Sommer, and others. Since the commencement of the present century, the mnemonic doctrine was propagated by Gräffe, Aretin, Duchet, and Feinagle. Feinagle exhibited specimens of his method in London and Edinburgh. "The Encyclopædia Britannica," vol. xv., p. 309, relates, that Count Metternich, the present premier of Austria, whilst ambassador at London, followed the whole course of lectures of Feinagle.
In 1832, we followed a course of lectures delivered at Paris, by by Mr. Aimé Paris, to whom we gratefully acknowledge to be indebted for many a mnemonic contrivance; but more so, for having encouraged us, by his example and precepts, to pursue this kind of study, which, although we had the good fortune to hit upon by chance, and follow from our early infancy, we had not boldness enough to rely upon with sufficient confidence; being diverted, but too often, by the observations of those for whom everything new appears ridiculous, impossible, or injurious.
The foundation upon which mnemonics were erected by the remotest antiquity, sunk under the rubbish of barbarous ages; and those who, in fresher times, attempted to dig this art out, and bring it again again to light, succeeded but partially. The manner in which th they expounded it, was far from being intelligible to the generality of students; and even the best of these authors have not reduced it to philosophical principles, exhibiting it, rather, as a set of empyrical cures for weak memories: neither have they left us any trace of their successful application to practical purposes, on any large scale.
What we offer to the public is the result of our experience in the different regions of human sciences and languages, which our own inclination,
