CORRESPONDENCE OP RAY. 211 



Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane. 



Black Notlej, October 21, —89. 



Sir, — I was much troubled when I was advised by 

 Dr. Robinson that my letter, in answer to yours of 

 August 3, came not to yom- hands, the subject whereof 

 was to give you thanks for your intended visit, and to 

 tell you how glad I should be to see you (when your 

 occasions should draw you this way) at my poor habita- 

 tion at Black Notley, and be made partaker of some part 

 of your discoveries and observations ; to encourage you 

 in yom- design of publishing the fruits of your travels in 

 the New World ; to oflPer you any assistance I could afford ; 

 and finally (which should have been first mentioned) to 

 congratulate your safe return into England. I was long 

 in hope and expectation of seeing you here, and wondered 

 that you came not, nor sent any word of the alteration of 

 your purpose, and the reason of it. I also (which I had 

 forgot) in the same letter returned you many thanks for 

 the present of seeds you designed me. The days are now 

 so short, and the ways and weather so unfit for travel, 

 that I have little hopes of seeing you here this winter, 

 unless your occasions should engage you to take a journey 

 to New Hall (which is not above eight miles from us), 

 and then I entreat you would make a further step hither, 

 where you shall be most welcome to, 



Sir, 

 Your very humble servant, 



John Ray. 



For Dr. Hans Sloaue, 



at Mr. Wilkinson's, a bookseller, at the Black Boy, 



over against St. Duustan's Church, in Fleet street, London. 



