53 
“You asked me to give you my impression of Mr. Blomefield’s 
papers, many of which I heard. 
This was, above all, the extreme thoroughness of the work. 
_ Nothing was left vague, but every point searched out and thought out 
so far as possible. 
He seemed to have it at his fingers’ ends. No line was drawn with 
an uncertain hand. 
He had not read the subject up for the purpose of the lecture, but 
he gave the lecture because he was fully read up on the subject, and 
had digested and assimilated what he had read. 
He never spoke to show his learning, but always with a view to the 
instruction of others. 
He was never content with a superficial examination of anything, 
~ but must always learn all that he could about it, hence you could not 
talk about the commonest matters with him without learning something. 
I think he was fully aware of the superiority of his powers and 
information to that of most of those he met. This was inevitable. 
Up to the last his papers showed no falling off, but after reading a 
paper he had not latterly the power to answer questions upon it. He 
had the necessary information, but he required time and quiet to 
enable him to recall what he knew. The feeling that the information 
was there, but that he could not recall it when he wanted it, was 
obviously a painful one to him. 
Mr. Blomefield’s range of knowledge was very great, but I think you 
over-estimate his power as a Botanist. I am sure he would have 
thought so. I think he once said to me this is not my subject. He 
had a great knowledge of English Plants and of their classification in 
the time of Professor Henslow, but he would not admit the division 
into so many species as now, even according to the most moderate of 
modern Botanists. The names he has given to many of the plants in 
his beautiful Herbarium would not ow be considered right. 
I think he had not given much study tc the anatomy and physiology 
of plants, but to the classification of English Jlowering plants, alone.” 
I have known only one other man to compare with him in 
accuracy of thought and expression ; indeed he was to me painfully 
accurate. But notwithstanding this, an instance of inaccuracy 
rather surprises me, On looking over the numerous letters I 
