256 GILBERT WHITE OF SELBORNE 1793 



to your pursuits. Pray present my respects to your Lady, 

 and desire her to accept of my best wishes, and all the com- 

 pliments of the season, jointly with yourself. I have now 

 squirrels in my outlet ; but if the wicked boys should hear 

 of them, they will worry them to death. There is too 

 strong a propensity in human nature towards persecuting 



and destroying ! 



I remain, with much esteem, 



Yours, &c., Gil. White. 

 To the Bev. B. Churton. 



[Endorsed by Mr. Churton, " The last from my dear Friend."] 



Selborne, Jan. 26, 1793. 



Dear Sir, — Had you staid only one day longer with us, 

 you would have seen J. White* and his bride, late Miss 

 Louisa Neave, who, having been married at Downton near 

 Sarum by Mr. Lear, set off immediately for this place. We 

 have good reason to be pleased with our new relation, who 

 is sensible, intelligent, and in her carriage much of a gentle- 

 woman. She is a nice needlewoman and also a proficient in 

 music, and can shoulder a violin, out of which she brings a 

 good tone, but could find no one to accompany her. Though 

 her husband is in stature one of the sons of Anak, yet he 

 has made choice of a little wife, who, we all agree, in her 

 profile resembles Miss Reb. Chace, but exceeds her in her 

 make and turn of person. 



I am much obliged to you for the Latin translation of the 

 Caprimulgus^ which will be useful, but have lost my advocate 



* The reader may perhaps care to learn something of the later career of 

 Gilbert White's nephew and former pupil, " Gibraltar Jack." His first wife 

 died in the East Indies in 1802. In 1809 he married his cousin Elizabeth, 

 daughter of Henry White, of Fyfield, Hants, and died at her brother's 

 house at Blakesley, Northants, on June 30th, 1821. He was buried in 

 Maidford Church, where a monument in the chancel, erected by his widow, 

 testifies to his talents and labours in his profession, and states that after 

 settling at Salisbury " he continued some years " there. ' ' He then passed 

 some years in the East Indies, and his life was afterwards varied by many 

 trying scenes and circumstances in different countries." He left no issue. 



