Journal of Proceedings. clxix
I will endeavour at least not to dishonour the memory or the actions
of a character so much and so justly revered. He was a man, meek,
placid and benevolent by nature ; studious and learned by unwearied
application; religious and revered, and full of academical honours, by
virtue of his holy profession ; and by the due practice of it ;—he was
likewise an extensive and successful traveller and writer ; and one of
the most deserving members of the Royal Society ; and so multifarious
were his publications that even a bare enumeration of their titles would be
thought too extensive for our present sketch," &c.
Twenty-one years later (December, 1828, Haworth being still living),
at the public dinner in commemoration of the second centenary of the
birthday of Ray, held at. Freemasons' Hall, about 130 distinguished
scientists being present, the Rev. William Kirby, an eastern counties
man resembling Ray in many respects, who said he had never before
addressed a public assembly of a festive character [and he was then
69 years of age], testified to his admiration of the great and good Ray :
"He was great as a natural philosopher, and great also as a moral
philosopher. He penetrated the world of science further than any of
his contemporaries, and by his exertions formed a bright constellation of
information, whose beams had served as a guide and beacon to more
modern labourers. In entomology, the branch of science to which he
himself was devoted, the naturalist of the present time was indeed
deeply indebted to Ray, who had combined the system of Aristotle with
that of Swammerdam, and cleared the way for Linnaeus. Much had
been done to unveil Nature, but still much remained to be done ; and he
hoped that a course of perseverance would be pursued until all was
accomplished."
I can add nothing further except to follow the Fathers of British
entomology, Kirby and Spence, who referred with every respect to our
compatriot as "the excellent Ray," but will conclude with one of
Young's thoughts :—
" Read Nature : Nature is a. friend to truth :
Nature is Christian : preaches to mankind ;
And bids dead matter aid us in our creed."
It should be remembered that Prof. Boulger's " Presidential Address "
to the Club in January of this year was devoted to the consideration of
the influence of Ray's work on the progress of modern science [see vol.
iv. of the 'Transactions,' pp. 171-188], and that, consequently, the
Members have now a tolerably exhaustive account of his scientific
labours in the three essays now in their hands.
Ray's tomb records the date of his birth as November 29th, 1628,
which, as Professor Boulger pointed out above, was inaccurate, as it was
known that he was christened some months before that date (ante, p.
clix.). The Rev. T. Overton, B.D., the rector, drew attention to a
Greek inscription on Ray's tomb from one of the plays of Euripides,
which he had ventured to translate as follows :—
Not in narrow cloture of churchyard obscure,
Repose the illustrious dead;
The earth's wide womb for them is the tomb,
With the starry vault o'erhead.
After a most interesting conversation on the incidents of the life and
death of the great Essex naturalist, the little Norman church of SS.