276 LBTTERS TO GILBERT WHITE 



to effect that Euin of Constitution, that out-lived the Heats of 

 Andalusia? — Yet, my dear old Friend, You, I am sure, are not 

 shaken by this. You look up to God ; & direct your poor afflicted 

 Sister to do the Same. I pray God to be gracious to them ! 



I shall now have Cause to call for divine Assistance to my 

 own Trust in Providence, since I have now two Sons destined 

 to "Ways of Life, full of Danger, & quite averse to my own 

 Predilection ; yet, I hope, the best for them. John is for the 

 Army ; Willm for the Sea. " If I am bereaved of my Children, 

 I am bereaved I " — And this I must at least be for Spaces of Time, 

 if not for ever ; and those Spaces will be terrible Chasms in a 

 Residue of Life like mine. My Plan has been alter'd wth Regard 

 to my Eldest within a few Days, by Advice of Friends, when he 

 was on the Wing for Oxford : and your poor Friend, who was 

 ever poor, will be poorer, by large Purchases. But it must be 

 so : and if my Children can be bettered by it, money is of little 

 more Use to me. 



You are a happy Man, who clear away Rubbishes, and build 

 on a clear Surface. I shall visit your new Room one Day or 

 Another, I hope. With it's beautifuU Scite, it will be one of the 

 first Rooms in the County.* 



I have framed Mr Grimm, tho' I dislike him as a Print. 

 Where he could throw a little Colour, or Chiaro Oscuro, the 

 Effect might be great. But Ned Mulso (who desires to be 

 remember'd) & Mr Airson as well as Myself, declared that They 

 shd never have thought of Sel bourne from that Piece. However 

 it will do wth the rest. The Lines are strong & clean : and poor 

 Harry makes a decent Figure, + but not so good as in ye Original. 

 If I was with You, I could point out what would have been more 

 advantageous ; but the Thing is set, & I do not desire to put You 

 out of Conceit with your Vignette, which is really pretty. But 

 I grow very impatient for the Work ; I have promised it as a 

 Regale to the good old Bishop. I depend upon ye religious Turn 

 that is in it to compleat his Approbation to that Part which as 

 Naturalist he may know less of, & of Course care less about. 



I shall be glad to hear of You & your Motions ; & shd be 

 more so to see You ; tho' I have not at present a Bed for You. 

 Ned was forced to turn out for my Daughter Jenny, who fell ill 

 & was attended by Dr Smith, but is now on the Recovery. 



I wish You & Your's & your Neighbours many happy Returns 

 of this Season. 



I am, Dear Gil, Your affte Friend & Servt 



J. Mulso. 



* At this time Gilbert White was building a new "great parlour" at the 

 West end of his house at Selborne 

 t As the Hermit. 



