AND THE REV. K. OlIUKTOX. 193 



very large for the rest of the summer. I had with me my 

 bro. Th. White, and daughter and two sons, my sister Barker 

 from Rutland and her two youngest daughters, and at times 

 my nep. J. White son of Mrs. J. White, who is just settle ! 

 at Salisbury as a surgeon, being invited by some friends who 

 seemed perswaded that there was an opening. My nieces, 

 Barkers, especially the eldest of the two who is 22 years of 

 age, have (I speak as a foolish uncle) very fine fingers, and 

 play elegantly on the harpsichord. These maidens enter- 

 tained us day after day with very lovely lessons from Niccolai, 

 Giordani, and several other modern masters, in a verv aeree- 

 able manner. But I find, as I grow old, that music, tho' 

 very sweet and engaging at the time, yet occasions very 

 unpleasing sensations afterwards. When I hear fine lessons 

 I am haunted with passages therefrom night and day, and 

 especially at first waking, which by their importunity give 

 me more pain than pleasure : airs and jigs rush upon my 

 imagination, and recur irresistably to my memory at seasons, 

 and even when I am desirous of thinking of other matters. 

 The following curious quotation strikes me much by so well 

 representing my own case, and by describing what I have so 

 often felt, but never could so well express. " Prashabebat 

 porro vocibus humanis, instrumentisque harmonicis, musicam 

 illam avium: non quod alia quoque non delectaretur ; sed 

 quod ex musica humana relinqueretur in animo continens 

 quaedam attentionemque & somnum conturbans agitatio; dum 

 ascensus, excensus, tenores, ac mutationes illae sonorum, & 

 consonantiarum euntque redeuntque per phantasiam : cum 

 nihil tale relinqui possit ex modulationibus avium, qua?, quod 

 non sunt perinde internam facultatem commovere." * — Be rit<'> 

 Peireskii per Gassendum. 



I am glad that you met with the Star-sluch in Cheshire, 

 after you had examined the Tremella nostoc in Hants. Not 

 that I had any doubt myself that the former was a vegetable, 

 but because I met with intelligent people who are still per- 



* [This is the third time this passage is quoted by Gilbert White : 

 first in the LVIth letter to Barring-ton, and again in a letter to his niece 

 Mary White.— T. B.] 



VOL. II. <-> 



