1 CHARLES CARD ALE BABINGTON. 



Extract from the Thirtieth Annual Report of the Museums 

 and Lecture Rooms Syndicate for 1895. 



The Museums, May 12, 1896. 



Since the last Annual Eeport was published, the University 

 has had to deplore the loss of the venerable Professor Babington, 

 who had occupied the Chair of Botany for thirty-four years. Though 

 for some time past he had been unable to take any active part in 

 the administration of the Museums, the Syndicate cannot forget 

 that throughout the tedious controversy which preceded the com- 

 mencement of the New Museums in 1863, he steadily maintained 

 the necessity for erecting such a structure without further delay, 

 and that his personal influence contributed in no small degree to 

 the result. Moreover, during his long tenure of the Professorship, 

 he did all in his power to increase the collections under his charge, 

 and to promote the study of physiological as well as systematic 

 Botany. His munificent bequest of his Herbarium and Library 

 was announced to the Senate at the beginning of the last Michaelmas 

 Term {Reporter, p. 23), and gratefully accepted by them (Graces 24 

 October, 5 December 1895, Reporter, pp. 171, 305). The value of 

 these bequests is recorded in detail in the Report of his successor. 

 The Syndicate have further the pleasure of stating that Mrs. 

 Babington has presented to the University a photograph (life size) 

 of her late husband. This has been hung in the Syndicate Room. 



Report of Professor Marshall Ward. 



The death of Professor Babington has deprived the Herbarium 

 of a Curator, who for many years had devoted himself unremittingly 

 to its welfare. The Department of Botany has lost in him a friend, 

 who though prevented by failing health during recent years from 

 taking an active share in its work, retained to the last his interest 

 in those parts of the science which he had made his own. His 

 munificent bequest to the University has enriched the Department 

 by a most valuable collection of over 1600 volumes, and nearly 

 50,000 sheets of mounted specimens. 



From Edgar Stirling Cobbold, Esq. 



Caradoc and Severn Valley Field Club, 

 Shropshire. 



July 23, 1895. 



It was with great regret that I received the news of yesterday. 

 I had never had the pleasure of meeting Professor Babington, but 

 his life is one which excites my admiration and regard, and I feel 

 that we and all like clubs have lost a true friend. There is too 

 much dilletante-ism in our clubs now-a-days, a fact which he saw 

 and deplored. Let me assure you that you have not only my 

 sincere sympathy in your loss, but that also of our members, and 



