40 GILBEKT WHITE OF SELBORNE 1745 



Towards the end of tlie month Gilbert White rode 

 home to Selborne (with his gun in a leathern bucket). 

 On October 8th, 1744, Mulso writes — 



"... Do you really find celibacy hang heavy on your 

 hands, or does Tom only jest when he says that you 

 are on the high road to the dreary and dolorous land of 

 matrimony ? Upon my word, I would not advise you to play 

 so much as you do with the tangles of Nea^ra's hair : these 

 meshes will hold fast a heart of stronger wing for flight than 

 yours is, and if 



* Beauty draws us with a single hair,' 



it may very well hold with a whole tete. . . . Collins is 

 now my next neighbour. I have breakfasted with him this 

 morning." 



On November 6th, 1744, Mulso writes from 

 London — 



" I turn my eye towards Selbourne.- I long to see an old 

 friend in a new place. But alas ! journeys are too expensive 

 for a younger brother." 



In February, 174f, residence at Oxford was 

 resumed. On June 26th the entry occurs — 



" Threw up my room to Mr. Barnes." 



July 17th, however, found him back at Oxford, but 

 he subsequently went home to Selborne ; and in 

 September to pay one of those visits at Eingmer, 

 near Lewes, to his aunt Mrs. Snooke, the owner 

 of Timothy, *' the old family tortoise," which became 

 of almost annual occurrence. 



Writing to him here on September 7th Mulso 

 says — 



