232 GILBERT WHITE OF SELBOIINE 1791 



I did myself the honour of writing to you very lately 

 about trees, and other matters. This winter continues wet 

 and mild : wet springs are bad for Selborne. My crocus's 

 make a fine show. 



During the spring and early summer of this year 

 many relations were entertained at Selborne. On 

 June 23rd their host visited Mr. Edmund Woods 

 at Godalming ; and records that he "went to see 

 the village of Compton, where my father lived more 

 than sixty years ago, and where seven of his children 

 were born. The people of the village remember 

 nothing of our family." The 7th of July found him 

 at South Lambeth, when he noted the contents of 

 "a fruit-shop near S. James," viz. "black cluster 

 grapes, pine apples, nectarines, and Orleans plums." 



" July 12th. On this day my Bro. Benjn. White began to 

 rebuild his house in Fleet Street, which he had entirely pulled 

 to the ground. His grandson, Ben. White, laid the 1st brick 

 of the new foundation, and then presented the workmen with 

 five shillings for drink. Ben., who is 5 years old, may prob- 

 ably remember the circumstance hereafter, and may be able 

 to recite to his grandchildren the occurrences of the day." 



So man proposes. This Benjamin White died 

 young, and the publishing business did not remain 

 long in the White family. 



The following letter affords the first evidence of 

 the writer's really serious illness : — 



