CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 335 



yesterday. The weather sets in very sharp sooner than 

 is usual, so that I cannot bear long absence from the 

 fireside, and so cannot proceed so fast as otherwise I might. 

 I am bold to trouble you with the inclosed to Dr. 

 Sherard, because I know not his address. It is to tell 

 him that I do thankfully embrace his kind offer made me 

 to accept. But now that he hath promised to ease me 

 of a great part of the labour by digesting his plants into 

 the method of my history, and communicating his own 

 notes and observations concerning them, I could not be 

 such an enemy to the perfection of my work as to refuse 

 so advantageous an offer, which will give it its utmost 

 compleiftent, and render it as full as it is hitherto capable 

 of being made, wanting but very few species that have 

 hitherto been discovered in or brought into Europe out 

 of the other parts of the world. 



I am, sir, 

 Your obliged friend and humble servant, 



JOHN RAY. 



For his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at 

 his house at the corner of Southampton street, 

 towards Bloomsbury square, London. 



Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. 



Black Notley, Jan. 17, 98. 



SIR, Last week I sent to Mr. Petiver a small parcel, 

 and therein inclosed a sheet of excerpta, out of Signior 

 Boccone's second book, which I desired him to send to 

 you, which I hope he hath done. I am sensible that the 

 language and writing is rude and slovenly, and therefore 

 beg your excuse for my slothfulness in drawing up and 

 suffering such a paper to go out of my hands, and con- 

 fidence in exposing it to your view. But I suppose you 

 will suppress it, and let it go no further. 



I remitted to Mr. Petiver Father KameUi's papers of 

 figures and descriptions, some of which, I think, deserve 



