1766 CUKATE OF WEST DENE 83 



In January, 1755, the oldest (in every sense of 

 the word) inmate of ''The Wakes "—Gilbert White's 

 grandmother, widow of the Vicar of Selborne — died. 

 She had attained the great age of ninety-one, as her 

 grandson was careful to record in the burial register. 



On February 10th, 1755, Mulso, who had heard 

 a false report of the death of Provost Hodges, 

 writes : — 



"As to your Oriel news, it affords a Prospect, but I 

 suppose you hardly entertain solid hopes of any present 

 preferment by it, tho' it may make way for Harry. Young 

 .if Mr. Shaw of Cheshunt would yesterday have persuaded 

 me that Dr. Hodges was dead and that you was going 

 to be Provost in his Koom. I should have liked one part 

 of the news very well if true, but I know you would have 

 invited me to condole with you upon the death of the 

 worthy Provost." 



These, however, were dreams of the future. After 

 the usual visit to Oxford at Easter, Gilbert White 

 made arrangements to take up temporarily another 

 curacy, that of West Dene, or Deane, in Wiltshire, 

 not far from Salisbury, and just on the borders of 

 Hampshire. Writing to him there on April 8th, 

 1755, after mentioning that his uncle was looking 

 towards Salisbury for a place to put his mitre in, 

 Mulso continues : — 



" Perhaps it is better being a Bishop than a curate there, 

 but indeed I am not sure, for as a friend of mine* sang, 



* About content why keep we such a Riot ? 

 'Tis here, at Cowbitt,t if we could be quiet.' 



* Evidently the friend he was addressing, 

 t In the Lincolnshire fens. 



