CHAPTER VI. 



On September 29tli, 1758, John White died. The 

 news of his father s death was at once communicated 

 by Gilbert White to his friend Mulso, who wrote in 

 a letter of condolence on October 5 th : — 



"With regard to his family, who will always remember 

 him with the tenderness and honour due to his memory, he 

 was spared to them till they were all grown up to such a 

 state as to be at no loss for a method and settlement in Life ; 

 and what little is wanting to Harry would have naturally 

 fallen to your care, had he lived longer, from his retired way 

 of life." 



He goes on to remind his friend that *' solid is the 

 blessing of having had a good parent." This bless- 

 ing, there is no doubt, the Selborne family enjoyed. 

 The father of a family of sons, none of whom were 

 quite commonplace men, John White himself does 

 not seem to have exhibited any great strength of 

 character; yet he earned, and no doubt deserved, 

 his children's affections and the respect of all his 

 neighbours. Though at his marriage he retired from 

 practice at the Bar, he retained some connection with 

 the Law, since he was a magistrate for Hampshire. 



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