282 GILBERT WHITE OF SELBORNE 



hold, Timothy, the tortoise, is said to have died 

 in the spring of the year following his owner's 

 death. His shell is now to be seen in the British 

 Museum (Natural History), Cromwell Eoad. 



The fortunes of the publishing firm were not so 

 successful under Benjamin and John White as in 

 their father's time. The former died in 1821, and 

 the latter, who lived at Selborne, in a house (now long 

 pulled down) which he built in the grounds of " The 

 Wakes," had serious losses from the defalcations of 

 a manager, the business being ultimately sold. The 

 last of the family to reside at Selborne was Mary, 

 the only daughter of Benjamin White, senior, who 

 remained unmarried. She occupied *'The Wakes" 

 for many years ; latterly with a niece, Georgiana, 

 daughter of her brother, John White ; dying, in 



1839, while on a visit to her nephew, the Rev. 

 Herbert White, Vicar of Warborough, Oxfordshire, 

 whence she was brought to Selborne for burial. 



The house then stood empty for some time in a 

 neglected state. It was put up to auction in July, 



1840, by the celebrated George Robins, who described 

 its attractions and association with Gilbert White in 

 his usual florid style. It was ultimately purchased 

 in 1844 by the late Professor Bell, who carefully 

 and judiciously preserved every memorial of Gilbert 

 White. He found it necessary to add one more 

 room to the west end of the house, which was done 

 in complete harmony with the existing part. Since 

 his death in 1880 the property has more than once 



