1864] BOTANICAL CORRESPONDENCE. 359 



To Charles Darwin, Esq. 



Cambridge, May 18, 1864. 

 Dear Darwin, — It was only within the last few days that I heard 

 that your health had been so bad recently, and it is now a great 

 pleasure to learn you are materially better. I do not think that 

 Lythrum hyssapifoUum is come into flower, but will see the next time 

 that I go to the Botanic Garden. We had it there last year, and I 

 hope that it has sprung from self-sown seeds again ; but do not know 

 as yet. If we have it, I will take care that flowers are sent as you 

 wish. I do not know where to get a wild specimen with the least 

 certainty; but it is the same as wild in the Gardens. I am just 

 about finishing my short course of lectures. The class has been a 

 good one, from thirty-five to forty-five in attendance, and attentive. 

 Yours very truly, Charles C. Babington. 



To the same. 



Cambridge, June 6, 1864. 



Dear Darwin, — I have no means of getting the Stellaria graminea, 

 which is rare in this county. The plants producing different kinds 

 of flowers grew at Sandgate, Kent. The words in my "Manual" 

 (p. 54) are " Shorter or longer petals accompany an imperfection of 

 the stamens or germen " ; but the question has to be re-examined. 

 Does not S. graminea grow in your neighbourhood ? — Yours very 

 truly, Charles C. Babington. 



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



Cambkidge, June 13, 1864. 

 Dear Balfour, — I have carefully examined your Silene, stated to 

 have been raised from seeds of S. maritima. 1 do not think that 

 there is any aS^. inflata amongst the specimens that you have sent. 

 I have placed the large ones side by side with true aS^. inflata gathered 

 here, and the plants differ considerably. Nevertheless, these are 

 the largest plants of »S^. maritima that I ever remember to have seen. 

 I have gathered it with strong stems and a similar loose panicle 

 occasionally, when growing on richer soil than usual. I never saw 

 it, neither do these specimens, possess the true inflorescence of 

 S. inflata. The calyx also and petals and bracts are those of 

 S. maritima rather than of S. inflata. Your specimens lead me 

 therefore to a conclusion just the opposite of yours. I think they 

 rather tend to confirm the distinctness of the plants than to combine 

 them. — Yours very truly, Charles C. Babington. 



To the same. 



Cambridge, July 16, 1864. 



Dear Balfour, — Dr. Paget tells me that you have some hopes of 

 coming here for the Medical Meeting next month. I trust that 

 you will do so if possible. There is likely to be a very good 



