Journal of Proceedings.
ix
and in process of time rendered useful as a a parochial church, many
additions being made to the fabric. In his lecture Captain Budworth
alluded to a curious custom as to the appointment of the rector. The
Bishop of London holds the living in trust to present to it the senior
curate of St. Botolph, Aldgate, for the time being, provided he is a
single man, although of course he may marry after the presentation.
The Rev. F. Rose, late curate of St. Botolph, had just been appointed,
but had not then taken up his residence. In illustration of Captain
Budworth's remarks, Mr. Unwin exhibited several views and sections,
showing the condition of the church at various periods of its history.
A cordial vote of thanks was given to Captain Budworth for his
interesting address, and the party pressed forward over the fields,
which were fortunately very dry, towards High Laver, Mr. Rodwell
kindly placing his carriage at the disposal of some of the ladies.
The somewhat backward season precluded much work in the botani-
cal way ; the hedgerows were very bare of herbage, but in places the
fragrant Ground-ivy (Nepeta glechoma), the "rathe Primrose," and the
sweet and modest Violets (V. oderata et canina) were commonly seen and
gladly welcomed as a sign that the merry days of spring were indeed
come. Many specimens of a white "variety" of Viola oderata were
noticed. The pretty and local Moschatel (Adoxa moschatellina) was
common on many damp hedgerows and under the shade of trees ; fine
specimens of the Sparge Laurel (Daphne) were seen in a small wood
near Moretown ; young plants of Hottonia palustris ("Water-violet")
occurred in a pond near Greensted, and Potentilla fragariastrum and
Mercurialis perennis were every where in bloom. Mr. E. A. Fitch, F.L.S.,
pointed out the somewhat uncommon galls of the little Gall-gnat
(Cecidomyia Taxi) on the yew-trees in Greensted Churchyard.
The only Lepidopteron observed was the little "March-dagger Moth"
(Diurnea fagella), which occurred on trunks of trees in Captain
Budworth's park.
Mr. Saward noticed a curious case of almost complete etiolation in
the leaves of a rose bush (Rosa sp. ?).
At High Laver the Club was warmly welcomed by the Rector, the
Rev. M. Rodwell, M.A., who explained the various features of interest
connected with the church of All Saints, and pointed out some fragments
of very old stained glass which had been recovered. The churchyard
is celebrated as containing the tomb of John Locke, who died at the
seat of Otes in 1704, the quaint Latin epitaph having been written by
the philosopher himself. Mr. Rodwell gave some very interesting
anecdotes of Locke, and recited two renderings of the epitaph—one, a
metrical paraphrase by a friend, and the following prose version from
his own pen:—"Stay, passer-by,—Near this place lies John Locke. To
your question,—What sort of man was he ?—He answers that he was
of middle rank and fortune, and was contented therewith : of learned