1866] BOTANICAL CORRESPONDENCE. 365 



To the Rev. T. A. Preston. 



Cambridge, Jan. 1, 1866. 

 Dear Preston, — Mr. Farrar has also written to me on the 

 subject of the botany to be taught (or rather encouraged) in 

 Harrow School. Unless they will take the trouble of teaching 

 Natural Science they may almost as well leave it alone. I have 

 written to him by this same post to say that Henfrey's "Rudi- 

 ments " and Oliver's " Lessons " are the books for them : also 

 sending a copy of my "Notes," and a schedule, and advising that 

 some master should take up the teaching by means of the latter • 

 giving out the plants and looking over and correcting and talking 

 about the filled-up schedules. I hold that much more good may be 

 done in this way than by any other that I can think of. It will 

 teach the boys to be accurate in observation and language. He 

 asked me to draw up a syllabus, but I have not done so, and do not 

 see the use of it. Your remark is just — that the boys will use the 

 text-book, and no syllabus. From what you say, I fear that their 

 start is .too fast, and unless they make some arrangement to 

 facilitate the study of Natural Science, they will not succeed. The 

 boys will soon tire of it, if they have to find their own time for it 

 except of course the few who are really smitten with a love of it. 

 I have looked at their scheme as drawn out in the letter to you, 

 and wonder at it. What can they expect ? Do they fancy that 

 anybody will take in all these subjects in succession 1 If so, they 

 will, I feel sure, be greatly disappointed. If they would try to get 

 such boys as take an interest in some one or two subjects to follow 

 them up (one rather than two) so as to attain a scientific knowledge 

 of it, they might do well ; otherwise I do not believe in success 

 resulting from their doings. But certainly there must be some 

 teaching or at least help given by the masters. One or more of them 

 must make himself acquainted with Natural Science. I am glad to 

 find that a move has taken place amongst the dry bones of Harrow 

 and Eton ; it may result in something good in due time, and I con- 

 gratulate you as the cause. — Yours truly, Charles 0. Babington. 



To the same. 



Cambridge, March 14, 1866. 



Dear Preston, — I have received the Second Report of your 

 School Society, and am much pleased with it. If you can go on 

 in this way you will succeed in causing the Natural Sciences to take 

 root in the school. It gives me much pleasure to receive these 

 reports, and hope that I may continue to be thought worthy of a 

 copy on future occasions. You fancy that I have been lecturing 

 this term, but it is not until next term that I do so. You find 

 plants very forward ; here it is not so ; hardly any wild flowers are 

 to be seen. I hope that I may have some by the middle of next 

 month. I am sorry to say that I have not heard of any intended 



