Mathematical and Physical Science. 299 



almost denuded spars and steam-chimney raised aloft, still 

 indicated its vast, but as to us innoxious, power, in deafening 

 roarings, — altogether presented as grand a storm-scene as I 

 ever witnessed, and a magnificent example of * the works of 

 the Lord,' specially exhibited to sea-going men, * and his 

 wonders in the deep.' In the afternoon of the same day the 

 gale again increased, blowing, especially during the con- 

 tinuance of a much protracted hail- shower, terrifically, — roar- 

 ing like thunder whilst we scudded before it, causing the ship 

 to vibrate as by a sympathetic tremor, and the tops of rolling 

 waves, too tardy, rapid as was their actual progress, for 

 the speed of the assailing influence, to be carried off and 

 borne along on the aerial wings in a perfect drift of spray ! 

 But during the period of these most vehement operations of 

 nature, I was fortunately enabled from familiarity with sea 

 enterprise, to pursue my observations with entire satisfaction. 

 The next day — March 6 — added to the interest of these in- 

 vestigations, by developing the character of the Atlantic 

 waves under a long and fiercely- continued influence of a 

 little varying wind. It had blown a heavy gale, violent in 

 showers, from the north-westward, from Saturday evening 

 the 4th, to the evening of Sunday, from 26 to 30 hours ; 

 during the night, too, of Sunday, it had again blown hard 

 (abating towards the morning of Monday), and making a 

 total continuance of the storm, in its violence, of about 36 

 hours.* I renewed my observations on the waves at 10 A.M. 

 — the storm having been then subdued for several hours, and 

 the height of the waves having perceptibly subsided. Soon 

 I observed, when standing on the saloon-deck, that ten 

 waves, in one case, came in succession, which all rose above 

 the apparent horizon, — consequently they must have been 

 more than 23 feet, probably the average might be about 26 

 from ridge to hollow. At this period I also found that oc- 

 casionally (that is, once in about four or five minutes) three 

 or four waves in succession, as seen from the paddle-box, 



* The barometer on Saturday, at 8 P.M., was 29*60 ; at 6 A.M. of Sunday 

 it had fallen to 28*30, being 1*2 inches in 10 hours. At 6 P.M. of the latter 

 day it had i'it>en to SO'OO inches. 



