Memoir of Charles Cardale Bahington. 319 



Having already, since 1877, shown an interest in the 

 postmen, in the Jubilee Year he invited all ranks in the 

 Cambridge Post Office to meet Sir Arthur Blackwood, their 

 official chief, at tea, and to hear addresses from him. Meet- 

 ing on meeting was held from 6 to 10 p.m., the Professor 

 presiding throughout, and 147 members of the staff being 

 present in batches (three only were unavoidably absent.) As 

 a result of this effort arose a branch of the Postal and 

 Telegraph Christian Association. Of this branch Babington 

 was President at his death; it numbers 80 from central office 

 and smaller offices in town and neighbourhood. In the 15 

 months ending 15th August 1895, the branch collected the 

 sum of £15, allotted to (1) the China Inland Mission, (2) 

 Native Officials in India, (3) distribution of Christian litera- 

 ture among the 4000 offices of Japan. 



**It was always a pleasure to note the interest taken by 

 the Professor in all that appertained to the moral, social, or 

 spiritual welfare of the staff; 115 packets of religious 

 literature, each containing three publications, are received at 

 the head office monthly, for distribution amongst those who 

 wear H.M. uniform in the postal and telegraph departments. 

 . . . By the death of Professor Babington, the Cambridge 

 Post Office has lost a most valued friend and helper. Six 

 members of the staff were present at the funeral service in 

 St. John's College Chapel, the Postmaster, J. Lambert, Esq., 

 being absent through an official engagement which could 

 not be set aside.""^" 



When he became a fixture, he wrote to the Athenaeum 

 Club : — " I have been a member 44 years ; our roll is 

 stinted. Pray, lest I play dog in the manger, keeping out 

 some younger man, strike off my name." One who knows 

 him well, hearing this story, asked "Why then did he not 

 resign his chair?" For reasons stated to the Yice-Chancellor 

 of the day. " My successor will draw £600 a year from 

 the chest ; I draw £300. Already it is hard to furnish all 

 that the garden craves ; it will be harder then. I pay a 

 deputy, and the work is well done." Deputies must receive 

 one-third, may not receive more than two-thirds, of the 

 stipend. He split the difference, and paid one-half. The 



* Information from Mr Samuel Ellis, Assistant Superintendent, Post 

 Office, Cambridge. 



