LETTER X 1 



TO THE SAME 



2 August 4, 1767. 



[SiR, 3 Nothing but the obliging notice you were so 

 kind as to take of my trifling observations in the natural 

 way, when I was in town in the spring, and your repeated 

 mention of me in some late letters to my brother, could 

 have emboldened me to have entered into a correspon- 

 dence with you : in which though my vanity cannot suggest 

 to me that I shall send you any information worthy your 

 attention ; yet the communication of my thoughts to a 

 gentleman so distinguished for these kinds of studies will 

 unavoidably be attended with satisfaction and improve- 

 ment on my side.] 



It has been my misfortune never to have had any 

 neighbours whose studies have led them towards the 

 pursuit of natural knowledge : so that, for want of a com- 



1 This is the first of the actual letters sent to Pennant. As published it differs 

 considerably from the letter as it was originally written, and it is evident that the 

 author revised his MS. with great care before publishing it in book form. I 

 have ventured in the present edition to restore a few of the notes from the 

 original letters where they seem to lend additional interest to the study of 

 Gilbert White as a man. This has been already done in a small degree by 

 Professor Bell, who also had the original letters before him when he wrote his 

 valuable edition of 'Selborne.' Any additions to the original text from the MS. 

 letters are enclosed in square brackets [ ]. [R. B. S.] 



2 In the published work the date of this letter is given as Aug. 4, 1767, but it 

 was actually written on " Aug. loth." [R. B. S.] 



3 The author suppressed this first paragraph in his published work, but it is 

 extremely interesting as showing the circumstances under which Gilbert White 

 was induced to correspond with Pennant, to the great advantage of the latter. 

 Professor Bell also reproduces the paragraph, and adds, "At this time so little was 

 he acquainted with Pennant that he did not know his Christian name, and the 

 letter is addressed to Pennant, Esq., at Downing, in Flintshire, North Wales." 

 (Bell's ed., vol. i. p. 27 note.) [R. B. S.] 



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