i>04 CORRESPONDENCE OF GILBERT WHITE 



English coast, if he is not landed. I was much indebted to 

 the hospitality and conversation of S. Lambeth during my 

 visit to the metropolis at Easter, which was not so long as it 

 would have been if the smoke had not given me a wretched 

 cough, which the air of Oxford and the country removed some 

 time ago. I am afraid I shall not see Selborne again this 

 summer, as I am bound for Cheshire towards the end of the 

 Term, which begins to-day. I came across the country from 

 Waverley by the Holte, through Kingsley, and along the edge of 

 Wolmer, and never was much out of my way I believe. Some 

 of the hills hereabout I knew as I approached them ; but there 

 was a clump of trees on a promontory to the left of the Tem- 

 ple nearer Empsholt which disturbed me a good deal. I 

 thought I must have seen and remembered such a prominent 

 feature (if you allow fashionable expressions) in the land- 

 scape. I am much obliged to you for the kind letter which 

 I found in my room on my return to college after Easter. 

 And now let me enquire after friend Timothy. He looks very 

 well, and says not a syllable of a late elopement. Perhaps he 

 is ashamed of it ; and yet who knows whether he was not 

 going in quest of his master ; and if he had not speedily been 

 brought back he might possibly have surprized you by an un- 

 expected visit at S. Lambeth. Thomas tells me that C. Etty 

 is arrived in England, which I am very glad to hear. I saw 

 Mrs. Etty for five minutes at Beaconsfield on my way to 

 London. The rain, which is just set in, will, I hope, be of 

 service to the country ; but I could gladly have excused it for 

 three hours longer — one to walk about here, and two to ride 

 back to Waverley. My great coat I very wisely left at Read- 

 ing. I might make that in my way to Waverley ; but then 

 I should run a risk of losing my dinner, which, at a proper 

 interval after breakfast, is an object of some importance. It 

 still rains, and I am still, dear Sir, 



Your most obedient and much obliged servant, 



R. CHURTON. 



