REMINISCENCES. Ixvii 



good and sufficient food upon each succeeding day, consider these 

 statements, and endeavour to alleviate, as far as lies in our power, 

 the miseries of our unfortunate fellow-countrymen ; giving at the 

 same time, thanks to Almighty God, that we and those around us 

 are not reduced to a similar state of destitution. 



In the city of Bath, a public meeting was held, and subscriptions 

 to the amount of <£211 were collected upon the day of the meeting. 

 I would propose that a Committee be formed in this town, for the 

 purpose of collecting subscriptions from the University and Town, — 

 entering into communication with the E-ev. H. Marriott (who has 

 taken the lead in this charitable object), and with the Committee 

 which is now forming in Dublin — and taking such other steps as 

 may appear to be advisable. Apologizing for the space I have 

 occupied in your columns. 



I am, Sir, your obedient Servant. 



CHARLES C. BABINGTON. 



By James Britten, F.L.S. 



{Reprinted from the ^^ Journal of Botamj" September, 1895.) 



Charles Cardale Babington was born on November 23rd, 1808, 

 at Ludlow, in which town his father, Joseph Babington, was a 

 physician. When he was four years old, the family removed to 

 Spaw Place, Humberston Gate, Leicester, and subsequently, Mr. 

 Babington having received ordination in the Established Church, 

 to Hawksworth, in Nottinghamshire. Mr. Babington had a fond- 

 ness for botany, and contributed a list of plants found near Ludlow 

 to Plymley's Agriculture of Shropshire. While at Ludlow he sent 

 lichens to Sir J. E. Smith, some of which were figured and 

 described for English Botany (see E. Bot. 450, 740, 887). 



When he was eight years old, young Babington was sent to 

 Neodwood Parsonage, Staffordshire, for private tuition, where his 

 diary tells us, he was not well treated. After being at another 

 private school, he was sent (in 1821) to the Charterhouse, but here 

 he did not stay long. "Not getting on well with my learning," 

 says his diary, "I was removed at my own wish from the Charter- 

 house and went to Mr. W. Hutchins's school at Bath." His father, 

 Avhose infirmities had compelled him to abandon clerical duty, had 

 at this time settled in Bath. During the time that young Babington 

 was a day -scholar at the school mentioned, he " formed an intimate 

 acquaintance with the neighbourhood of Bath, and began to study 

 its botany and to collect plants and insects." His father had 

 previously taught him the elements of botany, from Lee's Intro- 

 duction and Withering's Arrangement. 



