SIR J. E. SMITH. 



73 



who was also appointed one of his five executors, and to 

 whom he left an annuity of 60/. for life. The eldest of these 

 youths was created a baronet at the age of ten years, but 

 died before he was twenty. Their sister, Cassandra, after- 

 wards married the Duke of Chandos. Thomas, the 

 younger son, was one of the ten peers created all on the 

 same day by queen Anne, and received the title of Lord 

 Middleton. His early youth was much indebted to the 

 care of his faithful guardian, who composed for his and 

 his brother's use, and published in 1672 a ' Nomenclator 

 Classicus,' far more exact, especially in the names of 

 natural objects, than any that had previously appeared. 

 The care of his pupils, and of the literary concerns of 

 their deceased parent, now interrupted Mr. Ray's bota- 

 nizing excursions, and caused him also to decline the 

 offer of Dr. Lister, then a physician at York, to settle 

 under his roof. Bishop Wilkins did not long survive Mr. 

 Willughby, and his death made another chasm in the 

 scientific and social circle of our great natural philosopher, 

 who felt these losses as deeply and tenderly as any man. 

 He sought consolation in a domestic attachment, fixing 

 his choice on a young woman of good parentage, whose 

 name was Margaret Oakley, and who resided in the 

 family at Middleton Hall. He was married at the parish 

 church, June 5th, 1673, being then in the forty-fifth year 

 of his age, and his bride about twenty. This lady took a 

 share in the early education of his pupils, as far as con- 

 cerned their reading English. She is said to have been 

 recommended by her character, as well as by her person, 

 to the regard of her husband. She bore him three 

 daughters, who with their mother survived him. 



Ray's communications to the Royal Society became 

 now very frequent, and extended to various subjects re- 

 lative to the natural history of animals, as well as to the 

 physiology, and even the botanical characters of vege- 

 tables. He was at the same time, in the course of the 

 year 1674 and 1675, much occupied in digesting Mr. 

 Willughby 's zoological papers. These were composed in 



