BOTANICAL NEWS. 389 
the year 1846 he became a physician, but he never practised. In the autumn 
of 1846 he went to ei et where he studied marine Algæ ; the vine of 
1846-47 was spent at Berlin; the summer of 1849 at Vienna, where he at- 
tended some of the medical lectures and the clinical classes of the hospitals ; 
but specially devoted himself to botanical studies. In the autumn of 1847 he 
ent to Dalmatia, and studied [mes raid the marine Alge at Fiume. 
the spring of 1848 he settled as “ Privatdocent " of botany at the University 
Hei 
Kunze. He married on June 14, 1859, aa the second daughter of Pro- 
fessor Alexander Braun [Professor Caspary having married the elder daughter 
of the same accomplished botanist on the same a $ 
t Leipzig Mettenius worked and studied up to the time of his death, which 
took place on August 18, 1866, from cholera. His last illness began at one 
o'clock in the morning. himself a physician, he soon felt that recovery 
was impossible, in spite of the exertions of two of the most eminent FADES 
of Leipzig. His mind, however, was clear enough to allow him to commu 
nieate to his wife his most important wishes as regarded his affairs. 
at six o'clock in the evening of the same day. 
Mettenius was a very tall, athletic man, of great bodily strength. He led 
the most regular life possible. At five o’clock he began ine work of the day, 
and finished it punctually at ten in the evening. His whole mind was turned 
towards the study of plants, and especially of Ferns, of which he found a very 
good g and dried collection in the garden at Leipzig, which had been 
brought isin by Kunze. This he increased so greatly, mes the Ferns id 
are scarcely rivalled anywhere. Few directors of botanic gardens ev 
spent so much time and trouble in arranging the garden as Mettenius, for did 
inspector of the garden, Mr. Be Bernhardi, was in infirm health, so that Mettenius 
himself very generally took the whole management of the quem up — 
being out by six o'clock in the morning and directing th 
thelabourers. He had a most intimate acquaintance wiih botoia robe: 
having great powers of reading, and he had formed an excellent library. His 
manners were retired and modest; he was devoted to his wife, and east 
attached to his friends. He was one of those few persons upon wh 
and deed entire reliance might be placed. He disliked to show-off in public. 
candid way of thinking, combined with a keen and penetrating nh 
may have caused him to appear, perhaps, sometimes stern and too severe, 
the eyes of those of whom he had reason not to hold so favourable an brima 
as others may have done. It is much to be ed that t hensive 
on to awhich a his labours nid, viz. a Medios es Filicum,’ studies for 
e principal he pers, as dini as n hung and 
simus ia been left unfinished. . Doubtless h 
