CORRESPONDENCE OP 1 RAY. 401 



Mr. KAY to [Mr. PETIVER?]. 



SIR, I received yours of October 23d, and the box of 

 plants you sent by carrier. I have run them over, but 

 not as yet carefully perused them ; there are many rare 

 things. I thank you for the sight of them, and shall after 

 awhile carefully return them to you. I shall be very glad 

 to see your Chusan treasure. I give you thanks also for 

 your 10 Centuries, which indeed are very useful to me. 

 For your second Decade I was beholden to you before, and 

 therefore this now sent I desire your order how to dispose of. 



I have another alarm from Mr. Smith concerning the 

 Appendix, which Mr. Motte tells him, he thinks he shall 

 stay for the copy of, which will be a great prejudice to 

 them, the work having been long in hand already ; they 

 having disbursed a considerable sum for paper long since,, 

 and for the printing lately : wherefore I entreat that you 

 would speedily get ready what you are pleased to contri- 

 bute ; and if you think it convenient for me to revise it, I 

 pray send it hither. What I have to insert I intend to 

 send up by next week's carrier; the chief of which is 

 Father Camelli's manuscript, and Monsieur Tournefort's 

 Corollarium put in an alphabetical method, and your sixth 

 book of Mr. S. Brown's in the ' Philosoph. Transact.' Dr. 

 Robinson hath persuaded me to draw up and publish a 

 Method of Insects, with some general notes, which yet I 

 must defer doing till this Supplement. Hist, be off hand. 



Those very kind expressions wherewith you conclude 

 your letter, I cannot but gratefully resent, and acknow- 

 ledge myself obliged to you for, whom I look upon as one 

 of the most skillful and active promoters of natural history, 

 I will not say in England, but in all Europe. Indeed, I 

 know not any which hath a more comprehensive and 

 critical knowledge of all the species of nature. Proceed 

 with courage, and transmit your name to all posterity. 



I am, Sir, 

 Yours in all offices of love and service, 



JOHN RAY. 



