60 ROBERT POCOCK. 



magazine that an explosion took place at Waltham 

 Abbey on December 3rd, at eleven o'clock. Referred 

 to that day, and what I supposed was the ' ' proof " at 

 Woolwich certainly arose at Waltham Abbey, where 

 eight lives were lost. 



11 Sunday, January 5th. Gulls flying over the land. 

 Saw the gaoler's boy trying to drive three hogs into 

 the cage, because Gravesend is not worth a pound. 

 Not long ago two hogs were there impounded, and 

 shortly after an old woman was put into the same 

 place ! The Mayor of the place is a linendraper, 

 and very religious. Tried to translate ' Dulce Domum.' 

 Only did two verses, and they were not to my liking, 

 so I gave it up. 



"Monday, January 6th. Morning at nine. Wind 

 W.S.W. A breeze. Sun. out at noon. Paid Mrs. T. 

 what I owed her, with thauks. Recollected ' a friend 

 in need is a friend indeed/ 



"Friday, January 10th. A man fell from the 

 Cuffnell's (East Indiaman) yard, and killed on the 

 spot. Mr. Williams called to-day. Said he was seventy- 

 three years old. Much broken in health since I saw 

 him last. Bid him farewell (I dare say for the last 

 time). 



"Monday, January 15th. Went to London, think- 

 ing to do much business, but met with an acci- 

 dent at the Talbot Inn, Borough, that nearly deprived 

 me of my right eye and almost of life. Confined at the 

 Inn ill a week, and came home on Monday with a 

 black eye, owing to the false step. Continued ill 

 at intervals, no particular circumstance happened, 

 unless a small watch-box, made out of a cart at the 

 canal, caught fire on a Sunday night, but being wheeled 



