CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 317 



Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane. 



Black Notley, April 13, —97. 



Sir,— I do now return the papers you did me the 

 favour to send and grant me the use of. If you have 

 any more ready, be pleased to put them mto Mr. Smith's 

 hands, who will take care to send them in the parcel he 

 next dispatches to me ; for I would not willingly give 

 you more trouble than needs. 



I am very glad you give us any hopes of seeing you 

 here next summer. Though we cannot treat you accord- 

 ing to your merit, yet no friends can be more welcome 

 than yourself or any related to you. 



I find that if I proceed thus to translate out of your 

 work, my Supplement will swell to a large volume, if, at 

 least, you be so ciu-ious and particular in your descriptions 

 of the species of other tribes. But as Pliny saith, "Ut 

 alia bonse rei ita bonus liberes melior est quisque quo 

 major." And what is borrowed of yom's will communi- 

 cate a great degree of goodness to my book. My wife 

 and girls are well, and send you theu* humble service, and 

 I am, Sir, 



Your much obliged and affectionate friend 

 and humble servant, 



John Ray. 



Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane. 



Sir, — I have this morning, by carrier, remitted the 

 tribe of SiUquose Trees, for the use of which I must not 

 neglect to return you merited thanks, and to pray the 

 sending hither the remainder of your copy, which in your 

 last, of March 24, you were pleased to tell me you had 

 quite finished. 



About three weeks since I sent up to Mr. Smith the 



