CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 473 



Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane. 



Sir, — I received your very kind letter, attended with 

 a noble present of sugar, for which myself and wife, with 

 the tender of our humble services, return you most hearty 

 thanks. Only give me leave to tell you that you have 

 permitted yoiu' generosity and kindness too much to in- 

 fluence yom' liberahty, and cause this efiect of it far to 

 exceed the merit and expectation of the receivers, and 

 possibility of requital. I have some time since heard of 

 your change of state ; and though I have not told you 

 that I wish you much joy, yet really I do, and humbly 

 pray that such a confluence of blessings may attend your 

 marriage as may render that estate comfortable and 

 happy to you, 



Your Pin ax of Jamaica plants I should be glad to see ; 

 not that I hope to correct anything, but for mine own 

 information and satisfaction. My opinion is of little 

 value, my skill being not great in American plants ; and 

 the greater part of those you have observed I have no 

 other knowledge of than I received from yourself. 



I was in hopes that you would have perfected and 

 published your ' Natural History of Jamaica' before my 

 Supplement might have been ready for the press, that 

 so I might thence have borrowed materials and orna- 

 ments for the enriching and beautifying of my work. 

 But I see you proceed with deliberation, and so as may 

 consist with due attendance upon the occasions and 

 business of yom' profession, which I cannot but commend; 

 though in the meantime others prevent you, and intercept 

 the honom' due to you, by publishing before you what 

 you first discovered. I would willingly take leave of this 

 subject of Plants ; but, by the importunity of some, and 

 opposition of others, I am constrained to proceed still in 

 it. AVhen this Supplement shall be finished, and some- 

 thing I have further to reply to Monsieur Tom-nefort, with 

 a fuller explanation and defence of my own method (if God 

 grant me to live so long), I shall have done. The principal 



