NOTE. 



55 



" Having spent a pleasurable hour upon a scene where everything derived 

 interest from the reflection that these fields had been traversed, and these 

 paths trodden, and the botanical treasures of the neighbourhood ransacked 

 in search of knowledge, by him who slumbered there, the party, about one 

 o'clock, assembled at Dewlands, the house from which Ray's pure spirit took 

 its final flight, in the year 1705. It is now a farmhouse, and is occupied by 

 Mr. Wakehng, who, we were informed, was so alarmed at the threatened in- 

 vasion of a large body of philosophers on his territories, that he had not been 

 heard of from an early hour in the morning. Here the party sat down to an 

 elegant cold collation, which had been most hberally provided by Mr. Pattis- 

 son, and at which that worthy gentleman and his lady presided. Due justice 

 having been accorded to the viands, 



" Mr. Pattisson proposed that they should drink to the memory of the 

 honoured of the occasion, John Ray — which was done in reverential silence. 

 Mr. Porster then rose and proposed the health of Mr. and Mrs. Pattisson, 

 with many thanks to them for their kind hospitality. He alluded to the 

 pleasure and satisfaction which he experienced at his present visit, enter- 

 taining, as he always had done, the highest veneration for John Ray, both as 

 a scientific and a moral character. He (Mr. P.) could not better express his 

 view of Ray's character, than by repeating what he had remarked of him at 

 the last anniversary of the Linnsean Society — that he possessed piety with 

 sincerity and without cant, and morality with consistency. When at Cam- 

 bridge, such was his goodness of disposition, that he gained the respect of 

 all parties. 



" Mr. Pattisson, after thanking the company for^^the compliment paid to him, 

 said, that he was truly gratified at the proceedings of that day in rendering 

 homage to the greatest man Essex ever produced, one who was an ornament 

 to their land, as well as to the whole world. Pleasing as the events of the 

 day had been, he trusted that they would also have a useful result, especially 

 to young persons, who, hearing of the homage paid to one who arose from 

 humble life, might be led to study those pursuits which had immortalized 

 Ray — ^he trusted his little boy (who had been present throughout the day) 

 might profit by it. Mr. Pattisson then read the following extract from Mr. 

 Ray's diary, to show the meek spirit of Christianity mth which Ray was 

 imbued : — 



" ' March 15, 1678, departed this life, my most dear and honoured mother, 

 Elizabeth Ray, of Black Notley, in her house, on Dewlands, in the hall 

 chamber, about three of the clock in the afternoon, aged, as I suppose, 

 seventy-eight ; whose death, for some considerations, was a great wound to 

 me. Yet have I good hope that her soul is received to the mercy of God, 

 and her sins pardoned, through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, in 

 whom she trusted and whose servant she hath been from her youth up.' 



" Mr. Pattison said, he would not trespass longer on their time, but he hoped 



