a 
* as the contrary. While thus diligently pursuing his graver dut 
224 Notice of British Naturalists. 
naturalist we know nothing. Interesting as an account of this 
period in general is, as giving some evidence of future activity 
and eminence, it is too often lost for want of a record; and this 
especially in the station in which young Ray’s early life was 
past. He was when a boy sent to a classical school at Braintree, 
and at the age of sixteen he entered, as a commoner, at Kathe- 
rine Hall, Cambridge. Not being, however, satisfied with this 
college, he was soon transferred to Trinity, where, in the usual 
course, he took his degree. His abilities were certainly good ; 
and he was remarkable at this early period for his proficiency in 
the knowledge of the learned languages. He was likewise very 
industrious ; and being aware of the value of time, he carefully 
gathered up the fragments of it; and was able to accomplish not 
a little, besides the usual routine of study. And here he soon 
manifested his taste for natural history. Botany first attracted 
his attention. Like Lord Bacon, he was extremely fond of flow- 
ers; and he collected and examined what he met with during 
his walks for recreation. As this was his first love among the 
works of God, so was it always his strongest passion, and pre- 
dominant over that for all other departments of nature. His abil- 
ities soon attracted attention in the university. In succession he 
became a Fellow of Trinity College; Greek and Mathematical 
Lecturer, and Reader in Humanity, besides holding several other 
offices. Not only was he an eminent tutor, but likewise a dis- 
tinguished preacher. Theology was a favorite study of his; a 
he brought the books of revelation and of nature respectively © 
bear the one upon the other. He was not however ordained at 
this time; for, during the disorders of the Commonwealth, the 
ministerial office was as generally held by persons not in 0 oe 
ies, 
he found time, in 1660, to publish his first work on natural his- 
tory—a Catalogue of Cambridge Plants, in the arrangement of 
which he was much assisted by a friend of the name of Rid. It 
is neither the power of intellect, nor ¢he brilliancy of genius, 
which is the peculiar honor of man; but the soundness of a 
judgment, the strength of his moral feelings, aud the warmath © 
his affections. Without these latter the former are, as they men 
cern himself, mere baubles; trusts committed to him, it is true, 
but which he wants the power properly to use. And we may 
here remark upon what appears to have been a disting 
