286 GILBERT WHITE OF SELBORNE 



to whom the contemplation of the various objects of nature 

 can afford rational amusement, as * The Natural History of 

 Selborne/ by the Rev. Gilbert White. The author of the 

 little volume, with the modest title, now before us, admits 

 that, in the collection of his own materials, he had this 

 interesting book in his eye ; that the perusal of it early 

 impressed on his mind an ardent love for all the ways and 

 economy of nature ; and that he was thereby led to the 

 constant observance of the various rural objects with which 

 he was surrounded." 



So far the earlier notices of Gilbert White's book 

 established and confirmed his fame. The cult of 

 Gilbert White and Selborne may, however, be said 

 to have commenced in earnest with the publica- 

 tion of an article in ' The New Monthly Magazine,' 

 1830, part ii. pp. 564-570, by an anonymous 

 writer. This contains a vivid description of the 

 village of Selborne and the Hanger, from whence, 

 "seated in an arbour which has been formed about 

 half-way up" (what Gilbert White called the new 

 Hermitage), the traveller contemplated Gilbert 

 White's house and grounds. 



The chapter in which Mr. Jesse "^ quotes this 

 interesting notice of Gilbert White concludes with 

 some lines which were addressed to the wife of a 

 nephew of the Naturalist by her father, Mr. G. 

 Tahourdin, upon what he terms 



" The shades of old Selborne so lonely and sweet." 

 * Fide 'Gleanings in Natural History,' 2nd series, 1834. 



