( 51* ) 
A Letter from that incomparable Botanift Mr. John 
Ray , giving an account of the Phytographia of 
Leonard Plukenec , M. D. Lately publifted. 
Lond. fol. 1691, 
SIR, 
IN compliance with your defires I have fent you a 
I (hort Account of Dr. Phikemts Phytographia, not 
iuch an one as the Work deferves, but as I am able to 
draw up : wherein if you find not fatisfaftion blame 
your own Judgment for thinking me able to give it. 
The Learned and Ingenious Author ot thefe Tables 
hath therein exhibited to the publick view the Figures 
and Titles of many hundred Plants 5 the moft part of 
them, as yet neither defcribed nor figured, fome defcribed 
but not figured, others though already figured, yet not 
well and exa&ly. Now a good Figure having this ad- 
vantage of a verbal Defcription, that it conveys fpeedily 
to the Mind, with eafe and pleafure, a clearer and truer 
Idea of the thing delineated, than the Understanding 
can with much Labour, and in a long time form to it felf 
from a Defcription, be it never fo exaft : the pains taken, 
and coft beftowed in defigning and engraving fuch Plants 
as have already been only defcribed, or if figured, but 
temely and imperfe&ly, rnuft be acknowledged ro have 
been to very good purpofe, and to merit the thanks of 
thofe who (hall be affifted and eafed thereby, that is the 
greateft part of Herbarifts, to whom a Deicription with- 
out a Figure fignifies little. The new and non-deftript 
Species may give entertainment and diverfion to thofe of 
the higheft form in Botanies, who will here meet with 
many Plants they have not before feen, or it may be 
heard of. As for the Sculps they recommend themfelves 
to 
