42 ROBERT POCOCK. 



Indies. Sorry to hear that the petty officers in that 

 service are generally dissatisfied, it being a losing 

 concern. Went into a public-house, where a letter was 

 read, received from Slough, describing Dr. Herschell's 

 telescope, which has a diameter of forty-seven inches, a 

 platform for six to stand at its top to take a peep at 

 the bottom a mirror, which was stated to weigh 2501b., 

 and traverses on a platform of forty feet. I informed 

 the company that a baker (a neighbour of mine, Mr. 

 Mathews) could make as good as the composition for 

 such mirrors, and this was some years since made 

 public in the Nautical Almanack, a publication more 

 useful but not so much known as Moore's. A better 

 account of Moore and Dr. Herschell's telescope is re- 

 quested in the Gent.'s Mag. At near midnight I re- 

 treated to Merlin's Cave, where I passed the night. 



" Saturday, September 14,th VisitedMr. L., ofTitch- 

 field Street. Gave him some sand from Ascension 

 Island, and a piece of Sydnea Australis, and heard a new 

 edition of twenty vols. of Buffon was in the press. Saw 

 the comet in the evening. Heard the tail took a direc- 

 tion to the north-west in the morning. Embarked at 

 twelve at night from the Dundee Arms in clean, 

 commodious boat called the Glory. Soon after a 

 very thick fog came on. Anchored four times, and once 

 got on ground. Time tedious, but much passed 

 away in conversation with a young female traveller 

 from Scotland. Found she had read nearly every 

 play and poet. Landed at seven o'clock a.m. at 

 Woolwich. 



fe Sunday, September 15th. Found Woolwich greatly 

 increased since my last visit. Walked towards Cray- 

 ford, but missed the road. Passing by Captain Ed- 



