vi INTRODUCTION. 



In the last edition of his works we have the 

 following biographical sketch of his life, perhaps 

 the only one extant: " Gilbert White was the 

 eldest son of John White of Selborne, Esq., and 

 of Anne, the daughter of Thomas Holt, rector 

 of Streatham in Surrey. He was born at Sel- 

 borne, on July 18, 1720, and received his school 

 education at Basingstoke, under the Reverend 

 Thomas Warton, vicar of that place, and father 

 of those two distinguished literary characters, Dr. 

 Joseph Warton, master of Winchester school, 

 and Mr. Thomas Warton, poetry professor at 

 Oxford. He was admitted at Oriel College, 

 Oxford, in December, 1789, and took his degree 

 of Bachelor of Arts in June, 1743. In March, 

 1744, he was elected Fellow of his College. He 

 became Master of Arts in October, 1746, and 

 Was admitted one of the senior Proctors of the 

 University in April, 1752. Being of an unam- 

 bitious temper, and strongly attached to the 

 charms of rural scenery, he early fixed his resi- 

 dence in his native village, where he spent the 

 greater part of his life in literary occupations, 

 and especially in the study of Nature. This he 

 followed with patient assiduity, and a mind ever 

 open to the lessons of piety and benevolence, 



