8 ROBERT POCOCK. 



-At tlie same time and place there was found one of 

 George I.'s lead Bombay pieces." 



Mr. A. J. Dunkin, the antiquary and printer of Dart- 

 ford, states that these reading-books for the young, by 

 Pocock, preceded the well-known publication by Rusher, 

 of Banbury, fully two years, and that the original wood- 

 cuts were in his possession in 1842. They are now 

 deposited in the library of the Guildhall of the City of 

 London, by Mr. Fooks, Q.C., in behalf of Mr. Dunkin's 

 sister, where they have a honoured home. 



If Mr. Dunkin is correct in this claim, it would follow 

 that Pocock had established his printing-press in conse- 

 quence of the encouragement which he had derived 

 from the publication of these elementary works. The 

 title of Rusher's Book is "Rusher's Reading made most 

 Easy ; consisting of a variety of useful lessons on a 

 rational plan, proceeding from the alphabet to words 

 of two letters only, and from these to words of three, 

 four, and five letters. &c. &c., so disposed as to draw 

 on learners with the greatest ease and pleasure both 

 to themselves and teachers ;" and on examining the date 

 of its production, it affords evidence that Pocock must 

 have published prior to September, 1786. 



That Pocock thus led up to the provision of a great 

 new and recognized want is apparent from the cir- 

 cumstance that the above copy of Rusher, now in 

 the British Museum, is a print of the 220th edition. 



By the kindness of Miss Dunkin inspection has been 

 made of the engraved blocks above mentioned, and they 

 are found to consist of illustrations of the nursery 

 verses apropos of the death of " Cock Robin/' " The 

 House that Jack built," &c., &c., suitable to the appre- 

 hensions of the juvenile minds for whom the book was 

 designed. 



