216 LETTERS TO GILBERT WHITE 



more capable of satisfying the Curiosity of the human Mind, 

 which is allways searching after Novelty, for the Subject is 

 inexhaustible. But some Circumstances have the Appearance 

 of Minutiae to ye Ignorant, which are certainly material to 

 ye Philosopher. 



(I beleive Captn Ogle's chief Reason for accepting his Knight- 

 hood was to make his Wife take Place of her eldest Sister ; for 

 he is neither Sr Toby Belch, nor Sr Andrew Ague Cheek, but Sr 

 Boreas Bubble, & ready to burst wth Pride. As to ye Doctor 

 he is not so delighted wth the Conveniency of his Durham State 

 but that He would gladly have relinquished it for the Deanery 

 of Winchester, if Dr Shipley would have made a Vacancy there. 

 But all this is entre Nous.) 



I shall endeavour to remember to say Laurustinus hereafter, 

 & you may farthur inform me, how I may with Propriety use it 

 in the Plural Number. 



If this should follow you to Fyfield, or your Brother be 

 with you, pray give our Complts to him, for whom & the rest 

 of your family I have a constant Eegard, & I am, as I have long 

 & sincerely been, 



Dear Gil, Your affectionate Friend, 



J. Mulso. 

 — quod et hunc in annum 



vivat, et pluris — ! is my wish to my old Friend. 



Letter 132. 



To the Reverend Mr White, Witney. 



at Selbourne near Alton, Hants. Aug : 27, 1769. 



Dear Gil : 



Tho' your Letter is dated ye 10 Instt and contains an 

 exceeding kind & urgent Invitation to your House, yet I could 

 not answer it before this time ; & I am sorry to say that I cannot 

 answer it now agreably to your friendly Intention in ye Writing 

 it. I have a very strong Desire to comply with your Request ; 

 Mrs Mulso wants much to see you & your Improvements; & 

 Jenny is not only desirous to improve in simpling & to have your 

 Company at a new place, but She has a most violent Curiosity 

 to see the Hermit. I have really found moving very healthfull 

 to me, which is an additional motive, if 1 wanted one to come to 

 You, which indeed I do not. And yet with all these Propensities 

 to ye Journey, I cannot give You any Hopes of seeing Us this 

 Year. The unhappy & unsettled State of my Household makes 

 it impossible to think of moving to any Distance & for any Time ; 

 & I think it very unfair to keep you longer in Suspence, who 

 may make other friends very happy in ye Invitation that We are 

 obliged to refuse. We have some Hope of getting upon a better 



