134 LETTERS TO MARCO xx 



Abingdon, a distance of over nine miles. The 

 farmers were quite at a loss to account for it. 

 That it was the work of some mischievous 

 person is impossible, owing to the vast extent 

 of the phenomenon, whilst the simultaneous- 

 ness of its occurrence, which was verified in 

 many instances, precludes the idea that it 

 could have been the work of a wandering dog 

 or other animal. The sheep were not in any 

 case injured, and had in most instances simply 

 jumped the folds. It was generally believed 

 to have been occasioned by a slight earth- 

 quake, though, as no human being noticed 

 any shock, it is curious that the sheep should 

 have felt it. 



I was sorry I saw so little of you at the 

 two last R.A. meetings, and as I cannot 

 come up on the loth to hear the President, I 

 am afraid I shall not see my old friend again 

 this year ; so pray write and tell me how 

 things in general, and you in particular, are 

 going on. My picture is at present in a state 

 of jib, owing to a child's head in it which I 



