[ 4<S° ] 
am confident that it is not the true Star of the 
Earth . 
You fee, ’Sir, I have taken a good deal of Pains to 
trace this Matter through all its -intricate Meanders. 
I have been forced, indeed, to deal pretty much in 
Guefles and Conje&ures, which I am not very fond 
of 5 but as the Cafe ftands, it could not well be avoided : 
And I fhall be glad, if by this Means we may be got (as 
I hope we are) near the Truth, which is the thing 
I aim at in this long Purfuit.; and I have rode more 
than 50 Miles in this wet winter Seafon, (though fere 
Septuagenarians) in order to difentangle it from the 
Confufion and Contradiction in which it has been in- 
volved. Whether you will judge my Labour tanti, 
I know not 5 but if you fhall be fo favourable to me, 
as to think any thing that cohies from fo mean and 
obfeure a Perfon, worthy of the Notice of that very 
learned Body, at whofe Board you have the Honour to 
fit as Secretary, you may be pleafed to communicate 
the fame at fome Meeting of the Society, as a well- 
meant Attempt (how weakly foever managed) to 
clear up, in fome meafure, what has been long 
clouded by dark and difagreeing Accounts. If any 
doubt fhould be made with refpefl: to my Integrity, or 
Exa&nefs in the Extraft I have given you from Mr. 
Ra/s Letter, the Original is ftill in Being, and fhall 
be produced, if deftred. 
As for the Liverwort , I can fay nothing from my 
own Knowledge; but by the Account of its Virtues 
given by Dumpier , (which he took for a kind of 
Jews-ear , but which that very venerable Gentleman, 
and iliuftrious Ornament of the Royal Society, Sir 
Hans Sloane> with great Reafon affirmed to be the 
Lichen 
