LETTER XXX 55 



We look upon this, in our part of the World, to be a pretty- 

 female Performance. Mr. Eichardson says " She is a charming 

 child," & all that Mr E — says is wth Us oracular. In Eeturn for 

 communicating this Mulso-Piece, we expect Lythean Quaestions, 

 and Tent Scenes.* 



Let me know if You are entered upon ye Care of Selbourne, 

 and whether You intend to steal up again & see what is doing in 

 this more busy part of the World. I promise, not to demand in 

 the ill-natured Tone of David's Brother " Where hast thou left 

 those few poor sheep in the Wilderness?" Instead of that, You 

 shall have encouragement to aim your honest Sling & Stone at 

 the Giant Vice of the Parish of Sanbury. 



Our Eoof is reared & we pique ourselves upon having a famous 

 One ; it is built on ye Principles of that of Westminster Hall ; & 

 is much admired by Connoisseurs. 



I have no particular News to tell You farther. I hope all 

 your Friends are in good Health and Spirits, & desire my 

 Eespects & Love to them. And be sure don't forget that Walton 

 Bridge has made Sunbury a very commodious way to London. 



I am, dear Gil, Afftely Your's, 



J. Mulso. 



Letter 30. 



Sunbury. Jan : ye 29, 1752. 

 Dear Gil : 



If our Correspondence were to come to ye Press, here 

 would of late have been an Hiatus valde deflendus by the Printer 

 & Editor. You punished Me pretty severely, by punishing Me wth 

 Silence ; I hoped to come off wth a Scold, but You would not be 

 so mercifull. So being now upon a Par I shall take my Course 

 as if Nothing had ever interrupted my prattling. Indeed I do 

 not know what Miss Heck will say, who I presume was not a 

 little impatient to know your Opinion of her Odes : one of which 

 You saw by my Means & the Other by Tom's. It is to be hoped 

 that You have thank'd him for the Persecution. What would 

 Pope have said if he had been hunted out of the Eetreats of 

 Selbourne & by a female Writer, who greiv'd so to be followed to 

 ye commodious Twickenham ? 



I hear that You are snug at the Vicarage ;t where it is to be 

 presumed that You are preparing Something for ye World. 



* The Lythe at Selborne, a common near the stream, was one of Gilbert 

 White's favourite haunts. His ornamental tent is shown in the foreground 

 above part of the Lythe in " The Great N.E. view of Selborne," which forms 

 the frontispiece to the quarto editions of his book. 



t Since October, 1751, Gilbert White had been acting as Curate-in-oharge 

 for the Vicar of Selborne, Dr. Bristow, who was unwell. 



