72 



MEMORIALS OF RAY : 



very nature, delicacy and refinement must often be dis- 

 pensed with, but this is evidently not the fault or the aim 

 of the writer. His learning and critical acuteness diffuse 

 light over the whole, and make us overlook the coarse 

 vehicle of our instruction. 



The first edition of the ' Catalogue of English Plants,' 

 already mentioned, came out in 1670, and the second in 

 1677. Their great author gave his work to the world 

 with that diffidence for which he alone perhaps could 

 perceive any just foundation. We postpone our remarks 

 till we speak of the same work in its systematic form 

 hereafter. 



About this period the health of Mr. Eay seems to have 

 been considerably impaired. He refused a tempting offer 

 to travel again on the Continent as tutor to three young 

 noblemen ; nor could the powerful attractions of alpine 

 botany, which made a part of his prospect, overcome the 

 reluctance to leaving home, which arose from a feeble 

 state of body. Indeed, this very reluctance or listlessness 

 is accounted for by the turn which his disorder took, as it 

 terminated in the jaundice. After this depressing com- 

 plaint had left him he resumed with fresh alacrity his 

 botanical travels at home, visiting the rich stores of the 

 north of England with a companion named Thomas 

 Willisel, whose name and discoveries he afterwards on 

 many occasions has gratefully commemorated. Nothing 

 forms a more striking feature in Ray's character than the 

 unreserved and abundant commendation which he always 

 gave to his friends and fellow-labourers. We are about 

 to narrate an event which called forth all his affectionate 

 feelings of this kind, as well as his most important and 

 beneficial exertions ; when even to his own prejudice he 

 fulfilled the sacred duties of friendship, and delighted in 

 adorning the bust of his friend with wreaths that he him- 

 self might justly have assumed. On the 3d of July 1672, 

 Mr. Willughby was unexpectedly carried off" by an acute 

 disorder, in the thirty-seventh year of his age. The care 

 of his two infant sons was confided by himself to Mr. Ray, 



