ANNALS 



OF 



PHILOSOPHY- 



MARCH, 1813. 



Article I. 



Biographical Account of Mr. Karsten, of Berlin, Counsellor of 

 State, and Knight.^' 



Dietrich Ludwlg Gustav Karsten was born on the 5th of 

 April, 1768, at Butzow, in Mecklenburg. His father was 

 Wenzeslaus Johann Gustav Karsten, Professor and Teacher of 

 Mathematics in Halle : his mother was Sophia Charlotte 

 Wolfrath. Both died long ago, as well as his only sister, wlio 

 was wife of the famous Professor Gren, in Halle. Of his 

 relations there still survive his wife Amalie, to whom he was 

 married in 17^3, and his two daughters, Amalie and Marianne. 



The first part of his education was carried on in his father's 

 house. As he came to Halle in 177^ with his parents he was 

 sent to the public school of that place. In the year 177^ he 

 went to the Pedagogium, where he remained till 1782, and was 

 keenly engaged in the study of mtithemadcs. In 1782 he went 

 to the Mining Academy of Freiberg, where he attended the 

 lectures of those eminent professors Charpentier, Werner, 

 Lempe, Gellert, and Kohler, on oryctognosy, geognosy, econo- 

 mical mineralogy, theoretical mechanics, metallurgic chemistry, 

 assaying, mining, and the laws respecting mining. In this 

 celebrated school he continued for four years, and added prodi- 

 giously to his knowledge and his skill in all those d^^partnients of 

 science to which he directed his attention. On the 21st of 

 November, 1783, he was named by the late minister Voa 

 Heinitz one of the Royal Mining Pupils. 



In 1786 he returned to his father's house at Halle, and 

 attended the dilFjerent professors in that university; namely, 



* Translated from the Gesellschaft Naturforschender freimde zu Berlin 

 Jflagazin, for iSlO. Preface, 



Vol, I. IIL ■ L 



