The description of Mr. Ray of the flower, in his description of the Cinnamon of Malabar, is extremely accurate; as is also the figure in the _Hortus Malabaricus_, Nº. 54. and the description, fol. 107. under the name Carua. I shall therefore refer to those. I shall not trouble you with the question debated by Mr. Ray, whether the Cinnamon and Cassia of the ancients were, or were not, the same with those so called by the moderns? whether the Cinnamon of the ancients was the twigs of the tree bearing cloves, or any plant now unknown to us? Mr. Ray has largely treated on this subject; and to him I refer such as are curious to be informed on this subject. But as the Cinnamon and Cassia of the ancients are said to have been used as perfumes, and to make perfumed ointments, I think they must have differed from ours, whose smell is not very fragrant, nor is emitted to any great distance. The matter of the present inquiry is, whether the Cinnamon of Ceylon is the same sort of plant with that growing in Malabar, Sumatra, _&c._ differing only by the soil or climate, in which it grows, which is the opinion of Garcias; or from the culture or manner of curing the plant, as I am inclined to believe; or whether it is really a different genus or species of plant, as many people believe, and some botanical writers seem to indicate. I shall endeavour to explain this matter by producing, 1st, The descriptions of the most celebrated authors: 2dly, By producing the most accurate figures of the plants of Sumatra and Ceylon: [_See Tab._ xxxvi.] 3dly, By shewing the specimen of the leaves and branches brought from Sumatra. I have no specimen from Ceylon; but have carefully examined the specimens kept in the British Museum, with the assistance of Dr. Maty and Mr. Empson, and compared them with the specimens I have from Sumatra; from whence I traced exactly the figures brought herewith: which specimens are undoubtedly brought from Ceylon, and were the collections of Boerhaave, Courteen, Plukenet, and Petiver. But, previous to this inquiry, I would premise, that the writers, who give the description of the Cinnamon of Ceylon, were probably not acquainted with that of Malabar at the time of their publishing their works. Mr. Ray also, who so accurately describes the flower of the Cinnamon of Malabar, seems not so well acquainted with its fruit; and probably had then never seen the specimens of the Cinnamon from Ceylon; for his description is plainly borrowed from others, and not his own. Tho’ I have reason to think he afterwards saw the specimens of Mr. Courteen, and was convinced, that the plants were the same.