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posts, that his neighbours might not be injured by running against 
them in the dark. His whole mind seemed replete with experi- 
ment, which of course gave a tincture, & turn to his conversation, 
often somewhat peculiar, but always interesting. He used to 
lament to my Father, how tedious a task it was to convince men, 
that sweet air was better than foul, alluding to his ventilators : and 
once told him, with some degree of emotion, that the first time he 
went on board a ship in harbour at Portsmouth, the officers were 
rude to him ; & that he verily believed he should never have 
prevailed to have seen his ventilators in use in the royal navy, had 
not Lord Sandwich , 4 then first Lord of the admiralty, abetted his 
pursuits in a liberal manner, and sent him down to the Commis- 
sioners of the dock with letters of recommendation. It should 
not be forgotten that our friend, under the patronage of Sir Joseph 
Jekyll , 5 was instrumental in procuring the Gin-act, & stopping 
that profusion of spirituous liquors which threat’ned to ruin the 
morals & constitutions of our common people at once . 6 He 
used to say, that the hogs of distillers were more brutal than the 
hogs of other men ; & that, when drunk they used to bite pieces 
out of each other’s backs, & sides ! With due respects I remain, 
Your most humble servant, 
Gil. White. 
I did myself the honour of writing to you very lately about 
trees, & other matters. This winter continues wet & mild : 
wet springs are bad for Selborne. My crocus’s make a fine show. 
4 John Montagu, Earl of Sandwich, born 171S, three times First Lord 
of the Admiralty, and holder of that office during the very eventful period 
of Lord North’s administration. In his lifetime he was popularly known by 
the nickname of “Jemmy Twitcher,” from a character in Gray’s ‘Beggars’ 
Opera,’ but is now best remembered by the group of islands which Cook 
(whom he greatly encouraged) named after him. lie died in 1792. — A.N. 
1 Sir Joseph Jekyll, born 1GG4. An eminent Whig statesman, and Master 
of the Rolls to George I. Died 1738. — A.N. 
6 The name of Dr. Stephen Hales, says his biographer, is to be remembered 
with respect as an early advocate of Temperance, in the cause of which, as 
before stated, lie indited numerous sermons and tracts. — J. E. II. 
