XXXIV APPENDIX. 
these got under weigh, but the latter were driven on shore, and one of the ships foun- 
dered; another was driven on shore to the northward, and a third rendered unseaworthy, 
while the others generally sustained great damage. ‘The fall of rain was about five 
inches. The barometer had fallen between eight o’clock p.m. of the 23d and day-light 
of the 24th, nearly three-tenths of an inch, standing at about 29-5; but during the 
awful lull at 10 a.m. it was at 28°780 inches, a most extraordinary and terrific depression, 
such as I never before heard of at Madras: towards noon it had risen about half an 
inch, and at sun-set was at 29°65 inches. 
On the 9th of May 1820, another storm occurred at Madras; the moon having been 
between the third quarter and new, but at her nearest approach to the earth; it com- 
menced in the evening of the 8th, in a gale from the N. W., increasing and blowing very 
strong before morning, accompanied by torrents of rain. Violent gusts continued all 
day of the 9th, when the wind began to shift round to W. and S.W,, blowing with 
greater violence, if possible, than before, and the rain still falling in torrents. Before 
noon on the 10th, the violence of the storm had subsided. This storm was of far 
longer duration than either of those that preceded it, but like them, accompanied by 
torrents of rain, and veering to different points of the compass. The damage on shore 
was great and distressing ; very many lives were stated to have been lost by this awful 
visitation, at and in the vicinity of the presidency; most of the ships put to sea early, 
but great destruction took place among the smaller vessels: only one ship was lost: the 
tanks burst, and the rivers overflowed in all directions, to the great destruction of pro- 
perty. This storm appears to have had a wider range than the former. The barometer, 
which on the 8th in the forenoon was at 29°750 inches, had fallen at sun-rise on the 9th 
to 29-400 inches; bynoon, on the same day, to 29°135 inches; and at 3 p.m. it was at 
28'816 inches; and at 5 at 28670 inches, lower even than during the former storm. 
By sun-rise, on the 10th, -it had risen to 29'633 inches; and before noon, on that day, 
to the accustomed height of the time of the year. Between the 8th at night, and the 
10th at sun-rise, about 16 inches of rain fell. 
Tt may probably appear somewhat extraordinary to those who consider the moon as 
having great influence in gales and storms, that at the times above noticed she was always 
(with one exception only) in a part of her orbit, when I believe she is considered by 
those just alluded to, as having the least influence. In one gale only was the moon at 
full, having also been mostly at the greatest distance from the earth. 
In four of the above instances the moon, upon a mean, passed the meridian at 30 
degrees south of the zenith of Madras; in three instances she passed at six degrees 
south, and the remaining two within about a degree to the northward; and if one were 
inclined to draw any conclusion from the circumstances under which these gales and 
storms occurred, it might be, to ascribe to the moon a protecting power against such 
visitations, instead of aiding to produce them; having been generally far removed from 
the earth at the time, and not in that part of her course where, acting in combination 
with the sun, she might: be supposed to have the greatest influence. 
4th January 1830. 
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