308 GILBERT WHITE OF SELBORNE 1776 



To the Rev. John White. Thames street, Feb. 27, 1776. 



Dear Brother, — Since I came up I wrote you a very long 

 letter, and was in hopes of an answer. 



Our interest in Mr. Holt's effects wears a better face than 

 when I wrote. For now a second council (Mr. Madocks) 

 says point blank that the legacy intended for the lyiTig-in 

 hospitals is lapsed to all intents and 'purposes by the erasure 

 of the executor who had a discretionary power of pro- 

 portioning their shares respectively; there are seven lying- 

 in hospitals. Moreover the commons, before whom this 

 matter has been pleaded, are of the same opinion with 

 • Mr. Madocks. Mr. M. farther hints a suspicion of the 

 invalidity of the whole will; but on that event we must 

 not presume; most probably the foundling Hospital will 

 be secure of about £4,000. Mr. Tawke has acted in an 

 underhand manner by endeavouring to steal administration 

 by himself; but the commons and foundling both seem 

 to declare that he shall never administer, but that the 

 Whites shall. Supposing by and by that chancery does 

 not take all away by declaring the claim of the lying-in 

 Hospitals valid, we shall have somewhat about £4,000 to 

 divide among 8 people; had the will been null we should 

 have seen upwards of £1,000 each.* This is all I know 

 at present : and I thought you would be glad to hear what 

 is doing. I have sent to John Pott's surgery a tine quarto 

 book. Your townsman Mr. Livesey is now under Mr. 

 Charles White at Manchester; he writes to brother Ben. 

 and gives a very good account of your son; — "that omnes 

 omnia bona dicere, et laudare fortunas tuas, qui filium 

 haberes tali ingenio prseditum." 



I have seen a copy of Mr. Pennant's new edition of 

 ' British Zoology,' but he has put the matter into some 



* Whether Gilbert White and his brothers and sisters ever received any of 

 this money does not appear. 



