198 ROBERT POCOCK. 



" Wednesday, 16th. Dull, windy. Among the 

 paintings at Knole, which I saw last week, the fine 

 painting in the hall of the procession of the Lord 

 Warden (Lionel, Duke of Dorset) after taking the 

 oath of office, at a court of Shepway held on Breden- 

 stone Hill, exceeded for grandeur all the others ; there- 

 fore Haydon is right that historical paintings should 

 rank above portraits, and be the chief aim of the 

 artist ; but pursuing this opinion has got Haydon into 

 a gaol, viz., the King's Bench ! But if one portrait ex- 

 celled another, it was her Grace the Duchess of Dorset's, 

 whose full length, easy style, and beautiful figure were 

 the admiration of the writer. 



"Thursday, 17 th. Sent letter to Rev. Mr. Rash- 

 leigh, Horton, that reeds for thatching were sold at 

 40s. per 100. 



"Friday, 18th. Went to Mr. John Rackstraw's 

 burial (son of Gaynam), aged seventy-four : buried 

 in Gravesend Churchyard 



"Monday, 2lst. Walked through Swanscombe 

 Wood and drank tea. A Rider fond of fossils, &c., 

 called ; dealt in tea. 



" Tuesday, 22nd. Mr. Kemp's son-in-law, Mr. 

 Turner, called and bought some shells. Walked into 

 Clark's garden and saw the carrion flower in bloom 

 (Sterculia hirsuta). It stinks abominably, and appears 

 to be fly-blown, as it is said to breed live maggots* 

 It comes from the Cape of Good Hope. 



"Wednesday, 23rd. Walked with Mr. Turner to 

 the mausoleum in Cobham Park. Saw the great 

 chestnut-tree (not horse chestnut), said to be thirty- 

 two feet in circumference. Saw a kingfisher bird 

 about the pond, in the poultry-yard. Saw a heron 



