1746 



GOES TO ESSEX 43 



will cross away to Hampshire, where your brother Benjamin 

 told me you was expected. ... I am obliged to you for 

 putting the finishing stroke to your poetical Performance 

 of which you gave me a Hint whilst you were in Town. 

 I can easily discover which were breath'd out in the pure 

 air of Selborne, and which in the Fens ; tho' I don't mean 

 that they are tainted, for the conclusion is as charming 

 as the beginning. I fancy my sister Sung herself into Six 

 Lines, when you was in town last. I assure you without 

 flattery they are very much and very justly admired. . . . 

 If you pass through London on your return don't neglect 

 King's Square Court [his father's residence] tho' I am not 

 there. You will find many admirers, who lov'd you first 

 for my sake and now have a stronger reason to do so." 



Later on, Gilbert White went to examine Mr. 

 Holt's Essex estates, and wrote from one of the 

 farms near Rochford to his father on April 9th, 

 1746 :— 



Honoured Sir, — Finding by your letter to me, that 

 Franky* brought to London, that you was inclined to have 

 me go to this part of the Country, I set out, and arrived 

 here yesterday. 



After some details concerning the property and 

 tenants, the letter ends with a significant descrip- 

 tion of the state of Essex roads at this time — 



I think the Hundreds in general look pretty pleasant; 

 only the fear of agues makes people dislike them. The 

 Koads in the Vales are bad, and there you meet with a 

 horse-track that has a sound bottom, which is very con- 

 venient for Horses that know how to go in it: but my 



* His brother Francis. 



