280 LETTERS TO GILBBBT WHITB 



and Years, tho' they grow more precious wth me, pass over 

 my Head for one Eeason or Another, before I can get to see so 

 dear a friend. Receive, however, my dear Gil:, the Thanks of 

 Us All : the Jaunt would in every Light have given Us Pleasure, 

 & the Dissappointment has an additional Ugliness in looking 

 allmost like a Neglect of You, & as if we did not relish your 

 Plan ; far from this : it would have been a Gratification to 

 us All. 



I hope your Excursion has been of Service to You, & that 

 You can sleep without dreaming of ye French. Mrs Snooke is 

 not so faint-hearted, or She would not hold so well at her Age ; 

 I am glad to hear that You found her so tolerable. I hear of 

 Accommodations, but I trust no Reports ; at the same Time I 

 am not apt to fesu: them. Wrap up your Content in the Con- 

 clusion of Voltaire's Candide — il faut cultiver notre Jardin I 



We met Sister Chapone at the Castle, who help'd to enliven 

 the Place. It is a melancholy Pleasure to see such dear Rela- 

 tions as the good Bishop & my Aunts, when they verge so near 

 to their End, & are giving way very fast to Infirmities. Not 

 but that my Uncle has good Signs that his Stamina, naturally 

 good, may yet hold out to greater Longaevity ; but he is pitiably 

 alter'd, & lost his Spirits dreadfully. I went out wth him in 

 his Coach almost every day ; he was alive 'till Dinner, & his 

 Intellect's very clear & good, & his heart pretty stout ; but 

 after Dinner it is all Languor & Sleep. Thus I have the 

 unhappy Presentiment that every Visit there will be the last ; 

 & it much embitters the Pleasure of a very kind Reception, 

 which he always gives to me & Mine. Mrs Thomas seems to 

 me to be in more immediate Danger, from an Oppression so 

 great that She is often forced to be carry'd up Stairs in a Chair. 

 Neither of them will long outlive the Other. Mrs Donne is 

 feeble, but holds on. 



Farewell. Forgive our waving our Visit this Year: If You 

 come to Winchester, You will be sure to find me there for a 

 good while when I am once housed. I shall be glad to see You 

 anywhere, and am ever. 



Dear Gil, Your faithfull & affte 



J. Mulso. 



Letter 180. 

 Reverend Mr White Winchester, 



Selborne near Alton Hants. + at Alton. Nov : 23,* 78. 



Dear Gil : 



I am used to take up my Pen to an old friend & generally 

 trouble him with any Circumstance that seems material to 

 Myself. I have lost a very dear Relation & a very valuable 



