252 LETTERS TO GILBERT WHITE 



in the packing Order. We have all had some Complaint from 

 the wet, but are rather better, especially the walking Party ; 

 & we have used every Day. I hope You & Your's & your good 

 Neighbours are well. I shall be glad to hear from You at 

 Winton & to see You ; You cannot be so displeased at our not 

 coming as we are greived at not visiting the old & dear Scenes, 

 & my old friend their Master. All join in affte Comps. 



I am ever, Dear Gil, Your affte Friend & Obedt Servt, 



J. Mulso. 



Letter 159. 

 The Reverend Mr White Winchester. 



at Selbourne near Alton, Hants. Nov. 17, '74 



Dear Gil : 



I have just been doing You a Service, but how great or 

 little God knows ; I have been electing Dr Durnford your Repre- 

 sentative in Convocation, then & there to do &ca, &ca, &ca, 

 Nothing. The Doctor is reckon'd good at an Harangue ; He 

 thank'd Us in a very short Speech, but it was well worded & 

 respectfull, & delivered with due Solemnity. The Proctor for 

 our own Cathedral is Mr Lowth. He is in Kent, but he signified 

 his Agreement to accept ye Post, if ofifer'd him, in these Words, 

 fungar inani Munere. 



Why do You think of going wth your Brother into Lancashire 

 in the Winter ? Will not the Hampshire Cold suffice ? It was 

 odd enough, that on the very Morning that I reed Your's, in 

 which You complain of the Snow, I had been revising a Lr 

 from You, in which You tell me that You had rode out every 

 Day to contemplate that beautifull Meteor, which shows itself 

 to Advantage in your uneven Country. I am sorry You change 

 your Note : No one bears Time better outwardly ; and yet I 

 know by Myself that Time has made some advances upon You, 

 for Yesterday I was fifty three : I have one Pleasure however in 

 this Increase of Years, It is a longer Date of our Friendship. As 

 to not visiting You, I declare solemnly, that for One Cause or 

 Another, it has not been in my Power. We were much discon- 

 certed by a Letter last Night, that told Us of an ugly seizure of 

 my Uncle on Sunday last. He had been ill here with a great 

 Pain in his Back ; & was but poorly at Farnham ; but he was 

 now attack'd wth Sickness & chilling Cold at a Moment ; It 

 might be ye Effect of Gravell, yet he does not now complain 

 of his Back. It might be Indigestion, & as Such it has been 

 treated, & he is much better. But, ah 1 my Friend, it certainly 

 is the Effect of Age ; 



It is a Slip decaying Nature makes, 



Now She is hast'ning to her Journey's End. 



