188 CHARLES CARD ALE BABINGTON. [1857-5S 



Oct. 12. Went alone to Chelgrave Church. In the afternoon 

 walked to Heckington, where there are Norman traces in the churchy 

 and very rude arches between the aisles, and to Norton, a beautiful 

 Decorated church. 



Oct. 14. To Norwich and Cambridge. 



Oct. 24. A very high flood, over the middle walk in the College 

 walks. It was up to the top of the thick stone, below the cornice 

 on the buttress on the east side of the western arch of the old bridge 

 of St. John's College, fully a foot higher than the flood of November 

 13th, 1852. It covered most part of the grass plot in front of the 

 New Court. Highest at about 6 a.m. The exact height was the 

 top of the twenty -second course of bricks above the usual level. 



Nov. 12. This day the barometer in my rooms stood at 30'73. 



Nov. 13. Went to Cottenham with Banks, and slept at his 

 rectory house. 



Nov. 14. Walked into the fen to the gravel pits near the edge 

 of Landbech parish, where Roman pottery had been found. Saw 

 a few little bits of it. Also a little to the north of the gravel pits 

 saw the line of the Car Dyke plainly. It is partly occupied in its 

 middle by a modern watercourse, and partly is quite dry, but in 

 both cases its ancient banks are clearly to be seen. Returned to 

 Cambridge. 



Nov. 18. Went to London. Dined with the Linnean Club. 



Did not again sleep out of College before the end of the year. 



1858. March 15. Went with Hiley and Newbould to Peter- 

 borough and Castor Station to see the annular eclipse of the sun. 

 It was very cloudy, but we saw many hasty views of the eclipse, not 

 just the best part, but very nearly. The darkness during a few 

 seconds most remarkable, blackish throughout. The birds were still 

 during the darkest time only. The sudden return of light very 

 sudden and striking. We saw it from the Ermyn Street. Saw in 

 a ditch the foundation stones of the Roman Way resting upon a 

 layer of mortar, made with pounded bricks. I never saw this before. 

 We then went to Water Newton, and saw the mounds of Durobrivae, 

 and the road as laid down in the Ordnance map. Walked back to 

 Peterborough in time for the return train to Cambridge. 



April 12. Hiley and I went to the Gogs and saw one flower of 

 Anemone Pulsatilla just opening, also buds of Muscari racemosum in 

 the old place. This day the College and walks Avere closed against 

 strangers. During the past week the old summer house at the 

 corner of the Fellows' ground was pulled down. 



April 16. Meeting with Bentham and Alexander about the 

 Linn. Soc. British Herbarium. 



May 29. This day the water was let into the pond in the 

 Botanic Garden. 



