1783 



THE TEMPLE 99 



lamentable. We rejoice to hear that uncle Harry expects 

 more pupils. 



You may say what you please, but the original thought 

 of the Epigram is faulty, in making the Naiades sub- 

 servient to Ceres, who had certainly no influence over 

 water-deities. 



For Ulysses's mill-maids, see Pope's Odyssey, vol. 4, 



p. 75, book 20. We have swallows and house-martins, but 



no swifts yet. The martins clean out their old nests, and 



perhaps new-line them. Smith's terrier, I think, should be 



questioned about the truth of what his master says he saw 



on the 11th. We want rain : yet the weather is so glorious, 



that I can hardly wish it to alter. Our rain was Ap. 11th 



•51, 23rd '37 : and that is all since we left you. Thermometer 



18th 63°, 19th 65°. We have three nightingales singing 



in my fields ! Cucumbers now come by heaps. Mrs. J. White 



smiles to see you quote Latin so boldly. Miss Ch[arles] Etty 



and Andrew [Etty] remain much the same. Your account 



of your neighbour Cr. head of hair made us laugh. Baptist 



Isaac, it seems, does not leave Oriel ; he has changed his 



mind. I shall be glad to hear from you again soon ; and 



am, dear niece, ^rr «> 4-- 4. tt i 



Y^ affectionate Uncle, 



Gil. White. 

 Did you see the wonderful Auroras on Sunday night ? 



To Miss White. 



Selborne, May 13, 1783. 



Dear Molly, — Mrs. Tom Butler, who is an intelligent 

 person, says that in the time of Queen Eliz. Temple was in 

 possession of the Seymours; and that she does not think 

 that they have any title-deeds older than that reign. The 

 Seymours of that period must probably be the sons of 

 Edward duke of Somerset, Uncle to King Edw^ the sixth, 

 and L^ Protector. See new peerage. Vol 1^* p. 13, 14, 15. 



