ROBERT POCOCK. 129 



menb of Buffs marched into the town, going down. 

 Saw the first swallow flying against the wind. 



" Thursday, 5th. The Regiment of Buffs marched 

 out to Chatham. Mr. and Mrs. Paul and their son, 

 Mr. Paul, a youth about twenty, with Mr. Bradley, all 

 passengers going out to settle in Van Diemen's Land, 

 called, and promised to send me home shells and curi- 

 osities. The ship William Shand, in which they go out, 

 is now here with eighteen passengers. I gave them 

 directions to several gentlemen in the colony who 

 have before promised me and not kept their words, or 

 have forsaken me. 



" Saturday, 7th. Mrs. Paul and son came to take 

 their leave. 



t( Sunday, 8th. Mr. Paul, jun., comes on shore, 

 having given them a cat and my ' Everlasting Song- 

 Book' to remember me, and the ship William Shand 

 sailed in the afternoon. 



(i Monday, 9th. Yesterday a sailor called and said 

 he left my son Charles well in the East Indies, that he 

 had given satisfaction to the ship's officers, and that he 

 had bought a monkey, and would be home in a month. 



" Tuesday, 30^. Mr. Dadd of Chatham called and 

 bought some minerals, &c., and said he sold his bar- 

 nacle goose flint for 2s. 6d. (worth a guinea) to Mr. Bright, 

 a Member of Parliament ; which was very wrong, as it 

 was a great if not an unique specimen and rarity ! In 

 the afternoon Mr. Francis of the post-office, Rochester, 

 called, and wanted to be instructed in the printing 

 branch, having a thought of commencing that trade. 



" Wednesday, May 1st. Boughs of the white-thum 

 in leaf put up at a few houses, but not in bloom yet. I 

 have seen it (a flower bloom) brought by Mr. Peen, 

 who, I believe, has forwarded its bloom. Colonel 



K 



