OF SELBORNE 173 



used to make a humming noise with his lips, resembling 

 the buzzing of bees. This lad was lean and sallow, and 

 of a cadaverous complexion ; and, except in his favourite 

 pursuit, in which he was wonderfully adroit, discovered no 

 manner of understanding. Had his capacity been better, 

 and directed to the same object, he had perhaps abated 

 much of our wonder at the feats of a more modern 

 exhibitor of bees ; and we may justly say of him now, 



" Thou, 



Had thy presiding star propitious shone, 

 Should'st Wildman be ." 



When a tall youth he was removed from hence to a 

 distant village, where he died, as I understand, before he 

 arrived at manhood. 



I am, etc. 



LETTER XXVIII 



TO THE HONOURABLE DAINES BARRINGTON 



Selborne, Jan. 8, 1776. 



DEAR SIR, 



IT is the hardest thing in the world to shake off super- 

 stitious prejudices : they are sucked in as it were with 

 our mother's milk ; and growing up with us at a time 

 when they take the fastest hold and make the most lasting 

 impressions, become so interwoven into our very constitu- 

 tions, that the strongest good sense is required to dis- 

 engage ourselves from them. No wonder therefore that 

 the lower people retain them their whole lives through, 

 since their minds are not invigorated by a liberal educa- 

 tion, and therefore not enabled to make any efforts 

 adequate to the occasion. 



Such a preamble seems to be necessary before we enter 

 on the superstitions of this district, lest we should be sus- 

 pected of exaggeration in a recital of practices too gross 

 for this enlightened age. 



