292 GILBEET WHITE OF SELBORNE 1775 



Our people here, you know, call coppice-wood, or hedge- 

 wood, rice^ or rise. Now brother Thomas has found that 

 this word is pure Saxon: for hris signifies frondes; thus 

 has he vindicated this provincial word from contempt. 

 I am lowering my bank in my garden, and throwing its 

 border on an hanging slope: last winter I sunk my walks 

 so much, that this alteration became necessary. Where is 

 WoUet the draughtsman to be found ? Thomas Mulso, who 

 draws sweetly, has taken hints concerning Hawkley slip, 

 to be finished in town. Brother Ben. has just purchased 

 two freehold houses in S. Lambeth, one of which is to be 

 used as his country house, into which he is to enter as 

 soon as possible. He and Ben. [his son] are just gone 

 from us : my Sister Ben. and Jane and Nanny are still 

 at Newton; the latter is most marvellously recovered, and 

 will now, I trust, do very well. Poor little Nanny Woods 

 has been ill, and has lost her colour. Brother Harry has 

 got an other young man, a 50 pounder. He has now a fine 

 income ; and will soon, I hope, begin to lay by some money. 

 Does your migrating clergyman visit you again this winter ? 

 Eing ouzels came to us in September. Your snuff-pincers 

 extinguish my candles in a very neat manner. 



With respects to my sister, I remain 



Your loving Brother, 



Gil. White. 



The following letter shows the interest in his 

 brother s book that the writer took and the assist- 

 ance which he was able to render in some points : — 



From Thomas White, London, Nov. 9, 1775. 



Dear Brother, — I shall be glad to see you in town, but 

 know not what to say concerning the disorder that is very 



