xiv INTRODUCTION. 



now converse intelligibly in any other language than that of the 

 celebrated Swede. And impartiality compels us to say, that we 

 are disappointed in not rinding a particular account of the tillage 

 of the district where Selborne is situate. A person with this 

 writer's patient observation would have made many remarks highly 

 valuable. Men of intelligence, like him, are wanted to promote 

 an intimacy between the library and the plough. The man of 

 books sees many errors which he supposes he could correct ; while 

 the practical cultivator laughs at the essays of the theorist. Much 

 the greater part of renting farmers are prevented, by their anxiety 

 to wind the bottom round the year, from engaging in experiments ; 

 and many think it nearly criminal to deviate from the practice of 

 their forefathers; so that, at this day, it remains for gentlemen of 

 property and enlarged minds to determine whether it is best to 

 sow three bushels of wheat, or one, on an acre of land. In other 

 words, whether there be not as much corn yearly wasted by super- 

 fluous, perhaps injurious, seeding, as would furnish an annual and 

 ample supply for the largest city. Though agriculture has of late 

 been attended to, still he would be one of the greatest benefactors 

 to his countrymen in general, who would convince them that the 

 richest mine of national wealth lies within six inches of the surface, 

 and who would teach them the most advantageous method of 

 working it. 



"On the whole, we will pronounce that the inquirers into 

 natural knowledge will find Mr. White to be no unequal successor 

 of Ray and Derham ; and that the History of the Priory is a 

 curious tract of local antiquity. We should not hesitate to speak 

 so favourably of this work even though it had much less rural 

 anecdote and literary allusion to recommend it." 



A translation of his book was published at Berlin in 1792. In 

 June, 1793, White died. His body lies in the fifth grave to the 

 north of the chancel wall, and on the headstone is 



