• ,"> ORE OK VON FEINAI GLE, O^^^^r THE NEW &?t of 0Ltmoty f FOUNDED UPON THE PRINCIPLES TAUGHT BY M. GREGOR VON FEINAIGLE: AND APPLIED TO Chronology, History, Geography, Languages, Systematic Tables, Poetry, Prose, and Arithmetic. TO WHICH IS ADDED, SOME ACCOUNT OF THE PRINCIPAL SYSTEMS OF ARTIFICIAL MEMORY, FROM THE EARLD2ST PERIOD TO THE PRESENT TIME; WITH INSTANCES OF THE EXTRAORDINARY POWERS OF NATURAL MEMORY. Illustrated by EngraTiugs. €f)ir& station, CORRECTED AND ENLARGED. Constat memoriam hubere quiddam artificii et nan omnem a natura proficisci. Cic. Eontodt; Printed by R. Edwards, Crane Court, Fleet Street, FOR THE PROPRIETOR; AND SOLD BY SHERWOOD, NEELY, AND JONES, PATERNOSTER-ROW. 1813. fcnteren at ^tattomttf' $>all. 1 W. CHTY Cl*' LtSf PREFACE FIRST EDITION. As the art -which forms the subject of this volume is sufficiently discoursed on, in the introductory matter prefixed to the system contained in the present work, it remains only to give an account of the origin of this publication. The system, here presented to the pub- lic, is that taught by M. Von Fein- aigle ; who, by the public exhibitions which he has given of the proficiency of some of his pupils, has excited a very ge- neral interest and curiosity as to the mne- monic art. The following pages contain, amidst various other matter, the sub- stance of fifteen of the Professor's lec- tures, on the application of the art to Chronology, Geography, History, Lan- guage, Systematic Tables, and Poetry and Prose; being the whole of one course, with the exception of one lecture on Arithmetic and Algebra. This was omit- ted because the subject to which it relates, is so complicated in itself, as to render it IV PREFACE TO impossible to give an intelligent account of it within the compass necessarily pre- scribed to this publication; and because the subject was not of such general in* terest or utility, as those which are here treated of. The Editor is not aware that any apo- logy is due to the Professor on account of this publication. The principal peculia- rities of his system had found their way into pretty general circulation, by oral communication, before this work was con- templated; and the accounts which were thus circulated, like most traditions, were by no means calculated to give satisfac- tory or creditable notions on the subject. The Editor attended one course of lectures, and after the example of several of his friends, took very copious notes. Finding, however, that the materials which he had thus collected, were so confused and disorderly, as to be nearly, if not wholly, useless; and being unwil- ling that the time he had bestowed on the subject should become entirely without profit, he applied himself to draw up these lectures in a more intelligible form, for his own use; supplying, at length, the analogies and other illustrations to which the lecturer had very cursorily and dis- tantly alluded. In this attempt,, parum ~lari& dare lucem, the matter swelled it- THE FIRST EDITION. V self nearly to the contents of the following- passes. Several of his friends who had attend- ed the Lectures, were pleased to think that the subject had profited much in his hands ; and that the science, thus il- lustrated and explained, was much more intelligible than it was in its original sta f e of communication. They accordingly urged him to publish this improved ac- count of the system, as well for the be- nefit of those persons who had actually at- tended courses of Lectures, as of those who would be satisfied with such an ac- count of it as is herein contained. With this request he has complied, whether rightly or erroneously, it is not, perhaps, for him to determine. On (his subject he only wishes to add, that, however se- condary and derivative ibis undertaking may, at first sight, appear to those who have not attended the Lectures,— they whohave attended them, will be able, (the Editor is confident,) to give him ample credit for originality. No expense has been spared in sup- plying tin's volume with appropriate en- gravings, together with the diagrams ne- cessary to illustrate the work, and which have been chiefly furnished to him by the kindness of his friends, A3 Yl PREFACE. In order to render this work as com- plete as possible, an account has been inserted of the Principal Systctns of Ar- tificial Memory: and, accordingly, the public and private repositories of curious literature have been diligently searched for scarce books on this subject. Some instances of the extraordinary powers of Natural Memory conclude the volume; they have been inserted from a persuasion that they will be new to many persons, and agreeable to all. In short, nothing has been omitted, which was thought capable of illustrating or