76 GILBEKT WHITE OF SELBOBNE nsi 



soldiers left this place, two maidens of the village followed 

 them ; and that they might cut a figure in their new way of 

 life, stripped the poor woman's wardrobe. Kob. B. pursued 

 them in great wrath; and overtaking them at Hungerford, 

 brought the damsels back. But as nothing was found upon 

 them, after much trouble and expence he was forced to let 

 the matter rest. 



Poor Dame Larby gets worse ; and must soon, it is feared, 

 be starved. 



We have had fine rains this month. On the 2nd 56 ; on 

 the 5th -78 ; on the 6th 1-21 ; on the 10th 18 ; on the 11th '58. 



Y"^ loving unkle, with a K, 



Gil. White. 



Oct. 30. The tortoise went under the ground in his coop, 

 but not liking his quarters, on Nov. 8 he lifted up his coop, 

 and came forth, and has buried himself again in the laurel- 

 hedge, where he will probably be lost in the profoundest 

 slumbers during the uncomfortable months of winter. 



Pray write to us. 



Our grapes are good still, and not quite gone. We have 

 eat of them twice every day to this time. 



On November 21st, 1781, the Provost of Oriel 

 College, Dr. John Clarke, died, and Dr. John Eveleigh 

 was elected in his place on December 5th. It does 

 not appear that Grilbert White, though he went to 

 Oxford for the election, was a candidate on this 

 occasion. Writing at this time to her brother, Miss 

 White remarks — 



"We see in the paper an account of the death of D** 

 Clarke and wish we could elect my uncle Provost of Oriel, 

 but I fancy he would make some objections, was it in our 

 power." 



