203 
ALFRED RAYNEY WALLER, M.A. 
By the death, on July 19th, 1922, of Mr. A. R. Waller the 
Club lost its first Secretary, and Cambridge its valued Secretary 
to the Syndics of the University Press. A. R. Waller was born 
at York in 1867, and when the writer was a bo}^ at Bootham 
School he often met Waller in Wm. Sessions’ book-shop, and was 
encouraged in 1887 to join the “Watson” Club, which was 
formed in December 1884, with Arthur Bennett as Referee 
P. F. Lee as Treasurer, and A. R. Waller as Hon. Secretary. 
Until 1898 these Reports were printed at the late W. Sessions’ 
establishment in York, where A. R. W. had been manager. In 
the early days he was particularly interested in Carex, doubtless 
encouraged by Mr. Bennett. It appears that in the first year 
“ 2250 specimens were contributed by twenty-five members,” and 
apparently Waller had distributed them, after Mr. A. Bennett 
had “ looked through between one and two hundred doubtful 
plants.” 
Soon Waller went to London, and became engaged in literary 
work. In 1902 his connection with Cambridge began, and until 
1911, when he became Secretary, he acted as Assistant Secretary 
at the University Press. “ Thus for twenty years his wide know- 
ledge of books . . . his unceasing energy, his shrewd judgment, 
and his great financial ability had been devoted with absolute 
unselfishness to the service of the University .” — Cambridge 
Independent Press. 
Just as he had helped younger botanists in his early days, so, 
as a life-long student of English Literature, he was ever ready to 
put his knowledge at the command of young authors and other 
students. He became an M.A. of the University in 1905, and a 
member of Peterhouse, with whose Master, Sir A. W. Ward, he 
collaborated in the great “Cambridge History of English Litera- 
ture,” which is perhaps the chief of the many editions which bear 
his name, and are a record of his English scholarship. 
It is not surprising that Mr. Waller early forsook plant- 
collecting for literature; but meeting him one day in 1911, at 
the Cambridge Union, we talked over old times, and he re-joined 
the Watson Club next year. He leaves a widow, and was buried 
at Cherryhinton. 
H. S. T. 
