194 CHARLES CARDALE BABINGTON. [1859—60 



Sept. 22. Two hundred of the general committee went to 

 Balmoral by invitation to see Highland Games, etc. Started at 

 6 a.m. by train to Ballater, then by omnibus to Balmoral, arriving 

 there at 1.30 p.m. Day tolerably fine. The Queen, Prince, and 

 family walked about amongst us for a long time. We had an 

 excellent cold dinner, and started back again at 5.45, reaching 

 Aberdeen at 1.45 a.m. 



Sept. 26. To York, to James Backhouse, junr.'s, house, at Bank- 

 side. 



Sept. 28. Reached home. 



Oct. 6. Went to Wisbech, to visit Algernon Peckover. He 

 drove me to the marsh on the east side of the river, near Foul 

 Anchor. Found next to nothing. 



Oct. 7. This morning we went to Boat-inn Ferry, opposite 

 Guyhirne, and returned along the same south-east bank of the 

 river; also to Leverington, and the shore at Horse-shoe corner. 

 Afterwards I walked alone up the north bank of the river, and 

 some way down the thiid drove. Mr. James Balding, a book- 

 binder (?) came, and discussed many native plants. Returned to 

 Cambridge. 



Oct. 20. Went to Saffron Walden for the day, to attend a 

 meeting of the Essex Archaeological Society, Dined with Joshua 

 Clarke. 



Oct. 27. Went to Ely with Luard, to visit the Dean (Goodwin) 

 and meet C. W. Goodwin. 



Nov. 17. To London. 



N(yv. 18. Dined with Franks and his mother at 55, Upper 

 Seymour Street. Allowed him to propose me at the Society ^of 

 Antiquaries. 



Dec. 14. On the night following this day, the river was quite 

 coated over with ice. Temperature 15°. 



Dec. 15. On this night the temperature fell to 8°. 



Dec. 17. On this night the thermometer sunk to 4°, on the 18th 

 to 8°, and on the night following, the 19th, there was an exceedingly 

 rapid thaw, but it froze again at night. 



Dec. 22. Went to London, to attend my first meeting of the 

 Council of the Royal Society. Was admitted a Fellow at the 

 "Antiquaries" in the evening. 



Dec. 31. In remarkable contrast with the middle of the month, 

 the temperature on the last night of the year did not fall below 

 48° Fahr. 



1860. Feb. 28. A hurricane passed over Cambridge at 12.30 

 to 1 p.m., blowing down many trees and two stacks of chimneys. 

 It came from the west by south. 



