168 GILBERT WHITE OF SELBORNE 1786 



From Samuel Barker. 



[With an extract.] 



Lyndon, July 18th, 1786. 



Dear Sir, — I have above completed the history of the 

 year at Zarizyn, but am afraid that in the names of the 

 birds you will meet with some confusion, as I have no 

 assistance but a common French dictionary and the Latin 

 names are but seldom annexed. I translate from a French 

 abrigement of the travels of Pallas, Gmelin, and the other 

 naturalists deputed by the Empress of Russia. 



My principal object in writing at present is to inform 

 you of a change in my situation which is soon to take 

 place, and which I ought to have been earlier in mentioning 

 to you. The lady with whom I am to be connected, is of 

 Northamptonshire, her name is Haggitt, a young woman of 

 gentle manners and long black eye-lashes, and of course, 

 you know, everything that is agreeable, &c., &c., &c. I have 

 had much trouble in finding a house, but believe I shall 

 at last fix at Whitwell in the house formerly inhabited by 

 the Isaacs ; it is at present much out of repair, but when 

 put into order, may suit me I think tolerably well. Edmund 

 White is, it seems, beforehand with me ;* present my con- 

 gratulations to him, and tell him I shall follow his 

 example as fast as I can. — I have been last June a long 

 and delightful tour in the North, with my uncle Henry, the 

 extent of which was Northward as far as the mountain 

 Skiddaw, and westward to Moel-Enllyn, a mountain near 

 Ruthin in the vale of Clwyd ; but I have enlarged so much 

 on the travels of Professor Pallas, that I have no room left 

 for my own, and must conclude with respects to all friends. 



Your affectionate nephew, 



Samuel Baeker. 



* He was married on June 20th to Miss Anne Blunt, as his uncle re- 

 corded in his Naturalist's Journal, adding that this increased the number of 

 nephews and nieces to forty-five. 



