LETTER CCXXVI 346 



I would write on today, but Mr Nott has given me a long 

 Interruption, & I have lost my Light, and the Cold is so intense 

 that my fingers are frozen by a large Kre. It promises Snow, 

 but it does not yet come down ; bard Time for Invalids ! — 



A Circumstance struck me the other day in your way, it 

 seem'd a novelty to me, but it may be usual & constant, for 

 ought I know. We have great Numbers of Jackdaws, which get 

 under our Tilings. Out of my Study window I have the long 

 Roof of the Deanery before me, and it was new to me that during 

 this whole Month of Deer, as far as it is pass'd, the Jackdaws 

 keep in Pairs. I observed on the Ridge Tiles that tho' a Number 

 were there at a time, yet for the most part they left little spaces, 

 & the Pairs were discernable & seperated from the rest ; they 

 were likewise in different Pairs on the Declivity of the Roof. It 

 wants much of Valentine's day, but the world is in a Hurry to 

 secure it's rights. 



Your Brother Ben : gave me a good Account of Mr Thomas 

 White, which I was glad of. You do not move from home as 

 yet, I suppose. Pray, in what State is your high Boad to 

 Selbourne ? 



My wife & Daughters join me in affte Respects to You & Mrs 

 J. White &ca. My Son John has a Daughter named Lattice 

 Elizabeth; so I am the Grandfather of a Christian at least. 

 Mrs John has not quite so much Strength & Health as I could 

 wish ; She has been weak ever since her Lying in. John has 

 been shooting wth his Brother in Law in Berkshire. Mr 

 Hallet is building a little Box at Whittenham, & will make 

 the Farringdon House his Residence. 



My Son William is now either in Milford Haven or in 

 Ireland. Bad Days to be buffeting on the Irish Seas ! but 

 by our last from him he was very well. 



My Friends in Town were tolerable when I heard last. 



We have lost here Mr Dan : Wilhams of the College : it has 

 plunged a family into excessive Grief & Trouble. The Bp of 

 St. Asaph is gone, but tho' his Loss is worth deploring, his Age 

 was more mature. I was invited to ye Funeral, but I was in 

 strict Residence & ye weather extreamly cold, so I declined 

 going. And the Cold is yet so bad as to hurry me to subscribe 

 Myself, while I can, 



Dear Gil, Your ever affte Friend, 



J. Mulso. 



