WCP6351

[1]¹

Bay View,

Combemartin [sic] S. O.

North Devon.

8th Dec[ember]. 1906

My dear Miss Mitten²

At last I have the reprints of the paper that owed so much to M^r. Mitten’s³ kindness. I send a copy to you, as I cannot to him as when I wrote it I hoped to do. [2] It is a sadly unworthy tribute to his past memory. Is no more adequate Life than the sketch in the Journ[al.] [of] Bot[any].⁴ to be written? It was much desired that such should have been written by someone who knew more of his Hepaticological⁵ work. How greatly I regret to know that his Collections have gone to the U[nited]. S[tates]. [of] A[merica]. & sold for so small a sum⁶. Even [3] the little local Collection of Devon Mosses & hepatics made by the late Edward Parfilt⁷ [sic] was sold for as much as £130 — to a private individual.

You will not forget, will you, your kind promise to me of a copy of his photograph? I should so greatly value that. May I add one word of sympathy with you at the near approach [4] of Christmas [?]. I know how trying a season the first return of that is after the loss of a loved one. May "the light that shone when Hope was born" illumine the day for you all.

I am | Yours sincerely | C. E. Larter⁸ [signature]

A young man ^{of our village} who was for a short time last Spring a teacher in the Elementary Schools at Hurstpierpoint⁹ told me how beloved Mr. Mitten was by all, & how ready always to help the teachers.