MEMOIR OP RAY. 35 



neglect of no branch of useful knowledge, an ex- 

 tensive acquaintance with the proverbial expressions 

 used in different parts of the country, and likewise 

 of the local words and idioms that prevailed in dif- 

 ferent provinces. Under the impression that such 

 a work might be of use to certain classes of the 

 community, he arranged the proverbs in methodical 

 order, and published them at Cambridge in 1672. 

 Even in this unambitious kind of literary labour, he 

 showed a good deal of philological learning and 

 critical sagacity; and this production, which, he 

 says, he esteems a toy and a trifle, not worth the 

 owning, has made his name known to many of his 

 countrymen, unacquainted with his claims to higher 

 literary distinction. His Collection of Unusual or 

 local English Words was published nearly at the 

 same time, and was accompanied with a catalogue 

 of birds and fishes, and an account of the mode of 

 smelting and refining metals as practised in Eng- 

 land. In a subsequent edition these accessory arti- 

 cles were omitted, as they had been published sepa- 

 rately in a more perfect form. 



We learn from a letter to Dr Lister, that about 

 this time he was solicited to accompany three young 

 noblemen to the Continent in the capacity of tutor. 

 This offer he was at first inclined to accept, espe- 

 cially as it offered him the opportunity of examin- 

 ing the alpine plants of Switzerland with more care 

 than he had been able to do on his former visit; but 

 he was obliged to decline it on account of the de- 



