CORRESPONDENCE OP RAY. 451 



species twice. This is all necessary to acquaint you with 

 which occurs to niy thoughts at present. So I bid you 

 heartily farewell, and rest, 



Sir, 

 Yours to serve you, 



JOHN RAY. 



Black Notley, August 9, 1704. 



Mr. RAY to [Mr. PETIVEB ?]. 



SIR, 1 should not have troubled you with this letter 

 had it not been to beg your pardon for not being so 

 good as my word in sending back your books. Really, at 

 the time I should have sent them to the carrier's I quite 

 forgot it, my memory being much decayed by age and 

 the sharp and long-continued pains I labour under. 

 Next week I hope I shall remember better. 



I know not whether I told you that I have quite 

 finished the descriptions of our English diurnal papilios ; 

 there remains nothing now but procuring figures for 

 them. I intend (as I told you) to publish a proposition 

 for contributions for graving of plates. The rude draught 

 I sent to Dr. Sloane is lame, not mentioning in what 

 manner the contributors shall be reimbursed, which I 

 intend to add to this purpose. 



If the sum advanced upon such a contribution proves 

 insufficient to defray the charge of plates for the whole 

 work, then upon delivery of so many printed sheets at 

 \d. per sheet, and so many plates wrought off at 3d. per 

 plate to each particular contributor as shall reimburse 

 him, I shall pray a further supply of 5*. a person for the 

 finishing of the work. 



I hope you will not forget to send me your exotic 

 diurnal papilios to describe. They shall be carefully 

 remitted, and I hope without any considerable harm. 



