505 



duced among them, being- well aware that the neighbouring moun- 

 tains and valleys, and the shores of the ocean, abounded in the 

 indigenous plants of our island. They commenced in the spring of 

 1844; and such was the earnestness with which they took up the 

 pursuit, that in the summer and autumn of 1845 their dried speci- 

 mens of flowering plants were so much admired, that many friends ex- 

 pressed a desire to purchase them. Since that time many sets have 

 been sent out, and the proceeds expended in purchasing botanical 

 books and periodicals, in printing catalogues, and excursions to the 

 shores of the North Sea and the vale of the Tees. 



George Dixon. 



Ayton School, February, 1849. 



[For further particulars see advertisement on wrapper of April 

 ' Phytologist.' — E. Newman.] 



The Case of the Robertsonian Saxifrages, between Mr. Andrews and 

 Mr. Babington. By Hewett C. Watson, Esq. 



The matter at issue between Mr. Babington and Mr. Andrews, 

 although several times alluded to in the 'Phytologist,' has never been 

 clearly or connectedly stated ; and it is rendered quite obvious by the 

 strangely irrelevant paper of Mr. Backhouse, in the last No., that the 

 case is totally misunderstood by that gentleman at least. The strictly 

 scientific point of the case may now be considered as settled ; Mr. 

 Babington having himself at length admitted the correction of his too 

 hasty statements, as made by Mr. Andrews. But the former bota- 

 nist's attempt to defend his own proceedings in the matter, has such an 

 important bearing on what may be aptly called the ethics of science, 

 that I feel strongly induced to offer a more explanatory version of the 

 case than has hitherto appeared in one connected statement. In at- 

 tempting to epitomize the circumstances, I may fail to give them witli 

 that literal exactness and fulness which would be secured by quota- 

 tions and documentary evidences, but I trust that the following will 

 be found a substantially correct representation of the matter. 



Some years ago, ?*Jr. Babington published a paper in the 'Annals 



of Natural History,' in order to show or state that the Irish plants of 



Saxifraga umbrosa differ in a peculiar manner from the Pyrenean 



examples of the same species. That first paper was afterwards (1844) 



Vol. tit. 3 u 



