THE REV. JOHN WHITE. 50 



LETTER XXVIII. 



Selborne, May 4. 



Dear Brother, 

 I should have wished that you had found your book more 

 marketable, and that you could have sold it outright. Yet if 

 Benj. offers to join, it looks as if he did not fear the want of 

 success in the publication ; besides booksellers have ways and 

 means of subscribing off among the trade, in which authors 

 cannot avail themselves. 



My thanks are due for your calling on Edm. Woods, who 

 will, I think, soon supply me with some windows. I wish I 

 could prevail on you to come down and spend a little time 

 with us, before you return northward. 



As soon as I got to town I sent your hortus siccus by my 

 bro. Thos.'s boy to Mr. Curtis's own house, and was in hopes 

 he would have examined the plants. 



No swifts appear yet, tho' we have soft weather. My left 

 hand is full of gout ; all my fingers look red and shoot and 

 burn. If I have gout about me, it is best to come out. I hope 

 you found and left Mrs. Snooke well. 



The spirit of building prevails much in this district : 

 Rich. Butler the thatcher is going to enlarge his house ; John 

 Bridger of Oakhanger builds a new one next spring ; and Mr. 

 P. of Rotherfield began pulling down yesterday. 



" The child that is unborn may rue 

 The putting of that day." 



I am your loving brother, 



GIL. WHITE. 



Pray write often, and let me know what steps you take re- 

 specting your book. 



