CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 379 



D. Petiver a te efflagitat, ut ramulos stirpium descrip- 

 tarum et depictarum in schedis ad nos transmissis, ex- 

 siccatos transmitters digneris, ita enim certius judicium 

 de eis fieri posse, conferendo cum plantis quas ab Indiis 

 exsiccatas amid plurimas transmiserunt, an scil. novae et 

 nondum a se visae fuerint. Exsiccari autem posse ex- 

 tensas cum noviter decerptae snnt inter chartas bibulas seu 

 emporeticas reponendo, et subinde antequam putrescant 

 rnutando, donee exaruerint. 



Valeas, celeberrime vir, Historiae Botanicae promo- 

 vendae nate, immortali laude dignissime, et opus in quod 

 tantum temporis studii et laboris impendisti, totam 

 mmirufifr' Philippinarum insularum historiam naturalem, 

 feliciter absolvas, ita precatur. 



Mr. J. MORTON, Rector of Oxendon, in Northamptonshire, to Mr. RAY. 



Amongst the many requests which are made to you 

 by the learned world, permit me to mention one, that is, 

 that you would enrich the public with the history of 

 the Scripture plants ; a work which, although attempted 

 by some, is certainly one of the desiderata still ; and all 

 do agree you the fittest person in the world for it. 



November 23, 1700. 



Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. 



Black Notley, December 1, 1700. 



SIR, I find that you are unwearied in loading me 

 with kindnesses. I lately received from one of the best 

 of my friends, Dr. Hotton, that after two letters to 

 Mess. Smith and Walford, to inquire whether I were 



