28 REPORT—1850. 
wave summit was about 100 yards from the observer; this would add near 13 feet 
to the level of the eye. And this measure of elevation was by no means uncommon, 
occurring, I should think, at least once in half-a-dozen waves. Sometimes peaks of 
crossing or crests of breaking seas would shoot upward at least 10 or 15 feet 
higher. 
The average wave was, I believe, fully equal to that of my sight on the paddle- 
«4.90 
box, or more, that is oe feet, or upward; and the mean highest waves, not in- 
cluding the broken or acuminated crests, about 43 feet above the level of the hol- 
low occupied at the moment by the ship. 
Illuminated as the general expanse not unfrequently was, by the transient sun- 
beam breaking through the heavy masses of the storm-cloud, and, contrasting its 
silvery light with the prevalent gloom, yielding a wild and partial glare, —the mighty 
hills of waters rolling and foaming as they pursued us, whilst the gallant and buoy- 
ant ship—a charming “ sea-Loat ’’—rose abaft as by intelligent anticipation of their 
attack, as she scudded along, so that their irresistible strength and fierce momentum 
were harmlessly spent beneath her and on her outward sides,—the storm falling 
fiercely on the scanty and almost denuded spars and steam-chimney raised aloft, 
still indicating its vast, but as to us, innoxious, power in deafening roarings,—alto- 
gether this 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 continuance of a much-protracted hail-shower, terrifically, roaring 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 
aérial 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 6th, added to the interest of these investigations, by deve- 
loping the character of the Atlantic waves under a long and fiercely continued influ- 
ence of a little varying wind. It had blown a heavy gale, violent in the showers, 
from the north-westward, from Saturday evening the 4th to the evening of Sunday, 
from twenty-six to thirty 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 ἐέβ violence, of about thirty-six 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. 
Still, I observed, when standing on the saloon-deck, that ten waves, in one case, 
came insuccession, which all rose above the apparent horizon, consequently they 
“must have been more than 23 feet; probably the average might be about 26 feet from 
ridge to hollow. At this period I also found that occasionally (that is, once in 
about four or five minutes) three or four waves in succession, as seen from the 
paddle-box, rose above the visible horizon ; hence they must, like those of the pre- 
ceding day, have been 30-feet waves. But one important difference should be noted, 
viz. that they were of no great extent on the ridge, presenting, though more than 
mere conical peaks, but a moderate elongation. : 
Another subject of consideration and investigation, on this occasion, was the period 
of the regular waves overtaking the ship, and the determination, proximately, of the 
actual width or intervals, and their velocity. 
1. The ship was then going nine knots only, the free action of the engines being 
greatly interfered with by the heavy sea running ; and the lines of direction of the 
waves and the ship’s course differed about 223 degrees, the sea being two points on 
the larboard quarter ; in other words, the true course of the ship was east; the di- 
rection from whence the sea came was W.N.W. 
* The Jarometer on Saturday at 8 p.m. was at 29°50; at 6 a.m. of Sunday it had fallen 
to 28°30, being 1.2 inch in ten hours; at 6 p.m. of the latter day it had risen to 30°00 
inches. 7 
inhi κεερωδο σης λῳανν aa Soe ee eee 
