ROBERT POCOCK. 183 



Webster had delivered to Sir George Hoste, the en- 

 gineer, a written charge against him ; when I told him 

 not an instant should be lost in trying to make friends 

 and stopping such a serious accusation, and I was 

 willing, if any good could be done, to act as a mediator 

 and to go directly to Mr. Webster ; which I did, but 

 Mr. Webster said it was too late, as the proceedings 

 were before the Board. I did all I could on this 

 occasion, staying with him till past twelve o'clock p.m. 



" Thursday, 8th. Overslept myself by staying out 

 later than usual last night, and so lost the boat. Got 

 on board the Sally, an oyster-vessel, from Queen- 

 borough, employed with three others in bringing upon 

 an average about 300 bushels from that place, the 

 grounds of which extend from near Sheerness to 

 King's Ferry. Oysters they said were four years 

 coming to growth. The young are brought from 

 the westward, as few of the natives live ! Met Mr. 

 Clarke, who gave me my books and MSS. one of 

 which related to Shorne and also an accurate 

 drawing of Gravesend Church, which I shall have en- 

 graved in my intended second edition. One of Mr. 

 Clarke's sons is a good landscape painter, another a 

 surgeon, who went a voyage in 1822 to Greenland, 

 and another afflicted with St. Vitus 7 dance. Mr. 

 Clarke has also two daughters. 



"Friday, th. Heard the Thomas Coutts, East India- 

 man, had got aground coming up the river yesterday. 

 Waited on Mr. Coreton and sold him an ancient gold 

 coin, when he offered me good Roman copper at 3s. 6d. 

 per pound ! Visited Mr. Manning, of John Street, 

 Adelphi, Mrs. Saxter, a distant relation, and 

 Mrs. Cross of Exeter Change, who gave me some of 



