140 



The following extracts, from letters in connection with the water- 

 supply for Keswick, are of interest, as mentioning Otley's nickname 

 among some of his friends, and showing his power of repartee. 



From Wm. Dickinson* of North Mosses. 



January 28th, 1851. 

 Dear Sir, — 



When you next come across "Anthony Loajet," be good enough to say I 



take some discredit to myself for not having made myself acquainted with the fact 



that the district mentioned in his "bold conception" had ever been proved in the 



way he mentions. Should my Essay ever require a new issue, his observations 



shall be duly considered, and such alterations made as the case may seem to 



require. 



Does friend "Anthony" bear in mind that nearly all the little hills and 

 elevations in Underskiddaw have wet crowns, and that the Uck is very near tlie 

 surface ? so near in some of them, as to be within reach of the plough ? Some, 

 indeed many, of the crowns of these hills are of small extent — much too small 

 perhaps to retain water sufficient to keep up the continued oozing they exhibit, 

 giving full allowance to the coDJectured equilibrium of gravity and attraction he 

 so opportunely enlists. 



From the long continued operations of husbandry, the crowns of the hills must 



be, and are, becoming bare of soil, and of all other porous covering. Does it not 



seem reasonable that the supply, constant as it is, should come from below ? Pray 



put a few of these questions to friend "Anthony," and coax him to put his pen to 



paper again. 



I remain, dear Sir, 



Yours most truly, 



WM. DICKINSON. 



To which Otley replied : — 



Anthony Loajet is obliged to acknowledge that his ammunition has been 

 exhausted in the first onset ; he is unable to prove the solidity of his conceptions, 

 but he cannot divest himself of an opinion. As A. L. 's paper has not been pub- 

 lished, I hope it will not be the means of interrupting that friendly feeling which 

 has hitherto subsisted between us. 



In 1852, Mr. J. F. Miller of Whitehaven, asks for information about 

 the Helm Wind and local phenomena, amongst others, the last time 



* Author of a Paper on "The Farming of Cumberland." Journal of the Royal 

 Agricultural Society, vol. xiii., p. 207. 1852. 



