THE REV. JOHN WHITE. 15 



Some boys went to hunt flappers (young wild ducks) last 

 month in the forest : among the ducks they caught some 

 minute wild fowls alive. I examined them, and found them 

 to be young teals, but never had supposed that teals ever 

 bred in our parts till now. I redeemed one and turned it 

 into J. Knight's ponds. 



Thomas Corston has brought Berriman a certificate of his 

 marriage with Mary Gregory in the church of St. George's, 

 Hanover Square, February 1771. The extract was taken 

 April 24, 1773. It is on a 5s. stamp and looks as if it were 

 genuine. Corston has called since. 



This evening I expect from Fyfield brother Thomas and 

 master Brocket, and brother Henry and Tho. Holt White : 

 the two former are on their way to London. When did you 

 get into your house ? Jack joins in respects. 



Your affec. brother, 



GIL. WHITE. 



Brother Harry was told in Oxford that Linnaeus was cer- 

 tainly dead*. 



Harvest does not begin 'til next week. 



& 



LETTER VI. 



Selborne, Sept. 11, 1773. 

 Dear Brother, 

 Your last letter but one, and my last letter, crossed, I believe, 

 on the road. I am now to thank you for your frank of 

 August 25. 



As to Jack he is no trouble or inconvenience to me, but of 

 real use ; and therefore I desire he may stay as long as ever 

 you can spare him. Moreover I wish you and my sister, 



* [This was a false report. Linnaeus died January 8, 1778, aged 71. 

 Five out of the six letters from John White to Linnaeus were -written 

 after the return of the former to England. The last is dated October, 

 1774— T. B.] 



