168 GILBEET WHITE OF SELBOENE i787 



of June ! Here, however (for I have almost done mischief 

 enough to the loaf), here "Let me wander all unseen, By- 

 hedgerow elms and hillocks green," in fields somewhat more 

 fertile than the Surrey hills, where the largest of the trees 

 first planted by 0. Hunter is about 3 feet in girt, after grow- 

 ing, I believe, more years than I have been growing; but 

 then in height they have far outstript me, to say nothing of 

 my friend the Archon of Eolle * who honoured me with a 

 letter yesterday after a half year's silence. He says not a 

 syllable about returning to England; but if he has left 

 Eolle, as perhaps he may before a letter arrives, it will be 

 forwarded. He says the English literature and nation enjoy 

 in Switzerland a degree of esteem which is very flattering to 

 a lover of his country, and that it is surprising to see the 

 number of English authors to be met with in the libraries of 

 gentlemen in the delicious little town where he was when he 

 wrote to me. 



I inclose you a letter from the Wanderer (Thicknesse 

 the traveller); how instructive it may prove I know not. 

 Mr. Burby tells me he saw a letter from C. Etty, which was 

 forwarded to Mrs. Etty, and that he apprehends he is on the 

 English coast, if he is not landed. I was much indebted 

 to the hospitality and conversation of S. Lambeth during my 

 visit to the metropolis at Easter, which was not so long as it 

 would have been if the smoke had not given me a wretched 

 cough, which the air of Oxford and the country removed 

 some time ago. I am afraid I shall not see Selborne again 

 this summer, as I am bound for Cheshire towards the end of 

 the term, which begins to-day. I came across the country 

 from Waverley by the Holte, through Kingsley, and along 

 the edge of Wolmer, and never was much out of my way I 

 believe. Some of the hills hereabout I knew as I ap- 

 proached them; but there was a clump of trees on a 



* Dr. Chandler. 



