214 GILBERT WHITE OF SELBORNE 1773 



continued a correspondence with Linnaeus, com- 

 menced at Gibraltar in June, 1771. On January 

 10th Mulso writes : — 



" I suppose your brother John and his Lady are put up 

 in cotton with some of the Andalusian rarities, for how 

 they can stand against this severe weather after their 

 broiling on the Rock so long I cannot imagine. I very 

 much long to see them : should you stare very much if 

 you saw me come tottering down the hill supported by 

 my man, and would you allow me, as a Witney man, an 

 additional blanket ? and, as an old soaker, a double portion 

 of your spirits ? For I fancy the north side of the Hanger 

 to be pure and cold, and to demand every Succedaneum to 

 comfort and warmth. ... I reckon you have pure, hospit- 

 able, Christmas doings in your three neighbourly families.* 

 Be jovial and refresh your hearts, and forget not in your 

 cup your old and faithful friend, ^ ^ ,, 



The following letter was written by John White 

 during his stay with his brother, on the same sheet 

 as one of the letters to Pennant, which became 

 Letter XXXVIII. of 'The Natural History of 

 Selborne.' 



To T. Pennant 



Selbourn, Mar. 16, 1773. 



Dear Sir, — I am sorry our affairs do not coincide a little 

 better, so as to give us an opportunity of meeting in London. 

 According to our present plan, my brother and I propose 

 to be there about the middle of April, at which time it 



* i.e. besides the occupants of "The Wakes," the Ettys at Selborne 

 vicarage, and the Yaldens at Newton Valence vicarage. 



