CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 379 



D. Petiver a te eiflagitat, ut ramnlos stii'pium descrip- 

 tarum et depictarum in schedis ad nos transmissis, ex- 

 siccates transmittere digneris, ita enim certiiis judicium 

 de eis fieri posse, conferendo cum plantis quas ab ludiis 

 exsiccatas amici plurimas transmiserunt, an scil. novae et 

 nondum a se visge fuerint. Exsiccari autem posse ex- 

 tensas cima noviter decei'ptse sunt inter chartas bibulas seu 

 emporeticas reponendo, et subinde antequam putrescant 

 mutando, donee exaruerint. 



Valeas, celeberrime vir, Historiae Botanicse promo- 

 vendae nate, immortali laude dignissime, et opus in quod 

 tantum temporis studii et laboris impendisti, totam 

 nimiruni Philippinarum insularmn historiam naturalem, 

 feliciter absolvas, ita precatur. 



Mr. J. Morton, Rector of Oxendon, in Northamptonshire, to Mr. Ray. 



Amongst the many requests which are made to you 

 by the learned world, permit me to mention one, that is, 

 that you would enrich the public mth the history of 

 the Scripture plants ; a work which, although attempted 

 by some, is certainly one of the desiderata still ; and all 

 do agree you the fittest person in the world for it. 



November 23, 1700. 



Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane. 



Black Notley, December 1, 1700. 



Sir, — I find that you are unwearied in loading me 

 with kindnesses. I lately received from one of the best 

 of my friends. Dr. Hotton, that after two letters to 

 Mess. Smith and Walford, to inquire whether I were 



