176 aiLBEET WHITE OF SELBORNE ms 



propensity to the same enquiries, because I have sometimes 

 met him at Curtis's garden. Brother Thomas thinks it 

 may be best to cover the Ginkgo* a little in severe 

 weather. We have had a very deep snow, which began on 

 Sunday Deer. 23rd and lasted for two or three nights, and 

 days, so that several of our hollow lanes became impassable. 

 The turnpike through your village must be a very pleasant 

 circumstance, and prevent such inconveniences ; to which, 

 I remember in old days, it was very liable. I recollect to 

 have heard Mr. Isaac say, that they had often been snowed 

 up; and that he had shot woodcocks and snipes from his 

 best chamber-window as they came to feed at the fine 

 perennial spring from whence your parish f takes its name. 

 Mr. Charles Etty left us last Friday, and went to his ship, 

 the Duke of Montrose, now lying at Gravesend, in which 

 he is soon to sail for Madras, and China, as third mate. 

 The wicked woodcutters entered our Hanger this day, for 

 the second time, in order to fell some more of our beautiful 

 beeches. Last year they cleared as far as the shop slidder ; 

 and will strip now as far as Hercules \ If my niece does 

 not come, and see the remains of that sweet pendulous 

 covert next summer, she will scarce be able to conceive 

 how lovely and romantic it once had been. Sam White 

 is a very fortunate lad: for not long since the provost 

 and fellows of Oriel elected him to a good exhibition 

 founded by D'' Eobinson Bishop of London, which he is 

 to enjoy for three years. I have just sent your father an 

 account of the Selborne rain during last year : it will again 

 greatly exceed that of Eutland. 



S. White has undertaken to translate the Prognostics of 

 the Greek Poet Aratus into English verses. It has never, 

 it seems, been rendered into our Language: but was so 



* The ginkgo is the pretty Japanese tree, with leaves like the maiden- 

 hair fern, Salishuria adiantifolia, — A. N. 

 t Whitwell in Rutland. 



