NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 205 



sight, nor within hearing, yet the air was strongly electric ; 

 for the bells of an electric machine at that place rang 

 repeatedly, and fierce sparks were discharged. 



When I first took the present work in hand I proposed 

 to have added an Annus Historico-naturalis, or The Natural 

 History of the Twelve Months of the Year ; which would 

 have comprised many incidents and occurrences that have 

 not fallen in my way to be mentioned in my series of 

 letters; but, as Mr. Aikin of Warrington has lately pub- 

 lished somewhat of this sort, and as the length of my 

 correspondence has sufficiently put your patience to the 

 test, I shall here take a respectful leave of you and natural 

 history together, 1 and am, 



With all due deference and regard, 



Your most obliged and most humble servant, 



GIL. WHITE. 

 SELBORNE, 

 June 25, 1787. 



i As Professor Bell has pointed out (ed., "Selborne," i. p. 274, note), "his 

 correspondence with Mr. Marsham shows that, so far from fulfilling this intention, 

 his love of natural history continued as intense, and his observations as accurate as 

 ever, throughout the remainder of his life." [R. B. S.] 



