114 
MEMOIR OF 
classification,” it has of late years been ques- 
tioned whether it is to be ascribed to the genius 
of Mr Willugbby or Mr Ilay ; or to be considered, 
as it is also sometimes called, The System of 
Willughby and Ray. The doubt does not seem 
to have arisen upon any regular comparison of 
the evidence for each side; but the system is 
sometimes, in the most unhesitating manner, 
ascribed to Mr Ray, as if the point could not be 
controverted ; or an opinion is past to that effect, 
without any appeal to proof ; or the notion that 
it ought to be attributed to Mr Willughby is 
treated as a false impression, derived from Mi- 
Ray’s admiration and gratitude towards his 
friend, which led him to bestow honours on his 
youthful patron, which he might with more 
justice have assumed to himself ; or at most, if 
the origination of the system is primarily traced 
to Mr Willughby, it is by representing it as 
having been on his part a sagacious but unformed 
conjecture ; and that its present comparatively 
complete state is owing to Mr Ray’s maturer know- 
ledge, and protracted opportunity for observation. 
The writers expressing themselves in this con- 
trary manner, agree at least in one point, that it 
is original with either Mr Ray or Mr Willughby, 
or both ; no one having yet insinuated that it 
can be ascribed to any one else. It is plain that 
all reasoning on the subject can only proceed 
upon such evidence as actually exists, and can 
therefore be appealed to. So far from there 
being any thing in the shape of direct evidence 
