96 GILBERT WHITE OF SELBORNE 1753 



"rocks" were fixed at the Hermitage, and a little 

 later there is another entry of "bringing rock to 

 the Zigzag and making an area," and two wickets 

 were added to the Zigzag. These "rocks" about 

 the Hermitage have, like the building, long disap- 

 peared from their position ; but they are clearly 

 seen in the vignette view of the Hermitage, by 

 Grimm, which appeared in the early editions of 

 ' The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne.' 

 Writing on August 28th, 1758, Mulso says : — 



" You said you wished (without prejudice to anybody) you 

 was set down upon the living of Deane; I wish you was 

 with all my heart, for ever since you mentioned the Isle of 

 Wight, I have been sea-sick at the thoughts of crossing the 

 water. And yet I know it would be impossible for me not 

 to come to see how you would improve any place that you 

 was settled in : but pray, if you can, let Fat-goose living be 

 upon Terra firma. . . . Mrs. Mulso longs to see your altera- 

 tions at Selbourne, neither has she less curiosity to know 

 your ingenious brother.* Every hot day she wishes to be 

 transported to the peaceful Hermitage." 



The Garden Kalendar records on September 5th — 

 " Eat a brace of Cantaleupes at the Hermitage." 



So pleased were the contrivers with their Hermit- 

 age that the elder brother broke out into verse. 

 On September 12th, 1758, Mulso writes : — 



" You give us hopes that we may see Miss White as well as 

 yourself at Sunbury. You seem to be confined by the seques- 

 tration [of Selborne living], and yet this detached little piece 



♦ Harry, who used to appear as the hermit. 



