22 LETTERS TO HIS BROTHER 



This proposal concurring, as you know, with my constant 

 wish of reserving an employ to return to, has at present put a 

 stop to my N. expedition, and has put me upon trying every 

 expedient for procuring a substitute by writing to J. Mulso, 

 Bro. H. ; Skinner, &c. &c. What I could wish is to be at 

 liberty after Easter to visit you from Oxon. For I must not 

 pretend so totally to disregard College concerns as purposely, 

 and in good health, to decline appearing at an election. 



For my own feelings, I often wish myself with you, and 

 make many comparisons between this and the last winter, not 

 much to the advantage of the present. Last winter I look 

 back upon as one of the most pleasant of my life, when I had 

 my friends about me in a family way, and enjoyed the 

 conversation of relations from whom I had been parted so 

 long. When I do come to see you, you may depend on it I 

 should wish to make you a good long visit, besides the stay 

 that I must make in Rutland. As to Jack, I should wish to 

 have him stay as long as ever you and his mother can spare 

 him. He does not altogether lose his time, because he con- 

 strues and translates, or looks over maps, or writes letters every 

 day. He has read all the three volumes of the i Spectator ' 

 through with that relish that shewed he understood them; 

 and is much pleased with Derham's e Physico-theology,' and is 

 now embarked in Brydone's and Sir W. Hamilton's Letters, 

 in which I make him refer all the way to maps. J. and I 

 want to go to Fyfield soon; and therefore wish to know from 

 my sister whether he has had^the whooping cough, which all 

 Harry's boys labor under at present. 



My monography on the house-martin is finished, and in the 

 hands of Mr. Barrington, who is so much prejudiced in its 

 favour, that he proposes soon to have it read before the E. 

 Society. Another on the house-swallow is nearly completed ; 

 from which I propose to proceed to the rest of the British 

 Hirundines. Can Lever send us any authentic remarks ? Pray 

 tell me over again the story of the swallow building on the 

 dead owl's wings, and on the coach, &c. : I think I could 

 make a good use of it. The barometer is very irregular of 

 late ; we have now this day hard frost with the mercury at 



