ffd Dr. Robinfon to Mr. Ray. 



great Woods of Cork-Trees, more efpecially near 



gundi^ and Old Formic. 



I remember very well I took Notice of the Sprdf* 

 pa and Sardone at Rome y calling them always at Din- 

 ner Pilchard and Herring. All the- English were oif 

 my Opinion, if I had had your Query then, I would 

 have been more curious. I cannot think of any Dif- 

 ference, only (that which you intimate) Magnitude. 



Dr. Robinfon to Mr. Ray. 



S'lR) Ley den y June 4. — 84. S, N. 



MO S T of our Herbarifts in thefe Parts are em* 

 ploy'd at prefent in carrying on the Hortus 

 Malabaricus 5 the fifth Volume is ready to come forth, 

 $nd eight more are defign'd, a mighty Work of 13 

 Volumes. Breynius labours hard upon his fecond 

 Century of Exoticks: And I am told that M. Tour- 

 nefort intends to publifli a Hiftory of fome rare Plants 

 obferv'd by himfelf on the Alps and Pyrentean Hills. 

 The Academy Royal at Paris does alfo go on with 

 their general Hiftory of Plants \ but I long for no- 

 thing but yours, which I hope is now under the 

 Prefs. I queftion not in the leaft but you have all 

 the Encouragement that the learned Part of the 

 World can poffibly give you. 



When I was in Italy^ I obferv'd many Operators 

 there to make great Varieties of Sapos and Balfamj 

 out of the Salts and Oils of Vegetables : They pro- 

 ceeded much after the fame Manner as you have fet f 

 down in your Obfervat. p. zoi r 203, (only ad- 

 ding now and then a few odoriferous Ingredients) viz, 

 by uniting the Salt and Oil of the fame Vegetable by 

 the Help of flaked Lime. Without this latter In- 

 gredient the Union would be difficult y for I have 



• known, 



