368 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 



in the like case in a neighbour or two of mine. I have as 

 yet made trial but in one leg, which is already much better 

 by it. I should be ungrateful should I not acknowledge 

 my great obligation to you for your constant and un- 

 wearied kindness expressed in many real effects of bene- 

 ficence to me. My wife gives you her most humble 

 service. I humbly recommend you to the Divine pro- 

 tection and blessing, resting, 



Sir, 

 Yours in all offices of love and service, 



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, Nov. 22, 99. 



SIR, It is now a long time since 1 received a letter 

 from you. I was in hopes you would have sent me advice 

 of the receipt of your Maryland plants, for the shuffling 

 and transposing whereof I am to beg your excuse. I 

 hoped also you would have given me the sight and use of 

 the plants received from the Straits of Magellan, and some 

 account of your answer to Tentzelius. I hope you have 

 not taken offence at any action or miscarriage of mine 

 towards you. I am sure I should be very loth to give 

 any to such a friend. 



I understand that Mr. Smith hath played the fool, and 

 spoke to you again for the books I have already perused 

 and collected out of. I wrote to him to send me those 

 books (thinking he had them in his shop) for my own 

 private use, to lay by me, to have recourse to upon occa- 

 sion. He fancied that I sent for them in order to the 

 filling up my Supplement. Hist. ; and so, without my 

 order, spoke to you for them. 



