Mr Lawson oyi the Trade-JF'inds of liarhadoes. 377 



the account of the Barbadoes hurricane of 1831, given by 

 Colonel Reid in his work ; and, considering the importance 

 of the subject, I trust I shall be excused for introducing it 

 here with little abbreviation. This hurricane seems to have 

 originated in the immediate neighbourhood of Barbadoes, 

 and the state of the weather during the day preceding its 

 occurrence, has been noted with great minuteness. 



*' On the 10th August 1831, the sun rose without a cloud, 

 and shone resplendently. At 10 A. M., a gentle breeze which 

 had been blowing died away. After a temporary calm, high 

 winds sprung up from the ENE., which in their turn subsided. 

 For the most part calms prevailed, interrupted by occasional 

 sudden puffs from between the north and north-east. 



" At noon the heat increased to 87°, and at 2 P. M. to 88°, 

 at which time the weather was uncommonly sultry and op- 

 pressive. 



At 4 the thermometer sank again to 86°. At 5 the clouds 

 seemed gathering densely from the north, the wind com- 

 mencing to blow freshly from that point ; then a shower of 

 rain fell, followed by a sudden stillness ; but there was a 

 dismal blackness all round. Towards the zenith there was 

 an obscure circle of imperfect light, subtending about 35 or 

 40 degrees. 



" From 6 to 7 the weather was fair, and wind moderate, 

 with occasional slight puffs from the north, the lower and 

 principal stratum of clouds passing fleetly towards the south, 

 the higher strata or scud flying rapidly to various points. 



" At 7 the sky was clear and the air calm ; tranquillity 

 reigned until a little after 9, when the wind again blew from 

 the north. 



" At half past 9 it finished, and moderate showers of rain 

 fell at intervals for the next hour. 



" Distant lightning was observed at half past 10 in the 

 north-east and north-west. Squalls of wind and rain from the 

 .NNE., with intermediate calms succeeding each other until 

 midnight. The thermometer meantime varied with remark- 

 able activity ; during the calms it rose as high as 86°, and 

 at other times fluctuated from 83° to 85°. It is necessary to 

 be thus explanatory, for the time the storm commenced, and 



VOL. XUII. NO. LXXXVl. — OCTOBER 1847. 2 B 



