Ray. 191 
flourifh. The Indies had not yet poured in 
their treaflires with that hberal hand which 
was foon after experienced. Even the paf- 
lion of the florift for varieties afiifted in 
depreffing the genuine fpirit of the bota- 
nift. But the time was now approaching, 
when botany was about to receive a capi- 
tal advantage and embelHlhment, by the 
introdudion and eftablifhment of fyjlem ; 
of the rife and progrefs of which, it will 
not be incongruous to my plan to give a 
fliort account, fince this great revolution 
formed a new sera in the hiftory of the 
fcience. As the revival of it, hov^^ever, did 
BGt take place till the time of Mr. Ray 
and Dr. Mori son, I will poftpone what 
I have to fay on this fubjed:, till I have 
given fome account of the writings of thofe 
juftly celebrated naturalifts, by whofe la- 
bours fyftem itfelf v/as reftored and im- 
proved. 
The earlieft anecdotes of Mr. Ray, to 
which I can refer, are fome brief outlines of 
his life, in the Compleat Hiftory of Eu- 
rope for the year 1705." A more con^ 
neded account of this learned and excellent 
man may be feen in the General Didio- 
nary,'* 
