MEMOIR OF RAY. 
35 
neglect of no branch of useful knowledge, an ex- 
tensive acquaintance with the proverbial expressions 
used in different parts of the country, and likewise 
of the local words and idioms that prevailed in dif- 
ferent provinces. Under the impression that such 
a work might be of use to certain classes of the 
community, he arranged the proverbs in methodical 
order, and published them at Cambridge in 1672. 
Even in this unambitious kind of literary labour, he 
showed a good deal of philological learning and 
critical sagacity ; and this production, which, he 
says, he esteems a toy and a trifle, not worth the 
owning, has made his name known to many of his 
countrymen, unacquainted with his claims to higher 
literary distinction. His Collection of Unusual or 
local English Words was published nearly at the 
same time, and was accompanied with a catalogue 
of birds and fishes, and an account of the mode of 
smelting and refining metals as practised in Eng- 
land. In a subsequent edition these accessory arti- 
cles were omitted, as they had been published sepa- 
rately in a more perfect form. 
We learn from a letter to Dr Lister, that about 
this time he was solicited to accompany three young 
noblemen to the Continent in the capacity of tutor. 
This offer he was at first inclined to accept, espe- 
cially as it offered him the opportunity of examin- 
ing the alpine plants of Switzerland with more care 
than he had been able to do on his former visit; but 
he was obliged to decline it on account of the de- 
