542 R. II. Radall — Boulders in CamhrkJgc Drift. 



there is little doubt, I think, that the reported earthquakes must 

 have been due to a cause of this kind. 



West Essex: June 3, 1903. — During the night of June 3 several 

 tremors and rumbling sounds were observed in the west of Essex 

 and parts of the adjoining counties. The times given range from 

 about 11.15 to 11.45 p.m. The resemblance to earthquakes must 

 have been I'ather close, for several persons accustomed to earth- 

 quakes in other countries were convinced that they were of seismic 

 origin. They were, in fact, caused by the firing of very heavy guns 

 which, as I am informed by the Garrison Adjutant at Sheerness, 

 took place at the mouth of the Med way at the times mentioned 

 above. In the north-west quadrant, the places from which records 

 come range without any great break from Chelmsfoi'd (22 miles 

 fi'om the mouth of the Medway) to North Mimms and Elstree in 

 Hertfordshire (46 miles) and Little Shelford, near Cambridge 

 (55 miles). At places nearer the Medway than Chelmsford, tlie 

 disturbances were no doubt attributed without hesitation to their 

 proper cause. 



North Wales: June 6, 1903. — Three distinct shocks were felt 

 about 8.10 p.m. at Llandudno and otlier places in North Wales, and 

 also at Skerries in co. Dublin. So closely did they resemble 

 earthquake - shocks that one of my correspondents in Anglesey 

 refused to believe that they were caused, as they were no doubt 

 caused, by practice with the 3S-ton gun and quick-firing guns at 

 Seaforth Battery, near Liverpool. The distance of Skerries from 

 Seaforth is 128 miles. 



Saffron Walden: Nov. 1, 1903. — Loud reports, resembling the 

 tipping of bricks, were heard at 12.20 a.m., at about 1.40 p.m., and 

 at 9.30 p.m. They were extremely local, although the first was 

 heard by the police on night duty at a distance of 4 miles. There 

 was no vibration with them, and they were undoubtedly caused, a& 

 Mr. Guy Maynard informs me, by large fireworks or dynamite 

 exploded by a young Army officer in the town. 



In addition to the above, a few disturbances were felt that were 

 attributed in newspapers to earthquakes, but which have so little 

 resemblance to these phenomena that they should, I think, be 

 regarded as spurious or fanciful, rather than as doubtful, earthquakes. 

 Such were the disturbances reported from Cheadle on July 9, 1902, 

 and Melton Mowbray on Oct. 26, 1903. 



V. — On Boulders from the Cambridge Drift, collected by 

 THE Sedgwick Club. 



By R. H. Eastall, B.A., F.G.S. 



DURING the past two years the Sedgwick Club has been at work 

 on the glacial deposits in the neighbourhood of Cambridge, 

 with special reference to the boulders contained therein. As usual, 

 the great majority of the boulders are of local origin, but far-travelled 

 rocks are fairly abundant, and several hundred specimens which 

 appeared likely to be of interest have been collected. By the 



