1784 A NEW WAY TO SELBOENE 139 



making, like his grandfather, who bequeathed money 

 for this purpose. Among the few anecdotes of him, 

 which the writer has been able to collect in Selborne, 

 is the story that when the Naturalist was seen 

 approaching, the village children used to put stones 

 in the ruts, and receive from him pennies for their 

 diligence. The following letter refers to this subject : 



To Miss White 

 At the horse and jockey 



Newton-lane end. IsTovr. 23rd 1784. 



Dear Molly, — When you come to Newton-cross I wish 

 you would turn short on the left, and so go along Newton- 

 lane, where the quarter,* I think, is made very safe. After 

 you have passed the N. field, turn down the N. field-hill- 

 lane, which has had much labor bestowed on it, and is, I 

 trust, now very safe also. 



If the latter should prove as I expect, having never been 

 used for quarter before, you may say — 



". . . juvat ire jugis, qua nulla priorum 

 Castaliam molli divertitur orbita divo." 



Y"^ loving Uncle, 



Gil. White. 



On the same date as the above letter the 

 Naturalist's Journal records — 



"Brother Thomas, and his daughter, and two sons came. 

 The chaise that brought some of them passed along the 

 King's highway into the village by Newton lane, and down 



* This word, in these days of universally metalled roads, may be strange 

 to many of the present generation. It means the space between the horse's 

 track and the wheel ruts, which was not worn down. 



