ii SELBORNB. 
slab of white marble, which has been transferred from the aisle 
to the chancel, because it was rather suffering in the former 
place ; but this is not more instructive as to the character of the 
man than the humble little stone in the church -yard. 
Gilbert White, however, needs no monument of stone or of 
marble, and though he never boasted in his life after the manner 
of the Roman Lyrist — 
" Exegi monumentuin sere perennus/* 
and probably never had one wish or expectation about the matter, 
no man ever left a more lasting memorial ; the popularity of his 
book increases every day, and the whole parish of Selborne 
stands, and will stand, monumental to his memory. 
In proceeding along the Southampton road from Farnham 
towards Alton, several very delightful views of the valley of the 
Alton branch of the Wey present themselves ; now the river is 
concealed in luxuriant copse and ozier holt, now winding slowly 
along in a clear stream between rich meadows, and then expand- 
ing into small ponds and lakes, slumbering in the most perfect 
repose. In passing along this delightful place, when one arrives 
within a short distance of Alton, two hills of more lofty elevation, 
and of an exceedingly rich character, appear over the southern 
heights which skirt the valley of the stream, and show by the 
intervening mass of air that some sheltered and pleasant place lies 
in the interval. Another mass of air, though less extensive than 
the former, breaks in between these two hills ; and, as they both 
slope down abruptly at their eastern extremities, the contour of 
the nearer one "cuts" finely upon the more remote, and that 
again upon the sky; so that the expression is striking, and 
the character of the fore-ground throws back the hills in finely 
softened aerial perspective. 
To the right— -that is, immediately to the southward of Alton — 
the swelling fore -ground is more elevated, and the manner in 
which it cuts off the nearer hill leaves one to continue the picture 
in imagination, which is always a source of far greater delight to 
those who have a true feehng of scenery than if the whole were 
displayed at once. Of these two hills, the nearer one is Sel- 
borne Hill, rising to the west, or rather to the south-west of the 
village, and sheltering it from the south-west winds, which are 
the strongest in this part of England. From the road, the 
" Hanger," which is the general name given in this part of the 
