MEMOIR. xxxv 



his Selborne home. During this time he had lodgings 

 at Bishop's Waltham, within about three miles of Durley; 

 and I find, upon looking over his book of expenditure 

 during this period, and carefully eliminating those items 

 which did not belong to his residence at Bishop's Wal- 

 tham, that the actual expenses of his curacy exceeded 

 his receipts from it by nearly 20. It is interesting to 

 observe that, at this early period of his career, he was 

 influenced by the same unselfishness and true Christian 

 liberality which formed so marked a characteristic of his 

 whole future life. 



The persistent celibacy of Gilbert White appears 

 scarcely consistent with his eminently affectionate and 

 social disposition, and leads naturally to the supposition 

 that there must have been some disappointment in his 

 early life, which had an enduring effect upon his mind 

 and heart, and prevented his ever again seeking a union 

 in which his qualities were so calculated to receive and 

 communicate happiness. Such was really the case. The 

 lady who was the object of his early regard was Miss 

 Hester Mulso, the daughter of an intimate friend of the 

 family, Thomas Mulso, Esq., of Twywell, in Northamp- 

 toftshire. This lady was born in 1727 ; she was there- 

 fore seven years Gilbert White's junior. She gave early 

 promise of the literary distinction to which she after- 

 wards attained as Mrs. Chapone, and is said to have 

 composed a romance when a child of nine years of age. 

 She became early the friend and correspondent of many 

 of the distinguished literary persons of the period, of 

 both sexes, amongst whom may be mentioned Richard- 

 son, Johnson, Mrs. Montague, Mrs. Carter, and others. 

 By Richardson she was introduced to Mr. Chapone, a 

 barrister, to whom, after a long acquaintance, she was 



