32 GILBERT WHITE OF SELBORNE 1778 



Mr. Etty, who is going suddenly to town, will take my 

 letter with him. Mrs. Etty is well. I am with due affec- 

 tion, Y'^ loving Uncle, 



Gil. White. 



I do not recollect any more errands. Respects over the 

 way.* 



To Mrs. John White. Selborne, Nov. 2nd, 1778. 



Dear Madam, — I thank you for your last letter, which 

 gave a much more favourable account of my brother's 

 health than any that I have received for some time; and 

 may, I hope, be followed by many more to the same purpose. 

 You may tell my brother that Dr. Chandler has read over 

 every part of his work with great attention ; and approves 

 of the whole much, and was much entertained with many 

 parts : but does not, as my brother knew before, relish the 

 systematic manner in which it is drawn up.f He has in 

 several parts with his pencil altered several expressions, but 

 chiefly where the same verbs, etc., are used two or three 

 times in a sentence: such slips must necessarily befall 

 " opere in longo " : with the matter he has never meddled. 

 I have also read over said work with great care (the insects 

 very lately) and approve much of the whole, which discovers, 

 I think, great discernment, and application. Here and there 

 I have flung in a small marginal note. Many parts are to 

 me curious, and interesting : and the whole Fauna contains 

 much more anecdote than ever I met with before in such 

 a work. Some parts are, and must be in so long a work, less 

 engaging than others. The Hawks, the Rirundines, the 

 Turdi, the Gallince, the Insects, are favourites with me : not 



* Benjamin White lived opposite his brother at S. Lambeth. 



t The Linnean method was for many years unpopular in this country — a 

 fact which perhaps explains Benjamin White's refusal of his brother's work, 

 and the consequent abandonment of its publication. 



