1744 



B.A. FELLOW OF OKIEL 35 



quite voluntary character, but this entry probably 

 merely refers to a customary fee, as does the follow- 

 ing :— 



" June 2T^ major and scout . . 3« 0^ " 



On the same day he pays the fees for his degree, 

 and on the following day he was evidently in need 

 of recreation, for he expends 45. on '* Horse hire 

 and Dinner," and the same sum on wine. 



Then he quitted residence for Selborne. He 

 kept the next Michaelmas Term as a Bachelor, 

 bringing up his gun and a dog, and continued his 

 residence during the following Lent Term, when he 

 pays fees to the Dean and the Beadle " for Determin- 

 ing." He attends "Dr. Bradley's first course of 

 Mathematical Lectures," and on March 30th, 1744, 

 he pays fees to the Vice-Chancellor s servant and to 

 ' the ringers at S. Mary's on being elected a Fellow of 

 Oriel. His actual election, however, occurred shortly 

 before this date, and therefore in 1743 O.S. 



That Gilbert White was a man of sound scholar- 

 ship and wide reading needs nojproof — his writings 

 abundantly show it. Nevertheless, it has been a 

 little the fashion to assume that but a very small 

 modicum of learning was demanded of candidates 

 for fellowships in his day. That other things be- 

 sides scholarship were considered, must be admitted ; 

 nevertheless an examination was held. By a statute 

 made by Oriel College in 1722, it was laid down 

 that the election of fellows was to take place on 



