230 LETTERS TO GILBBBT WHITE 



wretched of Conditions. He leaves me in Spring, but I do not 

 intend to have a Gardener in Form 'till I return from Winchester, 

 where I imagine I shall sojourn fm next June to ye Spring after. 



Letter 140. 

 To the Keverend Mr White, Witney. 



at Selborue near Alton, Hants. March 7, 1771. 



Dear Gil : 



I take it as a strong Mark of your Friendship that You 

 wrote to me so soon to acquaint me with your severe Loss in 

 your Sister Woods. But I perceive in this Instance that You 

 are much hurt by it : We fly out of ourselves for Consolation & 

 Instances of Affection, when the Death of one we loved has made 

 a Vuide in our Hearts. And You do me a kind Piece of Justice 

 in supposing that I shall be very glad to be a Means of administ- 

 ring Comfort to You, by assuring You that all that is in my 

 Power is due from the Truth & Constancy of my Affection for 

 You. You have so just a Way of thinking, & so religious a Sense, 

 that You need no moral Periods upon Subjects of Grief. I only 

 know that the more Losses we sustain of Friends, the more it 

 is incumbent on those that remain to increase their Attention 

 & Begard for Us. The Heart made for Humanity must have 

 it's Quota of Love supplied. I shall be rejoyced if you find my 

 Assurances answer your Demands upon me. If You find Change 

 of Place will releive your Mind, we shall be glad to see You at 

 Witney, it will not be long forestalling the usual Time of your 

 visiting Oxford. 



You cannot need any Aid from me, I think, with Eegard to 

 any Application to the Bishop in the Exchange of Livings for 

 your Brother Harry, if it is to take Place. His Lordship would, 

 I dare say, be glad to serve You upon your own Address, without 

 Intermediation. If You think otherwise, I am at your'a & your 

 Brother's Command. 



Last Night's Post was the Messenger of much Sorrow. We 

 had a Couple of Letters, one fm a Lady at Sheffield, the Other 

 fm Sr George Savile with an Account of the Sickness & Death of 

 our dear Clare Sandford. Mrs Mulso is quite oppress'd with 

 Sorrow, and we make a poor melancholy Figure tho' it is the 

 Birthday of my Daughter Jenny & my Son William. 



We have been much concerned at Mrs Etty's Illness. Mrs 

 Mulso is in Hopes of hearing that She has received a Letter 

 from her, & that She has tried her Medecine with Success. The 

 Person here is quite recovered, who tried it when in a strong 

 Jaundice. Her Colour & her appetite are restored, tho' the 

 Eemedy is easy and simple. 



I am much retarded in my Recovery by this weather, & have 



