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hierarchy; it deplores the heresy of the former house of Ih-aiitleiiburi,' in the ascendant house of Hohenzollern (the latter family adhering to Frotestanti-sm), and proijh- esies the downfall of the now nding' family, to be followed bv the restoration of the unity of Germany and the re- establishment of the Koman Catholic Church. Tlie ex- istence of this poem is not, however, to be traced with any certainty further back than the j-ear 1G03. It was first published in Lilienthal (Konigsb. 1723, 1741), then at Ik-rlin and Vienna, 1745; IJern, 1758; Leipsic, 1807; also in France, in 1827 and 1830, by W. Meinhold, with a metrical translation, Leips. 1849 ; C. Rosch, Stuttgard, 1849; Gicseler, Z)/e Lehiihische Weissagung (Erf. 1849); Guhrauer, Die Weissayungen v. Lehnin (Bresl. 1850) ; J\I. Heffter, Geschichte cles Klosters Lehnin (Brandenburg, 1851). Those who consider this poem a mere mystical- ly-shaped narrative of past events, name as its author 51. F. Seidel, assessor of the privy council (f at Berlin in 1693); or Andrew Fromm, counsellor of the Consistory (t at Frague in 1G88) ; or Nicolas vou Zitzwitz, abbot of Huysburg, who, they say, composed it about 1G92; or the Jesuit Frederick Wolf, chaplain to the Austrian em- bassy at Berlin in 16S5-8G (f 1708) ; or (Elven, captain of cavalry at Stettiii (f 1727). See L. dc Bouverois, Extrait d'un manuscrit relatifa la propMtie dufr'ere St. de Lehnin (German transl. by W. von Schiitz (Wiirzb. 1847) ; J. A. Boost, Die Weissagnngen des MOnchs H. z. Lehnin (Augsb. 1848). — Pierer, Universal-Lexikon, viii, 273 ; Ilerzog, Real-EncgHopddie, v, 757 sq.
Leibnitz, Gottfiued WiLHEor, Baron von — phi- losopher, theologian, jurist, historian, poet, mathemati- cian, mechanician, naturalist, and votary of all arts and all sciences — was the most brilliant, profound, and ver- satile scholar of the century following the death of Des Cartes — perhaps of modern times. He is among the few who have earned the honors of all-embracing eru- dition— ultra progredi nefas est. As the opponent of Spinoza, Bayle, and Locke ; as the conciliator of Plato and Aristotle ; as the reverential follower of the discred- ited schoolmen; as the precursor of Kant, and as the vindicator " of the ways of God to man," Leibnitz occu- pies an equally eminent and important position in the history of philosophic opinion. His metaphysical spec- ulations were, however, but a small portion of his labors. His greatest achievements in nearly all cases were onl}- the liberal recreations of his idle hours. He rendered all learning and nearly all knowledge tributary to his genius, and deserved the happy eulogy of Fontenelle, that '• he drove all the sciences abreast." He reformed and enlarged old systems of doctrine, he added new provinces to them, he improved their methods, he sup- plied them with keener instruments, he discovered new continents of study, and delineated them for future oc- cupation and culture. Whatever region he visited in the wide circuit of his explorations was qiuckened into bloom and fruitage beneath his feet —
"Siiaveis Da;dala tellus Summittit flores." *
Life. — Leibnitz was the son of Frederick Leibnitz, professor of ethics in the University of Leipsic, and was born there July 3, 164G. He was early placed at school. At six years of age he lost his father, from M-hom he inherited a small fortune and an extensive library. This library inspired, moiilrled, and furnished forth his career. He buried himself in his young years amid its volumes, and delighted in the unaided perusal of the ancient classics. His attention was not confined to the great masters of stj-le, nor to linguistic pursuits. He read with like diligence poets, orators, jurists, travellers —works of science, medicine, philosojihy, and general information. Nothing came amiss to his insatiable ap- petite and incredible industry. At fifteen he jentered the University of Leii)sic, and was directed by Jacobus Thomasius to mathematical and philosophTcal studies. He applied hirSself assiduously to the writings of Plato and Aristotle, and already, at the age of eighteen, was endeavoring to harmonize and combine their antago-
