1793 



A DISPUTED EOAD 261 



aged 81, of Newton great farm, but till late of Little 

 Ward-le-ham, demanded a passage for himself and horse, 

 of which he and others have made use the summer thro': 

 nor has farmer Kichard Knight, the present tenant of 

 Norton farm, made any objection to what has been done. 

 The Stuart family always used to put up the wicket gates 

 of this road, and keep them in repair. This account was 

 written by Gilbert White, an ancient inhabitant and native 

 of Selborne, on Sept. 22nd, 1789. 



" Witness my hand, 



"Gil. White." 



To Benjn. White, senr. 



Selburne, Feb. 19th, 1793. 



Dear Brother, — Mrs. J. White and I return you and 

 Mrs. White many thanks for your kind invitation for the 

 25 th of this month : but should be glad to defer our visit 

 to the Monday following, if convenient, viz. March the 

 4th, when, if well and able, and with permission, we will 

 wait on you. I propose to stay with you, if convenient, 

 one Sunday; but Mrs. J. White will proceed on to town, and 

 so return to Mareland before I leave you. Thanks for your 

 hint about the enclosure, of which Mr. F. wants to make 

 a jobb: and to bring in a bill on the copyholders of 3 or 

 £400, to pay which many of us must mortgage all we 

 possess. . . . 



My neighbours have at last agreed to stint their beechen 

 wood, and to come to one cord for each copy: had they 

 used such moderation 20 years sooner, that fuel would 

 never have been exhausted. The crews of French privateers 

 now land, and plunder, as they did in Queen Anne's wars. 

 We rejoice to hear that my nieces have better health. 

 Mrs. J. White joins in respects. 



Y^ loving brother, 



Gil. White. 



