CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 287 



yet none of them, except in the Greek words, consider- 

 able. Your instructions in letting nobody have a sight 

 of what you sent shall be observed. I cannot but admire 

 your patience in turning over so many voyages and 

 relations of travellers, besides herbarists and other 

 authors, and making collections out of them, and that 

 to so good purpose, to correct mistakes, to clear up diffi- 

 culties and obscurities, and to contract the number of 

 species. Your method is good enough, for I suppose 

 you intend not to be very critical and exact in that. In 

 your next be pleased to tell me how far the press hath 

 proceeded in this previous work, and by what time you 

 think i^jvill be wrought off and published. I suppose 

 the succeeding summer will not suffice to perfect my 

 Supplement, which yet I shall carry on as fast as my 

 necessary affairs and occasions will permit. So I take 

 leave, and rest, 



Sir, 



Your much obliged and affectionate friend and servant, 



JOHN RAY. 

 For Dr. Hans Sloane, 



at his house, at the corner of Southampton street, 



towards Bloomsbury square, London. 



Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. 



Black Notley, Feb. 21, 95. 



g IRj I deferred not to read over the papers you last 

 sent me, and was much pleased and satisfied therewith ; 

 and would I act the critic, could find very little, if any- 

 thing, to carp at or reprehend therein. You have, in 

 my opinion, done botanists great service, by illustrating 

 and clearing up many obscurities in authors, and contract- 

 ing and reducing to one many plants distracted into 

 many species by the unskilfulness of some, and misap- 

 prehension of others, even the best writers, who, having 



