He went from town to town, but could obtain no encouragement whatever.

Besides, industrial enterprise in Germany was then in a measure paralysed by the impending war with France, and men of capital were naturally averse to risk their money on what seemed a merely speculative undertaking.
Finding no sympathisers or helpers at home, Koenig next turned his attention abroad.

England was then, as now, the refuge of inventors who could not find the means of bringing out their schemes elsewhere; and to England he wistfully turned his eyes.

In the meantime, however, his inventive ability having become known, an offer was made to him by the Russian Government to proceed to St.Petersburg and organise the State printing-office there.

The invitation was accepted, and Koenig proceeded to St.Petersburg in the spring of 1806.