently reproached him for his whimsical 

 gaiety and the noisy concerts of his friends, as being inconsis- 

 tent with the dignity of professional gravity. 



After the education of the young nobleman of Kittendorf was 

 concluded, Florke returned to his native place ; and having in 

 vain sought to establish himself in an independent position, he was 

 compelled to renew his occupation as tutor, in the family of the 

 Vice-Marshall of Oertzen, who at that time lived in the country. 

 Our young botanist profited by this retired life to occupy him-? 

 self with the flora of Mecklenburg ; and he was the first person 

 who discovered in Germany the Poa sudetica, and the pretty 

 Primula farinosa on the sandy shores of the Baltic Sea. 



Florke was then nearly thirty years of age ; and it became 

 pecessary for him to think of the future, and how he could 

 acquire a more positive position in society. He therefore ac* 

 cepted, in 1794, the curacy of Kittendorf, which had become 

 vacant, and of which the family of his first pupil possessed the 

 right of patronage and presentation. 



In his new position it would seem that Florke ought to have 

 been happy, inasmuch as he was loved by his old pupil, who 

 had become seigneur of the village, esteemed by his parishioners 

 for the goodness of his character, possessed of a well-endowed 

 curacy, and with ample leisure to devote to his favourite 

 studies. 



But he lived at the end of the 18th century, and participated 

 in the sceptical ideas of his times, and consequently his personal 



