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in which we used to take our Airings together, & seek for every 

 high Hill & every green Tree ; but, thank God, without Fornica- 

 tion or Adultery.* I have confess'd to them that I am broken- 

 winded ; they have hinted the same of your horse, but not of 

 Yourself ; but tell me, that You are well & in Spirits, which I 

 shall be ever glad to hear. My Sister Chapone is here but 

 leaves Us on Pryday, & then goes to Dr Buller's at Alresford 

 for some days, & then to ye Dean's at St. Marie's. She seem'd 

 alarmed that I had told You that She did not like ye Imitation 

 of Milton : That I did not, nor I could not justly say ; but I 

 said that She liked it the least of the Three ; and for this You 

 have assigned, perhaps, the just Eeason. "We all here love to 

 talk of You & your place. We have, today, compared Notes wth 

 the young Men about the late Storms & Meteor ; the first terrified 

 us All, & they were All bad ; but the last of three, worst ; & 

 indeed the most severe that I ever remember, as we had five 

 fire-balls fall within sight ; & one within a few Yards of my 

 House & Barns. We have had the Advantage of Some Eains, 

 and yesterday had a fine Fall of it, much wanted, & highly use- 

 full. My eldest Daughter, only, saw the Meteor ; She alarmed 

 Us at crying out on a Sight very unusual ; but it was Ev'ning 

 & from the Parlour but little of ye Curious particulars could be 

 remark'd. It was over before we could stir. I take advantage 

 of the Gentlemen being gone wth my Son to old Winchester 

 Hill; & they have promised to take Pot-Luck (and That they 

 must take here) at ^ past three. John White knows his Way, 

 & I hope You will receive them safe & sound to Supper. My 

 Son desires his Eespects & is obliged by your Invitation ; whether 

 he can avail himself of it depends upon Circumstances. 



My Butter held out pretty stout at Breakfast ; & indeed I 

 thought the Gentlemen were very sparing in the Use of it. We 

 have not a want of Grass now : when first we came there was 

 so very little Grass that I was forced to sacrifice a little Hay- 

 Meadow to the Necessities of my poor Cattle : so that I have 

 less Hay than usual but more Corn, which tho' we got it in last 

 week, we held our Harvest home last Night : but tho' I had some 

 Btthmers about me, we had no Poetry stirring ; I suppose it is 

 emigrated to America or Ireland. So we shall have Hymns for 

 Heroic Poems ; & your Dermot and Sheelah Pastorals. Pray are 

 you not angry at being turned into an Exciseman & Tax-Gatherer 

 in your old Age ? 



I think I shall soon lose both my Curates. James Yalden of 

 Easton is going to Gibraltar wth the new Eegiments, & I am in 

 Treaty wth a Mr Cobb about ye Succession. Mr Nowell has 

 Hopes of a Living in Monmouthshire : the Incumbent is not 



* Gilbert White has changed this word into "Idolatry.' 



