142 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 



which M. Dodart printed some years ago the scheme 

 and model ; for I saw two or three small folios of this 

 history in several bibliotheces at Rome, which I never 

 met withal in the shops at Paris, because I suppose it 

 will not be sold till ah 1 the volumes are perfected. I have 

 several things to object against this mighty French work, 

 designed rather for the glory of the monarch than the 

 use of the subject. If you had their encouragement, I 

 am sure your work would be far more satisfactory and 

 advantageous than theirs, which, in my poor opinion, 

 will be like a great palace full of fine ornaments, but 

 wanting order, necessary conveniences, and regular 

 structure. 



I had several conferences with S. Malpighi at Bononia, 

 who expressed a great respect for you, and is not a little 

 proud of the character you gave him in your ' Method. 

 Plantar, nov./ which book I had presented him withal a 

 day before. He honoured me with two visits at my inn, 

 where once he took occasion to be a little angry with Dr. 

 Lister (whose history he had by him), for his opinion of 

 the origin of stones and shells resembling animal bodies. 

 He is very positive that he can demonstrate against the 

 doctor, having been very industrious upon that subject 

 when he passed the Italian mountains, and when he was 

 in Sicily and Malta. Besides, he showed me several 

 letters sent lately from Bishop Steno (who, after a pilgrim- 

 age to Loretto, got that preferment of the Great Duke), 

 now at Florence, concerning that hypothesis, all which 

 put him into some passion against our sagacious country- 

 man, though he professed himself a great admirer of 

 Dr. Lister. I took occasion, from this, to interpret some 

 passages and discourses in your travels relating to this 

 point, which pleased Malpighi to that degree, that he 

 smiled to see you inclined to his opinion. Just as I left 

 Bononia, I had a lamentable spectacle of Malpighi' s house 

 all in flames, occasioned by the negligence of his old 

 wife. All his pictures, furniture, books, and manuscripts 

 were burnt. I saw him in the very heat of the calamity, 



