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XII. A Copy of a Letter from the Reverend 
Mr . Richmond, to Leigh, Efq\ of 
Adlington in the County of Chefter, concern- 
ing a moving Mofs in the Neighbourhood of 
Church-Town in Lancashire : Communi- 
cated by Edward Milward, M. D. F. R. S. 
Dear Sir , 
Read Feb. 28* 
>744'S- 
A' 
S you will probably hear, that this 
Neighbourhood is greatly alarmed 
with what they call a Miracle, it may not be unac« 
ceptable if I give you the Hiftory of it. 
On Saturday the 26th of Jan. 1744-5, a Part of 
Filling Mofs, lying between Hefcomb Houfes and an 
Eftate of Mr. Battler's , called IVild Bear , was ob- 
ferved to rife to a furprHitig Height : After a fhort 
Time it funk as much below the Level, and moved 
(lowly towards the South Side: In half an Hour's 
time it cover'd 20 Acres of Land. The improved 
Land adjoining that Part of the Mofs which moves 
is a concave Circle containing near 100 Acres, which 
is well nigh fill’d up with Mofs and Water. In fome 
Parts it is thought to be five Yards deep. A Family 
is driven out of their dwelling Houfe, which is quire 
furrounded, and the Fabric tumbling down. Mr. 
Battler , Whitehead , and Stephen White , are the fir ft 
Sufferers by this uncommon Accident. An intenfc 
Froft retards the Regrds of the Mofs To day 5 but I 
fear it will yet fpoil a great deal of Land. The Part 
of the Mofs which is funk like the Bed of a River,, 
mns 
