character, and such other circumstances of the locality as are not liable to periodical change. The lamented death of this most estimable person took place just as the printing of his edition was nearly completed; and it was left for my late friend, John Joseph Bennett, Esq., to finish it by a touching memorial to his brother in the form of a preface to the work. Much additional value attached to Mr. Bennett's original edition from the cooperation of his friends Owen, Yarrell, and other naturalists, whose contributions on the general subject are of considerable interest and importance.

But, however valuable in themselves are the notes referred to, and those of some other annotators, their immediate relation to the local natural history of Selborne has been comparatively slight; and for this especial object the present Editor has had to depend principally upon the results of his own observations during a period of more than thirty years, in which he has been the occupier of the old property, and where, for nearly half that period, he has wholly resided. He has also received frequent aid from those of his scientific friends who have honoured him with their occasional visits and communications. His frequent botanical rambles with his late nephew, Dr. Bell Salter, of Ryde, and the contributions to the Selborne flora of his late friend Dr. Bromfield, contained in his consecutive papers on the plants of Hampshire, which appeared in the 'Phytologist' (vol. ii. et seq.), and with whom he shared many pleasant walks in pursuit of his favourite object, have furnished much of the information he has been able to give respecting

the habitat of the rarer or more noteworthy plants of the district; and he has also to record his sincere thanks to Lord Selborne, to William Wickham, Esq., of Binsted Wyck, to Mrs. de Jersey, of Empshott Vicarage, and others, for notices of many of the plants passed over by former observers, which have been found by them in the neighbourhood.

For a valuable notice of the geology of the district, he is indebted to his friend William Curtis, Esq., of Alton, who has for many years made the geology of the neighbourhood his particular study.

A most important addition to the antiquities of Selborne in the present edition is a chapter by Lord Selborne containing a description and catalogue of an immense collection of Roman coins found on his estate, and for which the Editor begs to express his most grateful thanks. The reader is referred to the communication itself for all the details connected with the discovery of this treasure, which amounted in number to considerably more than 30,000. Some additional interest on this subject arises from a letter addressed to Gilbert White from a Mr. Sewell, of Headley, dated 1777, giving an account of a considerable number of Roman coins found in Wolmer pond some time before that date. This letter, for which I am indebted to Mr. Algernon Holt White, contains also some ingenious speculations respecting the movements of the Roman army, a presumed Roman establishment at Wolmer, &c. The letter itself will be found in the Appendix to the second volume. Many other beautiful and precious Roman remains have been found

by Lord Selborne in the same locality, which are described in his lordship's paper.

The Editor's especial thanks are due to his friend Professor Newton for his kind contribution of many very valuable notes and suggestions, the value of which will be readily appreciated by all who are acquainted with his extensive knowledge of every branch of natural science, and particularly that which formed the favourite pursuit of Gilbert White.

Perhaps the most interesting addition which the Editor is enabled to offer with especial reference to Gilbert White personally, consists of a large number of original letters, which have been placed at his disposal by different members of the family and by the representatives of his other correspondents. In particular he has to acknowledge his deep obligations to Algernon Holt White, Esq., of Clements Hall, in Essex, the son of Gilbert White's nephew, Thomas Holt White; to the late James Field, Esq., who married the daughter of another nephew, the Rev. Edmund White, vicar of the adjoining parish of Newton Valence, and whose son, the Rev. Edmund Field, of Lancing College, Sussex, has most kindly followed up his father's liberality and assistance.

Among the relics thus unreservedly committed to the Editor's use are the long correspondence with Gilbert White's brother, the Rev. John White, who was for a considerable time the English chaplain at Gibraltar, and afterwards vicar of Blackburn in Lancashire. He was a correspondent of Linnæus, six of his letters to whom will, by the kind permission of the Council of the Lin

nean Society, be found among the correspondence now published, and four unpublished letters from Linnæus to John White. Scarcely inferior in interest to the abovementioned letters are a considerable number addressed to his brother-in-law, Thomas Barker, Esq., of Lyndon Hall, in the county of Rutland, a distinguished scholar, critic, and naturalist of his day, and to that gentleman's son, Samuel Barker, to whom many of his uncle's very pleasing letters on literary and scientific subjects are addressed. Several letters to other branches of his family will be found to possess considerable interest, as illustrative of the benevolence of his character and the terms of affectionate intercourse which subsisted between him and his relatives. Among the valuable contributions entrusted to the Editor by Mr. Algernon White are the original letters to Pennant, which form the bulk of the first portion of the Natural History, and which formerly belonged to the late Rev. Glyd White.

The letters from Gilbert White to his friend the Rev. R. Churton, of Brasen-nose College, were communicated to the Editor by his son, the Rev. Thomas Churton, also Fellow of Brasen-nose, and late rector of West Shefford, in Berkshire. These letters, written in the same agreeable style as characterizes his epistolary compositions in general, supplemented as they now are by numerous letters from Mr. Churton to him, which were found amongst his miscellaneous correspondence, exhibit in a pleasing manner, by the increasing familiarity and warmth of expression, the growth of a friendship which lasted till death.

A very extensive and important change has, within these few years, taken place in the parish of Selborne. In consequence of the purchase of a large portion of the parish by Lord Selborne, then Sir Roundell Palmer, a proposal was made by him to Magdalen College "to form a church-district comprising Blackmoor, Eveley, Oakwoods, and Oakhanger, and to build and endow, at his own expense, a church and parsonage for the same."

This proposal has been fully carried out. The old parish of Selborne is now divided according to the above plan, and the new parish of Blackmoor is, to all ecclesiastical purposes, distinct from that of Selborne proper. Lord Selborne has, with great munificence, built at his own expense a noble church, a most commodious parsonage, and large schools, and endowed the living with the proceeds of certain lands in the parish of Selborne. The blessing of this arrangement is incalculable. A very considerable portion of the whole parish was at such a distance from the church and the schools as practically to preclude its inhabitants from all the advantages of education and of public worship. A convenient schoolchapel has also been built in the hamlet of Oakhanger, on a site given by the Hon. John Dutton.

Some allusion may perhaps be expected to the long delay which has occurred in the publication of this edition since it was first announced. For this the Editor has to express his sincere regret, which, however, would be more painful were it not for the consideration that many of the most interesting documents