228 CORRESPONDENCE Of GILBERT WHITE 



I have seen or dreamt (I hope not the latter) that L d 

 Malmsbury is descended from a daughter of Rob 1 Townson, 

 B p of Salisbury. But I cannot find it in any peerage here ; 

 and I wrote to Fleet Street; neither can they find it. If it is 

 in your peerage I shall be very glad if you will inform me of 

 it. I want to have it in a note which is or should be now set 

 for the first proof. When I saw it I neglected it, not know- 

 ing I should want it, or thinking I could turn to it again ; but 

 it is gone. Such a treacherous thing is memory, or mine at 

 least. I hope your cold is entirely gone and you are in 

 perfect health, of which I earnestly wish you long enjoyment, 

 and of every other blessing, and am with comp" at the 

 vicarage, Dear Sir, 



Your ever obliged servant, 



R. CHURTON. 



LETTER XXV. 



FROM GILBERT WHITE TO MR. CHURTON. 

 (Endorsed by Mr. Churton, " The last from my dear Friend.") 



Selborne, Jan. 26, 1793. 

 Dear Sir, 

 Had you staid onlv one day longer with us, you would have 

 seen J. White and his bride, late Miss Louisa Neave, who, 

 having been married at Downton near Sarum by Mr. Lear, 

 set off immediately for this place. We have good reason to 

 be pleased with our new relation, who is sensible, intelligent, 

 and in her carriage much of a gentlewoman. She is a nice 

 needlewoman and also a proficient in music, and can shoulder 

 a violin, out of which she brings a good tone, but could find 

 no one to accompany her. Tho' her husband is in stature 

 one of the sons of Anak, yet he has made choice of a little 

 wife, who, we all agree, in her profile resembles Miss Reb. 

 Chace, but exceeds her in her make and turn of person. 



I am much obliged to you for the latin translation of the 

 Caprimulgus, which will be useful, but have lost my advocate 



