AND THE REV. R. OHURTON. 221 



favourable way to his character, if they can consistently with 

 truth. 



Bishop Smith sends his compliments and thanks you for 

 your kind enquiries; but he says he shall not "walk the town 

 numbering good intellects " till next winter. His biographer 

 has lately had so much unavoidable business on his hands 

 respecting the living that he has had no time to talk with the 

 dead. I am, dear Sir, 



Your very sincere and obliged humble servant, 



R. CHURTON. 



LETTER XXI. 



FROM MR. CHURTON TO GILBERT WHITE. 



Brasen-Nose, April 1, 1790. 

 DEAR SIR, 



I AM just returned from a short visit at Williamscot, whence 

 I fully purposed writing to you ; but yesterday, which was to 

 have been the day for that friendly office, I was totally 

 disabled by a bad headach, and the effects of it are far from 

 being gone at present. But expected business made my 

 return indispensable; and, now I am here, lest this memorable 

 day should lose its honour, the previous arrival of another 

 fellow made my presence unnecessary. However, let me 

 discharge my debt to you as well as I can; for if I wait 

 longer, you will perhaps be on your way hither before this 

 can reach Selborne. Dr. Loveday and all his family are very 

 well. He desires his best respects to you, and had a hearty 

 laugh at the excellent parody of the " young idea," which I 

 had forgot to mention when I was there before for two nights. 

 The presents were wrapped and directed at Fletcher's shop ; 

 but yours, it seems, was spelt by some " unlettered muse." I 

 gave them a list of names with proper orthography. Your 

 little niece had a happy escape from a perilous situation. I 

 remember being astonished at Mr. Warton's remark which 



