THE "CHANDOS CLASSICS."
THE
Natural History of
Selborne,
AND
The Naturalist's Calendar.
By THE REV. GILBERT WHITE, A.M.
A NEW EDITION,
EDITED, WITH NOTES, BY
G. CHRISTOPHER DAVIES,
Author of "The Swan and Her Crew" etc., etc..
FULLY ILLUSTRATED.
London and New York:
FREDERICK WARNE AND CO
Richard Clay & Sons, Limited,
London & Bungay.
ADVERTISEMENT TO ORIGINAL EDITION.
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 a 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,
INTRODUCTION.
THERE is a singular parallel in the popularity of the two old books, the "Complete Angler" of Isaac Walton, and the "Natural History of Selborne," by the Rev. Gilbert White. This popularity has gone on steadily increasing in both cases, until both books are of that class which everyone has read or is supposed to have read, or, with reference to the coming generation of readers, ought to read. The cause of the esteem in which the two books are held is mainly the same. Honest, manly, and godly in their tone, simple and clear in their style, with no ostentation, clearness and accuracy of observation in those subjects which each particularly affected, and with the charm of enthusiasm, and enthusiasm with respect to the glorious "out of doors," they are models for all succeeding writers on kindred subjects. The Editor of this Volume, when a boy, wrote almost his first essay on White and Walton, little thinking at the time that he would ever have the pleasure of editing both books for the series in which this appears.
The temptation which besets any Naturalist author who undertakes to edit such a work as this, is to use it as a line on which to hang out his own knowledge of Natural History. Such a course, though pleasant to oneself, is not fair to the original Author. The present Editor has done his best to limit the use of notes (a nuisance at the best) to as few as might be consistent with the present advanced state of knowledge, not forgetting the Publishers' kindly warning that "the Editor should not make himself of more moment than the original author." Where notes appear at the foot of a page they are White's own. Those at the end of each chapter are by the Editor.
The village of Selborne presents no more special features of interest nor greater facilities for the study of Natural History than hundreds of other of our charming English villages; and it is the patient and close observation by one man of the natural world around him which has given it a name above its fellows. The general features of it do not vary very much from the time of White; and any description of it here would only challenge comparison with the close description of it given by the Author; but of the author himself we may tell all we know, for in his modesty he has told us nothing.
The materials for a sketch of White's life are singularly scanty. He kept no personal diary, and left no portrait of himself. In an edition of his book published in 1802, nine years after his death, his brother John wrote the following short sketch of his life.
"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 Selburne on July 18th, 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 as 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, where he spent the greater part 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 the eleven children which followed the union of John White and Anne his wife. Eight of them grew up; but the only one which calls for mention now was Benjamin, who became a publisher, his specialité being works on Natural History, and he it was who published his brother's book.
Gilbert White was ordained a deacon when he was twenty-seven and priest when he was twenty-nine, years old. In 1755, he being thirty-five years old, he took up his residence with his father at Selborne; and on his father's death in 1758, he became the occupier of the house, and shortly afterwards the owner, and there he lived until his death. He had a curacy at Faringdon, an adjoining parish, until 1784, when he became curate of Selborne. He several times refused livings which were offered to him, though he accepted one which required neither residence, service, nor attention on his part, the duties being performed by others. White had a sufficiency of income to enable him to live a quiet and comfortable life in the old house at Selborne. He was never married; but this was from no lack of good qualities on his part, for he was an affectionate and kind brother, uncle, and neighbour. He is described as being a pleasant little man, brisk in manner and kindly in speech, getting on well with his neighbours, helping with money and with advice where help was needed, and taking as great an interest in the human affairs of the parish as he did in the bird, animal, and insect life of it. It is not known at what time he turned his attention to the study of Natural History. He was acquainted with many persons of note, and it is by the medium of letters to two of those, Pennant and Daines Barrington, that his work on Natural History was written. The tone of the letters themselves, and the lack of system or arrangement in them, would point to the conclusion that at first White did not intend them for publication, and that when the idea occurred to him, he fortunately did not fuse them into one whole, according to method, but presented them to the world just as they were written. And this book was his only book. It is clear that he was not smitten with the vanity of authorship. His book was first published, in the fashionable quarto size, in 1789, he then being sixty-nine years of age. The book was a success, and brought him into favourable notice. He is said to have been very nervous at first as to its reception by Reviewers; and in the Gentleman's Magazine is a friendly review, written by his brother Thomas, which is rather amusing. It says: "Contemplative persons see with regret the country more and more deserted every day, as they know that every well-regulated family of property, which quits a village to reside in a town, injures the place that is forsaken in many material circumstances. It is with pleasure, therefore, we observe, that so rational an employment of leisure time as the study of nature, promises to become popular; since whatever adds to the number of rural amusements, and consequently counteracts the allurements of the metropolis, is, on this consideration, of national importance.
