146 Mr D. Milne on Earthquake- Shocks felt in Great Britian, 



here, he had frequently seen on Loch Voil. He collected two 

 bottles of it, which he requested I would forward to you. Mr 

 Macdonald observed it first at the west end, and then in se- 

 veral places along the shore. He described it as having an 

 oily appearance, and shining on the surface of the water, and, 

 when thrown out by the waves, formed bubbles like soap- 

 bubbles. When he put his hand in it, it made it quite black. 

 It has every appearance of being the same substance as ap- 

 peared on Loch Erne in February 1837. There had been no 

 rains for five or six days previously, and there being but little 

 snow on the hills, the hill- streams were not in the least 

 swollen, so that it could not have come into the Loch in that 

 manner. On the morning on which Mr Macdonald observed 

 it, there was a slight frost, and the morning was very calm, 

 and a thick fog hung over the loch till towards noon ; after 

 that, a breeze of wind sprung up. and the scum was soon dis- 

 pelled. 



" We have felt no earthquakes in this quarter this season. — 

 I remain. Dear Sir, yours very truly, 



" Robert Stewart.*' 



*' Ardvoirlich, 20th August 1841. 



** My Dear Sir, — As to the scum found on the Lochs in this 

 neighbourhood, I must say that I have not been able to ascer- 

 tain that the black powder was ever seen but on the surface 

 of the Lochs, although I certainly heard it alleged in 1837, 

 when it was first observed on Loch Erne, that some clothes 

 which had been left out all night, had been soiled by some- 

 thing which had fallen on them ; but I do not think that this 

 is well authenticated. 



•' In reply to the second query, I may mention, that I think 

 the very day after I sent ofi" the Loch Voil water to you, I 

 observed a small quantity of the scum on Loch Erne, near 

 the east end. I was then on my way to St Fillans, and in- 

 tended on my return, to procure a vessel for securing some of 

 it ; but before I returned, a strong breeze of wind had dissi- 

 pated it, and I have heard of none being seen since. I think 

 I mentioned to you, when I sent you the scum from Loch 

 Voil, that it was observed on a very calm morning. The day 



