118
ESSEX FIELD CLUB—REPORTS OF MEETINGS.
VISIT TO THE ROYAL GARDENS, KEW
(502nd MEETING).
Saturday, 3rd May 1919.
An enjoyable and instructive visit to the Royal Gardens, Kew, for the
principal purpose of studying the Trees and Shrubs, under the expert guid-
ance of Mr. A. Bruce Jackson, was made by, in all, some 40 or more Mem-
bers, though, unfortunately, some of the late-comers failed to get into
touch with the main party until late in the afternoon, and consequently
missed much of Mr. Bruce Jackson's valuable exposition.
The party assembled at the Victoria Gate entrance at 2 o'clock, and
was introduced to the Conductor by the Hon. Secretary; whereupon
Mr. Bruce Jackson assumed charge and led off the party on a detailed
tour of the Arboretum and Pinetum; several of the Houses were also
visited, and, later on, the rock garden.
Tea was taken at the Pavilion in the Gardens at 5 o'clock.
After tea, a formal Meeting of the Club was held, with Miss E. Will-
mott, F.L.S., V.M.H. in the Chair, when Mr. Harold E. C. Powers, of
4, Grove Crescent, Woodford, and Mr. Henry Spence, B.Sc., of 29, Fairland
Road, Stratford, were elected Members of the Club, and two candidates
were nominated for election.
The party then dispersed.
RAMBLE IN THE WEST TILBURY DISTRICT
(503rd MEETING).
Saturday, 24TH May 1919.
A party of nearly 30 Members and friends met at Tilbury station
at 11.2 o'clock, or "joined up" later at West Tilbury, under the conduct-
orship of Messrs. Miller Christy and Percy Thompson, for the purpose of
visiting the site of Queen Elizabeth's "Camp Royal" and incidentally of
studying the natural history and archaeology of the district.
On leaving Tilbury station, opportunity was taken to inspect the site
of Daniel Defoe's unfortunate business venture as a tile-maker, which
lies on the foreshore, immediately beneath the bridges which connect
the railway station with the steamboat pier. Defoe was for many years
secretary to a pan-tile business here, but the tiles turned out were of
inferior quality, being made of the alluvial mud from the river, and, in com-
petition with the Dutch tile-makers, the concern became a failure, Defoe-
himself losing £3,000. Mr. Percy Thompson read a letter written by
Defoe to Lord Treasurer Harley, (see "Essex Review," xi. p. 119) in May,
1704, in which he gives an account of his hopes and final disappointment
in connection with this unfortunate venture.
A short walk along the river-wall, where Chaerophyllum anthriscus was
noted, also a deeply pink-flowered bush of Crataegus oxyacantha growing
by the side of a marsh-ditch, brought the party to Tilbury Fort, the