65 



LETTER FROM JOHN WHITE 



TO 



HIS BROTHER GILBERT* 



1 have sent brother Benj. word of what Linn, says about his 

 new edition. This roundabout method will dispatch nothing. 

 Brother B. must write his own proposals, if he means to deal 

 with him at all. Surely you and I could manage to correct 

 the press ; at least in the Zoological part ; the Botanical I 

 must not pretend to. 



Have you any queries to ask Linn, before I write again ? 

 You see he is willing to communicate, though busy enough. 



This new enterprize of my friend Lever's disturbs me on 

 many accounts. In the first place, I wish'd you to see the 

 Museum in its native spot, Alkrington ; in the next it will be 

 gone from this country, of which it was one of the greatest 

 ornaments ; and thirdly it will rob me, I fear, of my friendly 

 neighbour for a great part of the year. I heard from him 

 immediately on his arrival in London. His plan is, he says, 

 " to pursue Nat. Hist, and carry the exhibition of it to such a 

 height as no one can imagine ; and to make it the most won- 

 derful sight in the world." 



Upon this plan I think he is right to exhibit in London, 

 where he will not only collect with more speed, but also make 

 the thing defray its own expences, which no private fortune 

 alone could possibly equal. If you can send the drawings to 



* [This is the only letter from John White to his brother which I 

 have ever seen, with the exception of one which relates exclusively to 

 private family matters, and was written from Gibraltar, and is mentioned 

 in the Memoir. The above letter was probably written in 1775. — T. B.] 



VOL. II. " F 



