264 Charles cardalE babington. 



corporating additions and rearranging tlie collections was mainly 

 left to his assistants— Messrs. W. Hillhouse (1878-81), T. H. Corry 

 (1881-83), M. C. Potter (1884-91), and I. H. Burkill, who still 

 occupies the post, and to whose kind helpfulness in the preparation 

 of this memoir I am largely indebted. Mr. Corry, it will be remem- 

 bered, met his death by drowning, and Babington's notice of him 

 [Journ. Bot. 1883, 313) shows a warm appreciation of his talents 

 and personal qualities — "I lose in him not only an excellent scien- 

 tific helper, but also a very greatly valued friend." 



Mr. Burkill writes: "His extreme kindness kept him always 

 busy for others — this was one of his most noticeable characteristics. 

 When he appointed me as his assistant in 1891, it was but a month 

 before his illness ; but then and during the three previous years, 

 when from time to time I had had occasion to ask his advice about 

 any plant, I always found him busy with the same work — either 

 Eubi from his own collection or Rubi for some one else : more rarely 

 it would be something of a different genus, but nearly always it was 

 work for somebody who had written to him. I myself owe much to 

 him for his great kindness. When I began work here, he used to 

 come down an hour earlier than usual, because he found it suited 

 me better, and he liked to be there to help me in getting started. 

 He was extremely retiring in many ways, and though he usually 

 spent more money on the maintenance of the Herbarium than the 

 allowance, he never mentioned it in his report. He was extremely 

 methodical : everything was noted down at once. His critical work 

 was rather slow and sure, for he always said that another would 

 take in the difference between the plants in less time than he could. 

 He did not see differences at the first glance, but worked them out 

 slowly and thoughtfully." 



The extreme kindness which Babington showed to all with 

 whom he came in contact, and especially to beginners in his 

 favourite science, was very marked. He answered letters promptly, 

 and his replies were full of interest ; many of those who subse- 

 quently made for themselves a name among British botanists were 

 stimulated by his encouragement. He was glad to share his pleasure 

 with others ; when away on a holiday in some place where interesting 

 plants abounded, he would say, ' ' We must get Newbould down here," 

 conscious that his old friend and admirer would take keen delight in 

 the things which gave him so much happiness, as well as in the 

 genial company which would recall early rambles together. For, 

 as the sketch which I pubHshed of Mr. Newbould* shows, a 

 warm attachment existed between the two botanists, dating from 

 their college days. Newbould had met Babington in Scotland 

 in 1845, had accompanied him to Pembrokeshire in 18-48, 

 to Ireland in 1852 and again in 1858, and to North Wales (with 

 Jacques Gay) in 1862 : they had previously worked in Cambridge- 

 shire and Essex, and in later life a visit to Babington was one of 

 the keenest joys of Newbould's existence. They spent a pleasant 

 time together at Grange-over-Sands in 1884, after the meeting of 



Jown. Bot. 1886, 161-174. 



