%o6 



Sit Hans Sloane to Mr. Ray* 



S I i?, London, Jan. zp. iy$6. 



TT Have talk'd a long while of going to Jamaica with 

 'M the Dftke of Yllbemarle as his Phyfician > which 

 if I do, next to the ferving his Grace and Family in 

 my Profeffion, my Bufinefs is to fee what I can meet 

 withal that's extraordinary in Nature in thofe Places, 

 I hope to be able to fend you fome Observations from 

 thence, God Almighty granting Life and Strength to 

 do what I defign : But our Voyage having been put 

 off fo often, I doubt it very much. I am glad to hear 

 by Dr. Robinfon that your elaborate and excellent 

 Work goes on fo faft, as to begin already to print 

 the Trees. Great Feuds are like to be between the 

 French and our Philofophers about the Magnitude of 

 'London and Paris $ ours alledging that London is as big 

 Paris and Rouen both together 5 and being urg'd 

 by them to give fome Proof for what they fay, I in- 

 tend to print Certificates from Hearthmen here, and 

 ingenious Men there, that in London are 100000 

 Houfes, and in Paris but .24000. There is no lefs a 

 Difpute on another Account. The French Ambaffa- 

 dor to the King of Siam carrying a Jefuite with him, 

 lie made feveral Obfervations, and found that that 

 Kingdom was mifplac'd in Longitude, to the Eaft, 

 about iz Degrees ; but Mr. Haily lays that he long 

 ago found that out, and gave an Recount of it in the 

 ■ Tranfa&ions. But I am miftaken if there were not 

 fomething rectified about that a great while ago by 

 fome learned Men. I fuppofe you have had an Ac- 

 count of Dr. MagnoPs new Appendix : It's but fmall, 

 and lefs worth than I thought 5 for when I was there 

 he defign'd to fimple the Pyrenees and Hortus Dei 7 or 



Mountains 



