106 ROBERT POCOCK. 



" Tuesday } 27th. This morning, about four o'clock, 

 I was disturbed by a person rapping at my door, and 

 saying the stable had fallen in. I got up ; and going 

 into the yard I could see nothing ; and was coming 

 in, but turning round again I observed a soldier and 

 another man (a hostler) in my premises, whereupon I 

 caught up a broom-handle and gave the hostler two 

 blows across the breech ; and he was on the point of 

 retreating over Mr. Matthew's pales, but at this in- 

 stant another soldier had got over with an iron crow 

 in his hand, and they all three attacked me and shoved 

 me down twice. I then singled out the hostler and 

 we had a battle in the yard. The soldiers burst open 

 the stable-doors, could see nothing particular there, so 

 we all went into the back street, where the hostler, 

 encouraged by the presence of his master, challenged 

 me then to beat him. We fell to, and I had the best of 

 it for some time ; till by a violent fall, stepping back- 

 wards over a bundle of straw, on my head and 

 shoulder, I was stunned, which the cowardly fellow 

 took advantage of, running his knee into me, and 

 beating me whilst lying on the ground, particularly by 

 one blow in my eye which caused a handful of blood 

 to flow out. In fact I never was so bruised in all my 

 life. 



" July, 1815. At the end of this month died 

 George Arnold, Esq. [son of Anthony Arnold, mayor 

 in 1760], a worthy inhabitant, having been mayor of 

 the town during the mutiny of the Nore; also when 

 the Duchess of Brunswick arrived, and when the King 

 of France passed through the town to take possession 

 of his kingdom ; also upon several other extraordinary 

 occasions and occurrences." 