giving interest to the subject ; and it is hoped, nothing has been inserted, which the curious reader would wish to be sup- pressed. Under these circumstances, the Editor takes leave of his readers, in full confi- dence, that whatever may be the success of his publication, he has at least deserv- ed well of them, in his intentions and en- deavours to promote their advancement in useful knowledge. London, Jugust, 1812. ADVERTISEMENT SECOND EDITION. -If the sale of a book be any criterion of its merit, the present work must stand high in the opinion of the public, as a large impression has been disposed of, in the short space of four months. The gene- ral utility, indeed, of this ' New Art of Memory,' needed only to be known to be properly estimated and successfully practised. The appearance of such a system as this, has produced (as might naturally be expected) many imitators. The merit of having improved upon the original plan of M. Feinaigle, does not, how- to any of these ever, appear to belong persons ; for the editor is enabled to state, without fear of refutation, that either an attendance upon M Feinaigle's lectures, or indeed the former edition of this book, has furnished more than the outlines of those systems which were so recently taught in the metropolis. The diagrams, indeed, distributed to the pupils who attended these lectures were, evident- ly, copied from those of M. Feinaigle. The hie- roglyphics, it is true, were changed, but the prin- ciples and the practice of the art were precisely the same. The chief peculiarities which distinguish this edition from that winch preceded it, are the follow- ing :— Till ADVERTISEMENT TO 1. The editor has adopted a more convenient and connected disposition of his materials, and has given an introduction to mnemonics partly new, together with several additions and illustrations cal- culated to extend the knowledge of this art, and to accelerate the progress of the student. Among the additions may be named the application of the art ft to Arithmetic, which was not inserted in the former edition, for the reasons there stated. 2. Some new and interesting notices of books have been inserted in the account of the Principal Systems of Artificial Memory. This sketch con- tains notices of more than seventy* works on the subject, including copious extracts from many books of great curiosity and value. A small por- tion of extraneous matter has also been omitted, and the whole of Lowe's Mnemonics has been in- troduced. This change was made for two reasons; (1.) on account of the extreme scarcity of Lowe's original tract, and (2.) because some persons, per- haps, may be inclined to practise this system, and yet be unwilling to purchase the last edition of Grey for this purpose. 3. To the account of instances of the extraordi- nary powers of natural memory, is appended an interesting narrative of Zerah Colbum, the young American who is so well known for his wonderful powers in extemporary calculation. This extra- ordinary youth seems, indeed, to rival the far-famed Jedediah Buxton, in his instantaneous, but correct, solution of the most difficult arithmetical questions. It is, perhaps worthy of remark, that one of the most cc- lebratedxted biblibibliographers of the present day, Hrunet,— in his litarj Instructive THE SECOND EDITION. IX 4. There is prefixed to the present edition, a Portrait of M. Von Feinaigle, the accuracy of which may be relied on. Having stated the chief advantages of this edition, the editor will proceed to offer some observations upon the importance and general utility of the pre- sent New Art of Memory. And, here, he cannot refrain from strongly recommending it to the es- pecial notice of all Tutors and Instructors of Youth. The revival of the antient mnemonics seems to have formed a new aera in the annals of education:—it must, therefore, deeply interest every one who is concerned in so important an office. Let the system be impartially examined and properly practised, and there will be no need of a herald to proclaim its merits. The general utility of the present work, must be obvious to every one; but the peculiar advantages which it offers to the Senator, the Divine, the Barrister, the Merchant, and the Man of Busi- ness, are evident, even from a casual examination of the system. In short, what was said of Schen- ckel's method is equally applicable to the present. Speaking of the importance of his mnemonics to the legal man, he says, ' The Attorney who has many causes to conduct, may, by the assistance of this art, imprint them so strongly upon his memo- ry, that he will have an answer ready for his clients, at any hour, with as much precision, as if he had just perused the whole of the papers relative to each cause.