INTRODUCTORY SKETCH. ix 
of his life in literary occupations, and especially in the study 
of Nature. This he followed with a patient assiduity, and a 
mind ever open to the lessons of piety and benevolence, which 
such a study is so well calculated to afford. Though several 
occasions offered of settling upon a college living, he could 
never persuade himself to quit the beloved spot, which was 
indeed a peculiarly happy situation for an observer. He was 
much esteemed by a select society of intelligent and worthy 
friends, to whom he paid occasional visits. Thus his days 
passed tranquil and serene, with scarcely any other vicissitudes 
than those of the seasons, till they closed at a mature age on 
June 26th, 1793.” 
White was the eldest of a large family, eight of whom grew 
up. Of these, several of Gilbert’s brothers turned their atten- 
_ tion to natural history, the same as himself, and aided him 
considerably in his investigations. One of them, Benjamin, 
became a publisher, chiefly of works on natural history, and it 
is probably to his suggestion that we owe the publication of 
the “Natural History of Selborne.” It was certainly first 
issued by him. 
Taking up his residence at Selborne in 1755, while his father 
was still living, White became the owner of the house’ in which 
he was born shortly after the latter’s death, which occurred in 
1758, and made it his abode for the remainder of his days. 
He was successively curate of Faringdon, a neighboring parish, 
and of Selborne. Subsequently he accepted a living which 
required no service on his part, the duties being performed by 
others. The fact is, he had a sufficient income to keep him in 
ease and comfort ; and as he never married, and had no ambi- 
tion for place or power, he was content to spend his days in 
the rural village he loved so well, occupying himself with the 
simple duties that came in his way, and devoting the plentiful 
leisure which remained to him to the never-wearying study of 
Nature. 
