244 GILBERT WHITE OF SELBORNE 1792 



the volumes of smoke from the guns; but that they could 

 also, they thought, smell the scent of the gun-powder, the 

 wind being N.E. and blowing directly from the scene of 

 action at Wickham bushes, tho' they are in a direct line 

 more than twenty miles from hence. 



As I had written to you as long ago as March, I began 

 to fear that our correspondence was interrupted by indis- 

 position; when your agreeable letter of July 14th came in, 

 and relieved me from my suspense. You do me much 

 honour by calling one of your beeches after my name. 

 Linnaeus himself was complimented with the Linncea 

 horealis by one of his friends, a mean, trailing, humble 

 plant, growing in the steril, mossy, shady wilds of Siberia, 

 Sweden, and Russia ; while I am dignified by the title of 

 a stately Beech, the most beautiful, and ornamental of all 

 forest trees. The reason, I should suppose, why your trees 

 have not encreased in growth, and girth this summer is the 

 want of heat to expand them. I have not this year mea- 

 sured my firs in circumference, but they have, I see, many 

 of them, made surprising leading shoots. My account of 

 the Fern-owl, or Eve-jarr was prevented by Madam Pro- 

 crastination, who, a jade, lulled me in security all the spring, 

 and told me I had time enough, and to spare, till at last 

 I found that the R. S. meetings were prorogued till the 

 autumn ; against which I hope to be ready : and as I have 

 got my materials, trust that when I do set about the 

 business "verba baud invista sequentur." By all means 

 get a sight of the sixth Beport of the Commissioners, &c., 

 it will entertain you, and furnish you with much matter, 

 and many anecdotes respecting Selborne, of which I could 

 have availed myself greatly had they been printed before 

 I published my work. My book is gone to Madras, and 

 several to France, and one to Switzerland, and one copy 

 is going to China with Lord Macartney : but whether some 

 Mandareen will read it, I know not. We have a young 



