LETTER CCXIV 327 



Letter 214. 

 Eeverend Mr White, Meonstoke. 



Selborne near Alton, Hants + at Alton. Aug. 24, 1785. 

 Dear Gil : 



I should have been quick to answer your Letter, if I had 

 not been interrupted just as I sat down to do it. Yesterday we 

 were early in Expectation of Mrs Lee's coming here, wth the 

 Warden, who was to hold a Court here ; but She had been so 

 ill, that He told me he thought he should have lost her. As no 

 Fellow came to join him & he held his Court in a little melan- 

 choly inconvenient House, I thought it but Charity to keep him 

 Company 'till he returned to Winchester, so lost ye Post 

 yesterday. 



We were glad to hear that You & Mrs White got safe & well 

 home, & that Provisions held out in so long a Voyage (as ye 

 French call a Land Journey as well as Sea). Mrs Mulso is 

 highly diverted with your taking so much to ye Capsaco (if I 

 spell it right), at which You turned up your Nose at first so 

 fastidiously. The Complaint that You speak of, & of which I 

 rejoyce that You escaped a Paroxism, requires your moving about 

 often, but never violently. 



Mrs Mulso has been but poorly since You left her, & is so 

 now ; we have lived a chilly Life & warmed our Noses over a 

 Fire 'till yesterday ; which was a glorious Day, tho' not without 

 Chill in the Shade. We have Eain again today fm ye South 

 West, but I do not think it will last all Day. My poor thin Crop 

 of Oats lies in my field, longing for the Shelter of ye Barn. My 

 Daughter Jane has rode double several times, & is so much better 

 as to think no more of a Jaunt to Winchester and Dr Littlehales. 

 Hester is well. My Sister Chapone is in tolerable Preservation & 

 ye Comfort of us all. All these Souls join me in affectionate 

 Services & wishes to you & your's : and We, who enjoyed it, join 

 in Thanks to you & Mrs White for the Pleasure that You have 

 us in your kind but short Visit. 



Your Shower of Aphides, that You describe, were, I suppose, 

 nothing different from the common Blight, but in their Quantity. 

 Is ye name from their Smallness, or their Covering what they 

 fall on from being properly discerned— o non, & eUw video — ? 

 or from their Voracity & Noxiousness, not sparing any thing, — 

 a non et (pelSw parco — ? or how is ye Etymology of this little 

 Plague & Pestilence ? We have not experienced such a Shower 

 here. Charles has uncovered some of my wall Fruit at last. I 

 find a good many nectarines & some Peaches ; of the last I have 

 gather'd a few, of ye Nutmeg kind, pretty ripe & a little flavoury. 

 As to ye rest, they are almost all perforated, or pealed, or rotten 

 & perish'd on ye Tree, & do not promise ever to figure at the 

 Table. I got in but three Load of Wheat from 5 acres. Sad 



