1768 



CHOLDERTON AGAIN VACANT 159 



lie had neither books on natural history, nor leisure 

 to write. 



About this time the living of Cholderton, Wilts, 

 which had already been refused, became again vacant. 



Mulso writes on July 26th, 1768 : — 



" I long to know your determination about Cholderton ; Dr. 

 Bentham was of opinion that you would take it. He talked 

 something of the vicinity of it to Harry, as if he might 

 avail himself of your curacy, or be at hand to take the 

 Parish duties. How comes it to pass that you, who want to 

 make Selborne your residence, are afraid of a living where 

 your residence would not be required ? This is one of 

 those Paradoxes in which you have always delighted. For 

 it does not follow that you may not visit your Parishioners 

 very often, though you do not inhabit the village ; and that 

 is more than you did at More ton Pinkney. If you once 

 make your living your residence, farewell poor Selborne ! 

 Not that I am at all solicitous about your taking the present 

 thing, if you have a good prospect of the Principal Object* of 

 your expectations : it is certain that you can very well wait, 

 if it would tally at last, and be a gainer instead of a loser." 



He goes on to say — 



" Bon voyage to Mr. Banks ! What a fund of entertain- 

 ments will he have laid in for you, if he lives to come 

 back ! " 



The nature of Gilbert White's acquaintanceship 

 with Mr. (afterwards Sir Joseph) Banks does not 

 exactly appear. Writing to Pennant, however, on 

 June 10th, 1768, after mentioning that while in 

 town he **was often in company with your friend 

 Mr. Harrington," he continues — 



* Ufton Nervett Rectory. 



