ROBERT POCOCK. 25 



" The Gentleman's Magazine, 



" The Critical Review, 



" The Monthly Review, 



" And Steel's List ; 



" And yearly with 



"The Annual Register, and such other books and 

 pamphlets as the subscription will allow of. Exclusive 

 of these, the library shall be furnished with all the 

 historical and valuable books (novels excepted) now in 

 Mr. Pocock's possession." 



The yearly cost of these periodicals and coals and 

 candles he estimated at 4*81. Is.; and doubtless the 

 enterprise had a happy rise, and, as is often the fate 

 of such local undertakings, was followed by a gradual 

 decay. 



In after-days, writing of his efforts at this period 

 and in previous years, he says, not without some tinge 

 of bitterness, 



"Prior to 1786, Gravesend could not boast of any 

 institution of this sort, but in that year the writer 

 established the first printing-office and first bookseller's 

 shop in that town ; but literature was at such a low 

 ebb, that upon the words ' Circulating Library' 

 being placed over his window, many of the inhabitants 

 came in to know their meaning. Since that period 

 they are a little improved, but they have a further 

 opportunity of enriching themselves by more often 

 visiting Pocock's library, which will also enrich the 

 librarian, who has done his endeavours to render his 

 native townsmen prosperous, and to cultivate their 

 ideas, for which purpose he also established a scientific 

 society ; but some of the members, thinking they would 

 be ruined by the trifling expense per week, fell to and 



