1774 A NATUKALISTS' TKEATY 243 



winter. At Xmas I invited him again; but he was gone 

 into Staffordshire on family business, and when he returned 

 had no more time to spare. 



By the death of Mr. John Warnford, Skinner is put in 

 the possession of the living of Bassingham in the county 

 of Lincoln, on the Witham, midway between Newark and 

 Lincoln. His living was set in 1663 at 8d. per acre ; and so 

 it continues ; was it let only at Is. Qd. it would be a noble 

 parsonage, now it rents about 200 guineas. Skinner is to 

 stay in college about five weeks longer. If you want to 

 consult him about your fauna why don't you write to him ? 

 Direct for Skinner, after five weeks, at Bassingham near 

 Newark. 



Jack by no means wants a coat and waistcoat yet; he 

 shall have a pair of fustian breeches. Brother Thomas 

 can hear of no master as yet, but will continue to enquire. 

 Prices are so enormous, that a common seedsman asked him 

 the astonishing deposit of £300 ! to enable a young man 

 to sell a pennyworth of radish seed ! 



I could get no Mus* as nobody moved a rick. 



Pray write very soon. 



Yours affectionately, 



Gil. White. 



Friends join in respects. 



If you have anything for Linn, send it up soon, because 

 the ship is likely to sail shortly. If you have any desiderata 

 with respect to Spain, now is your time, for Mr. Barrington 

 tells me this morning that he has just compleated a nat. 

 treaty with the King of Spain, who is to send all the 

 curiosities of S. America, and the RS. are to send him all 

 the nat. productions of N. America. 



I remember you wished to know how far the Hirundo 



* The harvest mouse {Mus messoriics), which he was the first to discover 

 and describe in England. Vide 'The Natural History of Selborne,' Letter 

 XIL to Pennant. 



