ROBERT POCOCK. 49 



the first time. If so, it certainly arose from my stand- 

 ing out on the damp ground last night to view the 

 comet and fireworks. Had this day brought me a 

 sphinx moth, convolvuli, &<?., which flew on board a 

 vessel ten leagues off the coast of Scotland. Had also 

 a lump-fish sent me. 



" Pain in my heel increases, making me lame, First 

 used spectacles, and found great benefit therefrom. 

 Took up Greig's ' Astrography/ Not well pleased with 

 this work, and opened the book with much prejudice, 

 because I remember a work of authority beginning 

 with abstruse characters instead of the most simple 

 elements. Perused some of the pages of this ' Astro- 

 graphy' with pleasure. Every leaf I turned over 

 diminished my prejudice. I find the book full of well- 

 selected information on a new plan, as the title ex- 

 presses ; therefore I earnestly recommend it to both 

 young and old as a useful manual of astronomy, 

 mythology, and history. More knowledge can be 

 derived from this close-printed pocket edition (which 

 costs only five shillings) than from ten quarto volumes 

 of the more ancient men printed on royal paper with 

 royal margins. Went to Dr. Thornton, No. 1, Hinde 

 Street, Manchester Square, to see his paintings. 



" Thursday, October 3rd. Read an American news- 

 paper. Philadelphia Museum State-house a mam- 

 moth there, twenty-five cents for a peep. Mem. The 

 bones of a mammoth can be seen at the British 

 Museum for nothing. 



" Friday, October 4<th. Swallows and martins fly 

 about house high. Sun out at two o'clock. Read the 

 Gent/s Mag. for last month, and understood it very 

 well (except the epistle by a young clergyman), I 







