174 GILBERT WHITE OF SELBORNE 1770 



In the original there followed — 

 " As a naturalist I may say — 



' . . . . Ego apis matinge 



More modoque 

 Grata carpentis thyma per laborem 

 Plurimum, circa nemus uvidique 

 Tiburis ripas, operosa parvus 



. . . fingo'"— 



a favourite quotation from Horace, which is sometimes 

 prefixed to the year's records in the Naturalist's 

 Journal. Mulso writes again on March 18th, 1770 : — 



" Your time is near to have a call to Oriel, and I hope you 

 will take some time for a visit at Witney. You may there 

 enliven my hours, and enlarge my ideas; and you who 

 ascertain everything may ascertain my health, for I am but 

 as grass and as the flower of the field. . . . The secret is out 

 with regard to the old man of the hill My wife thought it 

 improbable that it ever would be brought to bear that she 

 [Jenny Mulso] should see Harry at Selborne, and therefore 

 she explained the matter. ... I was sorry that my wife 

 judged it best to put a stop to her inquisitiveness, for it was 

 innocent and often ingenious; but her speaking of this to 

 others, and our being obliged to disguise the truth before 

 her, gave us the air of Romancers. However, this has not 

 taken off her desire of seeing your Retreat." 



This last passage settles the question as to the 

 identity of the personator of the Hermit at Selborne. 

 Mulso continues — 



"(If you can let me know that a vacancy is likely to 

 happen in the Stalls of Winton, it would be good news ; for 

 my uncle having lately provided for Mr. Rennell,* I have 

 hope of being next in succession ; but this is mb sigillo.y 

 * His domestic chaplain. 



