366 COKRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 



Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane. 



Sir, — 1 have detained your Maryland plants too long, 

 it is now time to think of returning them, which I intend 

 shortly to do. I have now reduced most of them ; some 

 I cannot, and so must let them pass, lest I refer them to 

 wrong genera, and impose false names upon them. To 

 some I have put labels inscribed with theu' titles, in 

 which if I have erred, when you shall have received them, 

 I desire you would rectify me. My undertakers are 

 extreme dilatory, and have not as yet published then- 

 proposals for subscriptions. I do not well understand 

 their meaning in it. 



I have lately received another letter from Tentzelius, in 

 which I find him very desirous to know the judgment of 

 the Royal Society about his opinion concerning the bones 

 dug up at Tonna. His words are these : " Te interce- 

 dente a Doctissimo Societatis vestras secretario literas 

 exspecto. Ex fronte epistolse mese ad Magliabechium 

 facile cognoscet characterem meum, et ex ejusdem calce, 

 m-bem in qua vivo. Summo enim desiderio teneor 

 videndi judicium inclyta Societatis vestrse, cujus defectus 

 hactenus impedivit, quo minus uno libello includerentur 

 qugecunque ex Germania, Gallia, Italia, Belgio, aliisque 

 regionibus de elephanto nostro ad me sunt perlata." I 

 wish this Society would satisfy him one way or other. 



I am at present somewhat ill and indisposed, and shall 

 only add the tender of my wife's very humble service, 

 and that I am, 



Sir, 

 Your much obliged friend and humble servant, 



John Ray. 



Black Notley, Aug. 16, —99. 



