HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE HERBARIUM. 
67 
“ Coneysthorpe, Nov. 3rd, 1892. 
“.I hope you collect mosses. This is a good season for them, 
after such a rainy summer and autumn. Dr. Braithwaite who visited our old 
Park quarry a fortnight ago, was delighted to see great flakes of Brachyodus 
tvicliodes and other rarities in fruit spreading over the soft sandstone. 
‘*1 study now only tropical Hepaticae, but I am turned 75, and although my 
eyes do not fail me, I have become almost a complete fixture. 
*• Remember me very kindly to Miss Baines, whom I cannot hope to see again, 
unless she should ever come this way, and believe me to remain, 
“ Ever faithfully yours, 
“ Richard Spruce.” 
Dr. Spruce died on the 28th December, 1893, ar) d his remains 
were laid at rest, December 31st, 1893, in the quiet churchyard at 
Terrington, near Castle Howard, beside his father and mother. 
Henry Ibbotson was born at Ganthorpe, and was baptized at 
Terrington, as under :— 
“ Henry, son of John and Elizabeth Ibbotson, gardener, Gan¬ 
thorpe ; baptized May 7th, 1814, by Robert Freer, curate.” 
His youthful days were spent in company with Richard Spruce 
(who was a native of the same village) in exploring the dales and 
woods around Castle Howard. 
He was appointed Schoolmaster of Mowthorpe, near Castle 
Howard, but the sedentary occupation does not appear to have 
been congenial to his botanical tastes. He loved to be free and 
independent, and preferred to spend his time wandering amongst the 
mountains ancl dales of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland in 
search of mosses, &c., rather than perform his duties in the 
schoolroom. 
These two botanists (Ibbotson and Spruce) were constantly 
together between the years 1826-40. Up to the time of Mr. 
Spruce’s departure from England (1849), they often had excursions 
together in search of mosses, hepatics, &c. 
Henry Ibbotson was the author of several papers on botanical 
subjects in the Phytologist , Flora Yorkshire, Newman’s British Ferns , 
&>c. “ Rare plants found near Castle Howard,” Phyt. Vol. I. 
part 2, 577-9. “Mosses found near Castle Howard,” Phytologist, 
Vol. I., part 2, pp. 781-2. October 20th, 1843. 
In Article XXXVI., pages 101-4, part 1 of the Phytologist, 
there is an interesting paper entitled “ Three Days on the York¬ 
shire Moors,”by Richard Spruce. “This journey was undertaken,” 
says Mr. Spruce, “ in company with a botanical friend, Mr. Henry 
