306 GILBERT WHITE OF SELBORNE 1776 



attempted a week sooner he would have been stopped by 

 the way. 



Nanny White, so far from being over-much affected by 

 the severity of the season, bore it wonderfully well. I have 

 been spending some days at my brother Ben's new house 

 at S. Lambeth, which is very commodious, and very hand- 

 somely furnished. The rooms are rather small ; but my 

 brother has removed the partition between two of the 

 parlors, and so has made one good sitting-room: he has 

 besides another parlor below, and a drawing-room above 

 stairs of 27 feet in length ; but it is narrow. This room 

 my sister has furnished in a splendid manner. In short 

 they, who have eleven children, shame me who have none, 

 and yet make a pother about building one room. Nanny 

 recovers very fast by living in the country ; and my sister 

 looks much the better for being out of town. In short this 

 house will probably lengthen all their days. Poor Berriman 

 lies still in the same sad state ! Farmer Parsons has been 

 near death with a fever, but is better. Abram Loe is dead, 

 and has left a Widow and five small children, who are 

 supported by Emshot parish. Farmer Turner has left his 

 ale-house and is retired to his new house. He is before 

 this, I trust, marryed to his housekeeper Rose Rawkins; 

 the Bridegroom is 71 and the bride 69 ! I used to say 

 that female beauty does not last above a century ; but now 

 I begin to retract. Betty Stevens is dead, and Thomas's 

 mother past all hopes. I did not send for Baptist Isaac 

 at Xmass, but hope to see him at Whitsontide. Mrs. Snooke, 

 I fear, must suffer." 



To Samuel Barker. 



[On the same sheet as above]. 



Dear Sam, — I thank you for your kind and intelligent 

 letter; but you never told me whether the good people 

 of Lyndon hum rushes, or not; nor what you think of 



