MEMOIR OF RAY. 
51 
being now exhausted, Ray began to prepare a third 
for the press, but the booksellers who had purchas- 
ed the copyright of the early editions, threw so 
many obstacles in the way, that he was induced en- 
tirely to remodel the work, and publish it in a differ- 
ent form. But as this could not be accomplished 
for some time, in order, in the mean while, to satisfy 
the importunity of his botanical friends, he publish- 
ed, in 1688, his Fasciculus Stirpium Britannica- 
rum post editum Catalogum Plantarum , & c. The 
other work appeared in 1690, under the title of 
Synopsis Methodica Stirpium Britannicarum. This 
publication, in the opinion of one of the most com- 
petent judges, Sir J. E. Smith, is the great corner 
stone of his reputation in this department of science. 
“ Of all the systematical and practical floras of • any 
country, the second edition of Ray’s synopsis is the 
most perfect that ever came under our observation. 
He examined every plant recorded in the work, and 
even gathered most of them himself. He investi- 
gated their synonyms with consummate accuracy ; 
and if the clearness and precision of other authors 
had equalled his, he would scarcely have committed 
an error. It is difficult to find him in a mistake or 
misconception respecting nature herself, though he 
sometimes misapprehends the bad figures or lame 
descriptions he was obliged to consult.”* The se- 
cond edition, above referred to, was published in 
* Trana. Linn. Soc. iv. 277* 
