288 LETTERS TO GILBERT WHITE 



Berkshire. You ought not to hesitate long about it ; for it 

 would be a severe Game at Bob- Cherry to your next Neighbour 

 at Oriell College. 



I wish You a good Journey to Sussex ; I fancy You will find 

 there a strong Persuasive to decide upon taking Ufton.* I should 

 be sorry to have tried to have inclined You to a Thing, where 

 your other Friends' Advice & your real Interest did not justify 

 me ; as I am constantly & very sincerely, 



Dear Gil, Your affte Friend, 



J. Mulso. 



Mrs M. &c, &o, join in affte Service, & best wishes. 



Letter 185. 

 Reverend Mr White Winchester. 



Selbourne near Alton, Hants, -f at Alton. Deer 21, '79. 

 Dear Gil : 



I cannot but approve of your refusing Ufton upon the 

 Reasons that You give. A Living is a very troublesome Charge ; 

 and there are but two Reasons for burthening Oneself wth it, 

 •' the Hope of doing real Good," & " the reasonable Expectation 

 of a large Increase of Income." The first You could have done 

 as well as Any Man, had You chosen a constant Residence there ; 

 but yet there does not lie so much Spiritual Power & Efiicacy 

 in the Clergy of the Church of England now, as did formerly. 

 The itching Ears even of the Vulgar, & the republican Principles 

 of the Times, make all the Members of our Church look'd upon 

 wth an Evil Eye. As to the last You are the best Judge of it ; 

 but in my Opinion, a certain small Income is better than a 

 precarious large Benefice. The Expences of our Situation are 

 sure & great, the Pay more particularly hazardous at this Time. 



I went to the Election on the snowy Wednesday : I had 

 finished my strict Residence that Morning ; but I went warm in 

 Mr Buller's Coach, & found no other Inconvenience than some 

 muddy Footsteps. The Bishop urged Nobody on this Occasion, 

 he only signified that his own Wishes went for Sr Richard. 

 There is not, I fear, much national Good to be expected from the 

 Abilities or Independency of Sr Richard ; but I cannot as a 

 Clergyman bear the fiery & destructive Principles of ye other, 

 who is warm wth a Party that almost professes ye overthrow — 

 (not of a Ministry, I will forgive them for That, but) of King & 

 Church, &, if so, of the Constitution & Happiness, & Glory of 

 this Kingdom. In this light I did conscientiously vote for Sr 

 Richd and would have done so for any inoffensive John o' Nokes, 

 or John o' Stiles. And so your Servant about Politics. 



* Mulso means that Gilbert White would find his Aunt Mrs. Snooke, 

 from whom he had some expectations, in good health. 



