ROBERT POCOCK. 245 



within the present century immense, and seems to be 

 rapidly increasing, especially in the years 1824 to 

 1828. 



" During the time Calais was in our hands, wool was 

 the staple commodity, and those who dealt in it were 

 persons of great credit, for it paid a considerable 

 revenue to the Crown at Sandwich, which was the 

 chief port for its exportation. Other textile articles 

 have come in gradually as the fashion has infected the 

 nation. At one time many mortgaged their lands to 

 go to the holy war. Another time the building of 

 churches, chantries, and nunneries engrossed their 

 thoughts. In Queen Elizabeth's reign great differences 

 arose between Papist and Protestant. In King 

 Charles Ist^s time an obstinacy reigned on the part of 

 royalty and its adherents. In Charles 2nd's time levity 

 and immorality prevailed (yet we pray and rejoice by 

 ringing bells for the glorious Restoration ; surely it is 

 high time to drop the festival of this day and also 

 November the 5th, which only keep up a party spirit). 

 In King George 3rd's reign a thirst for art and science 

 flourished, particularly geography, topography, balloon 

 flying, and novel reading. In King George 4th's 

 time, brickmaking, building houses, and speculative 

 companies, accompanied with failures of bankers, and 

 bankruptcies, especially among the booksellers and 

 printers ; at the same time Bible societies, missionary 

 meetings, anniversaries, preaching sermons, with 

 National Schools, abounded, whilst the public were 

 accommodated by gaslights and steam-packets. 



(< The author most deeply regrets the loss of numerous 

 ancient deeds, old armour, and manuscripts, from the 

 church of Dartford, sold by the parish officers (a few 



