174 
expected from a former letter of your’s. — Beech 1. Ap. 11. — Oak 
1. Ap. 13. Swallow Ap. 13. Cuclcow Ap. 22. I put down, 
articles in my Indications of Spring, only from my own knowledge. 
But i have often accounts that i fully believe e. g. a Swallow this 
Spring on the first of April. I should have been glad to have 
seen the white Woodcock Ld Stawell gave you; & i will try to 
borrow the sixth report of the Com rs - for enquiry &c. I can 
easily believe great abuses are practised upon them. I have 
an old Park (long disparked) formerly belonging to the Crown, & 
after to the Bp. of Norwich, & the neighbours steal as much 
wood from it, as i gain. — I never heard of a Winter Swallow until 
you named it. I should rejoice to read your Brothers Nat. Hist, 
of the Rock &c. Pray Sir why do you not publish it ? I should 
think it would sell well, as curiosity seems to increase amongst man-> 
kind. — I do not know the Bird you call the Chif-chaf. But i am 
filled with wonder by the Harmony and Beauty of all the Works 
in the Creation. I remain with true esteem dear Sir your obedient 
& obliged servant, 
R: Marsham. 
A gentleman of my acquaintance in this County had a tortise of 
above 100 years old, from the family account, which was unluckilly 
killed by the Gardener. As i find by your Book, you was formerly 
a Sportsman, i conclude you love dogs, so i may tell you an history 
of a favourite bitch of mine. I destroyed her first litter of whelps ; 
her 2' 1 litter she laid in a secret place. These i also destroyed ; her 3 d 
she layed in a large cony-burrow over a furlong from the house, & 
quite out of sight: could human wisdom do more? — She went a 
hunting with a partner dog, & i chastised them, the partner 
first: for every lash i gave it, she cried, as if suffering herself. 
When i whipped her, she did not cry once. Was not this feeling 
more for her friend than herself ? & is not this a proof of more 
exalted friendship than you have ever known in the human race ? 
D r Leigh says he knew a dog starved himself on the death of his 
Master. See his History of Cheshire. 3 
P.S. my friend who recommended to mo the Nat. Hist, of 
Selborne calld on mo this morning & directed my lotter. 
[Franked by W. Windham.”] 
* ‘ The Natural History of Lancashire, Cheshire, &c. By Charles Leigh.’ 
Oxford: 1700. Folio, Book ii. pp. 8, 9.— A.N. 
