26 GILBEKT WHITE OF SELBOENE 



lane, of a rough description to Selborne, over the 

 hills from Greatham on the Farnham and Petersfield 

 road, but it would not have been used by visitors 

 travelling from London. 



The seclusion of Selborne residents, consequent on 

 the wretched state of its roads, may well be gathered 

 from the following significant entry made by Gilbert 

 AVliite in his journal, or Garden Kalendar as he 

 termed it, under date March 15th, 1756 : — 



"Brought a four-wheel'd postchaise to y® door at that 

 early time of year." 



What a revelation of county life in winter at this 

 time, especially for the ladies of the family, this entry 

 affords ! 



It may be remarked that when he had chosen his 

 road and was prepared to encounter its difficulties, 

 the travellers troubles were by no means at an 

 end. Gilbert White's college companion, John Mulso, 

 though he had frequently visited his friend at Sel- 

 borne, regularly wrote for a guide to meet him "at 

 the cross-roads," remarking that Selborne was as 

 difficult of access as Rosamund's bower, and com- 

 paring his Selborne friends to "toto divisos orbe 

 Britannos." 



When the village was, however, at length reached 

 through one of the difficult and winding lanes, a 

 person who had any eyes for natural beauty must 

 have been hard to please, if he were not charmed 

 with its appearance. A small, very clear stream of 



