44 
NATURE NOTES 
sloping strawberry bank ; there the philosopher’s arbour, protected from the heat 
of the mid-day sun by an over-branching yew ; on the opposite side his sunny 
seat, now occupied by a venerable tortoise-shell cat ; and at the foot of the garden 
is the mossy terrace, adorned in the centre with a dial, supported on a tastefully 
sculptured pedestal, and divided by a ha-ha from a truly park-like spot of about 
twenty acres, tastefully wooded, which intervenes between the foot of the Hanger 
and the place where we now stand. Everybody who has read the “ Natural 
History of Selborne ” — and who has not ?— is familiar with the frequent allusion 
made by the philosopher to his garden. Judge then with what subdued delight 
we gazed upon it, finding it even more sweetly secluded, more enchantingly 
lovely, than our warmest imagination could have painted. But our delight was 
not altogether unalloyed — neglect was everywhere but too perceptible ; and what 
may justify even severe censure, a great portion of the noble wall, which gave 
support and shelter to the fruit trees of the philosopher, has been mercilessly 
pulled down to let in a view of the stucco cottage before mentioned, at the sugges- 
tion, it is said, of a London attorney, destroying utterly the seclusion and isolation 
which makes the chiefest charm of this ever-charming spot. This is one of the 
desecrations which, as has been observed before, approaches to criminality ; and 
as the estate is, we were informed, about to be offered for sale, it is to be hoped 
that, out of respect to the memory of the philosopher, as well as for his own sake, 
the fortunate purchaser of this classic spot will rebuild the front [? fruit] wall, and 
study to preserve or restore all the associations connected with the philosopher of 
Selborne. 
We were politely admitted to visit the interior of the house formerly occupied 
by Gilbert White, now empty and deserted, a member of the family having died a 
few months before, and all the effects, the armchair of the philosopher alone 
excepted, removed or sold. The table on which he was accustomed to write, 
and where probably his “Natural History” and “Naturalist’s Calendar” were 
penned, is, we were informed, in the possession of a member of Mr. White’s 
family, now resident in London.' It has been stated, I know not on what autho- 
rity, that no portrait of Mr. White was ever taken ; be this as it may, however, the 
housekeeper pointed out to us the place where hung, what she called, a likeness 
of Mr. White, and which also, she informed us, remains in possession of the 
family in London. If this be so, it may be hoped that one day or other 
the world may be favoured with an engraving of the face of that man, with 
whose delightful mind the world has long been familiar. In the house, which 
is commodious, though irregularly built, there are many good rooms and 
ample accommodation for the family of a gentleman, but the only one that had 
interest for us was the bedchamber of the philosopher, an humble room over- 
looking the garden, and commanding from the casements views of the Hanger 
and surrounding scenery ; here the philosopher lived, and here he died. An 
aged man who attended us at our inn, and who recollected Mr. White perfectly 
well, described him as a man of pleasing countenance, of ordinary stature, '■* * of 
affable and unobtrusive manners and of a retiring disposition, much attached to 
his native village, and seldom missed from it for any great length of lime, his 
establishment consisting of but three servants, and his mode of living strictly 
economical and gentlemanlike. The only detail we could extract from our old 
man, who, though sufficiently garrulous, was far from being lucid or satisfactory in 
his description of the philosopher, was that Mr. White had a remarkably hand- 
some foot and leg. Upon this trait of manly beauty in the philosopher our 
village Nestor dwelt with peculiar complacency and satisfaction. 
I am sure that your readers will want to know what became 
of this so-called “ likeness ’’ of Gilbert White, and I think I 
' Presumably Georgiana White, a daughter of John While, who built the cottage 
at Selborne, above-mentioned. She resided with her Aunt Mary at The Wakes, 
until the latter’s death. Her daughter. Miss Christopher, has given the table and 
chair to Oriel College, where they have been placed in the Common Room. 
* I have always doubted the story of his exceptionally short stature. His 
brothers were men of fair ordinary height. 
