AND THE REV. R. CHURTON. 191 



loss to say which will make the most hideous picture. I 

 mean the popery of the darker ages *. 



LETTER V. 



TO THE SAME. 



Selborne, Dec. 19, 1780. 



Dear Sir, 

 By your letter of the 14 th to Dr. Chandler, which the Dr. has 

 communicated to me, I am glad to find that you are so well 

 disposed to make me a visit, and hope you will meet with no 

 interruption. You will not, I hope, over-stay this unpre- 

 cedented run of fine weather, that has befallen us now for 

 more than three weeks, without rain, wind, or frost ! 



If you have a friend in London to whom you can send y r 

 portmanteau, then you need only desire him to direct it for 

 you " at y e Rev d Mr. W. at Selborne, to be left at the Swan- 

 Inn at Alton, by the Southampton coach," which comes from 

 the Belle Savage-Inn on Ludgate hill ; but if you have no 

 such person, then direct it to Mr. Edm d White at Mr. 

 Hounsom's mercer in Fleet-street London, to be forwarded 

 to Mr. White &c. by the Southampton coach. 



If you call at Caversham pray present my most respectful 

 compliments to Mr. Loveday, and the ladies. I have not the 

 pleasure to be known to Dr. Loveday. 



Your most humble servant, 



GIL. WHITE. 



* [At page 120, in a letter to Mr. Barker, the forthcoming work of 

 Gibbon is mentioned ; this referred to the first volume only. The allu- 

 sion in the above letter to Mr. Churton is to that further portion of the 

 history which, accordingly, made its appearance, in the second and third 

 volumes, in February 1781. — T. B.] 



