300 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 



ceited and opinionated, and such men are incapable of 

 advice, especially reprehension, 



I told you in my last what disadvantages I labour 

 under in composing this Supplement, and shall add no 

 more about it. I must do it as well as I can with the 

 helps that I have. And by reason of my age and in- 

 firmities I am willing to make all the haste I can. As 

 for the method of capillaries, though that I proposed in 

 my letter to Rivinus seems to me the best, yet I have not 

 skill enough to make use of it, but must be forced to 

 employ my old one. Only now I shall take no notice 

 whether ferns are cauliferous or not cauliferous, whether 

 their whole superficies consists of mere leaves or no, but 

 shall divide them according to the leaf, as before, into 

 those which have a simple and which have a divided leaf, 

 and these last into such as have a leaf divided singly, 

 doubly, or trebly, as before. 



Your advice in reference to my health I greatly approve, 

 but all the symptoms of my cold are now gone, and I 

 am as I used to be ; only the ulcuscula upon my legs 

 continue still, and are more painful and troublesome than 

 they used to be in summer time, I suppose by reason of 

 the coldness and moisture of the weather. Milk and 

 milkmeats agree well with me, and I intend to make use 

 of them. I return you thanks for your generous offer of 

 sarsa and china, &c., and must not forget my former 

 obligation to you for what of that nature you sent me the 

 first year these pernios broke out. But 1 am not under 

 any necessity at present to make use of your kindness, 

 and if I were, I could not with modesty accept it. 



My wife and children are at present (I thank God) in 

 health, and tender their humble services to you. With 

 humble prayers for your health and well-being, I con- 

 clude, and rest, 



Sir, 



Your much obliged friend and humble servant, 



JOHN RAY. 



For Dr Hans Sloane, 



at his house at the corner of Southampton street, 

 towards Bloomsbury square, London. 



