himself to classical learning. After holding for a short time a mastership at Celle he began lecturing in the university of Berlin (1827), and in 1833 was appointed professor of comparative philology at Hallé, where he has since been known as a most efficient teacher, and as one of the chief promoters of this new branch of learning. His fame chiefly rests on his "Etymologische Forschungen," 2 vols., 1833-36, which comprises the whole range of Indo-Germanic languages, and has greatly contributed to the advancement of the science of philology. For his work on the gipsies in Europe and Asia, 2 vols., 1844-45, he was awarded the Volney prize by the Institute of France. No less important are his "Personen-Namen," a work of astonishing research, and his numerous monographs and treatises.—K. E.
POTT, Percival, the celebrated surgeon of St. Bartholomew's hospital, was born in Threadneedle Street on the 26th of December, 1713. His father died when he was three years of age, leaving his wife and child but inadequately provided for. Amongst his mother's relatives, however, was Dr. Wilcox, bishop of Rochester, who took the boy under his protection. He was educated at a school at Dame in Kent. Pott early showed a decided taste for surgery, and although strongly advised by his friends to choose the church as a profession, nothing could induce him to alter his resolve to be a surgeon. He was accordingly apprenticed in 1729 to Mr. Nourse, one of the surgeons of St. Bartholomew's, who was the first of the surgeons to that hospital who gave lectures on anatomy. Nourse employed his pupil as a prosector for his demonstrations, and thus the best foundation for his future eminence was laid. In 1736, his apprenticeship having expired. Pott immediately settled in practice in Fenchurch Street. In 1744-45 he was elected assistant-surgeon, and in 1749 surgeon to St. Bartholomew's. On the death of his mother in 1746, he removed to Bow Lane, and married the daughter of Robert Cruttenden, Esq. It was not until ten years later that his first work of importance appeared. In the year 1756 he was thrown from his horse, and sustained a compound fracture of the leg. The surgeons who first saw him determined on immediate amputation, and the leg was only saved by the timely arrival of Mr. Nourse, who on careful examination thought that a chance of recovery without operation existed. During the retirement occasioned by this accident, Pott planned and partly executed his "Treatise on Ruptures." His sole previous appearance as a writer had been as the author of a paper on a curious case of disease of the bones, in the forty-first volume of the Philosophical Transactions. His next publication was on "Congenital Hernia." It involved him in a dispute as to priority of discovery with Dr. W. Hunter. Other works on surgical subjects followed in rapid succession, amongst which were valuable treatises on injuries of the head, on the treatment of fistulæ, and on caries of the vertebræ. In 1764 he became F.R.S., and about the same time he began to give lectures on surgery. In 1769 he removed to Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, and seven years afterwards to Hanover Square. His practice now had become very large. He resigned the office of surgeon to St. Bartholomew's in 1787, having served it, to use his own expression, "man and boy for half a century." In the previous year he had received honorary diplomas from the Colleges of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Ireland. He died on the 22d December, 1788, aged seventy-five. The day before his death he observed—"My lamp is almost extinguished; I hope it has burned for the benefit of others." Pott's surgical works are still studied with the highest advantage. He was undoubtedly one of the brightest ornaments of the English surgical school.—F. C. W.
POTTER, Barnabas, an excellent bishop, born near Kendal in 1578, fellow of Queen's college, Oxford, afterwards lecturer at Abingdon and Totness; in 1610, chosen principal of St. Edmund hall, but never admitted to the office; in 1616, elected provost of Queen's college; in 1628, nominated bishop of Carlisle; died in 1642, and was buried in the church of St. Paul, Covent Garden. Whether he published any sermons is doubtful. Wood attributes to him one on the Burial of Sir Edmund Seymour, one on Easter Tuesday, and a Spital Sermon. Though a "thoroughpaced Calvinist," as Wood calls him, so great was his eloquence and piety, that he had the help of Archbishop Laud in being promoted to the bench of bishops.—T. J.
