220 CORRESPONDENCE OF GILBERT WHITE 



worth of Latin on St. Thomas's day, and eating mince pies 

 with the Principal, to set off for Reading, Tuesday the 22 nd , 

 and proceed for Selborne next day. So far so good. But 

 i liis is not all. I inquired for the volume left at the Bear; 

 and it is no discredit to the house that the book was found 

 safe in a drawer in the bar, and is now safe in my room 

 waiting to be put up in my portmanteau. Dr. Chandler, wife 

 and son arrived at Clapham about a week ago safe and well, 

 as you will probably have heard by some means or other 

 before this reaches you. Alas ! I have only found time to 

 read, and with much satisfaction, the History of Selborne, but 

 not to do much in enlarging the Index. However the loss is 

 less material as Dr. Lovedav has already or will soon under- 

 take it, and do it effectually. Marvellous indeed is the state 

 of things on the Continent, and when and how good order 

 and good government will be restored is far beyond my ken. 

 But an all-wise Providence, which can controul the madness 

 of the people, superintends the whole, and seems, as you justly 

 remark, to have some great work in hand. I did not know 

 till you told me that the " fatherlanders," as the papers call 

 them, seized Dr. Chandler's portmanteaus ; and 1 was afraid 

 they were lost through negligence. I hope they were re- 

 stored ; but I have not positively heard so. I shall be glad 

 to learn the particulars of the honour received from Lady 

 Coterel Dormer, and other matters, ex ore tuo. And among 

 these I am curious to hear more about worry-breese and 

 hyant ; for if the distemper known in Cheshire by the latter 

 name never visits Hampshire, the reason is well worth en- 

 quiring after. I scarcely know whether to call myself a 

 - Whiteist " or " Badcockist." The pamphlet of Dr. Gabriel 

 I think clearly shews that considerable assistance was re- 

 ceived, but by no means ascertains the degree. In my own 

 notion the Professor * would do well to state fairly and ex- 

 plicitly what was composed by Mr. Badcock, and what by 

 himself; and there are also some circumstances in his be- 

 haviour respecting the note which should be stated in a more 



* [White was Professor of Chemistry at Oxford. He was no relation 

 of Gilbert White's.— T. B.] 



