CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 151 



clearly discern ; but an intelligent gentleman, who was 

 very diligent in observing the same bu'd, said it was the 

 former way. 



Black Notley, Aug. 13, —84. 



Dr. Robinson to Mr. Ray. 



Sir, — My own private common-place books do afibrd 

 some odd, and, as 1 think, useful observations and expe- 

 riments upon plants, especially those called, and vulgarly 

 esteemed, poisonous ones ; which, if judiciously mixed, 

 prepared, and managed, may prove the most powerful 

 and beneficial medicines in natm'e, I mean internally 

 given ; for they may be so ordered as to work very agree- 

 ably, what Avay soever one pleases, as by vomit, stool, or 

 else by sweat only, and m-ine, or else insensibly, and not 

 without such success as can scarce be expected from any 

 other vegetables, or from any animal or mineral substances 

 whatsoever ; but 1 will defer this to a particular paper, 

 having not at present my notes and records of my trials 

 by me. 

 London, August 29, — 84. 



Mr. Ray to Dr. Robinson. 



Sir, — Much controversy hath of late been concerning 

 the origin of those shell-like stones found in the earth, 

 either scattered or amassed, in many places both in 

 England and beyond the seas : that they were the very 

 shells of some sea-fish or got this figure by being cast in 

 some animal moidd, is the opinion I have declared myself 

 to be most inclinable to, as you may see in my Travels 

 at large, from p. 113 to p. 131. In favour whereof I 

 shall add farther : 