"Most of the local histories which have fallen into our hands have been taken up with descriptions of the vestiges of ancient art and industry, while natural observations have been too much neglected. But we agree with Mr. White in his idea of parochial history, which, he thinks, ought to consist of natural productions and occurrences, as well as antiquities: for antiquities, when once surveyed, seldom recall further attention, and are confined to one spot; whereas the pleasures of the naturalist continue through the year, return with unabated attractions every spring, and may be extended over the kingdom.
"Mr. White is the gentleman who some years ago favoured the world with a monography of the British Hirundines, published in the Philosophical Transactions, which we reviewed in a former volume. It is now reprinted, and the same sagacity of observation runs through the work before us.
| * | * | * | * | * |
"If this author should be thought by any to have been too minute in his researches, be it remembered that his studies have been in the great book of Nature. It must be confessed, that the economy of the several kinds of crickets, and the distinction between the stock-dove and the ring-dove, are humble pursuits, and will be esteemed trivial by many; perhaps by some to be objects of ridicule. However, before we condemn any pursuits, which contribute so much to health by calling us abroad, let us consider how the studious have employed themselves in their closets. In a former century, the minds of the learned were engaged in determining whether the name of the Roman poet should be spelt Vergilius or Virgilius; and the number of letters in the name of Shakespear still remains a matter of much solicitude and criticism. Nor can we but think that the conjectures about the migration of Hirundines are fully as interesting as the Chattertonian controversy.
"We could have wished that this gentleman had uniformly, as he has frequently, used the Linnæan names. No naturalist can now converse intelligibly in any other language than that of the celebrated Swede. And impartiality compels us to say, that we are disappointed in not finding a particular account of the tillage of the district where Selborne is situate. A person with this writer's patient observation would have made many remarks highly valuable. Men of intelligence, like him, are wanted to promote an intimacy between the library and the plough. The man of books sees many errors which he supposes he could correct; while the practical cultivator laughs at the essays of the theorist. Much the greater part of renting farmers are prevented, by their anxiety to wind the bottom round the year, from engaging in experiments; and many think it nearly criminal to deviate from the practice of their forefathers; so that, at this day, it remains for gentlemen of property and enlarged minds to determine whether it is best to sow three bushels of wheat, or one, on an acre of land. In other words, whether there be not as much corn yearly wasted by superfluous, perhaps injurious, seeding, as would furnish an annual and ample supply for the largest city. Though agriculture has of late been attended to, still he would be one of the greatest benefactors to his countrymen in general, who would convince them that the richest mine of national wealth lies within six inches of the surface, and who would teach them the most advantageous method of working it.
"On the whole, we will pronounce that the inquirers into natural knowledge will find Mr. White to be no unequal successor of Ray and Derham; and that the History of the Priory is a curious tract of local antiquity. We should not hesitate to speak so favourably of this work even though it had much less rural anecdote and literary allusion to recommend it."
A translation of his book was published at Berlin in 1792. In June, 1793, White died. His body lies in the fifth grave to the north of the chancel wall, and on the headstone is—
G. W.
26 June,
1793
On a tablet, formerly on the outside of the wall, but now in the chancel, is the following inscription:—
In the fifth grave from this wall are buried the remains of
The Rev. GILBERT WHITE, m.a.,
fifty years fellow of oriel college, in oxford,
and historian of this his native parish.
he was eldest son of john white, esquire, barrister-at-law,
and anne, his wife, only child of
thomas holt, rector of streatham, in surrey,
which said john white was the only son of gilbert white,
formerly vicar of this parish.
he was kind and beneficent to his relations,
benevolent to the poor,
and deservedly respected by all his friends and neighbours.
he was born july 18th, 1720, o.s.,
and died june 26th, 1793
nec bono quicquam mali evenire potest,
nec vivo, nec mortuo.
The irregular, old-fashioned, and charming house in which White lived, is now the property of an eminent naturalist, Professor Thomas Bell. This gentleman, in the year 1877, published a very complete edition of the book, but an expensive one. In a second volume, Mr. Bell gives a great number of letters written by White to his relatives and friends, a sermon of his, and an account book in which are entered in his neat and plain handwriting all his petty expenses. The facsimile of his handwriting there given shows that he was not accustomed to hurry himself.
These letters give one a better idea of White's personal life than all else that we know of him. To call attention to the noteworthy points in them, would perhaps trench too closely on what Professor Bell has made his own, but they fully bear out all that has been said in eulogy of him.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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