11 SELBORNE. 



slab of white marble, which has been transferred from the aisle 

 to the chancel, because it was rather suffering in the former 

 place ; but this is not more instructive as to the character of the 

 man than the humble little stone in the church-yard. 



Gilbert White, however, needs no monument of stone or of 

 marble, and though he never boasted in his life after the manner 

 of the Roman Lyrist 



"Exegi monumentum sere perennus," 



and probably never had one wish or expectation about the matter, 

 no man ever left a more lasting memorial ; the popularity of his 

 book increases every day, and the whole parish of Selborne 

 stands, and will stand, monumental to his memory. 



In proceeding along the Southampton road from Farnham to- 

 wards Alton, several very delightful views of the valley of the Alton 

 branch of the Wey present themselves, now the river is concealed 

 in luxuriant copse and ozier holt, now winding slowly along in a 

 clear stream between rich meadows, and then expanding into 

 small ponds and lakes, slumbering in the most perfect repose. 

 In passing along this delightful place, when one arrives within 

 a short distance of Alton, two hills of more lofty elevation, and 

 of an exceedingly rich character, appear over the southern heights 

 which skirt the valley of the stream, and show by the inter- 

 vening mass of air that some sheltered and pleasant place lies 

 in the interval. Another mass of air, though less extensive than 

 the former, breaks in between these two hills ; and, as they both 

 slope down abruptly at their eastern extremities, the contour of 

 the nearer one " cuts" finely upon the more remote, and that 

 again upon the sky ; so that the expression is striking, and 

 the character of the fore-ground throws back the hills in finely 

 softened aerial perspective. 



To the right that is, immediately to the southward of Alton 

 the swelling fore-ground is more elevated, and the manner in 

 which it cuts off the nearer hill leaves one to continue the 

 picture in imagination, which is always a source of far greater 

 delight to those who have a true feeling of scenery than if the 

 whole were displayed at once. Of these two hills the nearer 

 one is Selborne Hill, rising to the west, or rather to the south- 

 west of the village, and sheltering it from the south-west winds, 

 which are the strongest in this part of England. From the road, 

 the " Hanger," which is the general name given in this part of the 



