248 CORRESPONDENCE OF GILBERT WHITE 



I once had a second leafing of a Hawthorn about Xmass. 

 But those leaves faded before Spring. I sent the account to 

 S r J. Pringle when P.R.S.*, but he thought it not strange. 

 Sir, if you do not take the Ph. Trans, if you please i will send 

 you a copy of my Indica ns of Spring, as it may be an amuse- 

 ment to you, to see how much later we are in Norfolk than 

 you are in Hampshire, I am, with great esteem, 

 Sir, your most obedient, 



humble servant, 



K: MARSHAM. 



P.S. I have now in a Stack of Blocks a young Cuckow fed 

 by a water- Wagtail. 



LETTER II. 



WHITE TO MARSHAM. 



Selborne: near Alton: Hants, 



Aug: 13th: 1790. 



GOOD SIR, 



As an author I have derived much satisfaction from your 

 kind & communicative letter ; and am glad to hear that my 

 book has found it's way into Norfolk, & that it has fallen into 

 the hands of so intelligent and candid a reader as Yourself, 

 whose good word may contribute to make it better known in 

 those parts. I am glad that You happened to mention your 

 most estimable friend the late Dr. Steven Hales ; because he 

 was also my most valuable friend, and in former days near 

 neighbour during the summer months. For tho' his usual 

 abode was at Teddington ; yet did he for many years reside 

 for about two months at his rectory of Faringdon, which is 

 only two miles from hence ; & was well known to my Grand- 

 father and Father, as well as to myself. If I might presume 

 to say that what you see respecting the copulation of toads is, 

 I think, a mistake, you will pardon my boldness : because the 



* [Sir John Pringle, President of the Royal Society, 1772-1778. 



A. N.] 



