MR. EDWARD HOBSON. 301 
guished members of the same society, but, in the 
opinion of Horsefield, ‘‘ Hobson attached the 
highest value to the acquirements of John Dew- 
hurst, of Manchester, who, for more than five- 
and-twenty years, presided over their meetings.” 
Being far advanced in life, Dewhurst at length 
resigned his situation in favour of Hobson, whose 
more active habits better enabled him to keep 
pace with the advancing knowledge of the. time. 
By his uncommon perseverance and acuteness, 
Hobson was particularly fitted for the study of 
cryptogamic botany, and he appears to have de- 
voted himself very early to this difficult part of | 
the science. 
Horsefield relates many instances of his daring 
exertions in climbing trees and rocks in pursuit 
of rare mosses and lichens, and describes some 
laughable disasters which occurred to him in his 
endeavours to detach curious specimens from 
their resting places. His favourite resorts were 
Cottrel clough, and Baguley moor near Altrin- 
cham, and Ashworth wood near Rochdale, whose 
rocks and secluded dells, Horsefield remarks, 
“afforded many beautiful and rare plants.” But he 
varied his excursions in almost every direction 
round Manchester, and Horsefield had no doubt 
