132 LETTERS ON NATUEAL MAGIC. 



ever, were disappointed. No traces, either of 

 man or horse, could be found, and they could not 

 even discover upon the turf the single mark of a 

 horse's hoof. These strange appearances seen at 

 the same time by two different persons in perfect 

 health, could not fail to make a deep impression 

 on their minds. They at first concealed what 

 they had seen, but they at length disclosed it, 

 and were laughed at for their credulity. 



In the following year, on the 23rd June, 1 744, 

 Daniel Stricket, who was then servant to Mr. 

 Lancaster, of Blakehills, (a place near Wilton 

 Hall, and both of which places are only about 

 half a mile from Souterfell,) was walking, about 

 seven o'clock in the evening, a little above the 

 house, when he saw a troop of horsemen riding 

 on Souterfell-side, in pretty close ranks, and at a 

 brisk pace. Recollecting the ridicule that had 

 been cast upon him the preceding year, he con- 

 tinued to observe the figures for some time in 

 silence ; but being at last convinced that there 

 could be no deception in the matter, he went to 

 the house, and informed his master that he had 

 something curious to show him. They accord- 

 ingly went out together ; but before Stricket had 

 pointed out the place, Mr. Lancaster's son had 

 discovered the aerial figures. The family was 

 then summoned to the spot, and the phenomena 

 were seen alike by them all. The equestrian 

 figures seemed to come from the lowest parts of 

 Souterfell, and became visible at a place called 

 Knott. They then advanced in regular troops 

 along the side of the Fell, till they came opposite 

 to Blakehills, when they went over the mountain, 

 after describing a kind of curvilineal path. The 



