1753 OBELISK AT SELBORNE 73 



though the Naturalist is by no means forgotten in 

 his native village, all memory of his connection with 

 the Zigzag and this stone, which is now termed the 

 ''wishing -stone," and gravely conjectured to be of 

 Druidic origin, is now completely lost. This, how- 

 ever, is certainly one of the stones which he dig- 

 nified by the name of ''obelisk." His account- 

 book for 1756 contains the entry — 



"Feb. 7. — Gave Lasham for opening a vista for an 

 obelisk."* 



And later, in 1758, the entry occurs — 



" Oct. 14. — Bringing rock to Zigzag and making area." 

 As the rock, or "obelisk," is a piece of sandstone, 

 it must have been brought from the forest side of 

 Selborne, where there is plenty of it. These works, 

 together with the Hermitage, towards which 5s. 

 was subscribed in April, 1758, no doubt afforded 

 great pleasure at the time to the brothers ; and 

 however unimportant in themselves, likely enough 

 really added to the strong attachment they all 

 formed to Selborne. 



Mulso, writing to his friend in March, 1753, after 

 congratulating him upon his prospect of recovering 

 his liberty, continues — 



" I am glad you name May for the time of your enlarge- 

 ment, because by that time the Prince will be at Kew, and 



* The particular "obelisk" referred to in this entry was probably placed 

 in the field at the bottom of the Hanger, opposite "The Wakes," whence 

 it could be viewed through the "Vista." A stone of some size, which 

 probably formed part of it, still stands in this position. 



