412 CORRESPONDENCE OP RAY. 



Mr. RAY to Mr. SAMUEL SMITH. 



B. K, March 8, 1703. 



SIR, Since my last to you I have been brought even 

 to death's door. Near a fortnight since there befel me a 

 very strange accident ; one of my small sores began to 

 run with that extraordinary rage as no man could believe 

 or imagine that had not seen it, and so continued night 

 and day for five days together, till it had reduced me to 

 that weakness that I was unable so much as to rise up from 

 my chair, or move when I was up. All this while, 

 besides my usual pains proceeding from sores, a fever 

 attended me, which at last determined, at least much 

 abated, in a plentiful sweat, so that you need not wonder 

 I should be able to do so little in the Appendix. 



I received the parcel you sent last week, and do thereby 

 perceive that it will not be long ere the work be finished 

 at the press ; but then it will require some time to finish 

 and transcribe the Index. Give my thanks and service 

 to Mr. Petiver for his pains. I have sent you inclosed a 

 paper of observations of the virtues and effects of some 

 plants less known, which I pray see that it be inserted at 

 the end of the first parcel of the Appendix I sent you. 



I am at present in but evil case ; and so omitting all 

 matters of mere civility, shall only add that I am, 

 Sir, 



Yours to serve you, 



JOHN RAY. 



JTor Mr. Samuel Smith, Bookseller, 

 at the Princes Arms, St. Paul's Church- 

 yard, London. 



Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. 



Black Notley, March 17, 1703. 



SIR, You may justly wonder I should detain your 

 box of rare plants so long, and suspect that I never intend 

 to return them back any more ; and therefore I think 



