THE NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. BY THE REV. GILBERT WHITE, A. M., NEW YORK HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS, 329 & 331 PEARL STREET, FRANKLIN SQUARE. HARVARD Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1841, by HARPER & BROTHERS, In the Clerk's Office of the Southern District of New York. ACCOUNT OF THE REV. GILBERT WHITE. "GILBERT WHITE was the eldest son of John White, of Selborne, Esq., and of Anne, the daughter of Thomas Holt, rector of Streatham in Surrey. He was born at Selborne on July 18, 1720, and received his school education at Basingstoke, under the Rev. Thomas Warton, vicar of that place, and father of those two distinguished literary characters, Dr. Joseph Warton, master of Winchester school, and Mr. Thomas Warton, poetry professor at Oxford. He was admitted at Oriel College, Oxford, in December, 1739, and took his degree of Bachelor of Arts in June, 1743. In March, 1744, he was elected Fellow of his college. He became Master of Arts in October, 1746, and was admitted one of the senior proctors of the University in April, 1752. Being of an unambitious temper, and strongly attached to the charms of rural scenery, he early fixed his residence in his native village, |