nistic systems. One year he spent at the University of Jena, but he returned to his own citj' to prosecute his professional studies. Applying for the degree of doctor of law when he had scarcely attained his twentieth year, he was refused the diploma on the pretext of his youth. It was cheerfully accorded by the University of Altdorf, which tendered him a professorship; but this was declined. To this period belong his A I's Comhina- toria — a curious adaptation of IJaymond Lully's Art of Meditation and Logical Invention — and his Mathemat- ical Demonstration of the Existence of God. His esti- mate in declining life of the former treatise may be seen from his fourth letter to Remond de Montmort-in 1714. From Altdorf Leibnitz proceeded to Nuremberg, where, in consequence of an application filled with cabalistic terms, unmeaning to himself and to every one else, he was admitted into an association for the pursuit of the philosopher's stone, and was appointed its secretarj-. Half a century before, Des Cartes had been similarly se- duced in the same regions. I'rom these visionary oc- cupations the young alchemist was soon withdrawn by the baron De Boineburg, chancellor of the elector of Mayence, who recommended him to prosecute history and jurisprudence, and invited him to Frankfort, with the promise of preferment. He illustrated his change of abode by publishing Nova methodus discendce docen- dccque Jurisprudentice. (1GG7), to which was appended a Catalogus Desideratorum. The unsystematic treatment of jurisprudence had long needed reform. Leibnitz con- tinued his efforts in this direction by an essay, De Cor- ])ore Juris reconcinnando. He contemplated at this time a new and enlarged edition of Alsted's Encyclopa;- dia, and never abandoned, but never commenced his de- sign. From these vast projects he was di\-erted by Boineburg, at whose instance he composed a diplomatic exposition of the claims of Philip William, duke pala- tine of Neuburg, to the vacant throne of Poland. He declined an invitation to the duke's court, remained at Frankfort, and brought out a new edition of the forgot- ten work of jNIarius Nizolius, De Vciis Principiis et Vera Ratione Philosophundi. He added notes, and prefixed two dissertations; one on The Philosophical Style of Composition, the other On Writing the History of Phi- losojihy. In the latter he treated of Des Cartes, Aristo- tle, and the schoolmen, and on the mode of harmonizing the Peripatetic with later philosophy. All his writings exhibit pronounced Cartesianism. His first approaches to physical science were made in his Theoria 31otus Ab- stracti, containing the germs of his Calculus, and his Theoria Mottis Concreti (1G71). I'hcy were not favor- ably received ; but Leibnitz was still only twenty-five years old. Next year appeared his Sacrosancta Trini- tas per nova argumenta defensa, directed against Wis- sowatius, a Polish Unitarian. Thus, say the writers in the Biographie Universelle, "each year brought a new title of glory to Leibnitz, and gave him rank among the masters of the different sciences." He was already a counsellor of the chancery of Maj-ence. At length his desire of seeing Paris was gratified. Boineburg sent him thither as tutor to his sons, and in charge of some public affairs. He was at once admitted into the most brilliant scientific circles, in the most brilliant period of the reign of Louis XIV. Here he made the acquaint- ance of Huyghens, and improved the calculating ma- chine of Pascal. He was also induced to aid in pre- paring the Latin classics in usuni Delphini. On the death of Boineburg (1G73) he passed over into England, where he was received with distinction by Boyle, Olden- burg, and other members of the recent Royal Society. Intelligence of the demise of the elector of Mayence reached him in London. He was thus deprived of the means of support. Flattering proposals had been made to him by Louis XIV, but they had been re-fused, as they required adhesion to the Catholic communion. In his anxiety and distress, he was appointed by the duke of Brunswick a counsellor, with an adequate pension, and with the privilege of remainuig abroad. He re-