4 GUSTAV MAGNUS. 



occasionally for recreation, interrupted his work here 

 from time to time. His experience and knowledge of 

 business were often in demand by the State on various 

 commissions; among these may be especially men- 

 tioned the part he took in the chemical deliberations 

 of the Agricultural Board (Landes-Economie Colle- 

 gium), to which he devoted much of his time ; above 

 all to the great practical questions of agricultural 

 chemistry. 



After sixty-seven years of almost undisturbed 

 health he was overtaken by a painful illness towards 

 the end of the year 1869. 1 He still continued his 

 lectures on physics until February 25, 1870, but dur- 

 ing March he was scarcely able to leave his bed, and he 

 died on April 4. 



Magnus's was a richly endowed nature, which under 

 happy external circumstances could develop in its own 

 peculiar manner, and was free to choose its activity 

 according to its own mind. But this mind was so 

 governed by reason, and so filled, I might almost say, 

 with artistic harmony, which shunned the*immoderate 

 and impure, that he knew how to choose the object of 

 his work wisely, and on this account almost always to 

 attain it. Thus the direction and manner of Magnus's 

 activity accorded so perfectly with his intellectual 

 nature as is the case only with the happy few among 



1 Carcinoma recti. 



