20 
INTRODUCTION TO BOTANY. 
A Methodical Synopsis of British Plants, of which he 
gave himself two editions, and a third was published after 
his death by Dr. Dillenius. 
An emendated Method of Plants, concerning which I 
shall hereafter speak more at large. 
A controversial tract respecting the two contemporary 
systems of Rivinus and Tournefort. 
A Synopsis of Quadrupeds and Serpents. 
A Method of Insects. 
These works are all in Latin, by which means they are 
unfortunately less known in their own country than they 
are on the Continent: and to this list may be added, 
The editing of Willoughby’s History of Birds, in Latin ; 
and also translating and publishing it in English. 
The editing of Willoughby’s History of Fishes, in 
i Latin. 
He left in manuscript an unfinished Historia Insecto- 
rum, which was published by Dr. Derham, who, after a 
long trouble, succeeded in obtaining from the bookseller 
in whose hands they had been lodged, Ray’s Synopsis 
Avium, and his Synopsis Piscium; both which Derham 
published. To this list might be added several philological, 
moral, and theological works; a volume of Travels, and two 
volumes of his Correspondence, which Derham and Scott 
have given to the world : but enough has been said to 
prove his indefatigable industry. 
To prosecute the history of botany since the time of 
Ray, in the same ample manner as I have dwelt upon 
the infancy of it, which is always the most interesting por- 
tion of the history of any science, would take up too 
much time. The remainder, therefore, can only be sketched 
by a hasty outline. 
In 1677 Dr. Plott gave the first natural history of a 
small local district, by publishing his Oxfordshire, which 
was succeeded two years afterwards by his Staffordshire : 
these still remain very favourable specimens of this' species 
of literature, and have not been exceeded. 
Sir Hans Sloane, Petiver apothecary to the Charter- 
House, and the elder Martyn Professor of Botany at 
Cambridge, were the principal disciples of Ray in this 
country. The French botanists mostly followed Tourne- 
fort, and the Germans Rivinus, or some of the modifica- 
tions of his systematic arrangement, until a new adventurer 
appeared in the world of science, who was destined to effect 
