CHAPTEK XIII. 



Early in 1776, owing to the death of an annuitant, 

 Thomas White came into full possession of the 

 property settled on him by the will of Mr. Holt, 

 who had died in 1745. Subsequently he quitted 

 London for the then rural village of South Lambeth. 



To Thomas White. 



Selborne, Jan. 4, 1776. 



Dear Brother, — As I have often heard Sir S. Stuart say, 

 that if he had his timber to sell over again he could sell it 

 for five or six hundred pounds more than he made of it; 

 and as men seldom have much timber to sell a second time, 

 you should, I think, retain Mr. Hounsom as your council, 

 and make use of his superior judgment before you bargain. 

 I hope you will find £2,000 worth of trees that are ripe on 

 your estate; and that sum will help much towards your 

 younger children's fortunes. 



By all means, when you are more settled, begin laying 

 in a fund of materials for the Natural History and 

 Antiquities of this county. You are now at a time of life 

 when judgment is mature, and when you have not lost that 

 activity of body necessary for such pursuits. You must 

 afford us good engravings to your work, and carry about an 

 artist to the remarkable places. In many respects you will 



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