274 LETTERS TO GUiBERT WHITE 



to endeavour to engage You for two at a Time ; tho' I think he 

 was for Gloucestershire. I propose writing to Mr Wood, if 

 I knew where to catch him, but I desire to hear from You first : 

 Perhaps You can direct me to him. When I trespass thus upon 

 your Friendship, I do not mean to engage You in an Opposition 

 & a disagreeable Effort ; I desire only Grace of Congniity & I 

 hope You will so understand it. If the young Man appears 

 worthy of your Society, I dare say that You will not be sorry to 

 have obliged those who interest themselves for him ; & Me for 

 them. Let me hear soon. 



I am sori-y to see by ye Papers that all your kind Care about 

 your Niece was ineffectual. 



I beleive You knew Mr Pritchard, who was Curate to Dr 

 Bentham at his Professorial Living. He died lately at Mr 

 Buller's at Alresford on a Visit, & the Dr tells me that he 

 might have saved his Life, would he have submitted to ye 

 Prescriptions ; but he was totally obstinate in refusing all 

 Medicine. 



When You get to your new Winter Quarters,* you will stay 

 there probably 'till about Aprill, & You will be in at the Exhibi- 

 tions & all the Scenes of Virtu. 



I have lately had the Fortune to renew a Life on my Prebend 

 of South Alton, which I could not have expected. I renewed 

 it for a hundrd & fifty Guineas. This will help to rig out Billy 

 for the Sea, & Jack to ye University. 



Wherever You are You will have some Friend near You that 

 we honour and value; therefore remember Us to Such. All 

 beleive me that You have the best Wishes of all here, especially, 

 Dear Gil, Of your old & affte Friend, 



J. Mulso. 



P.S. Mem : I was 66 yesterday. 



Letter 175. 

 Eevd Mr White, Nov. 30. '77. 



Selbourne near Alton, Hants. Winchester. 



Dear Gil : 



I thank you for your kind Letter: ye Affair of College 

 is stated as it becomes You ; & I have only to hope that Mr 

 Elderton will, by his Appearance, force You collectively into 

 a Preference. But You say Nothing of Mr Wood, possible be- 

 cause You know Nothing of him. 



I wish You Joy of your Purchases, of your Buildings, & of 



* Gilbert White's brothers, Benjamin and Thomas, had recently gone to 

 live at South Lambeth, at this time a rural village. He usually spent a month 

 with them in the spring. 



