88 GILBERT WHITE OF SELBORKE 1756 



witli monstrosities in the shape of clipped trees and 

 hedges. 



In June he was able to spend a holiday of about 

 a month at Sunbury with Mulso, who, after a long 

 engagement, had just been married to Miss Young, 

 receiving on the occasion a soup tureen, which he 

 thought "a great beauty," from his old friend — a fact 

 which confutes the statement sometimes made that 

 wedding presents are of comparatively recent 

 origin. 



On August 23rd, 1756, his friend again writes : — 



" You will remember that you have two commissions for 

 me ; one to get me a horse for ten guineas, and the other 

 to get me a curate. I had rather have both from your 

 Recommendation than from any other man's in England, 

 because you are more able to see with your own Eyes than 

 any man I know besides. . . . 



"... How goes on the Pyramid ? Have you clapped on 

 the Handles to your urns ? Does your father like your 

 Improvements? They must make a sort of new scene to 

 him at home." 



Purchases of a setting-net and powder and shot, at 

 this time, show that the Naturalist's sporting days 

 were not yet over. In October a week was spent at 

 Oxford, where he paid "for Divinity Disputations 

 £3 3. 0." ; returning home by way of Sunbury, 

 whither he went to "sacrifice your Pleasure to my 

 convenience, as usual," as his friend, who was unwell, 

 wrote. These visits to Oxford, in addition to the 

 Easter one, which he never missed, are by no means 



