AND THE REV. K. CHURTON. 22] 



favourable way to his character, if they ran consistently with 

 truth. 



Bishop Smith sends his compliments and thanks you foi 

 your kind enquiries; but he says he shall not " walk the town 

 numbering good intellects " till next winter. His biographer 

 has lately had so much unavoidable business on his hands 

 respecting the living that he has had no time to talk with the 

 dead. I am, dear Sir, 



Your very sincere and obliged humble servant, 



R. CHURTON. 



LETTER XXL 



FROM MR. CHURTON TO GILBERT WHITE. 



Braseu-Nose, April 1, 1790. 



Dear Sir, 

 I am just returned from a short visit at Williamscot, whence 

 I fully purposed writing to you ; but yesterday, which was to 

 have been the day for that friendly office, I was totally 

 disabled by a bad headach, and the effects of it are far from 

 being gone at present. But expected business made my 

 return indispensable; and, now I am here, lest this memorable 

 day should lose its honour, the previous arrival of another 

 fellow made my presence unnecessary. However, let me 

 discharge my debt to you as well as I can; for if I wait 

 longer, you will perhaps be on your way hither before tlii- 

 can reach Selborne. Dr. Loveday and all his family are very 

 well. He desires his best respects to you, and had a hearty 

 laugh at the excellent parody of the "young idea," which I 

 had forgot to mention when I was there before for two nights. 

 The presents were wrapped and directed at Fletcher's shop ; 

 but yours, it seems, was spelt by some " unlettered muse." I 

 gave them a list of names with proper orthography. Your 

 little niece had a happy escape from a perilous situation. 1 

 remember being astonished at Mr. Warton's remark which 



