Biographical Sketch of Dr. Karl Ritter. 225 
_ structive elements, showing so many different relations of a 
most various character, and being situated in the midst of the 
district of the largest river in Germany, always invited to new 
observations, wanderings and study. 
Ritter used with the greatest ardor all these opportunities to 
acquire information. The time of his sojourn at Frankfort was 
_ 4 time of the most various studies. So he applied himself with 
Much zeal to the classics, and read with the assistance of his 
friends, F.C. Matthiae and J. F. Grotefend, then at the head 
. of the gymnasium at Frankfort, the most important works of 
; ‘the Greeks and Romans, but the tendency of his mind towards 
_ -Seography always appearéd with marked prominence. In order 
to become entirel y at home in this department, he not only stud- 
ied thoroughly the most important works on the subject, but he 
foe made observations of his own in frequent excursions to dif 
a of the country. The ability to draw with the great- 
fms and So to fix them forever, was of much service to him 
eet ways brought a number of characteristic sketches home 
SS ey ee 
Fe phe. aha ara 
illest '§ Journeys, which served both for himself and others as 
Sg of his observations. This tendency towards geog- 
; x Y Was manifested in his first contributions to the ‘Neuen 
-* rfreund,’ edited from 1803-1806 by Engelmann in connee- 
ie with his pedagogic friends, but it became yet more appar-- 
Sg in 1806 he published his six charts of Europe, and 
apg after, in 1811, when his geography of Europe (2 vols.) 
"peared. In both works the peculiarity of his geographical 
bong -PHon is thus early indicated. They are the groping essays, 
; Weng ea of what was lying in his mind. But, before his 
ould come to maturity and light, other preparations were 
‘Mhade. As such, in different respects, must be considered 
Journeys which he, from the year 1807, repeatedly under- 
With his pupils to Switzerland and Italy, and the last of 
