Not long ago the writer was shown a curiously illustrated treatise on astrology belonging to William Allen, of St. Ives (1840–9). At the end of the book the the writer had drawn a number of diagrams showing by the positions of the stars the most favourable times for going out fishing. Descriptions were also given of the character of various local people, but perhaps the most interesting feature of the book was the attempt whaich had been made by means of astrology to reveal the perpetrators of petty thefts.