LETTEK TO SAMUEL BARKEB 159 



To Samuel Barker. ci i i a ±. i -i^oa 



Seleburne, Augst. 1, 1786. 



Dear Sir, — As you know I am fond of the history of 

 various countries, and in particular love to study and com- 

 pare climates; it was very kind of you to take so much 

 pains to compleat the history of Zarizyn for a year. 



I return you my thanks for your making me your con- 

 ^fidant in a matter of so much moment as that of your 

 taking a wife. You, no doubt, will make a prudent choice ; 

 and then there will be a good prospect of your being happy 

 in a state where both parties must concur to render the 

 change agreeable. As it is much the fashion now for the man 

 and his wife to set out on a visit as soon as the ceremony 

 is over, we shall be glad to see the lady and you here, where 

 our new niece will meet all proper respect, and every 

 attention from myself and Mrs. J. White. Edmund's wife 

 made my nephews and nieces 45 : and we expect every day 

 to hear that Mrs. Ben. White has added one more to the 

 number : so that according to appearances the lady we are 

 talking of will be the 47th. 



We have experienced a very dry and hot summer ; most 

 part of June was sultry: yet we had a good crop of hay; 

 and have a fine prospect for wheat, which is very tall and 

 even : the hops also look well : but of late the pastures and 

 meadows burn, and the gardens suffer greatly. My grapes 

 are very forward, and the crop large. Plums we have none, 

 and no wasps yet. 



When I see you, you must tell me all the circumstances 

 of your long tour, which cannot fail to entertain. I only 

 fear that after your eyes have been stretched with the sight 

 of Skiddaw, &c., that you will despise the mole-hills of this 

 district, which once used to delight you so much. My 

 intended niece, I trust, will be pleased with our hangers 

 and prospects. Whitwell, I think, is a pretty situation. 

 In the year 1742 I spent a very pleasant long vacation there. 



