10 GILBEKT WHITE OF SELBOENE 1777 



called Southington : notwithstanding Bishop Tanner asserts 

 that he never could find more than two preceptories in this 

 county, viz. Godesfield and S. Badeisley. Hence we may 

 be certain that the Bishop did not get access to the papers 

 in Magdalen College archives. 



Though the lands of the convent and the Templars abutted 

 on each other, and were intermixed; yet we see that those 

 two societies of Eeligious lived on the best of terms, in 

 an intercourse of mutual good offices, exchanging lands, 

 and permitting roads to be opened for each other's mutual 

 convenience. 



We see also that Blachmere and Bradshot, names well 

 known to modern ears, were also familiar to the neigh- 

 bourhood four or five hundred years ago. 



I expect Dr. Chandler soon; and regret much (and he 

 assures me he does the same) that the statutes will not 

 permit him to bring with him the archive -papers to 

 Selborne, which contain much knowledge concerning the 

 antiquities of this place; information that has never been 

 pryed into ; but has slumbered within the College- walls ever 

 since they were founded. 



We have drowning weather, and a dismal black solstice. 

 Such rains make carriage very irksome, and the attendance 

 on building very comfortless, and brick-burning very pre- 

 carious : but the walls, I trust, will be the stronger ; since 

 the mortar is the better blended into the chinks and crevices 

 during so sloppy a season. 



Let me hear how you have sold your oak-timber. 



Y^s &c., 



Gil. White. 



To the Rev. John White. Selborne, July 16, 1777. 



Dear Brother, — Some how or other I had persuaded 

 myself that you were to write first ; and having little to say, 

 as we had seen each other so lately, I thought I would stay 



