CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 367 



Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane. 



Black Notley, Sept. 13, —99. 



Sir, — I have this morning sent back your Maryland 

 plants, excepting one that was taken out and put in a book 

 to be observed and described, and shall be returned again 

 the next parcel I send. I hope these plants have received 

 no considerable harm or damage. Some could not be 

 avoided, in so shuffling and removing them. For I have 

 taken the freedom to put those of a kind together, with- 

 out respect to whose collection they belonged. I have also 

 put the names and titles to a good part of them, with 

 references to Plukenet, &c. To some I have put none, 

 partly such as are well known, I mean then- genuses, 

 partly such whose genera are to me unknown, concerning 

 which I desire light and information from you. I return 

 you many thanks for the use of them, and accept of the 

 kind offer of the sight of your collection fi'om the Magellan 

 Straits, which I desire you would please to send me so 

 soon as may stand with your convenience. 



1 have no way of conveying a letter to Tentzelius but 

 through the hands of Dr. Hotton, Professor of Physic and 

 Botanies in Ley den. I suppose a letter delivered into the 

 post-house, with a proper dkection, would pass quicker 

 and surer to him. 



I have not lately heard from Mr. Smith and Walford : 

 I perceive they will not begin to act till next term, if then; 

 and then, if they cannot procure subscriptions enough to 

 save themselves harmless, they will (I believe) lay the 

 work quite aside. Possibly, if my friends would use their 

 interest to procure subscriptions, I might be enabled to 

 print it at my own charge, but that is not certain ; and 

 besides, it would be a business of great trouble, and I 

 know not who to employ in it. I am still pained with 

 the sores on my legs. I am now come to the use of strait 

 stockings and bandage, from which I have great expecta- 

 tion of ease and rehef, having seen the experience thereof 



