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the wood is softer than that of oak. They breed in my outlet, 
I think in old willows. You have not told me anything about 
Arthur Young. l r ou cannot abhor the dangerous doctrines of 
levellers & republicans more than I do ! I was born & bred 
a Gentleman, & hope I shall bo allowed to dio such. The 
reason you having so many bad neighbours is your nearness to 
a great factious, manufacturing town. Our common people are 
more simple-minded & know nothing of Jacobin clubs. 
I admiro your fortitude, & resolution ; & wonder that you 
have tho spirit to engage in new woods, & plantations ! Our 
winter, as yet, has been mild, & open, & favourable to your 
pursuits. Pray present my respects to your Lady, & desire her 
to accept of my best wishes, & all the compliments of tho 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 & destroying ! 
I remain, with much esteem, Your’s, &c. 
Gil. White. 
LETTER XIX. 
[Marskam to White.] 
Stratton. Feb. 20 
93. 
Dear Sir, 
After offering you my hearty thanks for the favour 
of your pleasing & instructive letter of the 2 l1 of Jan. i must beg 
your pardon, for omitting the two articles you had mentioned to 
me. Indeed i thought i had answered them. — I suppose the 
wood-peckers do not attack the sound part of a tree ; but where a 
bough has been broke off, & the stump died, & remained some 
years on the tree before it was broken off ; then when the bark 
skins over the rotten part, these birds attack the skin over those false 
R 
