EXAMINATION OF REID'S STORMS. 259 



and we seemed to have outrun the southerly swell. At 

 noon, lat. 37 58', Ion. 69 23', we were still continuing to 

 run about the course of the Gulf stream ; the temperature 

 of the water was 86 on the first of the 18th, (afternoon of the 

 17th, current time,) the wind backed to the S., and began 

 to freshen in very fast ; some heavy clouds arising in the 

 S. W., with flashes of lightning in that quarter. At 8, P. M., 

 the wind had increased to a strong gale ; the weather at this 

 time had an unusual appearance, but still it did not look 

 bad. At 10, the wind had increased and we took in our 

 sails and prepared for the worst. At 11 o'clock, the sea ran 

 high and cross, which induced me to heave the ship to 

 under a close reefed topsail. At half past 12, midnight, all 

 was darkness ; the heavy clouds which had been rising in 

 the S. W. had overtaken us ; the rain fell in torrents, and 

 the lightning was uncommonly vivid; the wind had in- 

 creased in the space of an hour from a moderate gale to a 

 perfect hurricane. At half past 1 3 A. M., it began to veer 

 to the westward. At 3, A. M., it was west, and rather in- 

 creased in violence as it shifted. At daylight, the sky was 

 clear, but the gale, if anything, rather increased in its fury; 

 the sea was tremendous, and ran in every direction. At 7, the 

 wind had got to the N. W., and at 9, it began to abate a little. 



Extract from the Log of the Blanche. At 1, A. M., of 

 the 15th, wind north easterly, fresh breezes and squally. 

 At 6, wind northerly, strong gales, with violent squalls ; at 

 9, a hurricane ; at 11 h. 30m., wind changed to N. W. and 

 blew more violently. 



At 1, P. M., south westerly; at 2, more moderate: at 4, 

 ditto weather ; at 7, wind W. by N. ; from 8 till midnight, 

 strong gales and squally. 



At 1, A. M., of 16th, wind S. by E., strong gales and 

 squally; at 8, ditto weather; at noon, fresh gales and 

 squally ; at 1, P. M., wind S. W., fresh breezes and squally ; 

 at 6 and 8, strong gales. 



