116 GILBEET WHITE OF SELBORNE i784 



The next letter, describing his journey home in 

 snowy weather, will be of interest to those who 

 know the locality, and the (now long disused) 

 "hollow lane" from Alton to Selborne ; which, to 

 modern eyes, looks a fearsome road to travel, even 

 in summer-time. 



To Miss White. 



Selborne, April 6, 1784. 



Dear Mece, — The many kind offices that we experienced, 

 and the good treatment that we met with from your father 

 and self and other friends at S. Lambeth, deserve an early 

 acknowledgement. The roads were good and without any 

 snow as far as Guildford: but when we came in sight of 

 that town we were surprized to see all the upland grounds 

 covered ; and were struck with a chill by the wind blowing 

 over a snowy district. After dinner we mounted Guild- 

 down, and shuddered to behold that Apennine six feet deep 

 in snow under the hedges ; and all the sandy country, vales 

 and all, covered over. From Farnham to Alton the scene 

 looked pretty well : but again from Alton to Harteley the 

 snow under hedges was many feet deep; so that had we 

 attempted to have gone earlier in the week, we could not 

 have got along. At the end of the avenue, which was very 

 bad, poor old Selborne afforded a very Siberian view ! I 

 hardly knew again my native spot. The down, the hanger, 

 the fields looked very wild and strange ! 



" Amidst this savage prospect, bleak and bare, 

 Hung the chill Hermitage in middle air ; 

 Its haunts forsaken, and its feasts forgot, 

 A snow-cap'd, lonely, desolated cot." * 



* These lines are slightly altered from 'Selborne Hanger,' addressed "To 

 the Miss Batties." 



