lii MEMOIR. 



approves of it. Were it not for want of a good amanu- 

 ensis, 1 think I should make more progress ; but much 

 writing and transcribing always hurts me." 



At length, however, the transcribing is completed, and 

 chiefly by himself ; the printers appear to have done their 

 part admirably, and on the 8th of January 1788 he 

 writes thus to his nephew Barker :- " I have been very 

 busy of late, and have at length put my last hand to my 

 Nat: Hist: and Antiquities of this parish. However, 



I am still employed in making an Index My 



work will be well got up, with a good type and on good 

 paper, and will be embellished with several engravings. 

 It has been in the press some time, arid is to come out 

 in the spring." In this anticipation, however, he was 

 disappointed. Notwithstanding his own advertisement, 

 as printed, is dated by himself Jan. 1st, 1788, its actual 

 publication did not take place until more than a year 

 after. The following amusing lines were written by 

 him on the eve of its appearance ; they have never before 

 been published. The dreaded result has been most 

 signally negatived. 



" To myself commencing author. 



" Go, view that House, amid the garden's bound, 

 Where tattered volumes strew the learned ground, 

 Where Novels, Sermons in confusion lie, 

 Law, ethics, physics, school- divinity ; 

 Yet did each author, with a parent's joy, 

 Survey the growing beauties of his boy, 

 Upon his new-born babe did fondly look, 

 And deem Eternity should claim his book. 

 Taste ever shifts ; in half a score of years 

 A changeful public may alarm thy fears ; 

 Who now reads Cowley ? The sad doom await, 

 Since such as these are now may be thy fate. 



"GiL: WHITE." 

 "South Lambeth, 25 June, 1789." 



