ROBERT POCOCK. 47 



" Saturday, September 28th. Read part of Du. 

 Lolde's ' Embassy to China/ Found the mode of drink- 

 ing tea the same as at present, except the spout was 

 closed to infuse the tea better, and a little salt to give 

 it a flavour. The death-watch heard at ten. 



" Sunday, September 29th. At ten the Earl of Darn- 

 ley arrives in the town as hereditary High Steward, 

 and according to custom breakfasted with the Mayor, 

 Geo. Rich.,Esq., and]corporation,in their Town Hall, on 

 hot roast beef, moistened with plenty of arrack-punch, 

 and then walked to church, where a discourse was 

 delivered by Dr. Watson, Rector of Gravesend. 



' ' A fleet from China passed by. Evening star and 

 moon light, with low clouds. Comet seen making 

 nearly a triangle with the two last stars in the Bear's 

 tail. The tail of the comet faint, probably arising from 

 the glare of the moon. Whilst observing it about 

 eight, a faint reddish Aurora Borealis shot from the 

 north-west. Those phenomena were frequent before 

 the American War, and are yet often seen by our 

 fishermen to the north of Scotland, making a hissing, 

 snapping noise. 



"Monday, September 30th. The Corporation of 

 Gravesend walk in procession to church to hear 

 divine service, and on their return choose Mr. Den- 

 nett as Mayor for the year ensuing. Mem. Most 

 corporations now are petty tyrannical governments 

 ruled by the caprice of their town clerks. They 

 should be an object of government constitution. 

 They should either have a heavy tax imposed on them 

 or be dissolved. 



" The rays of the comet appear faint, it being bright 

 moonligKt. Whilst looking at this time and moon- 



