Letter 4552

Posted on February 23, 2019 by -

Dr. Hans Sloane to Mr. John Ray – March 7, 1684/5.


Item info

Date: March 7, 1684/5.
Author: Dr. Hans Sloane
Recipient: Mr. John Ray

Library: The Correspondence of John Ray: Consisting of Selections from the Philosophical Letters Published by Dr. Derham, and original letters of John Ray in the Collection of the British Museum
Manuscript: The Correspondence of John Ray: Consisting of Selections from the Philosophical Letters Published by Dr. Derham, and original letters of John Ray in the Collection of the British Museum
Folio: pp. 161 - 162


Original Page


Transcription

SIR, – For the Polypodium plumosum, I can tell you

but very little of it, except that it had its name from its leaves being like feathers. Its place of growth, and other things relating to its history, can scarce be told by any in England; for I think it is sent us from Holland, and probably may come to them from the East Indies, though I cannot say that positively. It is a perennial plant, and has ensured this last winter without being either in pot or greenhouse.

I was the other day at Chelsea, and find that the arti-

fices used by Mr. Watts have been very effectual for the preservation of his plants, insomuch, that this severe enough winter has scarce killed any of his fine plants. One thing I much wonder to see that the Cedrus Montis Libani [Pinus Cedrus, Linn.], the inhabitant of a very different climate, should thrive here so well, as, without pot or greenhouse, to be able to propagate itself by layers this spring. Seeds sown last autumn have as yet thriven very well, and are like to hold out. The main artifice I used to them, has been to keep them from the winds, which seem to give a great additional force to the cold to destroy the tender plants.

I have one very perfect leaf of the Japan Camphire

tree, and have likewise some of the root of the Cinnamon tree, with a specimen of the oil and camphire  that is distilled from it. One thing I would acquaint you with about cinnamon is, that a gentlemen of my acquaintance having a great mind to have some of the true oil of cinnamon, he took 12lbs. of it and distilled it in a proper vessel, but had no oil at all. He from thence concluded, that all the cinnamon is divested of some of its most fine particles before any of it comes to us; and, speaking to Mr. Hermans on that subject, I remember he could scarce deny it, although his being a servant to the Dutch East India Company would hinder his telling of that secret, by which they receive so much money.

London, March 7, 1684/5.

Edwin Lankester, ed. The Correspondence of John Ray: Consisting of Selections from the Philosophical Letters Published by Dr. Derham, and original letters of John Ray in the Collection of the British Museum (London: Printed for the Ray Society, 1848), pp.

Letter destination presumed as Black Notley as Ray’s location in his prior and letter and response to Sloane is Black Notley. Ray was also considered not to have left Black Notley after 1679.



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