414 CHARLES CARDALE BABINGTON. [1887 



he could not long retain some in his garden at York. You have 

 got a most interesting set. I am glad to learn that Lindeberg 

 thinks you have found several new forms, and hope that cultivation 

 will prove them to be so. Lindeberg is far too much of an evolu- 

 tionist for me. I have but little belief in evolution or hybridization, 

 but time will shew. Students, especially young ones, are in far too 

 great haste to accept either theory as fact. Beautiful theories they 

 are, but not proved facts yet, even if they ever are to become such, 

 as I much doubt. But I belong to the old school, and my opinion 

 will probably not go for much with the new one. But enough of 

 this. I congratulate you on the progress you are making with your 

 valuable work. I think that you may find monthly parts rather 

 more frequent than will be quite convenient to you ; but when the 

 matter is ready, the sooner it is issued the better for us, and I think 

 also for you. I fear that it will be a heavy loss to you pecuniarily. 

 Is it a sort of commendatory letter that you want from me, or what 

 specially 1 I have made no discovery here. It was altogether a 

 mistake. I thought that I had seen Veronica opaca, but it was not 

 so. The Hieracia are nearly, if not quite, over here. The only one 

 of any interest is H. anglicum, and that in very small quantity, I 

 have not been to the place you name by the Clunie, but will try 

 and get there if the weather will allow. It is very satisfactory that 

 you have found the Cerastium ardicum in plenty, and with mature 

 seeds. It will probably prove to be not unfrequent at the suitable 

 height and position on the higher hills. We are both very much 

 pleased to learn that Mrs. Hanbury was able to walk from the 

 Derry to the top of Ben Muich Dhui and back. It was a very 

 great undertaking. My dear wife and I were in Upper Glen Derry 

 a few days since. How beautiful it is. I know of nothing superior 

 to it, or hardly approaching it. With our united very kind regards 

 and best wishes for you both, I am, most truly yours, Charles 

 C. Babington. 



To F. J. Hanbury, Esq. 



Cambridge, Nov. 4, 1887. 



Dear Mr. Hanbury, — I am very much pleased to know that you 

 are projecting, and have made good progress with, an illustrated work 

 on our Hieracia. We are very much in want of such a book to help 

 us in the determination of the species of this difficult genus. By 

 the means of Mr. Backhouse's little book, and the possession of 

 numerous authentically named specimens, I have succeeded tolerably 

 well in determining the names of those found by myself or sent to 

 me by correspondents. But we all greatly require such a book as 

 that which you have in an advanced state of preparation. I am 

 glad to learn that Mr. Backhouse, and Dr. Lindeberg, and others 

 are giving you help ; for we shall thus obtain from your pen, and 

 the pencil of your highly skilled artist, what will become a standard 



