106 LBTTEBS TO GILBERT WHITE 



wth me, & set out for London about five: but we were soon 

 after alarmed wth the News that Miss Young & Miss Thomas 

 were overturned into the Thames at the End of the Town. Out 

 we flew, (for Ned is wth me) & to the saving of my Heart, 

 which was almost broke with fright & Running, met ye two 

 deplorable dribbling Misses in the Street. Had the water been 

 as high on that Day as Yesterday, I think they had been 

 drowned ; for to avoid it the Coachman drove up a Bank ; the 

 new cemented Pole broke ; ye frighted Horses jumped down 

 the Bank & over they came into the Boad which was become 

 a Part of the Thames. I thank God they received no material 

 Bruise ; but were fairly sopped & well frightned. I had the 

 Honour of their Company all Night. The neighbourhood sent 

 in Cloaths, & George was despatched to Town for fresh ; wth 

 Intelligence of the Mischance wrote by Miss Young from Bed. 

 Yesterday George returned wth Cloaths, & Tom who is returned 

 fm the Circuit came down to see the State of the Case & to escort 

 ye two Ladies to Town. They had a Post Chaise fm Hampton, 

 & are I suppose safe in Town, for I hear no more of them : 

 They set out at 4 in ye afternoon, & Tom was pressed into ye 

 Chaise wth them, George Miss Young's Man rode my Brother's 

 Horse : So carefull were they of themselves, that if a like accident 

 had happened, by having three in ye Vehicle the Danger had 

 been enhanced ; but this is Lady's Prescience. 



Pray, Gil, let me know a Truth. You stand indited by the 

 Name of Gilbert White, Clerk, for that You having the whole &. 



sole Property of a Thing called a Sermon wrote by Miss M o 



& keeping it from the Family of the said Miss, out of a pre- 

 tended Pride of having a Manuscript, Value 10,000 &c, &c, &c : 

 have yet let this Manuscript escape out of your Possession : 

 Mr Proctor Trenley of Sunbury having proffer'd me to get 

 Sight of the same ; as we suppose, tho' not yet proved, by means 

 of his Uncle Brown, Bookseller, who is acquainted wth Mr 

 Whiston Bookseller, & B : White ditto. Brother of the said G : 

 White ye Delinquent : who is mainly suspected of having made 

 undue communications of these Lady-Favours ; a thing unpardon- 

 able, & 'till this time unsuspected in the said G : White. Please 

 to clear up these aJQfairs, before Condemnation is passed in the 

 King's square Court. 



You know that Mrs Baker is long since dead & buried : 

 Mr Baker is in a bad way : Mr Young very weak and super- 

 annuated ; My Father very poorly wth a terrible Cough, a Part 

 of his paralytic Disorder. My Aunt Thomas poorly wth a 

 Complaint at her Stomach at a critical Time of Life, & Miss 

 Prescott in a very doubtfull way, but has small Hopes from 

 Dr Letherland that Time may set her up again. My Uncle 

 pretty well, & in good Case & Favour. So You see we are a 



