OF SELBOBNE. 
557 
shall be allowed to die sncli. The reason you having so 
many bad neighbours is your nearness to a great, factious, 
manufacturing town. Our common people are more simple- 
minded and know nothing of Jacobin clubs. 
I admire your fortitude and resolution, and wonder that 
you have the spirit to engage in new woods and plantations. 
Our winter, as yet, has been mild and open, and favourable 
to your pursuits. Pray present my respects to your lady, 
and desire her to accept of my best wishes, and all the compli- 
ments of the season, jointly with yourself. I have now 
squirrels in my outlet; but if the wicked boys should hear 
of them, they will worry them to death. There is too strong 
a propensity in human nature towards persecuting and de- 
stroying ! 
I remain, with much esteem, yours, &c., 
Gil. White,. 
LETTER X. 
TO ROBERT MARSHAM, ESQUIRE. 
Selborne, June 15, 1793. 
ROM my long silence you will conclude that 
procrastination has been at work, and perhaps 
not without reason. But that is not all the 
' cause, for I have been annoyed this spring 
\ with a bad nervous cough, and a wandering 
gout, that have pulled me down very much, and rendered 
me very languid and indolent. 
As you love trees and to hear about trees, you will not be 
displeased when you are told that your old friend the great 
oak in the Holt forest is at this very instant under particular 
circumstances. For a brother of mine, a man of virtu, who- 
rents Lord StawelPs beautiful seat near the Holt, called 
Moreland, is at this very juncture employing a draughtsman,, 
