higher ideals than competency and ease, and they do not die poorest who have helped to add one gleam of healthy pleasure to the lives of their fellow-creatures, or increased by one tiny grain the sum total of human knowledge.

The footnotes which we have supplied have been rendered as helpful and interesting to the student as possible, and it is our hope that they may be found to be in harmony with the spirit of the author.

Gilbert White was born at "The Wakes," in the village of Selborne, on the 18th of July, 1720. He received his early education at Basingstoke under the Rev. Thomas Wharton, and entered Oriel College, Oxford, in 1739, became a Fellow in 1744, and graduated M.A. in 1746. He died a bachelor in the house in which he was born, on the 26th of June, 1793. Although he could have obtained various college livings, and was by no means a rich man, it is a subject to be frankly thankful for that he elected to return to his old home and only perform such light clerical duties as would allow him to pursue his natural history studies, and thus unconsciously enrich English literature by the addition of a classic.

Thomas Pennant was an independent gentleman, born at Downing, in Flintshire, and six years younger than his correspondent. He was a great naturalist of his day, and wrote many deservedly popular books, chief amongst which was his British Zoology.

The Hon. Daines Barrington was the fourth son of the first Viscount Barrington. He was seven years younger than Gilbert White, and a lawyer by profession. He took a keen interest in antiquarian and natural history pursuits, and in his writings was always ready and liberal in the acknowledgment of his indebtedness to our author's communications.

We have also to gratefully acknowledge assistance from the following editions of White's Selborne:-Dr. R. Bowdler Sharpe's, Mr. James Edmund Harting's, and Mr. Weekes'.

CATERHAM VALLEY, November, 1902.

RICHARD KEARTON.

ADVERTISEMENT

THE Author of the following Letters, takes the liberty, with all proper deference, of laying before the public his idea of parochial history, which he thinks, ought to consist of natural productions and occurrences as well as antiquities. He is also of opinion that if stationary men would pay some attention to the districts on which they reside, and would publish their thoughts respecting the objects that surround them, from such materials might be drawn the most complete county-histories, which are still wanting in several parts of this kingdom, and in particular in the county of Southampton.

And here he seizes the first opportunity, though a late one, of returning his most grateful acknowledgments to the reverend the President and the reverend and worthy the Fellows of Magdalen College in the University of Oxford, for their liberal behaviour in permitting their archives to be searched by a member of their own society, so far as the evidences therein contained might respect the parish and priory of Selborne. To that gentleman also, and his assistant, whose labours and attention could only be equalled by the very kind manner in which they were bestowed, many and great obligations are also due.

Of the authenticity of the documents above-mentioned there can be no doubt, since they consist of the identical deeds and records that were removed to the College from the Priory at the time of its dissolution; and, being carefully copied on the spot, may be depended on as genuine; and, never having been made public before, may gratify the curiosity of the antiquary as well as establish the credit of the history.

If the writer should at all appear to have induced any of his readers to pay a more ready attention to the wonders of the Creation, too frequently overlooked as common occurrences; or if he should by any means, through his researches, have lent an helping hand towards the enlargement of the boundaries of historical and topographical knowledge; or if he should have thrown some small light upon ancient customs and manners, and especially

on those that were monastic, his purpose will be fully answered. But if he should not have been successful in any of these his intentions, yet there remains this consolation behind-that these his pursuits, by keeping the body and mind employed, have, under Providence, contributed to much health and cheerfulness of spirits, even to old age :—and, what still adds to his happiness, have led him to the knowledge of a circle of gentlemen whose intelligent communications, as they have afforded him much pleasing information, so, could he flatter himself with a continuation of them, would they ever be deemed a matter of singular satisfaction and improvement.

SELBORNE, January 1st, 1788.

GIL: WHITE.