LETTER XVII 



TO THE SAME 



SELBORNE, June i8//4, I768. 1 



DEAR SIR, [Your obliging letter dated May the 4th 

 came to Selborne while I was in London, but was sent up 

 after me. While I was in town I was often in company 

 with y r friend Mr. Barrington ; and cannot say enough 

 in commendation of the candor and affability of that 

 gentleman. Even Mr. Banks (notwithstanding he was so 

 soon to leave the kingdom and undertake his immense 

 voyage) afforded me some hours of his conversation at his 

 new house, where I met Dr. Solander. 



I am now to return you my warmest thanks for y r 

 agreeable present of the British Zoology, which I accept 

 with great satisfaction as a token of y r friendship : and 

 shall look upon y r work as an ornament to my little shelf 

 of natural history. As far as I have been able to com- 

 pare any animals with y r descriptions, I find them just 

 and apt ; and such as may readily help the reader to 

 ascertain any quadrupede or bird that falls in his way."] 2 



On Wednesday last arrived your agreeable letter of June 

 the zoth. It gives me great satisfaction to find that you 



1 The date of the original letter is June 10, 1768. It is curious that the 

 author should have altered the actual date of so many of his letters in his 

 published work. [R. B. S.] 



2 The above paragraphs have been crossed out, doubtless by Gilbert White 

 himself, as not necessary for publication. Then follows a sentence so completely 

 obliterated that only a few words are decipherable. I can detect " with the good 

 sense and . . . and particularly that part of it which . . . in the study of nature." 

 The author then proceeds : " Last night arrived y r agreeable letter, &c.," which 



fits in with the alteration of the date in the published volume. [R. B. S.] 



6 7 



