The Natural History of Selborne

The water in my well is risen three or four rounds of the winch, viz. five or six feet: the spring that runs in may be seen, & heard.  The water is now clear.  Thus will three or four inches of rain replenish my well, deep as it is, after it has been very low, & foul, & almost dry for several months.  I have made the same remark in former years.  Our stream has been so low for many weeks that the miller at Kingsley could not grind; but was obliged to send his corn to Headleigh, where the Blackdown stream never fails.  At Headleigh park-corner the Blackdown streams joins the Selborne rivulet: & at Tilford bridge they are met by the Farnham river, where together they form so considerable a body of water as within a few miles to become navigable, viz: at the town of Godalming; & there take the name of Wey.

A vast tempest at Sarum; & an house beat down.  The mast of a man of war was struck at Spit-head by the lightening.

Paths greazy from the frost.  Raked, & swept up the leaves in my outlet.  The hanger naked.

Timothy the tortoise gone under ground in the laurel-hedge.  Paths very dry: boys play at taw on the plestor.

Bror. & Sister Benj. left us.

Two or three wood-cocks seen in the high wood: one was killed.  Fyfield improves, & promises to make a good cock-dog.

Very rough weather at Portsmouth: boats over-set, & people drowned in coming from Spit-head.

Green wheat comes up well.  Stewed some trufles: the flavour of their juice very fine, but the roots hard, & gritty.  They were boiled in water, then sliced, & stewed in gravy.

Bror Benjn & his wife came to us.