THE REV. JOHN WHITE. 47 



avoidably befall and escape every author. Be sure to pro- 

 cure a good perspective western view of the harbor, town, and 

 hill of Gib. to fold in as frontispiece, with references; it will 

 contribute to explain many passages. You will have, I find, 

 near 1000 pages, and 800 species. 



As an electrician you should see Priestley's 'Hist, of Elec- 

 tricity :' he sets the whole in a pleasing light. Just as you 

 wrote last my neighbours told me there were troops from Gib. 

 at Alton ; so I sent Thomas over with a note and invitation to 

 your friend Cap. Shaw. He brought word that Mr. S. had 

 passed through Alton, and was quartered at Farnham. I then 

 wrote by the post to Farnham renewing my invitation ; and 

 received a letter of thanks, and excuses that they expected 

 daily to be called for to inarch towards London, where the 

 king would review them. However, the deep snow came and 

 stopped their march; so that when I came to Farnham I 

 found the soldiers still there : I therefore called on C. Shaw 

 for five minutes in my postchaise at the Bush-inn-gate ; and 

 so ended the affair. He expressed his sense of my civility, 

 and says he will write to you very soon. He does not expect 

 to go to N. America. 



As soon as Bro. Tho. is at liberty he proposes laying in 

 materials for a history of Hants : he is in possession of a fine 

 fortune. 



I am glad John (for now he is very near six feet high I 

 must no longer call him Jack) behaves so much to your satis- 

 faction. He has lately written to me ; and I have answered 

 from hence, offering him a book of a guinea value, but desi- 

 ring him to consult you and his master. 



We condole with you on the loss of your excellent friend 

 the Governor *. Perhaps by permission you may dedicate to 

 the Archbishop, and, as the General is dead, may be allowed to 

 speak with more warmth of him than you could have done to 



* [The Hon. Edward Cornwallis, Lieutenant-General, and Governor 

 of Gibraltar, was the son of Lord Cornwallis, uncle of the earl, and twin 

 brother of the Archbishop of Canterbury. He died at Bird Place in 

 Hertfordshire, on the 14th of January 1776, only about a fortnight before 

 the date of this letter. T. B.] 



