312 CHARLES CARDALE BABINGTON. [184& 



very satisfactory meeting, and every one was well pleased to learn 

 that we shall meet next season at Edinburgh. I much wished to 

 have had the consultation which we proposed upon the new 

 Catalogue, as we should probably have come to some understanding 

 about it by such a discussion. I am as much opposed as ever to 

 the alphabetical arrangement, and no person to whom I have 

 mentioned the subject has a word to say in its favour. Why 

 not arrange the generic names alphabetically, and the species 

 systematically ? This would surely meet the objects of the Society 

 (if I am not in error in my idea of what those objects really are) 

 and also give the public the advantage of an arranged Catalogue as 

 is wanted greatly now. You told me to send the enclosed paper to 

 Ealfs, and not knowing where to find him I took it to Birmingham, 

 hoping to learn from you ; now I think it best to return it to you, to 

 be employed as the Society may direct. I have not been botanizing 

 since the Meeting, but spending my time at Lingwood's house in 

 Herefordshire. I hope soon to see you sending some short article 

 to the "Botanical Gazette," as an encouragement to Henfrey to go 

 on with it. He has determined to continue it another year, as 

 there is a good prospect of its being a paying Journal if that is 

 done. Have you seen his little introductory book on Botany ? I 

 think you will like it, — Believe me, very truly yours, Charles C. 

 Babington. 



To Professor J. H. Balfour, M.D. 



St. John's College, Cambridge, Nov. 17, 1849. 

 Dear Balfour, — If you like to place a paper of mine upon the 

 billet for the December meeting of the Botanical Society you may 

 do so, under the title of " On the British Species of Chara." If not 

 desired for that meeting, I will keep it for a few weeks, but send it 

 now if you ask for it. It is rather long and will be perhaps best 

 read in abstract. That, however, you will see when it comes to you. 

 I am glad to learn that the Committee have not yet finally decided 

 as to the arrangement of the "Catalogue." I certainly fancy that 

 the plan of arranging the species systematically, and appending an 

 alphabetical list of the genera, is by far the best. Leave out the 

 Linnaean arrangement, as quite unnecessary and adding to the 

 expense. In the Association matter Brand will find that he has 

 got a very unsatisfactory job as Treasurer to begin with, viz., the 

 getting subscriptions to the Local Fund. He should draw up a 

 circular and get it sent to all the influential people in the city and 

 neighbourhood, setting forth the necessity of forming such a fund, 

 and stating (if our plan is followed) that the sum which may be 

 over at the winding-up of the accounts will be placed at the disposal 

 of a meeting of the subscribers, to be called together for that purpose. 

 As you say that I shall be wanted next summer at Edinburgh, I have 

 made up my mind to be with you as long as possible. Although 

 there were no papers for the " Transactions " read at the Botanical 



