CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 333 



tliem with, spent two or three pages in justifying it by 

 parallel examples brought out of good authors. P. 18, 

 1. 6 ; after " comniunicata" there seems to want " erat," 

 or else it must be " communicabatur." P, 120,1. 1; 

 "innascere" seems to be put for "innasci." I told you 

 formerly that some passages or clauses I did not well 

 understand ; but I noted them not, because they were 

 not very material. Your work I cannot but highly ap- 

 prove of, and do account it the greatest ornament, and, 

 indeed, most valuable part of my Supplement, and you 

 shall not fail of having right done you in the publication 

 of it. The inclosed be pleased to despatch away to Dr. 

 Preston, who ordered me to recommend it to your care. 

 My wife salutes you with the tender of her humble service, 

 and I am, Sir, 



Your much obliged friend and humble servant, 



John Ray. 



To his honoured friend. Dr. Hans Sloane, 



at his house, at the corner of Southampton street, 

 towards Bloomsbury square, London. 



Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane. 



Black Notley, December 7, —97. 



Sir, — It is now a fortnight since I sent you the two 

 last tribes I received, viz. the last of herbs, and first of 

 trees, which I hope are come safe to yom* hands. I was 

 in hopes you would have sent me some more, though it 

 be no great matter as yet, for the weather hath for some 

 time been, and continues still to be, so sharp, that it hath 

 cast me into a diarrhoea, and rendered me very listless to 

 prosecute any studies. It is a distemper that usually 

 attends me in very cold weather, proceeding, I guess, 

 from the relaxation of the tonus of the bowels. I was 

 wont to cure myself with a Naples biscuit, boiled in milk, 

 a safe and pleasant medicine ; but this year it hath not 

 its usual efiect upon me. I hope your lady is perfectly 



