8 LETTERS TO GILBERT WHITE 



hardly contrive to get out of my House in London, & almost envy 

 the free tho' cold Air of the Country, yet it is not the Oxford Air 

 that I chuse to taste. I turn my Eyes towards Selbourne, I long 

 to see an old Friend in a new place. But alas Journeys are too 

 expensive for a younger Brother ; I despair of seeing you in 

 Hampshire ; I must cough on in London. 



Jo : Warton has applied to my Uncle for any Curacy ; how 

 distress'd must He be ! my Uncle has sent him the Refusal of 

 an indifferent One, but such as He could get ; but not where 

 Jo : foolishly desires it ; Jo : longs to be a Town Curate. This 

 is thirty miles off ; I hope He will accept it : I am in great 

 Concern about him ; for you know, Gil, his character stands 

 upon slippery Ground. 



I write on a Visit to Amen Corner, so must not be too prolix : 

 Mama is obhg'd to you for feeding her two Dogs, &c : &c : You 

 have ye Love of all our Family & One of ye warmest Corners in 

 ye Heart of 



Your sincere Friend 



J. M. 



P.S. Have you heard of Tom Mander ? tell me about Wells's 

 Affair when You hear more. My Compliments to your Family. 



Letter 6. 

 To Mr Gilbert White 



at Mr Snooke's, at Ringmer Sept. 7, 1745, 



near Lewes, Sussex. 



Dear Gil : 



If I had known your true Distemper, it would have sav'd 

 me from ye Apprehensions of a much worse : And when I thought 

 ye small-pox kept you so long silent, I was more concern'd for 

 that Excuse than I am angry to find it ye effect of Laziness. It 

 would be hard if I could not bear cognatas Maculas. I write 

 from my bed-chamber ; & I am afraid it would have been better 

 if I had staid, like You, till I was awaked, than to have hasten'd 

 to write in my sleep. — I thank You for letting me know of your 

 Pleasures, it is always an Addition to my own : I never, as You 

 know, read ye Odyssey, nor could I get it this Summer, tho' I 

 have endeavour'd it. — Poor Fresco ! * I am really concern'd for his 

 Bufferings, yet I fancy He bears them according to ye Rules of 

 that Stoicism that was written so strong in his Face. Copper* 

 is my Favourite, I believe He would welcome me to Selbourne 

 as well as Yourself ; but I don't yet find a Probability of my 

 accepting my dear Friend's kind Invitation, yet I am not afraid 

 of growing wild ; I look for an Arcady with You ; and I expect 



* A spaniel. 



