1779 DECLINES UFTON RECTORY 37 



but expect a rise : you are in the right not to think of 

 straining them, but you have prudence enough not to say 

 so ... at all events you will raise your living to something 

 more than it stands now, as Mr. Cowper was on it a great 

 number of years at the old rent. The curate there is a 

 valuable acquisition, and now I hope to see you master of 

 your own time. ... I wish you a good journey to Sussex ; 

 I fancy you will find there a strong persuasive to taking 

 Ufton." 



The last sentence, in the light of what follows 

 later, clearly means that her nephew would find 

 Mrs. Snooke, from whom he had some expectations, 

 in good health. 



The living in question, which Gilbert White 

 visited on September 10th, was the rectory of 

 Ufton Nervett, in Berkshire, in the gift of Oriel 

 College, which lay conveniently enough for an in- 

 cumbent who might be partly resident at Selborne, 

 since it is only seven or eight miles north of Basing- 

 stoke ; but it was declined after being again visited 

 in November. 



Mulso wrote again on this matter on December 

 21st, 1779 :— 



"I cannot but approve of your refusing Ufton upon the 

 reasons that you give. A living is a very troublesome charge, 

 and there are but two reasons for burthening oneself with 

 it, ' the hope of doing real good,' and ' the reasonable expecta- 

 tion of a large increase of income.' The first you could have 

 done as well as any man, had you chosen a constant resi- 

 dence there; but yet there does not lie so much spiritual 

 power and efficacy in the clergy of the Church of England 



