08 LETTEKS TO GILBERT WHITE 



lected me, the Countenances cleared up, & we plunged into 

 Selboumian Topics, & talked all together wth a very agreeable 

 Familiarity. 



As to your new Line, it is rejected every where, & my Sister 

 has absolutely refused to admit it into the Poem ; not but that 

 this Partiality to the Work has given her an outrageous Desire 

 to see it, & as no One can describe better than Yourself, She 

 expects it at your Hands, the thing will bear a great deal 

 of Poetry. As to Herself She is seldom idle, & perhaps in Lieu 

 of this Piece which You are to produce, She may trust You wth 

 some little Eschantillon or other. 



I will call You none of the bad Names which You ingeniously 

 suppose for yourself upon your escape from your Exuviae, but 

 above all, the Drone, i.e., without a Sermon ; because it shall not 

 be that You come without such a travelling Equipage ; It is a 

 necessary Part of it to a Clergyman. Even my tJncle who 

 intends to come & see me in the Summer, dares not come 

 without such Aid and Assistance. 



I hope all Friends are well at Oriell. My Respects to those 

 who enquire after Me. 



I am, dear Gil, Afifectely Yours, 



J. Mulso. 



Letter 37. 



Sunbury. 



May 18, 1753. 

 Dear Gil : 



I hope this comes Time enough to catch You at Oxford, 

 & to let You know how glad I shall be to see You in our Part of 

 the World again. Yes, I will hobble wth You, (for my Horse is 

 still lame,) to different Scenes, if it please God that we meet 

 in Health ; & hope to make your Residence agreable by its being 

 rather less sedentary than it used to be. 



I heard in Town of Dr Bentham's Success & am heartily glad 

 of it, I went to York Buildings to compliment Him upon it, but 

 could not meet wth him, & He was so kind as to return the 

 Compliment the next Morning, but (more suo) his old Pupil was 

 abed. I went to see your Sister White & Invisible, while I was 

 in Town, & their Observation upon the Doctor's Preferment was 

 that now He might declare the Love that He had long bore to 

 your Neighbour at Alton, I think, Polly Bates. 



It was there I first heard of your Aunt White's* Death, for 

 Tom forgot it when He came off the Circuit. I was really con- 

 cerned for it, & especially upon your Uncle's Account, for as he 

 is inclined to Lowness of Spirits, He must sensibly feel the 

 Absence of so dear and valuable a Companion. They told me too 



• Mrs. Charles White, of Bradley, Hants. 



