180 GILBERT WHITE OF SELBORNE ms 



To Mrs. B. White. ^eh. 26, 1788. 



Dear Niece, — We were glad that you had a safe, and not 

 disagreeable journey to town. The barometer on Thursday 

 last stood at Selborne at 28'3 — and at Newton at the same 

 time at 28 ! and yet we had no drowning rains at that period, 

 nor stormy winds ; but much dripping rain since. 



Mrs. Edmund WJaite and her son Eichard Yalden White 

 go on well, and are in a good way. We think Edm'^ has done 

 well in showing respect to his benefactor. 



I have been thinking that I have nothing to do with fox- 

 hunting parsons ; they must do as they like best : — and 

 therefore be pleased to eraze my reflection on them, which 

 you will find among the notes to my letter respecting the 

 Notabilis Visitatio* We now recollect, with regret, that we 

 never gave you, nor your father any of his Vidonia wine !f 

 The day you left us Manakin's surprize was very great in 

 the afternoon, when instead of his mother, and grandfather 

 he found the parlor full of strangers. He surveyed Mrs. 

 Clement often from head to foot ; and was astonished at the 

 tuft of ostriches feathers, which nodded on the crown of her 

 riding-hat. Mrs. C. brought Jane, and Martha, and her 

 Nursemaid Zebra White sic. Mrs. Chase, or Miss Greene 

 must, I think be mistaken about Mr. Churton's Doctorate. 

 My gout is rather better ; and so is that of Mrs. J. White 

 but I think her spirits not good at present. We have very 

 soft, mild weather at present, and a rising barometer. 



y loving uncle, 



Gil. White. 



Richard Yalden White encreases my nephews and nieces 

 to the number of 51. 



If the engraving of the great N.E. view of Selborne 



* It was, however, not erased. Vide note to Item 11, Letter XIV. of 

 ' The Antiquities of Selborne.' 

 t A Canary wine. 



