Obituary Notices. 41 



important office. He would, doubtless, in bis new spbere 

 bave prosecuted witb no less energy and success bis studies 

 in licbenology, bad not tbe state of bis eyes prevented bim 

 from using tbe microscope. He accordingly was compelled 

 to abandon tbat pursuit ; but, being of an active disposition, 

 be, in addition to discbarging bis duties as Curator, occupied 

 bis time in giving instructions to tbose studying for tbe 

 Natural Science Tripos, and for tbe special examination in 

 Botany, in wbicb be proved a most efficient teacber, and 

 gained tbe affection and esteem of all bis pupils. Dr 

 Babington tbus writes of bim — " He raised tbe standard of 

 tbe botanical garden ; " and again — " We bave lost a very 

 valuable man, one wbo bad tbe interest of tbe university and 

 garden tborougbly at beart, and worked constantly for tbe 

 advancement and benefit of all subjects of bis department." 



Dr JoHANN Friedkich Thilo Irmisch, Professor of 

 Botany at Sonderbausen, Tburingia, was a Foreign Member 

 of our Society. He died of apoplexy at Sonderbausen, on 

 tbe fourtb day after tbe attack, viz., April 28, 1879. He 

 was a man of great eminence, and bis name spread far 

 beyond tbe limits of bis native country. We grieve over 

 tbe loss wbicb our Society and botanical science in general 

 bave sustained by bis removal, wbile bis personal friends 

 mourn over bis departure, and speak of bim as a most 

 amiable, simple, unpretending cbaracter, full of warm 

 feeling for friendsbip and domestic bappiness ; in fact, be 

 was' artless as a cbild, destitute of tbat ambition wbicb 

 aims at bigb positions and outward bonours, as evidenced 

 by bis refusing several bonourable invitations to otber 

 university cbairs, tbus at tbe same time exbibiting tbe 

 like patriotism wbicb we bave seen in Kocb and Grisebacb, 

 for be was warmly attacbed to bis beloved native town, 

 wbose ricb and beautiful flora bad peculiar attractions for 

 bim ; and yet, witb all bis modest retirement, be was a 

 man of bigb culture, as bis education, and literary and 

 scientific writings testify. 



Irmiscb was born on January 14, 1816, at Sonderbausen. 

 His cbildbood was spent in tbe small town of Scblotbeim, 

 belonging to tbe precincts of Scbwarzburg-Rudolstadt, and 

 situated between Sonderbausen and Miiblbausen, wbere bis 



