94 LETTERS TO GILBERT WHITE 



I have not seen any of ye new theatrical Performances as I 

 have been in Town but twice & ye last Time check'd by my 

 Grandmother's Illness, which likewise prevented a family Ball. 

 I have read Barbarossa and think it is a tolerable Ti*agedy, but 

 it has some main Objections to it. I don't know the Autlior. I 

 should hke to attend the Sale of Dr Mead's Collections, but a 

 Man who cannot bid, makes but a poor figure. It sells exorbi- 

 tantly. I think I have wished You Joy of your Brother Hal's 

 Success.* You have establish'd your Character I presume of 

 a Plotter. I am glad to hear of Dr Bentham's long Grace. The 

 late Deaths of great Men furnish You I suppose wth some Talk 

 in ye Country ; Sr Thos Robinson is likely to go to France in ye 

 Room of Ld Albermarle. If Mr Henley is in the Country, your 

 Uncle I reckon picks up all such Sort of News wth better Authority 

 than I can give it. I hope your Uncle is very well. This 

 Letter has not the Connexion of a common News Paper. You 

 will be diverted at it ; but don't insult me, for I am often seriously 

 afraid that my Thoughts want better Connexion tban they have. 



I heartily wish You a happy New Year, & very many of 

 them. The same good wishes attend all your Family as much 

 as Propriety will permit, & the Family You are wth. I hope 

 You have secured a merry Christmas, that wish being now of 

 the latest. 



I am, dear Gil, AfiFtely Your's, 



J. M. 



P.S. I have some Cyder left in ye Bottom of my Cask, it is 

 not yet stooped, what must I do wth it ? 



Letter 52. 



Sunbury, 



Febry 10, 1755. 

 Dear Gil : 



As I am just come off my Horse, I dare wth some Degree 

 of Boldness write to You, as I would to a Doctor when I had 

 taken his Physic, that I should decline doing it if I thrown his 

 Physic out of the Window. I am obliged to You for your very 

 friendly Repitition of the same Advice in almost every Lr, it 

 does not lose it's Effect, as I have mounted upon the Strength 

 of your Advice as often as upon my own Inclination. If You 

 had not said that your Uncle knew no Difference of Weather, 

 how should I have dared to have rode down from London on 

 Saturday last, when I actually travelled the whole Length of the 

 King's Road (which I very injudiciously chose) upon a glassy 



• Henry White had been recently elected to Bishop Robinson's Exhibition 

 at Oriel College. 



