120 On the Gales and Hurricanes of the Western Atlantic. 
As most of this paragraph was probably intended to agree with 
the facts which I had formerly given in relation to these hurricanes, 
it will only be necessary to notice the closing statement, quoted in 
italics, in connection with another passage which introduces the ab- 
stract, that is given in the Memoir, of my earliest attempt to eluci- 
date the character and course of these tempests, and particularly 
those of 1821 and 1830. 
‘“‘ With these hurricanes, (says the Memoir,) might have been in- 
cluded the ever-memorable one of the year 1780; the latter it ap- 
pears commenced near the west end of Cuba. On the 3d of Octo- 
ber, it passed over the western part of Jamaica, and reduced Savanna 
la Mar to a state of desolation; it then in its gyrations passed along 
the coasts of Hayti, or St. Domingo, and Porto Rico, and it ended 
at Barbadoes, on the 10th of the same month.’’—Memoir od the. 
Atlantic, 7th edition, page 101. 
It must be evident that if there be no error in the statements here 
quoted, the systematic and uniform movements which I have consid- 
ered as pertaining at least to all hurricanes which visit the western 
portions of the Atlantic, are liable to some decided exceptions, and 
it is important therefore, that the facts of the case should be ascer- 
tained. Iam confident, however, that on a full and careful inquiry, 
we shall find that nature has not, in this case, been regardless of her 
own fixed Jaws, and accustomed modes of action. 
From such evidence as I have in my possession, it appears, that 
the first hurricane of October, 1780, passed over the western part 0 
Jamaica on the 3d of that month, and that the storm commenced a 
few hours earlier at Black River and Montego Bay, than at Savanna 
Ja Mar, which is near the west end of the island ;* and also, that on. 
the 4th, at half past 5 4. m. the British frigate Phoenix, was wrecked 
on the island of Cuba, near Cape Cruz, a little before the close of 
the gale at that point, but several hours after its termination at Ja- 
maica. 'There are no accounts from which I can infer either the 
presence or absence of the storm on the more usual course down 
the Caribbean sea, into the gulf of Mexico, but if following the indi- 
cations already before us, we suppose the storm to have commenced 
* The northwestward or more northward course of this pertieat Z is bes! set- 
tled, by the fact that the Phoenix first took the gale on the evening of October 2d, 
off port tt Antonio, Mes is on the eastern part of the island of pF ep as ' appears 
from the very interesting account of Lieut. Archer, which was not at hand when 
the above was ela ‘ 
