NEW LETTERS. XXI 



stores, and had their very bread and cheese frozen. For my own 

 part, having a house full of relations, I enjoyed the rigorous 

 season much ; and found full employ in shoveling a path round 

 my outlet, and up to Newton ; and in observing the Therm rs , &c : 

 and was only sorry for the poor and aged, who suffered much. I 

 must not omit to tell you, that during those two Siberian days 

 my parlor-cat was so electric, when stroked, that had the Stroker 

 been properly insulated, he might have given the shock to a 

 whole circle of people. Bro : Tho : and family left us Jan : 5th. 

 The morning before he went away his house at S : Lambeth was 

 assaulted by three villains, one of whom his Gardener shot thro' 

 the body with slugs from the parapet just as they were entering 

 the drawing-room. Mrs. and Miss Etty are well ; and Charles 

 just gone to attend his ship in the river, which sails in March. 

 Mr. Kich d Chase is released from his 3 years and \ captivity in 

 India, and is returned to Madras. Magd : Coll : has just pur- 

 chased the little life-hold estate on the Plestor, in reversion after 

 two lives, intending hereafter to make it glebe to the vicarage. 

 Tell y r Mother I thank her for her gift, which will be very ac- 

 ceptable to the poor : and y Father, that I should be glad to 

 see his account of rain, frost, &c. I advise y r Father and 

 Bro r to read S r . John Cullun's History of Hawsted, the parish 

 where he is Rector. Mrs. J. White joins in respects. 



Yr loving Uncle, GIL : WHITE. 



Mr. Yalden, poor man, is in a bad state of health, and is gone 

 to town for advice. Ch : Etty's new ship is named the Duke of 

 Mont rose, Cap : Elphinstone : all the officers are Scotch except 

 Ch : I have met with Will : Bercarius, which name signifies 

 sJiepJterd: hence the modern name of Barker. Men are cutting 

 the beeches at the top of the hill ; but not those on the hanger 

 this year. We shall lose the beautiful fringe that graces the 

 outline of our prospect that way : but shall gain 60 feet of 

 Horizon. Jupiter wests so fast that at sun-set he is not much 

 above these trees. Snow covers the ground. 



