272 LETTERS TO GILBERT WHITE 



to Mr BuUer's Sister, as we hear. I fancy this will not increase 

 the Close above One. She is a very sensible agreeable woman. 



Let me hear from You soon. Jack is obliged by your 

 Invitation, but he could not attend it. 

 Love fm all here. 



I am, my dear Gil, Your's afftely, 



J. Mulso. 

 Comps. to your good Neighbours. 



Letter 173. 

 Eeverend Mr White Meonstoke. 



Selbourne near Alton, Hants. Oct : 9, 1777. 



Dear Gil: 



The Afifair is much easier said than done. But it is really 

 provoking enough, that I should pass by Sr Simeon Stuart's 

 Gates yesterday, and meet your Note xohen I came home inviting 

 me to pass thro' them. I have spent so much Time abroad now, 

 that I have no more Leizure, in which to absent myself from my 

 Duties here. It will be a Month next Monday since We set 

 forth, (that is, my Wife & Self) for Mr Buller's ; there we 

 sojourned till the Fiyday Sen'night, & there I received your first 

 Lr informing me of your Journey ; there we were joined by my 

 two Daughters & wive's Maid, & thence on the Fryday we 

 migrated to Farnham, & thence we returned yesterday. All this 

 was done by hired Horses, for, alass, my old Steeds are dead or 

 superannuated I I have now put Myself into the Hands of Mr 

 Waldin of Winchester to furnish me with a new Pair. 



I congratulate You on ye Eecovery of your worthy Eelation. 

 She & the Bishop of Winchester are Instances of what Good 

 Stamina & regular Lives will do. Your Aunt in her 83d, & my 

 Uncle in his 82d Year have recovered from two severe Attacks, 

 that would have stagger'd & thrown down much younger Persons. 

 It is true, a little Matter would overset ye Bishop, but I left 

 him wth no Complaints but Lameness & weakness. I went out 

 wth him every day, but One, in his Coach or my Chaise, to which 

 we put a pair of his Horses, (for his Coach broke down.) Till the 

 Evening he maintains his old Spirits & Vivacity ; then retires. 

 I think my Aunt in a poor Way : Could we perswade her to 

 hold out, I shd think that the Bishop might rub on for a few 

 Years longer. I am sorry that You was not in the Way to make 

 a Visit at the Castle while We were there. We left Mrs 

 Chapone there, but She goes soon. 



I shall not now see Selbourne this Year. If I can get at You 

 in the next I shall find You in all your Pride & Glory. But if 

 You can ride over to Us, here we shall be 'till the middle of this 

 Month & no more this Year; So it must be soon, if at all. 



