1791 THE HERMITAGE THATCHED 235 



Eain in Oct. 6.49 : in JSTovr. 8.16 ! From the 13th of 

 Novr. to the 19th both inclusive, viz. in one week, the rain 

 was 5.10 ! ! There was thunder two nights. I have just 

 fixed a white cross, and capped the Hermitage with a new 

 coat of thatch, so that to us below it becomes a very- 

 picturesque object. Hale's eldest daughter has eloped from 

 her wretched husband ; and went, it is said, with a married 

 man, who has children grown men and women. 



The Hermitage mentioned in the last letter was, 

 no doubt, the new Hermitage, situated close to the 

 Bostal, immediately opposite Gilbert White's house. 

 A small, but yet perfect, zigzag path through the trees 

 leads up to where it stood from a wicket gate in the 

 little park, which looks as though it might have 

 existed in the Naturalist's time. 



To R. Marsham. Selborne, near Alton, 



Deer. 19, 1791. 



Dear Sir, — Your letter,* which met me so punctually in 

 London, was so intelligent, and so entertaining, as to have 

 merited a better treatment, and not to have been permitted 

 to have lain so long unnoticed ! 



That there is no rule without an exception is an observa- 

 tion that holds good in Natural History: for though you 

 and I have often remarked that Swifts leave us in general 

 by the first week in August : yet I see by my journal of this 

 year, that a relation of mine had under the eaves of his 

 dwelling house in a nest a young squab swift, which the 

 dam attended with great assiduity till September 6th, and 



* Of July 8th, 1791. It commences, "My thanks are greatly due to you 

 for the favour of your pleasing letter of the 8th of June." This letter is 

 unfortunately missing, though possibly it still exists in some collection of 

 autographs. 



