222 CORRESPONDENCE OF GILBERT WHITE 



you quote, where he says " Milton had a very bad ear." As 

 to such lines as that you cite (" Shoots invisible virtues ") I 

 think they were studiously rough, slow, or redundant, though 

 I do not pretend to determine the exact reason of each, or 

 undertake to justify them. But, as you justly observe, " his 

 manly melodies cannot but charm the judicious reader." 

 And if smoothness is required, Pope himself, with all his 

 polishing, has no lines more smooth and flowing than the 

 inimitable passage where he describes " smooth Adonis from 

 his native rock run[ning] purple to the sea." And the 

 numbers and pauses are so charmingly varied that they 

 "bring no satiety." I have not heard who is the author of 

 the e Village Curate.' I think Mr. Crabbe wrote on some such 

 subject ; but of him I know but little, only I have heard his 

 poetry commended. I thank you for your intelligence about 

 Dr. Chandler, from whom Dr. Loveday and myself hear almost 

 as often as when he was at Rolle or at Rome. I am the more 

 surprised at his not writing to me as I sent him some papers 

 to Fleet Street about W. of Wainfleet, which he should have 

 told me he had received safe. I am glad you are likely to 

 have him for your neighbour during the summer; and I hope 

 your fine views will make him cease to languish for Switzer- 

 land or Italy. I hope I shall have the pleasure of seeing you 

 here next week. My motions are a little uncertain. My 

 immediate senior is going on Monday to look at Stoke 

 Bruern near Towcester, which his senior has declined accept- 

 ing, and he wants me to go with him ; but it is cold sport 

 looking at a living one is not sure of ; and, to say the truth, I 

 do not at present wish for the option, as I wish to finish the 

 lives of our Founders before I accept a living from their 

 society ; and I have at present only written about four score 

 quarto pages of the bishop's life, and not yet translated him to 

 his second Bishopric. Excuse a shabby letter. Present my 

 best respects to Mrs. J. White and to the family at Newton. 

 I am, Dear Sir, 



Your very sincere and most obliged servant, 



B. CHUETON. 



