316 CHARLES CARDALE BABINGTON. [1851 



list, to consist solely of the names of the orders, genera, and species 

 contained in my "Manual," edition three, i.e. if it can be done so as 

 to sell at sixpence. How will the Botanical Societ}'^ take my doing 

 so ? As their Catalogue is (to use the remark of an active botanist 

 here) "to combine the inconveniences of the systematic and alpha- 

 betical arrangements," I still consider that a systematic catalogue 

 will be wanted after its issue. — Yours very truly, Charles C. 

 Babington. 



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



St. John's Collkge, Cambridge, March 19, 1851. 



Dear Balfour, — I have just received the MS. Catalogue from 

 London, and will take in hand the revisal of it immediately. I am 

 truly sorry that the Committee stands out so firmly for the peculiar 

 arrangement adopted, but, as it is no business of mine, and I perhaps 

 have already written more than I ought on the subject, I will say 

 no more about the matter than that I am not at all converted 

 from the opinions that I have formerly given upon the matter. I 

 have neither any wish to print a catalogue myself (for it would 

 probably be at a pecuniary loss), nor to " much annoy " the Botanical 

 Society, and, as I suspect from his letter, also Professor Balfour. 

 It is only in case the Edinburgh " Catalogue " should prove, as I 

 much fear it will do, very inconvenient to use, that I shall be 

 tempted to issue one myself. I have a strong opinion that the 

 pocket size would be a great convenience, and should not wonder 

 if the London publisher (not Van Voorst) who spoke to me upon 

 the subject, did it himself after my " Manual " is issued, and if I 

 decline it. He can, of course, take the list of species from any 

 book that he pleases. I much incline to the opinion that a catalogue 

 should follow some book in general use, such as Arnott's or mine, 

 and not endeavour after originality. It might (but for the space 

 occupied) combine the two. Berkeley's address is King's ClifFe, 

 Wansford. Many thanks for the notice of the station for Urio- 

 phwum alpinum, and the confirmation of the correctness of the 

 former determination of its name. I shall insert the station. 

 Stratton tells me that he has sent you a set of seedlings of EiiU 

 from my seeds. I hope that they reached you safely. — Yours very 

 truly, Charles C. Babington. 



To the same. 

 St. John's College, Cambridge, Dec. 10, 1851. 



Dear Balfour, — Recently H. C. Watson sent to me the nut of 

 an Eleocharis which he thought, and has proved to be, different from 

 any species to be found described. He has only a very imperfect 

 bit of it, which he has almost destroyed in this examination of it. 

 It was given to him by you, and bears the name of Eleocliaris multi- 

 caulis from Cantire. Now what I want you to do is to look into 



