LETTER OCX VII 331 



had Thunder & Lightning here ; but more & stronger at Drox- 

 ford. I hope all your friends & Neighbours are well, & beg to be 

 remember'd to all who will accept my good wishes. 



I am, dear Gil, Ever Your's affectionately, 



J. Mulso. 



Letter 217. 



Eeverend Mr White, "Winton. 



Selborne near Alton, Hants. + at Alton, Apl 16, 1786. 



Dear Gil : 



I am much obliged to you for commissioning some good 

 Female of your Neighbourhood to call here & give an Account 

 of you & your Proceedings. — "And pray. Madam, how is Mr 

 White?" "pretty well, Sr, I heleive : he says Nothing to ye 

 Contrary." " Has he any Body wth him ? " "I heleive only 

 Mrs J. White." "Pray, has he made his Visit at London?" 

 " I heleive not, he is at Selborne now." " Do you know whether 

 he is going from home?" "No, Sr, I know Nothing of ye 

 Matter." "Pray, Madam, is the new Eoad to Newton Lane 

 made good?" "I hear that it is better than it was." " Can a 

 Coach go safely along it?" "Upon my Word, Sr, I don't 

 know." — "The Neighbourhood, Madam?" — "I heleive pretty 

 well." — " You return, Madam ? " — " I heleive on Tuesday." — The 

 good woman seems to have a strong Tendency to heleiving : Oh, 

 I recollect ; 'tis Athanasian Creed Day. And thus stands the 

 State of my Information about You. 



In return, I am to tell You that I have had a very tolerable 

 Winter ; and am reckon'd a fine old Grecian ; & in high Preserva- 

 tion. I wish I could say the same of my Penelope. She has 

 been quite ill thro' the Winter wth constant & severe Pains in 

 her hands & arms by an imperfect Gout or cruel Eheumatism, 

 80 that She feared She should entirely lose the Use of them. 

 She had frequent Pains in her Stomach & Loss of appetite. 

 Captn Young was wth Us from Feb. 10th to Apl 1st. He was a 

 great Comfort to her & of great Use in carving, cutting, spreading, 

 milling, pouring, &c, &c, &c. However, She is now better again. 

 My Girls are well & at your Service which, I think, is a hand- 

 some offer. — We think of Mrs White, & you, & Timothy ; has he 

 yet ventured his Nose above the Surface of ye Earth ? Our late 

 white Frosts surely make him shrink back his head. 



We are much disconcerted in our Household (Economy. Our 

 Cook is gone home, quite ill wth a constant Ague, She has been 

 helpless more than once this Winter. My Wife's Maid is in the 

 Hospital. So that we have only temporary Helps & are in a 

 piteous Plight. 



John curatizes at Finedon & is very well, & well approved. 



