208 H. G. FORDHAir — THE EARTHQUAKE OF 1896. 



the south (see Plan No. 4, p. 191). The sensations of two persons 

 in adjoining rooms at Redbourn Bury do not altogether agree. 

 The one speaks of movement from E.JST.E., the other of one from 

 N.N.E., but the discrepancy here is not considerable. The swaying 

 of pictui'es at St. Albans does not establish any well-marked line 

 of direction. At Pirton, in the north of the County, the stopping 

 of a clock, the fall of a vase, and the personal sensation of an 

 observer, all point to an E. and W. movement ; and at Bengeo, as 

 shown on the plan (Plan No. 7, p. 199), the movement of the 

 bed and of the flaps of the table standing at its foot coincides in 

 direction. 



It may be said that of the eight cases in which inanimate objects 

 can be appealed to, a westerly and easterly movement is either 

 definitely indicated or can at least be inferred as possible. 



Sixteen personal impressions are recorded. Of these, one refers 

 to a movement from S. to N., three from N. to S., three from S.K. 

 to N.W., and one N'.W. to S.E. Six speak of the movement as 

 coming from the W. or from a westerly point, and two from the 

 opposite quarter. Thiis the balance of numbers is clearly in favour 

 of a movement on a AV. and E. line, which seems the probable 

 general direction of the movement. Deviations from that general 

 direction must, if this be accepted, be accounted for by reference to 

 local circumstances, either relating to the character of the deep- 

 seated or superficial geological formations, or to the structure and 

 position of buildings. 



It remains to notice the earlier shocks which are reported from 

 Hertford. Mr. R. T. Andrews, of Castle Street, who did not notice 

 the movement between five and six, gives a distinct account of a 

 shock he felt at 4. 35 J, and mentions that his daughter was awakened 

 by a yet earlier shock at 4. '20. Mr. Leonard McMullen, of 

 Hertford, also felt a shock between four and five, and there can be 

 no doubt of the fact, although, curiously enough, these vibrations 

 have not been recorded elsewhere in the county. 



I have now endeavoured to sum up, as shortly as possible, in the 

 above few pages, the results and more salient features of the 

 detailed observations previously printed. For more minute par- 

 ticulars students will, no doubt, study the detailed observations 

 themselves ; but the more casual reader will probably be content 

 with the simimary. 



The scientific results of my inquiry, as I have previously hinted, 

 are not large or important. They are nevertheless not devoid of 

 interest. As a matter of county record I hope they are fairly 

 complete. They may be more interesting when read into and 

 with the elaborate study of this eartluiuake now in the hands of 

 Dr. Davison. Until that work sees the light mine must speak 

 for itself. 



