8 GILBERT WHITE OF SELBORNE 1777 



A somewhat serious attack of illness occurred 

 during the London visit. 



To the Bev. John White. Selborne, May 2 [1777]. 



Dear Brother, — I should have wished that you had found 

 your book more marketable, and that you could have sold it 

 outright. Yet if Benj" offers to join, it looks as if he did 

 not fear the want of success in the publication: besides 

 booksellers have ways and means of subscribing off among 

 the trade in which authors cannot avail themselves. 



My thanks are due for your calling on Edm. Woods, who 

 will, I think, soon supply me with some windows. 



I wish I could prevail on you to come down and spend 

 a little time with us before you return Northward. 



As soon as I got to town I sent your Hortus siccus by my 

 brother Thomas's boy to Mr. Curtis's own house ; and was in 

 hopes he would have examined the plants. 



No swifts appear yet, though we have soft weather. 



My left hand is full of gout : all my fingers look red, and 

 shoot and burn. If I have gout about me it is best to come 

 out. I hope you found and left Mrs. Snooke well. 



The spirit of building prevails much in this district ; 

 Rich*^ Butler, the thatcher, is going to enlarge his house; 

 John Bridger of Oakhanger builds a new one next spring ; 

 and Mr. P.[owlett] of Rotherfield began pulling down 



yesterday. 



" The child that is unborn may rue 

 The pulling of that day." 



I am your loving brother, 



Gil. White. 



Pray write often, and let me hear what steps you take 

 respecting your book. 



On June 1st, 1777, Mulso wrote : — 



