1787 HIS BOOK IN THE PEESS 171 



than you are aware of. Be bold therefore, and come forth ; 

 ' Sume superbiam qusesitam meritis.' " 



On Sept. 6, 1787, he writes again : — 



"You delight me with the account of your being in the 

 press. I have written to my brother [T.] Mulso to bespeak 

 a set of the first impression of your brother Benj*^, and I 

 hope you will second me in it, that what I have of yours 

 may receive no disgrace after it leaves your hands." 



From the Naturalist's Journal — 



"Fyfield, Nov. 8. The Fy field comedians performed 'Much 

 ado about nothing,' with the Romp. 



"Nov. 13. The Fyfield players performed 'Richard the 

 third.'" 



These versatile comedians were the children of 

 Harry White and their friends. 



In the times now treated of printing off a book 

 must have been a long business, since the following 

 letter was written about a year before the publica- 

 tion : — 



To Mrs. B. White, Seleburne, Nov. 26, 1787. 



Dear Molly, — Pray give the opposite letter* to your 

 husband, and desire him to insert it among those addressed 

 to Mr. Barrington, but before the three or four last which 

 all concern the weather at Selborne. This will soon be 

 followed by an other, which I shall also extract from my 

 Journals. My thanks are due for your late kind and 



* ' The Natural History of Selborne,' Letter LX. to Barringtou. 



