CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. . 347 



stop the lash, though I may possibly mistake' non causum 

 pro causa. The sores upon my legs are at present very 

 painful and troublesome. Now that the weather is come 

 to be open, I intend to have issues cut, which I hope 

 will deliver me from this misery I labour under, else vita 

 minime vitalis esset. My wife and daughter tender their, 

 humble services by the hand of, 



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, 

 towa.rds Bloomsbury square, London. 



Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. 



Black Notley, November 36, 98. 



SIR, Last week I received the parcel of books you 

 were pleased to send me, together with a pot of diascor- 

 dium, for both which I return you thanks. As for the 

 latter, I know not how to excuse myself from the imputa- 

 tion of impudence in writing so as you might interpret 

 it a begging ; yet you should not so far have complied 

 with me as to have put yourself to the charge and trouble 

 of sending me a pot, but rather have governed yourself 

 by that proverb, " A bold beggar must have a bold nay- 

 say." By Dr. Herman's 'Paradisus Batavus' I have 

 learned several things which may be of use to me, both 

 in my ' Supplement' and ' Methodus Plantaram.' 



I doubt not but Mr. Petiver hath long since acquainted 

 you that Father Camelli, a Jesuit, in Manilla, hath sent 

 me some designs and descriptions of plants growing in 

 the Philippine Islands, together with a letter, wherein 

 he writes that he hath in like manner designed and 

 described above 300. He seems to be well skilled in 

 botanies. He is a German by nation, native of Brin, in 



