The natural history and antiquities of Selborne : in the county of Southampton / by the Rev. Gilbert White ; the standard edition by E.T. Bennett ; thoroughly revised, with additional notes, by James Edmund Harting ; with ten letters not included in any other edition of the work ; illustrated with engravings by Thomas Bewick and others.
- Gilbert White
- Date:
- 1889
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: The natural history and antiquities of Selborne : in the county of Southampton / by the Rev. Gilbert White ; the standard edition by E.T. Bennett ; thoroughly revised, with additional notes, by James Edmund Harting ; with ten letters not included in any other edition of the work ; illustrated with engravings by Thomas Bewick and others. Source: Wellcome Collection.
20/602
![strongly attaclied to the charms of rural scenery, he early fixed his residence in his native village, where he spent the greater part of his life in literary occupations, and especially in the study of nature. This he followed with 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 26,. 1793.” Gilbert White lived and died a bachelor, and it is to be- regretted that no portrait remains to preserve a record of his personal appearance. His brother John, to whom frequent reference is made im the succeeding pages, was at one time Vicar of Blackburn, in Lancashire. He afterwards became resident at Gibi-altar,, where he made large collections for a Natural History of the place, from the unpublished manuscript of which an extract is given at page 282. He is honom-ably mentioned by Pennant in his “ Literary Life,” as ■ having rendered him material assistance in connection with the birds and fishes- of Gibraltar. Another brother, Thomas (to whose observations, made at his house at South Lambeth, bur author occasionally refers),. was a wholesale ironmonger in London; but quitting busi- ness with an am]Je fortune; devoted much of his time to literary pursuits, especially on subjects connected with me- teorology and natural history. He was a Fellow of the- Eoyal Society, and author of numerous essays which ap- peared in the Gentleman’s Magazine” between the years- 1780 and 1790, under the signatm’e of T. H. W. Among- these a series of articles on the trees of Great Britain are- particularly deserving of notice, for the extensive informa- tion, good taste, and variety of reading which they display.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b24864006_0020.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
