MEMOIR. xix 



beyond seas, had lost touch ; their terms being different, they 

 were ' barbarians ' one to another. Babington discovered com- 

 mon ground, first with Germans, then with Frenchmen. Before 

 his wedding, he must have been hard put to it to cope with 

 foreigners ; for he had no turn for the tongues. Scandinavians 

 he always addressed in Latin. 



As regards his influence here, a chum of forty years and 

 more bears witness : he was "then the central figure among those 

 in Cambridge who took delight in Natural History. And his 

 simple character and keen interest in Nature were very attractive 

 to younger men who had similar likings. He certainly did 

 more, in my time, than any one else to promote the study of 

 Natural Science in the University." 



The Cambridge Philosophical Society was indeed born while 

 he was in jackets (under Henslow and Sedgwick in 1819), but 

 he was a member very early in his course, and long a Secretary. 

 Of the founders of the Ray Club^ Sir George Paget's death left 

 him the only home survivor. Many younger members dropt 

 off, but the ripe fruit hung on the bough to the last. In this 

 year (1895), when rheumatism tied him to his chair, the Club 

 still met in his drawing room. He also helped to create the 

 Entomological Society, being at one time known as ' Beetles 

 Babington ' ; several years ago he made over to the University 

 his store, some 4000 insects. He was among the friends who 

 sorted Charles Darwin's booty.^ 



Marlborough College, when I knew it (1849 — .53), paid no 

 heed to Natural Science. It has since stood high in that 

 pursuit, thanks to a pupil of Babington's. In his journal we 

 read, under 18 June 1861 : 



Went through London direct to Marlborough College, to help Mr. T. A, 

 Preston^" in the determination of a botanical prize. 



What a spur he gave to young students may, it is said, be 

 learnt from essays of undergraduates in botanical magazines. 



For a sample of his correspondence see seven letters to him 

 by Dr Johnston.^^ 



When the customary notice of his death was sent to freemen 

 of the mystery, one hundred and twenty-three copies were needed. 



