236 PHILOSOPHY OF STORMS. 



weak from the 12th till the 16th, when we were in lat. 32^ 

 14', Ion. 76 25' west of Greenwich. Then the wind began 

 to blow from the E. N>E., increasing in force till the 17th, 

 when it became a most frightful tempest, continuing, with- 

 out intermission, till the 18th. On the 18th, from 8, A. M., 

 till noon, great wind and rain. At 8, P. M., calm. Set two 

 sails ; but they were hardly set when the wind burst from 

 the W. N. W. like a clap of thunder, and continued fright- 

 ful all night and next day. On 20th, at 10, A. M., began 

 to clear, and on 21st, fine weather, with slight breeze from 

 S. W. On 20th, in lat. 32 0'. 



Narrative of Mr. Griffth, Master of the Ship Duke of 

 Manchester. At noon, on the 15th, light airs, and close, 

 oppressive weather. From 4 till midnight, wind variable 

 from N. E. to S. by E. On 16th, A. M., light variable 

 winds, and a cloudy, confused sky. 



At 8, A. M., a fresh breeze from the N., and hazy weather ; 

 a swell from the eastward. Noon, increasing breeze and 

 cloudy ; lat. 32 39', Ion. 77 30'. P. M., increasing breeze, 

 wind veering from N. E. by E. to E. by N. At 5, fresh 

 gale : at midnight, fresh gales and hazy ; 17th, commences 

 with strong gales and squally, with rain. Daybreak, heavy 

 gales and tremendous sea. Noon, blowing a violent gale, 

 with dangerous cross sea ; lat. 31 59', Ion. 77 2'. 



At 1, P. M., blowing a hurricane. A most extraordinary 

 phenomenon presented itself to windward, almost in an in- 

 stant, resembling a solid, black, perpendicular wall, about 

 15 or 20 above the horizon, and disappeared almost in a 

 moment ; then, in the same time, made its reappearance, 

 and in five seconds was broken, and spread as far as the 

 eye could see ; from this time to midnight, blowing a most 

 violent hurricane; much thunder and lightning, the thun- 

 der hardly heard, although we were struck with the electric 

 fluid; wind continued E. to E. N. E. till noon of the 18th, 

 with equal violence. In the afternoon it changed to S. W., 

 a little more moderate, but continued violent with heavy 



