62 LETTERS TO HIS BROTHER 



a visitor of mine has read it through with great care, and, if 

 I may judge from the many hours he bestowed upon it each 

 day, should suppose he was well pleased. The person alluded 

 to is Dr. Chandler the traveller in Greece, who being no 

 naturalist has no partiality for the Linnsean system, but 

 avers that it will prevent your book from becoming popular. 

 He and I had much serious talk about the matter ; and he 

 asserts roundly that he is sure that if you could persuade 

 yourself to divest it of its quaint garb (those were his words) 

 that he is certain it would be worth £200 of anybody's money. 

 He advises (no, he does not, for he spoke with great modesty 

 on the occasion ; he hints, I should say) that if you could pre- 

 vail on yourself to exchange Classes and Or dines for Chapters, 

 and to throw all your tables back into an appendix, that your 

 book would be very much read. The generality of readers, he 

 observes, are very lazy, and afraid of figures ; though your 

 tables, he thinks, may be pleasing and useful to some. He 

 farther added that you might still refer to Linnaeus, &c. at the 

 bottom of each page. And I have observed myself that book- 

 sellers lately in new editions in natural works have added 

 Linnaean names : and the reason is, because, though it is the 

 fashion now to despise Linnaeus, yet many languish privately 

 to understand his method. 



Pray weigh seriously what I have said, and consider about 

 the Doctor's £200. You have not been informed, I think, 

 that John Wells has at last consented to sell me the fields 

 behind my house, that angulus iste which the family have so 

 lon£ desired. For this little farm I have laid down some 

 money in part payment; so hope no untoward accident will 

 now deprive me of it. With respects to my sister, 



I remain 



Your affect, brother, 



GIL. WHITE. 



Pray write to Selborne, where I hope to be soon. 



