C70 Mr. Ray to Dr. Robinfon. 



it would be rendered of more general Ufe, being left 

 bulky, and of lower Price * yet inferring fome kind 

 of Neceffity of purchafing the Books referred to, it 

 would occafion as great an Expence as if it had been 

 printed with Cuts. But as for the Danger of lofing 

 the whole, that is inconfiderable, it being, perchance, 

 as good loft as found. For my own part, my Mo- 

 tives to attempt the compiling it were the Inftigation 

 of fome Friends, and a Confideration that no Englijh* 

 man finee Dr. turner hath written fo of Plants, but 

 that a Man of no more Skill in Botanicks than my 

 felf may eafily enlarge and amend what they have 

 done : Befides, had they done never fo well, their 

 Works are in great Mealure ufelefs to Foreigners, as 

 being written in Englifo. Dr. Morifon is a Scotch- 

 man 5 fo I make not him an Englijh Herbarift, nor 

 pa(s any Sentence on his Performances j judicio ftetq\ 

 cadatq-y tuo. But this Paper will hold no more 5 fcarce 

 Room left to aflure you that I am, &c. 



Sir Hans Sloane to Mr. Ray. 



S IjRj London j Novemb. i t. 1684. 



I Am heartily glad to hear chat you are about fo 

 ufeful a Work, as the Hijlory of Plants (done by 

 you) will be : I am fure we want it extremely, and 

 that it will be very much efteem'd by the Botanifts 

 beyond Sea, particularly Monfieur Toumefort y the 

 King's ProfelFor at Paris, (with whom I correspond) 

 who told me he defir'd it extremely, and that he had 

 a very great Refpeft and Honour for you, de- 

 firing me to give you his moil humble Service 5 and 

 if you will be pleas'd but to let me know any thing 

 you may have occafion for that can be procured at 

 Paris pr Mmtfellkry I will do »11 in my Power to 



