CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 437 



Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. 



Black Notley, November 24, 1703. 



SIR, The box of plants, which you did me the favour 

 to send me last week, came safe, for which I return you 

 thanks. I have cursorily overlooked them, and do find 

 that the specimens from Badminton are very fair ones, 

 and curiously dried and preserved. The Chinese and 

 Indian ones want much of that perfection and elegancy 

 the others have. 



As Insure and freedom from pain will permit, I intend 

 to survey all more diligently, and give you such a poor 

 account as I can of them. I have not been conversant 

 enough among Indian and American plants to be able to 

 judge aright of them. Dried specimens cannot represent 

 all the principal parts, flower, seed-vessel or fruit, and 

 seed ; and I have seen none of late discovery growing in 

 gardens, not having ability to take journeys to visit 

 them. 



I long till this Supplement be off hand. I am sensible 

 that I am no longer able to do anything laudable in 

 botanies, memory and parts failing me, being much 

 weakened by age and diseases ; but enough of complaints. 

 I take leave, and rest, 



Sir, 



Your very humble and much obliged 



servant and orator, 



JOHN RAY. 



To his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, 



at his house at the corner of Southampton street, 

 towards Bloomsbury square, London. 



