312 GILBERT WHITE OF SELBORNE 1776 



that the Skinneria, the Sheffieldia, the Barringtmiia are like 

 to sleep. Botanists think they shall never see the originals ; 

 and other readers care not a farthing about the matter. 



I marvel at the mildness of your weather in January. ' I 

 told you, I think, that on the 31st my thermometer was 

 J below 0°. There seems to have been a peculiarly severe 

 current at Selborne. Mr. Yalden was so supine as never to 

 put his thermometer out ! The thermometer at S. Lambeth 

 was at 6°; at Fy field 15°; at Lyndon 19°! in London areas 

 at 20°. 



We join in respects. Y"^ affect., 



Gil. White. 



I return home next week. Nanny White rides out at 

 her father's country-house every day ; and improves wonder- 

 fully. Molly White is at Cambridge. 



Sir Tho. G[a]teh[ou]se is ruined, and locked up in a garret 

 here in town for fear of his creditors; and his lady, who 

 brought a £1,000 per ann. will, for his life, be reduced to 

 poverty ! Your widow-annuity is paid. 



To Thomas Barker. London, Mar. 20, 1776. 



Dear Sir, — You will be pleased to remember that we 

 always mentioned Mr. Holt's money concerns as matters of 

 the greatest uncertainty; and were well aware from the 

 first that they must all undergo the scrutiny of the court of 

 chancery, in which the Lord Chancellor may decree them all 

 away, as to him shall seem most proper. But as some body 

 must take on their administration, my Brothers Thomas 

 and Benjamin are willing to undergo that troublesome trust, 

 thinking it best not to leave a business in which our family 

 is so largely concerned to strangers, or insufficient people. 

 The Judge in the Commons has already determined, upon 

 the application of Mr. Tawke in which he had no concern, 



