288 GILBEKT WHITE OF SELBOENE 1775 



A little later her nephew visited Mrs. Snooke 

 at Eingmer, whence he wrote — 



To the Rev. John White, Eingmer, Aug. 12, 1775. 



Dear Brother, — As you had once experienced a dis- 

 appointment with regard to the disposal of your son ; I was 

 much pleased to find by your last that he was now finally 

 settled under a master of so much reputation ; * and I doubt 

 not but that Jack, who has abilities, will hereafter make a 

 good figure in life. Moreover, as you have but one child, 

 I think it is much more comfortable for you and my sister 

 to have him fixed near at hand, than in London, where you 

 would be able to see him so seldom, and to know how he 

 went on. As to Jack's "venturing to draw blood from 

 his majesties subjects," I do not so much wonder : I rather 

 admire at the courage of the patients who permit him: how- 

 ever every young man must have a beginning. 



Mr. Aikinf I have heard of, and seen extracts from some 

 of his writings ; when he offers to correct the press, how are 

 you to gratify him? It will be very clever to have such 

 a corrector. 



Mr. Grimm, the Swiss, is still in Derbyshire; and is to 

 continue there and in Staffordshire 'til the end of the month. 

 I have made all the enquiry I can concerning this artist, as 

 it much behoves me to do. Mr. Tho. Mulso, and Brother 

 Thomas, and Benjamin, and Mr. Lort have been to his 

 lodgings to see his performances. They all agree that he is 



* A surgeon, probably at Manchester. 



t John Aikin, m.d. (1747-1822), was at this time practising as a surgeon 

 at Warrington. He subsequently went to London and devoted himself 

 to literary undertakings, his reputation chiefly resting on his endeavour 

 to popularise scientific inquiries. He is mentioned by Gilbert White in the 

 last sentence of ' The Natural History of Selborne ' as having written * The 

 Natural History of the Year.' In 1795 he wrote a preface to and edited 

 *A Naturalist's Calendar,' etc., from Gilbert White's unpublished papers. 

 It is unlikely that he was the surgeon to whom John White, jun., was 

 apprenticed, since he and his family were strong Dissenters. 



