The Natural History of Selborne

Vegetation is at a stand, & Timothy the tortoise fast asleep.  The trees are still naked.

Two swifts at Nore hill passed by me at a steady rate towards this village as if they were just arrived.

One beech in the Lith, which is always forward, in full leaf.  The beeches in the hanger are naked, but the buds are opening.  Nightingale sings in my fields; but no cuckow is heard.  Sowed the dug plot in the great mead with carrots.

Hyacinths in full bloom.  My sort is very fine.

On this day Admiral Barrington discovered s convoy newly from Brest.  His fleet took 12 or thirteen transports; a French man of war of 74 guns, called the Pagasus; & a 64 gun ship, named the Actionnaire, armee in flute.

Several Black-caps are heard to sing.

A person thought he heard a black-cap.  On this day Sr George Rodney in the W. Indies obtained a great victory over Admiral de Grasse, whom he took in the Ville de Paris.  He also captured four more French ships of the line, & sunk one.  On the 19th Admiral Hood, who was detatched with his division in pursuit of the flying enemy, took two more line of battle ships, & two frigates in the passage of Mono, between Porto Rico, & Domingo.

Forked the asparagus-beds, & planted some firs in the outlet.

Peter Wells’s well runs over.  Strong lavant thro’ Cobb’s court-yard.

Many hail-storms about.  Sunny evening, pleasant.  The wind veered about to every black storm.  On this day the lavants began to break at Chawton, two fields above the church.