184 GIL13EKT WHITE OF SELBOKNE 1788 



of the crop of lucerne grown in his brother's field, 

 and the exact time which it lasted for his horses' 

 feed. 



On July 21st, 1788, Mulso writes :— 



" I rejoice excessively at you being now committed to the 

 press. As to your frights and fears, they become you well 

 enough as a modest man, but they are unnecessary as an 

 author. But I will put you in great heart. D"*. Chelsum told 

 me that he had seen your booh, that it seemed a very promis- 

 ing performance, and likely to get into great favour ; that it 

 was well put forth and decorated with very pleasing prints 

 and views. D"" Chelsum is a man of knowledge, a Connoscenti, 

 and deep in Virtu. What would you have more in your pre- 

 existing state ? This is but your embryo glory ; your material 

 and substantial happiness and enjoyment is to come." 



A family tradition has descended to the present 

 writer that Gilbert White feared that the public 

 would " laugh at an old country parson's book," but 

 that his scruples were overcome by the advice and 

 exhortations of his brother Thomas, who promised 

 to himself review it in the ' Gentleman's Magazine,' 

 which he did. That its author had, or at least 

 affected, modest views as to his book's success is 

 shown by some amusing lines which he wrote in 

 January, 1789, in which he predicted a very humble 

 fate for the pages of his ' Selborne.' For these verses 

 the curious reader may consult Mr. Bell's edition, 

 vol. i. p. lii., and may add to the version there 

 given the following concluding lines, which appear 

 in a copy made early in 1789 by Thomas White — 



