MEMOIR OF 



Chatham died. When he was sixty-three, 1783, America was 

 separated from England. 



Gilbert White died on June 26th, 1793. The great John 



, , .Hunter, the anatomist, died also in 1793 on October 16th, aged 

 ' , : s}x1sy;-f<jmr, or nine years younger than Gilbert White. 



' Gilbert White's first letter with a date is Letter X., August 4th, 

 1 1176 1 ?. ; \Tiie, preface to the first edition is dated January 1st, 



..' 'jl?7&8..'' Gilbert White, therefore, must have been writing his 

 letters over twenty years. 



White's " History of Selborne " is of itself a most charming 

 book. If the reader wishes thoroughly to appreciate the great 

 merits of the illustrious author, he must not fail to pay a visit 

 to Selborne itself. 1 I have inspected Selborne and its neighbour- 

 hood. The first impression of Selborne, especially when driving 

 in from Alton, is that it is a very pretty place, a perfect type 

 of English woodland scenery and country life. The visitor 

 should carry his " White " in his hand and read the great Gilbert's 

 graphic writings on the very spots described ; he should also 

 take a good ordnance map with him, in order to get a general 

 idea of the neighbouring country. 



Under circumstances as above Selborne and its vicinity 

 become most interesting. I do not think the village, a sketch 

 of which is given by Mr. Delamctte, p. 12, can have been 

 much altered since White's time, except that some of the shops 

 now have plate-glass fronts, which would astonish Gilbert White 

 considerably if he could see them. 



During my visit to Selborne I was most hospitably re- 

 ceived by Professor Bell, who now resides, and has resided 

 for the last thirty-three years, in the house where Gilbert 

 White lived ; of this an admirable drawing is given by Mr. 

 Delamotte at page 9. On entering the house, I found myself 

 in an ante-hall with a very low roof and white-washed ceiling. 

 Mr. Bell ushered me into Gilbert White's study. This room 

 in a moment recalled to my mind long dormant memories 

 of my early youth. I was born in Christ Church College, Oxford, 

 December 17th, 1826 ; my Father was then Canon of Christ 

 Church; his uncle, the Eev. John Buckland, Eellow of Corpus 

 Christi College, then held the living of Warborough near 



1 Selborne can be reached from London by going from Waterloo Station 

 to Alton, about two hours' journey, and there taking a fly. Selborne is about 

 five miles from Alton. There is another route from Liss Station on the 

 South Western line. Mr. Blunden of the Queen's Arms, Selborne, has com- 

 fortable apartments, and can send his fly to either station. Mr. Blunden is 

 able and always willing to point out the various localities, &c., mentioned by 

 White. 



