The Natural History of Selborne

Selborne Church by Samuel Hieronymus Grimm, who did the engravings for the first edition of “The Natural History of Selborne”

• 1792: August 5, 1792 – The guns at the camp on Bagshot Heath were heard distinctly this evening.
• 1791: August 5, 1791 – Mrs H. White, & Lucy left us.  Two dobchicks in Combwood pond.  Young martins, & swallows cluster on the tower, & on trees, for the first time.  A pleasing circumstance, mixed with some degree of regret for the decline of summer!
• 1790: August 5, 1790 – Piled & housed all the cleft wood of eight cords of beech: the proportion of blocks was large.
• 1789: August 5, 1789 – Mrs Brown brought to bed of a daughter, who makes the number of my nephews & nieces 54.  Forest-fuel brought in. Beechen fuel brought in.  Wood straw-berries are over.
• 1788: August 5, 1788 – Farmer Spencer’s rick slipped down as it was building.
• 1781: August 5, 1781 – Small scuds of rain.  No rain to measure since July 14.  On this day a bloody & obstinate engagement happened between Admiral Hyde Parker, & a Dutch fleet off the Dogger-bank.
• 1780: August 5, 1780 – My pendent pantry, made of deal & fine fly-wire, & suspended in the great wallnut tree, proves an incomparable preservative rfor meat against flesh-flies.  The flesh by hanging in a brisk current of air becomes dry on the surface, & keeps ’til it is tender without tainting.
• 1776: August 5, 1776 – Mr Grim the artist left me.  Began to gather apricots.  Put out two rows of celeri: thr ground dry & harsh.
• 1771: August 5, 1771 – Young partridges, strong flyers.  Soft showers.  Swifts.  Pease are hacking.
• 1770: August 5, 1770 – Hops promise well, & throw out branches at every joint.