LETTER CLVI 249 



every Body : I have read Sr Wm Hamilton's Letters. — Nev^ 

 Troubles are arising agst Printers of public Papers. I rejoyce, 

 I heartily wish the Dogs may lose their Ears, & that Nobody 

 may lend an Bar to their Scurrilities any more. 



All my Family pretty well, & much at your Service. I still 

 rave at your Eoads, which have defeated two or three Schemes 

 I had to see You. Airson joined me t'other Day, & vows that he 

 never went to Selborne in his Life, but he lost his way. 



I shall lose the Post. Farewell ! I shall be glad to hear 

 from You wherever You are lodged for a writing Time. 



I am, Dear Gil, Afftely Your's, . 



J. Mulso. 



Letter 156. 

 The Reverend Mr White, Meon stoke. 



Selbourne near Alton, Hants. July 11, '74. 



Dear Gil : 



You desired me to let You know when we were peacefully 

 set down at Meonstoke. It is some time since we came here ; 

 but my Calls to Winchester, & my Avocations here have made it, 

 as yet, a very interrupted Summer. But we last week reed the 

 Bp of Winchester & famy & therefore We look upon our Visit of 

 Grandeur to be over. A single friend or so. We can accommodate 

 pretty well at any time ; & therefore I now advertise You, that 

 my Brother Nott is expected to-day, but he is on his Road to 

 Kew & will not sojourn above three or four Days ; & then I do 

 not know of any particular Engagement that should deferr our 

 Pleasure of seeing You. I met Mr Hinton one day, & desired 

 him to say the chief of what I have now said to You. I shall 

 therefore be glad to see You at your own Time. How stands it 

 with You in ye Article of Hay ? I have not yet begun cutting, 

 even Seeds. My Horses are now ploughing ; I have a field of a 

 few Acres, that still wants turning up : so You see my farmering 

 Business treads upon my Heels. I almost think that You are in 

 ye Thick of your mowing, if your Weather-Glass has not made a 

 Coward of You : we have had very wet weather ; • I feel it in my 

 Bones & my Head, which are rheumatick. 



However we suffer in other Respects, we gain Something by 

 the agreeable Verdure that this rainy Season preserves for Us, 

 and it will help to make our Summer seem ye longer, if indeed 

 we should have any Summer at all: Last Night we had like to 

 have light a Fire. How do your Neighbours do ? and how fare 

 the Branches of your numerous family? I reckon there is old 

 Dining with Sr Simeon, & kind Caresses, now he advertises for 

 the Election, & has a Rival ! tho' Sr Harry has most need to 

 exert Himself. Mr Pawlett must draw his Purse Strings, for 



