CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 305 



above 280 plants, the which we have, and design to 

 augment as opportunity offers to any of us. Sir, I hope 

 you will pardon this trouble, &c. F. V. 



Clonmel, Aug. 26, 1696. 



Sir, — In your Synopsis you question whether the Irish 

 in drjdng their duUysk do not add some alkaline salt? 

 I have inquired, and can assure you that they add no 

 kind of salt, nor indeed anything else. They only pull 

 it off the rocks whereon it grows, and spread it on the 

 grass in the warm sun to chy, or rather on a lousy green 

 mantle (as my friend adds, who gave me this relation, 

 and has seen much of it dried and eaten in Kerry, and 

 elsewhere) while drying. It sometimes appears frosted 

 over with a salt, which for the most part falls off again in 

 handling it, and is probably nothing else but the par- 

 ticles of salt remaining after the sun has exhaled the sea- 

 water that stuck to it. When thoroughly dry it is fit for 

 use, and may be kept seven years, if hung up in a net or 

 the like. They eat it at all times, when no other food is 

 to be had, but chiefly in the morning, and esteem it good 

 against worms and the scm^vy, and to cause a sweet 

 breath. And now, sir, if it were necessary, I could 

 muster up several arguments to press you to what myself 

 and friend and colleague has urged about the icons, but 

 you know well the necessity and usefulness of such a 

 work ; I would, therefore, at present only hint one thing, 

 that it is pity that so beneficial a work is not promoted by 

 public authority ; and what if a motion were made, and 

 effectually backed, next session of parliament, that it be 

 carried on at a public charge ? If it be objected, that 

 our treasure is exhausted by a war, &c., I would answer, 

 that (not to mention the hopes we have of a general 

 peace) the French king, notwithstanding the tedious and 

 expensive war he is engaged in, thinks it yet fit to 

 encourage all arts and sciences. Fas est et ah Jioste 

 doceri. N. W. 



Kilkenny, Aug. ult. 1696. 



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