ROBERT POCOCK. 89 



out remarking that it is an ill-timed reflection upon the 

 best of Kentish historians. 



" If ' Litterator ' thinks that Mr. Hasted' s History is 

 deficient and unworthy of his thanks (after thirty years 

 or more spent in the arduous undertaking), why does not 

 ' Litterator ' immediately solicit assistance and issue 

 forth a prospectus for an additional volume ? There is 

 undoubtedly much to be gathered, but not much to be 

 gained, by county historians." 



Pocock then gives instances refuting the charge of 

 want of variety in Hasted' s History, and then finishes 

 thus : 



"The pen is sometimes taken up in defence of 

 personal friendship, interest, or vanity ; but L. may rest 

 assured the writer of this article had not the happiness 

 of ever seeing the late author, has no interest in his 

 works, nor vanity sufficient to think this will add 

 to his fame : yet professing an ardent desire to become 

 acquainted with the history of his native county, he 

 has collected already a folio MS. relative thereto, un- 

 noticed by Mr. H., which shall be made public (if re- 

 quired) with the hoped for elucidation and additional 

 aid, if and whenever he thinks proper to address him- 

 self to 



(Signed) " THE CHAIRMAN OF THE KENT NATURAL 

 HISTORY SOCIETY." 



Eesumingthe Journal for 1812, it appears that our 

 journalist, on the 2nd October, " walked to Hartley. 

 Found a fine black mullein in bloom in the hedge of a 

 cottage at Scotbury. Called on the Eev. Mr. Bash- 

 leigh, and took an oath that I was no freeholder. 



