1770 



FAMILY LETTEES 177 



would take a little pains, daily observations might be made 

 with respect to animals, and particularly regarding their life 

 and conversation, their actions and oeconomy, which are the 

 i life and soul of natural history." 



From the period of Gilbert White's life now- 

 reached there is extant a considerable number 

 of his letters, chiefly to members of his family. 

 Most of them are here given ; since, especially in 

 the case of such an uneventful life, there can be 

 no better illustrations of their author's thoughts 

 and character. Moreover, now that all those who 

 knew him have long passed away, there is really 

 no other trustworthy means of illustrating his career. 

 These letters were of course never intended for 

 publication, nevertheless many of them have no 

 little literary and scientific interest ; while all of 

 them exhibit their author as a kindly, afiection- 

 ate, and high-minded man. 



It should perhaps be here mentioned that many 

 of the letters in question — but by no means all — 

 were lent to Mr. Bell. These he printed in what 

 — originally intended to be an appendix — became 

 a second volume of his edition of Gilbert White's 

 book. In some cases, unfortunately, he appended 

 wrong dates, and even mistook the names of the 

 persons to whom the letters were addressed. 

 Moreover some omissions occur not infrequently, 

 and there are errors in the text. 



The following letter is printed from MS. in Gilbert 



VOL. I. — N 



