1786 



DE. JOHN WHITE 161 



were very forward in July ; but they are not so delicately 

 ripened as in some more favourable autumns, though now 

 good. The beginning of this month deluged all the country, 

 and had like to have blown us all away : the tempests and 

 torrents were dreadful! From the 4th to the 11th of this 

 month inclusive the quantity of rain was 5*04 ! but now we 

 have delicate weather, and a fine wheat season. The late 

 election at Salisbury has done my Nephew John much 

 honour: but neither he nor his mother are elated on the 

 occasion, because he quits a little certain business in hopes 

 of greater. He certainly was getting ground at Alton. 

 Should he succeed at Sarum, there will be more field- 

 room for getting money than in our poor rough district; 

 and so there had need : for the Infirmary brings neither 

 salary, nor emolument, but only credit, from the supposition 

 that the surgeon is a man of skill and merit in his pro- 

 fession. 



Brother Thomas is here ; and brother and sister Benjamin 

 and Mary at Newton: they join in respects. I am glad 

 to hear that Mr. and Mrs. Brown have left Uppingham. 



I am, with all due respects. 



Your affectionate Uncle, 



Gil. White. 



Our hop-planters returned from Wey-hill fair with chear- 

 ful faces, and full purses, having sold a large crop of hops 

 for a good price. The reason was, because the Kentish 

 hops, which were a fortnight behind, were blown away 

 by the tempests. The parish of Selborne will be much 

 benefited by the hop-plantations, to the amount, some say, 

 of near £2,000. The women had a fine picking, and earned 

 2s. 6d. per day. Uncle Harry has built him an hermitage at 

 Fyfield, on which Samson White has written a good copy 

 of verses. Mr. Twopeny is just married. 



VOL. II. — M 



