1757 STANDS FOE ORIEL PROVOSTSHIP 91 



He goes on — 



" I am glad that you got to some success at last at Oriel, 

 and I wish you joy of tiles and thatch. You, who can make 

 £20 go farther than I can £40, have a pretty little increase 

 by this curacy. ... I am glad you are so well at the Grange, 

 and that my Lord* is so open with you. If Expectation 

 makes the blessing dear, you and I are like to have the 

 dearest blessings in the World." 



This preferment was the perpetual curacy of 

 Moreton Pinkney, in Northamptonshire, about to 

 become vacant through its holder's promotion. The 

 matter was not, however, finally settled till December, 

 1757. 



Meanwhile an event of importance occurred. The 

 Provost of Oriel, Dr. Walter Hodges, died on 

 January 14th, 1757 ; and Gilbert White became a 

 candidate for the office, but unsuccessfully, since on 

 January 27tli Mr. Chardin Musgrave, fourth son 

 of Sir Christopher Musgrave, of Eden Hall, was 

 elected. 



On February 24th, 1757, Mulso writes : — 



" I received yours from Oxford Jan. 28th with an account 

 of your election at Oriel ; but the first account that I 

 received of it was from Sir Philip Musgrave, who had a 

 variety of fortune happened in his Family in the space 

 of a Fortnight ; for he had a son and Heir born, his sister 

 Spragg left a widow with about £10,000, and Chardin chosen 

 Provost : and since that time died Mr. Beckford from whom 



• The Lord Keeper. At this time Sir Robert Henley, a Hampshire neigh- 

 bour and friend of the White family, who afterwards became Lord Chan- 

 cellor. 



