LETTER V 



mysteries I far higher deem ! as Milton says. Upon my word I 

 would not advise You to play so much as you do with ye Tangles 

 of Neaera's Hair : those meshes will hold fast a Heart of stronger 

 Wing for Flight that your's is, & if 



Beauty draws us with a single Hair, 

 it may very well hold, with a whole Tete. 



I did not think Loader would have remember'd what I only 

 in a jesting manner said to Him so long ago. Jo : Warton tore 

 himself from ye Town last Sunday, He fled from our Table into 

 a Post-Chaise with Dacier, who in his way to Bath will set him 

 down within a few miles of Basinstoke, where He talks of resid- 

 ing a pretty while. Collins is now my next neighbour. I break- 

 fasted with him this morning, & Capn. Hargrave play'd on ye 

 Harpsichord, which He has not forgott quite so much as He has 

 Himself. You are much lov'd here, but You reign in ye Heart 

 of your very affte Friend 



J. M. 



P.S. Congratulate Scrope & Carter* upon their Best from 

 their Labour, I hope their Works will follow Them, I mean that 

 among other attempts of Eecompence Sr Thos will present them 

 with a Sett a piece. 



Adieu. 



Letter 5. 

 To Mr. Gilbert White 



at Selbourne near Alton, Hants. Novber. 6, 1744. 



Dear Gil : 



By this Time I am afraid You have been put to ye im- 

 pertinent expence of a Letter from me by way of Eingmer :f but 

 indeed You led me into ye mistake, by only saying you was to 

 return into ye Country & datiug from Sussex. I am now in your 

 Debt for another Letter & your Present, for both which I return 

 thanks to You & Copper. 



I am now settled in London for ye Winter ; a Letter, which 

 1 have just reciev'd from Mr Bentham, has freed me from ye 

 troublesome Business of the Exhibition, which I think I men- 

 tion'd to You in my circular Letter. BP. Eobinson's]: Estate is 

 too much incumber'd, with Lawyers, to be trusted to ye Hands 

 of Youth ; a time of Life when One has too much Generosity & 

 Simplicity to enter into ye mazes of Chicanery. Tho' I can 



* Contemporaries at Oriel. 



t Neat Lewes, where Gilbert White paid an annual visit to his aunt, Mrs. 

 Snooke. 



X John Robinson, who held many distinguished offices and was a benefac- 

 tor to Oriel College, of which he had been a Fellow. 



