LETTER XX.

Dr. Richardson to Sir Hans Sloane.

WORTHY SIR,

June 8th, 1702.

I was from home when yours came hither, where I was obliged to stay two or three days, so mist the opportunity of giving answer to yours by the first post. The day I went from home I put up for you a box of coale plants with some other fossils, and delivered them to John Atkison, the Bradford carier, who inns at the White-Horse, in Cripplegate he wil be in London on Wednesday night next. You wil finde amongst the impressions upon coale-slate some specimens I never had duplicates of, exactly answering the designs I left for you with Mr. Buddle; as the Hairy Eruca, the head of a Carduus or Jacea, the flower resembling some of Breynius' Chrysanthemum Aizoides,' but a little broken, and severall others. The small collection I have of naturall curiositys is at present in very great confusion, occasioned by removing them from the place where they were formerly placed;

Under this term, Breynius, in his first Century, included the various species of the genus, Mesembryanthemum, for the introduction of which our European gardens were indebted to Hermann, but a few years before the date of this letter.

but, if these already sent come to you unprejudiced, I shall at an other time run over the rest, and send such as I thinke wil be pleasing to you. I was with Mr. Thoresby yesterday: he gives you his service, and show'd me a letter from Dr. Woodward, wherein he highly resents the prejudice I have done him, by giving you the designes of some fossils I have met with here; which you was after pleased to showe to your society. At the Doctor's request, I left them with him for severall houres, which was long enough to make his observations upon them. I am sory I should give any just occasion of displeasure, either to him or any other ingenious person; but I thinke 'tis noe injury to him to dispose of my own as I thinke convenient. He very civilly show'd me his collection, (which is very fine;) but, at the same time, could not forbeare reflecting upon severall of my friends which I have a great esteeme for: he told me openly I was mistaken in the remarkes I communicated to Mr. Lhwyd, and that shells he had plenty, found upon Ingleborough. I desired Mr. Thoresby long ago2 to acquaint him that, in one part of the hill, where there is lime-stone, I had since my former observations found shells and Entrochi; but the greatest part of the top of the hill consists of a coarse

2 The communication here referred to appears to be lost; but in another Letter, dated the month subsequent to this, Dr. Richardson repeats the same fact to Thoresby.

raggy stone, and the lower of a fine sand-stone, of which slates for covering houses are made; and in both these, which are the twentieth part to one of lime-stone, there is not the least mention of any marine body. We have very fewe found here; this part of the country affording neither lime nor chalke, though the Doctor told me we had noe stones in England but would burn to a calx; which if he can make out, I will be under an obligation to give him a very honorable reward; but I am affraide I have already wearied your patience. I had some years agoe made some remarkes upon the coale fossils of this country, with reference to the designes you now have; but these are jumbled together with the rest, and not easily to be found; but, if you have any queries relating to them, when you please to favoure me with a second letter, upon notice shall give you all the satisfaction I can; or, if either dried specimens or viva radices of our northern plants may be acceptable to you or any of your society, I shall be very ready to serve them. I desire you wil pardon this impertinent scribble, and believe that I am,

Your assured friend and servant,

RIC. RICHARDSON.

LETTER XXI.

Mr. Thoresby to Dr. Richardson.

HONORED SIR,

LEEDES, July 3rd, 1702.

I perceive by Dr. Sloane you communicated to him what I writ, which put Dr. W. into a fret; but 'tis no great matter; for, tho' very ingenious, yet not the best temper'd. I have very lately receiv'd two letters from Dr. Sloane, who is proud of your correspondence, which he found to answer the great character he had of you, being extreamly knowing, candid, and ingenious. I have had also the favour of a letter from Mr. Lhwyd of Oxford, and wish I knew how to get one or two of the Adderbeads' he has ready for me safe into Yorkshire when you know of any opportunity, please to give me notice; and on Saturday last I receiv'd a small parcel of coyns from Mr. Sutherland

The Ovum Anguinum, or Adderbead, so called from its bearing on its surface the figure of one or more snakes wreathed round it, has from remote antiquity had a high character for its efficacy in matters of enchantment. Pliny (Book xix, chap. 3) gives an interesting account of its use among the Druids; and Mr. Pennant tells us it still retained its reputation for virtues with the Welch of his day; as Lhwyd, in a letter to Thoresby, says it did in his time with the Highlanders of Scotland. It was supposed to be produced from the saliva of a cluster of serpents, but is really nothing more than a blue glass bead, streaked as above-mentioned. One of these is described in Rauthmell's letter of August 3rd, 1737; and much curious matter respecting them will be found in Thoresby's Correspondence.

and a few formed stones, and one that smells of violets, found in the North of Scotland, of which he procured four, one of which he put to the Museum at Oxford; one to Mr. Charleton of the Temple (now Dr. Sloane's); and one he reserves for Dr. Richardson, which I advertise you of, least his letter to you should miscarry. I should be glad of a Catalogue of the Scotch coyns you receiv'd of him long agoe.

I am, SIR,

Your obliged humble serv1,

RALPH THORESBY.

P.S. The famous old Mr. Evelyn2 is yet hearty. He has left two odd coyns for me at Gresham College, which I know not how to get home, since Mr. Kirk is come away.

LETTER XXII.

Dr. Richardson to Sir Hans Sloane.

DEARE SIR,

NORTH BIERLEY, July 8th, 1702.

I received yours some time agoe, and am very much oblig'd to you for the offers of your assistance, in order to a collection of naturall raritys: 'tis very likely you have duplicats of severall

2 The well-known John Evelyn, author of the Sylva, &c.: he died in 1706.