Mr. Ray to Dr. Robinfon. 



As for my intended Hifiory^ I am now fenfible I 

 have undertaken a Task beyond my Strength, and 

 yet it is res Integra. I have not yet proceeded fo far, 

 but I can, without Inconvenience, give it over. But 

 yours, and fome other Friends Opinions of, and Ex- 

 pectations from toe, do infpire me with fuch Force 

 and Courage, as not to defpair of my Abilities, but 

 to contemn all Difficulties, and contend even to excel 

 and out-do my felf. I had fome Expectation of Dr. 

 Mori forts Worky but finding myfelf much fruftrated 

 therein, and like wife a Stop at prefent put to his Pro- 

 ceedings, tho' it be out of my way, and belong not 

 to my Profeffion ; yet becaufe there is no Man that 

 I know of, of bur Nation (as indeed neither is Dn 

 Morifon) competently qualified, either engaged in or 

 defigning of fuch a Work, I was more inclinable 

 to liften to. the Solicitations of my Friends putting 

 me upon it : That whereas thofe of other Nations 

 beyond the Seas are bufy and a£tive in this kind, it 

 might .appear that the Englijh are nor altogether idle^ 

 or afleep 5 but do, at leaft, endeavour to contribute 

 fomething to the promoting and cultivating fo plea- 

 fant and ufeful a Knowledge. I do not intend to be- 

 gin to print, or fo much as procure, or engrave Fi- 

 gures, till I have finifhed the whole Work, to avoid 

 (as much as may be)- Gmiflions, Mifplacings and Ap- 

 pendixes, and for fome other Reafons. 



Your Remarks upon the Sapos of Plants I was 

 much pleafed with. I did never refleft upon them, 

 nor confider ef how great Ufe this might pofiibly 

 be. 



I am a great Stranger in the Hiftory of the Jefuits- 

 Powder^ and therefore not likely to give you any 

 Light thereinto. 



Your Obfervation concerning the Rind of Sevil 

 Oranges being a Spccifick againft Jgues^ puts me in 

 mind of a Prefcription I had from a Phyfician in Not- 

 tinghamfhire^ to prevent, or divert -the Fit of an Ague, 



