15 SEPTEMBER 1883, Page 22

Robert Pocock. By George M. Arnold. (Sampson Low and Co.)—

Robert Pocock was a worthy of Gravesend, who died in 1830, at the age of seventy years. He wrote a history of his native place, and he could also claim the titles of "antiquarian, naturalist, botanist, and printer." In this last capacity, he had the honour of being the first to set up a press in the town. He had, it would seem, a re- markable appetite for knowledge of every kind, and this volume, containing extracts from his diary, gives us a good idea of the collection which he thus gathered together. It is well that such men should be honoured, even though the honour comes, as it does in this case, more the.; half a century after its object has passed away,