THE REV. JOHN WHITE. 11 



your son had got them ; but you will be agreeably surprised 

 to be informed that he has had them, and got up this morning 

 for the first time. He drooped a little on Saturday and 

 Sunday, and went to bed on Monday, where he lay 'til this 

 morning without any cough, or fever, or any bad symptom at 

 all. Thomas lay in the little bed by him to help him to balm 

 tea, &c. in the night ; but last night he slept without taking 

 any thing at all. Tomorrow he takes physic. Mr. Budd and 

 Mr. Webb (who both came to neighbours) called in and said 

 he was in a fine way. Jack has behaved like a philosopher all 

 through, submitting to his confinement without reluctance or 

 murmuring. In general the neighbourhood has been severely 

 handled by this disorder ; and poor Nanny Woods had such a 

 fever afterwards, and was so reduced, that I thought we should 

 have lost her; she is still so weak as not to be able to walk. 

 Give my respects to my sister, whom I congratulate on this 

 event. I will write again in about a week. 



I am not sure yet that I shall be able to procure timber for 

 my new building. 



Your affectionate brother, 



GIL. WHITE. 



LETTER IV. 



Selborne, June 26 [1773]. 



Dear Brother, 

 Your favour of tho 17th reached me Wednesday; and about 

 the same time, I presume, you received my account about 

 Jack's measles. My nephew continues perfectly well, and has 

 not, through the distemper nor since, had the least cough. 

 From the time that he came home he had somewhat of an 

 hoarseness in his voice, which I took at first to be a cold ; but, 

 upon considering the matter, it is owing no doubt to a cause 

 incident to young men about his time of life. 



It pleases me much to find that you have heard the sibilous, 

 or shivering wren, since you know all the species ; and that 