POTTER, Christopher, born near Kendal about 1591; entered Queen's college, Oxford, in 1606; in 1613 was chosen chaplain, and afterwards fellow of the college. He took the degree of D.D. in 1626-27, having succeeded his uncle as provost. A jesuit, known as Edward Knott, but whose real name was Matthias Wilson, had printed in 1630 a tract called Charity Mistaken, complaining that it was unjust to charge Romanists with want of charity for affirming that protestantism unrepented leaves no chance of salvation. To this Dr. Potter replied, dedicating his work to Charles I., at whose request it had been undertaken. In 1635 he was made dean of Worcester; in 1640 vice-chancellor of the university. He sent his plate to the king when the civil wars broke out. In 1646 he was nominated dean of Durham, but died on the 3rd of March, in Oxford, before he was installed. He translated into English Father Paul's History of the Quarrels of Pope Paul the Fifth with the state of Venice, London, 1626-44; and left behind him, prepared for the press, a work on predestination.—T. J.
POTTER, Cipriani, a musician, was born in London in 1792. When seven years old he began to study the pianoforte under his father, a successful teacher. He was a pupil for composition successively of Attwood, Callcott, Crotch, and Wölfl. The high standing in his profession, to which his talents early raised him, is proved by his having been one of the original members of the Philharmonic Society, founded in 1813. His first public appearance as a pianist was in 1817, at one of the philharmonic concerts, when he played a sestet of his own composition. Before the end of the year he went to Germany, where he spent sixteen months, chiefly at Vienna. During this time he took lessons in counterpoint from Förster, and submitted his compositions to Beethoven. He then spent eight months in Italy, and returned to London in 1819. At the opening of the Royal Academy of Music in 1823, Potter was appointed chief professor of the pianoforte for the male department. He became director of the orchestral practice in 1827, which office he relinquished at midsummer, 1832, when he succeeded Dr. Crotch as principal of the institution, and undertook the charge of the chief class for composition. He remained at the head of the academy for twenty-seven years, and then resigned his threefold responsibility as principal, and professor of composition and the pianoforte. On his retirement, the pupils and professors, as a testimonial of their admiration and affection, subscribed, to endow the Potter Exhibition—an annual sum to assist a musical student in the expenses of education at the Academy—which will perpetuate the name of this eminent man in connection with the institution over which he long and efficiently presided. Potter's music is characterized by perspicuity of form, contrapuntal clearness, ingenious orchestration, and appropriateness to the instruments for which it is written. His first symphony was performed in 1824; that in G minor, perhaps the best known of his orchestral productions, was written in 1833 in fulfilment of a commission from the Philharmonic Society; and he is the author of seven symphonies besides these, which were successively produced at his annual concerts. To the department of orchestral music belong also his overtures to "Antony and Cleopatra," "Cymbeline," and "The Tempest," and an unnamed concert overture. His only important vocal work is the cantata, "Medora e Corado," for solo voices, chorus, and orchestra, which was produced in 1830. He wrote additional instrumentation for Handel's Acis and Galatea, when this work was brought upon the stage in 1831. For his instrument he composed four concertos—a duet for two pianofortes—several sonatos, toccatas, and rondos for pianoforte solo—trios, and other pieces for pianoforte with different instruments, and a series of Pezzi di Bravura, and some books of studies. Finally must be mentioned his violin quartets. Potter held place as a pianist among the best players resident in England during the lime he was before the public, and he was quite as highly esteemed wherever he appeared abroad. He was repeatedly elected to the direction of the Philharmonic Society, and was one of the most efficient conductors of their concerts, as he was for a time of the Madrigal Society. He had a most important influence on the progress of the piano-forte in England, many af the most distinguished players and teachers having been formed by him; and his excellent system being thus so widely diffused, he may truly be said to have established a school of playing. The effect of his teaching is still more valuable in the department of composition; he was the first in this country to elucidate the principles of musical construction, and since his appearance as a teacher, the productions of our composers have assumed a higher character in respect of purpose and development, than ever before belonged to English music. It will thus be seen that he accomplished more than any other musician for the advancement of his art among us;
