174 LETTBRS TO GILBERT WHITE 



Letter 105. 



[? April, 1763.] 

 Dear Gil : 



Your last Letter was indeed a Letter of Business. We 

 had learnt the Death of Mr Snooke & Mr White from our 

 Papers; but the private Circumstances could be only learnt 

 from You. As to what You mention of the first of these 

 Gentlemen, it has confirmed me in an Opinion that I always 

 held, that odd Men are very seldom valuable Men : neither will 

 I ever thro' Life (if I see with the same Eyes that I do now) 

 ever pay my Court, or trust to a Man of that Character, for 

 any thing that He does not give me better Assurance of than 

 his own Word <fe Promise. I am heartily sorry for the Vexation, 

 that it must be natural to Mrs Woods to take, upon being used 

 in so scurvy a way. Mrs Mulso & myself join in wishing her 

 Joy of her Son, (as also Mr & Mrs Etty :) I am as much pleased 

 with ye Dispositions that your Uncle White has made of his 

 Fortunes, as I am displeased wth Mr Snooke. I am sorry that 

 the Patron * refused You what You asked for, as it would have 

 brought your matters within Compass & You might still have 

 resided at your beloved Selbourne. I hope to hear that Harry 

 has had better Success in his Applications. You are now arrived 

 at that happiest of human States, Independence. For tho' You 

 may be glad to have an Addition to your Fortune, especially 

 in Lieu of your Fellowship if You find Yourself inclined to 

 marry, yet as You have all in your own Power, without a 

 Necessity of attending & soUiciting any Body, You are in an 

 enviable Situation by ye greatest part of Mankind. f By the 

 last Paragraph in your Paper we have hopes of availing Our- 

 selves of your Freedom some Time this Year when your Affairs 

 are put into Train. As therefore You show a Desire of seeing 

 Us, and will soon, please God, have it in your Power, I will 

 tell You ye State of the Case with Regard to what we know 

 of next Summer. In July we have a Promise of the Company 

 of the Bishop, Mrs Thomas, & Dr & Mrs Ogle. Either after 

 or before them of Admiral Young with his new Lady (who is 

 a valuable Woman) & perhaps his Brothers. While These Folks 

 are wth me, I would not wish to see You, because if I know 

 them right, they will not have a Relish for ye same Sort of 

 Entertainment that You would have. As soon therefore as 

 I know more of these Visitors' Intentions, I will let You know ; 

 and hope that You will then take up your abode with us for 



• Lord Chancellor Henley. The living was the small one of Bradley, 

 distant about 9 miles from Selbome. 



t Charles White had bequeathed some smaU properties in and near 

 Selbome to his nephew, including the house the latter occupied, the 

 Wakes at Selbom«, for which he had paid £5 78. a year to his uncle. 



