ROBERT POCOCK. 39 



the village was like a fair, owing to the Gravesend 

 boats not being able to get farther. Observed there 

 an ancient low house with two doors, the spandril 

 ornamented with leopards' heads and a coat of arms, 

 well worth a plate in Mr. Urban's magazine. Walked 

 into Lord Eardley's, and saw the gardens : the pleasure- 

 grounds are charmingly rural, and a great variety of 

 scarce trees and shrubs. Accidentally met with two of 

 the household female servants, who escorted us to 

 the top of the high tower that overlooks the trees, and 

 from which we had a fine prospect of the river and 

 adjacent country. Could do no less than thank our 

 guides for the view, and politely endeavoured to salute 

 one, which seemingly was not taken amiss; but in 

 performing the ceremony I was so awkward that my 

 hat fell off. Surely, I thought, this, like many other 

 things, wants practice. A good general should be 

 cool, wait for opportunities, and not be too rash. 

 Descended the tower, and took leave of our kind, 

 sociable strangers. 



"September, 1811. Had a gossip with Mr. EL, a 

 river pilot, by some called Mr. ' Milk and Water.' 

 Why this name should be attached to a worthy man, I 

 know not ; perhaps it is that milk and water is often 

 thought incapable of doing harm, whilst it may do 

 good, an instance of which occurred last week. A 

 little boy Mr. H. observed, in company with a soldier 

 at Gravesend, inquiring the road to Chatham and 

 seemingly dejected, sitting on the steps of a trades- 

 man's door ; whereupon Mr. H. called the boy in, and 

 challenged him with running away from his parents. 

 This the child did not deny, and to the honour of 

 Mr. Bryant, linen-draper of Gravesend (who took the 



