CORRESPONDENCE OE RAY. 459 



Mr. Ray's last letter to Dr. Hans Sloane.* 



B. N., Jan. 7, 170i. 



Dear sir, the best of friends, — These are to take a 

 final leave of you as to this world. I look upon myself as a 

 dying man, God requite your kindness expressed anyways 

 towards me an hundredfold, bless you with a confluence of 

 all good things in this world, and eternal life and happi- 

 ness hereafter, and grant us a happy meeting in Heaven, 



I am. Sir, 



Eternally yours, 



John Ray. 

 When you happen to write to my singular friend 

 Dr. Hotton, I pray tell him I received his most obliging 

 and affectionate letter, for Avhich I return thanks, and 

 acquaint that I was not able to answer it. 



Por Dr. Haus Sloane, at his liouse 

 in Southampton square, London. 



Mr. Dale to Dr. Hans Sloane. 



Braintree, Jan. 19, 1704. 



Sir, — By last Sunday's post Mr. Ray's solemn farewell 

 was sent you, since which, viz. on Wednesday, the 17th 

 instant, about 10 in the forenoon, death cut the fatal 

 thread of life, and deprived the commonwealth of learning, 

 of so valuable and worthy a man ; but our loss is without 

 doubt his gain ; God grant we may meet him above, 

 where death can no more separate, which is the earnest 

 prayer of 



Sir, 

 Your obliged humble servant, 



S. Dale. 



For Dr. Hans Sloane, 



at his house at the corner of Southampton squai-e, 

 Bloomsbnry, London. 



* IVIr. Ray died on ^ Jan. 17, I7O5, about 10 o'clock in the morning. — 

 Note on the original letter. 



