54 



NOTE. 



J. J. Bennett, Esq., Sec. Lin. S. r.R.s.; Edward Forbes, f.r.s., p.l.s., Professor 

 of Botany, King's College ; D. T. Ansted, m.a., p.h.s.. Professor of Geology, 

 King's College; Edwin Lankester, m.d., p.r.s., p.l.s.; Richard Taylor, Esq., 

 Sec.L.S.; James E. Winterbottom, M.A., f.l.s., &c„; B. H. SoUy, m.a., p.h.s., 

 F.L.s. ; A. White, Esq., p.l.s., &c. ; Joshua MOne, Esq., r.L.s. ; and J. Van 

 Voorst, Esq. r.z.s.; B. Kippist, Esq., Lib. L. S.; C. Harrison, Esq., f.l.s. 



" At Witham, the party were joined by J. H. Pattisson, Esq., who, with 

 that hospitality and love of science which distinguish him, and being the 

 proprietor of the house in which Bay spent his last days, invited these gen- 

 tlemen to take luncheon beneath its roof — an invitation which was accepted 

 with no little interest by the pilgrim party. They were also joined by 

 Thomas Luard, Esq., J. W. Tomkin, Esq., and by three gentlemen from 

 Saffron Walden — Thomas Spurgin, Esq., and Joseph and Joshua Clark, 

 Esqrs,, the latter of whom, we observe, in conjunction with Mr. G. S. Gibson, 

 has published in the pages of the ' Phytologist' an account of a pleasing bo- 

 tanical trip to the same spot. Mrs. Pattisson and the Misses Luard were 

 also present ; and we have no doubt, had the visit admitted of more publicity, 

 many a group of Essex men, and Essex maidens too, would have filled the 

 rural highways and byways to Black Notley, to do homage at once to the 

 memory of the man who reflects such lustre on their county, and to the 

 living fame of those who thus gathered round his tomb. Proceeding in 

 carriages to Black Notley, which is about six miles distant from Witham, 

 the parties reached the village church about twelve o'clock. This edifice is 

 an old plain tiled bmlditig, with rather a picturesque wooden spire, and 

 stands in a delightfully rural situation. On the south side of the church 

 rest the mortal remains of one of the greatest of Britith naturaHsts. The 

 tomb is of a pyramidal form, from ten to twelve feet high, and is inscribed 

 with an elegant Latin epitaph, from the pen of the Bev. WiUiam Coyte, m.a. 

 It is in good preservation, but the inscription is rather illegible from the 

 gnawing of time, and we understand that the Jjinnsean Society intend to 

 restore that portion of it — and thus, Kke Old Mortahty with his pious chisel, 

 preserve it for future enthusiastic inquirers after the ' lettered stone.' This 

 monument was, of course, the chief object of interest and attraction, and 

 many lingered for a considerable time round the memorial of the distinguished 

 dead, several copying the inscription, and Professor Eorbes took a clever 

 sketch of the scene. Many of the party visited the interior of the chui'ch 

 in which Bay had been baptised — rambled about the village — or culled bo- 

 tanical specimens as an appropriate memento of their visit. The Bishop of 

 Norwich appeared to take especial interest in the scene, making many in- 

 quiries as to the birth-place of the great naturalist. — His lordship was 

 obliged to leave early, and after visiting Bay's residence, and partaking of 

 Mr. Pattisson' s hospitality, he proceeded to Witham to take the train to 

 London. 



