42 GILBERT WHITE OF SELBORNE 1746 



White's maternal grandfather, by his will entailed 

 property in Essex upon Thomas White, the next 

 eldest brother to Gilbert White, subject however 

 to certain annuities, which, as it happened, pre- 

 cluded him from receiving much benefit from the 

 estates until, many years afterwards, in 1776, the 

 chief annuitant died. A small amount of money, 

 some three hundred pounds each, was inherited by 

 the other brothers. 



Gilbert White attended the sick-bed at Thorney, 

 and, being one of the executors and trustees, re- 

 mained for some time to wind up Mr. Holt's affairs 

 at Gore Farm, of which he was tenant under the 

 Duke of Bedford. In the intervals of his business 

 cares he seems to have indulged himself in a practice 

 which remained with him for life — that of writing 

 verses, which were sent to his friends. And at this 

 time he composed the first version of his little poem, 

 * The Invitation to Selborne,' which charmingly 

 describes the beauties of that place and neighbour- 

 hood.^ 



Mulso writes to him on February 9th, 174f, 

 and after what may be called " congratulatory con- 

 dolences " upon the loss of a relation, continues — 



" I fancy you will hardly leave the parts you are now in, 

 without making a visit to Stamford,f and then I suppose 



* cf. Letter from Mulso of September, 1758, in which he mentions having 

 received the * Invitation' originally "out of the Fens of Cambridgeshire." 



t Probably to a family named Brown there. Mrs. Barker's eldest daughter, 

 b. 1752, married a Mr. Edward Brown, of Stamford. 



