84 GILBERT WHITE OF SELBORNE 1755 



You give me pleasure in hearing of the stand made against 

 the perverse party at Oriel. I would the Provost should 

 live till you succeed him (if that is English ; it sounds 

 Irish); and then if I have a son, he goes to Oriel." 



Before going to Dene, however, he found it neces- 

 sary to go on May 1st to have another " 7 weeks 

 season" at the Hot Well at Bristol, returning to Dene; 

 where he took up his residence, at the beginning of 

 July, as curate to Mr. Edmund Yalden, Vicar of 

 Newton Valence and of West Dene. 



On May 28th, 1755, Mulso, who had been pro- 

 mised a canonry by his uncle, writes again : — 



"The everlasting prebendaries of Peterborough are all in 

 good health as I am informed by the Bishop. ... I am 

 charmed with your description of the site of your par- 

 sonage house. . . . You threaten me if I do not send you word 

 of some preferment falling to me, that you will supplant 

 me by making love to my cozens : truly (but this is 

 entirely entre nous) that Sap is begun, or I am much 

 mistaken; so that, if it does not fall soon, I may chance 

 to hear that though a nephew is dear, a child is dearer; 

 which on such an occasion would be a melancholy Truth 

 which I could not gainsay. ... I travelled very pleasantly 

 with you to the Hot Wells in imagination, yet your first 

 day's journey of 34 miles would in reality I believe have 

 finished me. ... I sincerely wish you had a living like 

 Dene, and the thorough good sort of damoiselle that you 

 mention, that your wishes might be compleated, and that 

 I might say, I know and have a value for Mr. White of 

 such a place, for now you are of no place for a fortnight 

 a perfect Cup of unsettled." 



