28 LETTERS TO GILBERT WHITE ' 



wthoufc regarding the Force of ye word even at all, or suffer Her 

 to read ev'n in &c: I don't see any Keason why You should be 

 oblig'd to Pope for one Line : His Line, I own, conveys an Idea 

 of a Pane that is neat, well oyl'd, & versatile enough, but I don't, 

 when I think severely, enter into ye Thought of every loavring 

 Hour, whether Horace meant a Flag or ye Buoy of a Ship by his 

 fiuitem pendulus I don't know, but I beleive not a Fane. I had 

 rather you would have given your own Idea to words, than have 

 been cheated by words into an Idea. I think you ought to be 

 contented wth your Performance when we can raise no better 

 objections, which I rather set down to show that we had taken 

 some Pains as well as much Pleasure in ye Beading, than that 

 You should make alteration, 



I am glad to hear that You have such an Inclination to 

 Sunbury, I wish ye word Praebeo was more applicable to me, 

 that I might accomodate you in the amplest manner ; You may 

 well call ye Vicarage a Caravansary, for as I take it there was 

 little more than bare walls in them, & Passengers fodder'd their 

 own Cattle wth what Provision they brought wth them. If ye 

 House kept off ye dews of ye Night, it was all that was expected. 

 I call Mouse to witness my Eastern Beggary. You must settle 

 your own Time & then I will not be in London, but I will attend 

 you thither wth Pleasure. Miss Hecky will be glad to see you & 

 80 will Jenny &c. I expect to see your Brother Musgrave"** soon 

 who is coming up to attend his Sister Betty's Marriage. Tlie 

 Day is not fix'd. Don't dare to rail at my Laziness, I have in 

 some of your Letters ye best Descriptions of Procrastination, & 

 applied to Yourself. I profess it. My Genius is idle. But I 

 don't glory in it neither. 



Dr Middleton has abus'd ye Bp of London for his Book about 

 Prophecy, & treated Him de haut en has. Whether He means it 

 as a Diversion from his war with ye 3 first Centuries I can't tell, 

 but it will occasion more Paper- war, & save many a Piece of Beef 

 from scorching. Edward ye Black Prince is but an indifferent 

 Performance. You may venture to a Play : for the Audience had 

 like to have torn ye House down t'other Night, for ye Manager's 

 daring to revive an indecent Play of Otway's ; & calling Him 

 forth, order'd Him never to affront their Ears with such loose 

 Performances. 



Miss Warton is got to a New Place which I hope she will 

 like ; it is wth Lady Sherrard at Hampton Court. So we may 

 see Her. 



My Compliments to your assembled Family. Health and 

 Happiness to all. 



I am, dear Gil, Your sincere Friend, 



J. M. 



* Chardin Musgrave, Fellow, and subsequently Provost of Oriel College. 



