56 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 



ging your table of spiders, which I earnestly desire you 

 would send us to Middleton as soon as possibly you can; 

 though not so perfect as you intend it, yet as it is ; for 

 this work hath stuck long upon our hands, and we do 

 now resolve to despatch and get quit of it. My general 

 Catalogue I have lately heard nothing of; I am afraid 

 they have not yet begun it. Some weeks since the book- 

 seller wrote to me to know whether I would be willing 

 to respite the printing of it for a fortnight, till he might 

 get a new letter cast for it. I returned him an answer 

 that I was willing, if he thought it for his own interest, 

 because I thought it would be for the advantage of the 

 book. My Collection of English Proverbs I have also 

 despatched away to Mr. Morden, who desires the printing 

 of it. Being ere long to take a journey into Essex, I 

 accompanied Mr. Willughby hither, partly to take a view 

 of these parts at this season of the year, partly out of 

 some hopes (though I confess very little) of finding you 

 here. I have here observed growing about Nottingham- 

 castle walls the Lychnis \Silene nutans, Linn.], called by 

 Gesner Polemonium pctraum, which I remember to have 

 sometimes mentioned to you, brought us first from thence 

 by Willisell. And, on the sandy grounds, a sort of small 

 Vetch, now in flower, which I have not before observed, 

 though it is likely it may elsewhere be found. Also Au- 

 ricula murispulchrojlore, J. B. [Cerastium arvense, Linn.], 

 and Nasturtium petraeum \Teesdalia nudicaulis, R. Br.], 

 by some called Bursa pastor is minor, are frequent in the 

 sandy grounds hereabout, now in flower ; else, I have 

 discovered nothing to me absolutely new, though it is a 

 little too early in the year for simpling, especially the 

 spring being very backward. 



Wollarton, April 28, 1670. 



