III. A Letter from Mr. John Clayton Re&or of 
Crofton at Wakefield in Yorkfhire to the 
Royal Society^ May i2« 1688. giving an Ac- 
count of federal Obfervables in Virginia, 
and in his Voyage thither y more, particularly 
concerning the Air. 
HAving often times been urged to give an Account 
of Virginia, by feveral of the worthy Members 
of the Royal Society, I cannot but, as far forth as I am 
able, obey Commands whereby I'm fo much honour'd, 
and fliow my Refpedtby my ready Compliance ; tho' I 
am fo f enfible of my own Weaknefs and Incapacity to 
anfwer your Expectations, that before-hand I muft Apo- 
logize for my felf. And indeed by Sea I loft all my 
Books, Chymical Inflruments, Glades and Microfcopes, 
which rendred me uncapable of making thofe Remarks 
and Obfervations I had defigned, they were all caft away 
in Captain Wins Ship, as they were to follow me ; and 
Virginia being a Country where one cannot furnifli ones 
felf again with fuch things, I was difcourag'd from ma- 
king fb diligent a Scruteny as otherwife I might have 
done, fo that I took very few Minutes down in Wri- 
ting ; and therefore, fince I have only my Memory to 
rely on, which too has the Difadvantage of it's own 
Weaknefs, and of the diftance of two years fince now 
I left the Country, if future Relations (ball in fome fmaH 
Points make out my Miftake, I thought this requifite 
to juftifie my Candor ; for I ever judga it villanous to 
impofe in matters of Fadt but Delcriptions of things 
that depend on memory may be liable to Miftakes, and 
yet the Sincerity of the Perfon that delivers them intire, 
Ii But 
