ROBERT POCOCK. 233 



biography, coins and medals, heraldic bearings, natural 

 history (Dartford warbler, a bird but little known), 

 antiquities, well-frequented market (Horticulture and 

 agriculture), scarce botany, customs, sewers, societies, 

 chronology, walks, recreations, &c., all combine to 

 form materials sufficient to make a volume of interesting 

 matter enough to make above 600 pages ; all which 

 substance was by Mr. Hasted, for want of local know- 

 ledge, time, and assistance, contracted into only nine 

 pages. No more perhaps was then possible considering 

 the bulk of his great provincial work ; but it would 

 be unpardonable in a local historian did he not extend 

 all the information in his power, by elucidating and 

 enlarging on many points in history which remain 

 obscured and partially treated with, whilst he found 

 subjects of either utility or entertainment, particularly 

 on the commonly talked-of rebellion under Wat Tyler, 

 the origin of paper-making by Sir John Spilman 

 (whose tomb as such is daily shown in Dartford Church, 

 and whose story is followed through tradition from one 

 historian to another without any one having had the 

 boldness to break this link of error and set truth in the 

 right path). Therefore the present author has under- 

 taken this desideratum, hoping the volume will fre- 

 quently be referred to, and that it may be favourably 

 received by the public. 



" Whilst the author flatters himself he has done his 

 duty with respect to collecting materials and introduc- 

 tion of several interesting plates, the engraving of which 

 have come very expensive, yet he would wish to make 

 a still further addition (provided circumstances afforded 

 the means) in order to render the work more valuable. 

 A few more plates might be judiciously placed, and by 



