318 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 



copy of my Supplement, all but of the Dendrology, which 

 is not yet perfected. Now, sir, I think it were convenient 

 that you revised at least all that is translated out of yoiu- 

 Jamaican History, that so you might correct and alter 

 what is mistaken or misunderstood, and supply what is 

 w^anting ; for I dare not impose such a task upon you as 

 perusing the whole, though, if you would favour me so 

 far as to undertake that trouble, I am sensible it would 

 be much for the advantage of the work. The truth is, I 

 am not in condition to perform this task anything well. 

 Did I live at London, and so had opportunity to view all 

 the gardens about that city, and to describe all species 

 that I should find either not at all but lamely described, 

 and to take more exact notice of all I had not before seen, 

 I might be able much better to judge of names and sy- 

 nonyma, and to render the work more perfect and exact ; 

 but with those helps I have I must do as well as I can. 

 Dr. Sherard might have assisted me more than any man, 

 he having seen and collected all the plants now cultivated 

 in Europe. But his di'ied plants, though the sight of 

 them might afford me much pleasure, yet T should not 

 be able to make use of them in this history without 

 danger of mistakes. Possibly he may return again before 

 the book be quite printed off and published. 



Mr. Toiu'nefort's answer to my Dissertation about Me- 

 thods I should be glad to see before I put out my re- 

 formed method, which is almost ready for the press ; and 

 therefore if you please to send it you will oblige further 

 him who is already much in arrear to you. 



Sir, 

 Your very humble servant, 



John Ray. 



For his honoured friend. Dr. Hans Sloane, 



at his house at the corner of Southampton street, 

 towards Bloomsbury square, London. 



