346 * . CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 



I cannot take leave without telling you that I dare not 

 own anything of worth in myself meriting respect from 

 any man, -but the less I deserve it, the more I am obliged 

 to them that : give it, but especially you, sir, who must 

 needs see'through me, and discern how mean my skill is 

 in 'anything, and must therefore therein be partial to, 



Sir, 



Your most affectionate 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. BAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. 



Black Notley, November 2, 98. 



SIR, I thank you for your last kind letter, wherein 

 you so frankly offer me the sight and perusal of Dr. 

 Herman's 'Paradisus Batavus,' and Signor Boccone's 

 late pieces, which I do gratefully accept, and desire you 

 would do me the favour to send me them so soon as 

 conveniently you can. I shall be careful to return them 

 again so soon as I have done with them, and that shall 

 not be long. 



Since my last to you, I have been sadly afflicted with 

 a diarrhoea, which I hope is for the present stopped. I 

 have, according to your direction, made use of diascor- 

 dium, which hath several times given me relief; but my 

 small stock being spent, sending to our shops they sent 

 me pitiful slop, which had neither the colour, consistency, 

 taste, nor, I believe, virtues of diascordium ; so I made 

 use of conserve of roses inwardly, and outwardly applied, 

 as hot as I could endure them, little cakes made of pow- 

 dered chalk with the white of an egg, to my belly, circa 

 umbilici repionem, drinking burnt claret, which I think 



