456 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 



short I am of perfection in that. I rely chiefly on Mr. 

 Willughby's discoveries and the contributions of friends, 

 Mr. Petiver, Mr. Dandridge, Dr. Sloane, Mr. Morton, 

 Mr. Stonestreet. As for my own papers on this subject, 

 they are not worth the preserving ; and Mr. Willughby's 

 must be returned to his son, Sir Tho. Willughby, from 

 whom I had them, with promise to return them if I did 

 not make use of them. 



Black Notley, Sept. 6, 1704. 



Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. 



Black Notley, Oct. 4, 1704. 



SIR, I received yours of Sept. 30th, and am of your 

 opinion, that the booksellers will not go cordially about 

 the work. There is not that prospect of gain, which alone 

 moves the wheels with them. As for any engagement of 

 mine to give Mr. Smith the copy, I remember no such 

 thing. Let him produce any letter of mine containing 

 such promise, and it will suffice. I proposed to him 

 whether he would be concerned in the work or no ; and 

 after I told him what endeavours I would use to procure 

 subscriptions, he consented. Now of a long time I cannot 

 extort a letter from him, though I have written to him 

 about several particulars. I suppose the sale of my third 

 volume of 'Hist. Plant.' doth not answer expectation; 

 and that he thinks my demand for the copy too great, 

 though it be no more than Mr. Faitherne gave me, and he 

 himself first put me upon it. My demand is thirty 

 pounds in money, and twenty copies to present my 

 friends. 



Dr. Robinson and Mr. Petiver have business enough of 

 their own, and cannot spare time to bestow upon another 

 man's work. 



