104 GILBERT WHITE OF SELBORNE 1759 



The fact is that the whole original supposition of 

 the Provost, like the first impression of John Mulso, 

 was founded on total ignorance and misconception 

 of the real pecuniary position of John White and his 

 eldest son. Far from being a rich man residing on 

 a comfortable estate, the former was, at all events 

 until the death of his wife's mother, Mrs. Holt, in 

 1753 or early in 1754, a man of but very moderate 

 means with a large family to maintain and educate. 

 At an early date in his married life he had joined 

 with his mother in keeping house in a small residence 

 (The Wakes) at Selborne, in which parish he at least 

 most assuredly owned no "patrimonial estate." In- 

 deed, it is not certain that he ever owned an acre or 

 a cottage there, though his father undoubtedly did. 

 At his mother's death, in 1755, he inherited one-fifth 

 of her property, which consisted chiefly of five houses 

 at Oxford. His will contains a general bequest of 

 real and personal estate to his younger children. To 

 his eldest son, Gilbert, however, he left only £20 as 

 an executor, this son *' being heir-general to the 

 family and provided for under my marriage settle- 

 ment." 



Gilbert White, Vicar of Selborne, in his will only 

 left £100 to his son John, ** having already given 

 him his full share of my estate in his education and 

 his marriage settlement." This probably alludes to 

 the gift of some property to his son on his marriage, 

 since an examination of the original deed of settle- 

 ment executed on the marriage of John White with 



