376 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 



wherein you might stand in need of assistance, but be- 

 cause, in the circumstances I am, I do not foresee any 

 hkelihood of that. 



This morning I sent you by carrier M. Tournefort's 

 ' Institutions,' which I had done sooner had I known 

 you needed them. I am now busy in running over Mr. 

 Bobart's History, wherein I find more new plants than I 

 expected, a great part whereof are owing to Dr. Sherard's 

 collections, so that it is Hkely to take me up a great deal 

 of time. 



I thank God I am able to go on with this work, though 

 I have little or no absolute intermission of pain ; and so 

 it is more troublesome and difficult to me by far than it 

 Avould be were I well. I thank you for yom' advice, and 

 do find myself at present somewhat better as to those 

 particulars I mentioned. 



I have a small present for you, a little tractate of about 

 half a dozen sheets of paper, which I drew up at the re- 

 quest of a friend last winter, entitled, a 'Persuasive 

 to a Holy Life,' &c. It hath been finished a pretty 

 while, and I wonder Mr. Smith is so slow in putting it 

 to sale, and that I hear nothing from him about it. 



I am. Sir, 

 Yom* very affectionate and much obliged 

 friend and servant, 



John Ray. 



I suppose Dr. Sherard showed you Father Camel's 

 letter to me ; I am very solicitous about the descriptions, 

 designs, and di'aughts he mentions to have sent, and 

 should be glad to hear of them. 



For his honoured friend. Dr. Hans Sloane, 



at his house at the comer of Southampton street, 

 towards Bloomsbuiy square, London. 



