130 
Mr. Rose thinks you should by all means offer them 
to the booksellers at once, who he thinks would give 
a very handsome sum (he guesses 5002.) ; whereas 
you must run a hazard, with the certainty of a great 
loss of time in the publication, revisal, &c., if you 
are the publisher. If you cannot sell them to your 
mind, they can but remain till some future occasion 
brings them forth.—Thirdly, there is one work 
which I am sure you have in your power to pub- 
lish yourself, and: you only, provided you could 
have possession of Ray’s plants, viz., a Flora Bri- 
tannica, the most correct that can appear in the Lin- 
nean dress ; and such English plants as are not in 
the Linnean collection must have newnames, which, 
if you cannot get Ray’s plants, must have that au- - 
thor’s synonyms as far as it appears certain they 
are his. Such a work as this I think you might 
safely publish ; but I have no idea that you will have 
it in your power to do it at present, as your 
thoughts must be employed on other matters. 
Upon the last matter on which I would venture 
to write my thoughts I own I am entirely at a loss; 
for, after all the conversation I had with Mr. Smith 
on the subject, we both, I believe, remained in the 
same uncertainty, viz., how far you can with pro- 
priety show your hortus siccus? I am afraid you 
must have difficulty in it, as your natural good- 
nature would be put to a trial to refuse any one a 
sight they are so desirous of enjoying ; and yet with 
regard to the English plants, if you mean to pub- 
lish yourself, you would not choose to be anticipated. 
I hope you do not think me invidious in saying 
