270 OF METEOROLOGICAL CHAP. 10. 



In Sussex they say a Saturday's Moon is always 

 a stormy one. Many people positively assert 

 that Friday is always either the fairest, or the 

 worst day in the week : what this originated in, 

 unless it were some casual occurrence of a suc- 

 cession of fine and of wet Fridays, I know not. 

 Among the superstitions referable to At- 

 mospheric Phaenomena, may be mentioned the 

 story of the Flying Dutchman, a ship, said by 

 mariners, to be seen about the Cape of Good 

 Hope in blowing weather, under the following- 

 extraordinary circumstances. She is never 

 known to get into port, and is seen at uncer- 

 tain periods sailing at an immense rate before 

 the wind, under full press of canvas, in the 

 most violent gales. The story attached to this 

 appearance is, that she was a merchant ship 

 from Holland, and that the captain having 

 sworn a tremendous oath, in consequence of 

 not being able to make the port, he was con- 

 demned, as a punishment, together with all 

 the rest of the crew, to beat about the sea till 

 the Day of Judgment. From the corroborated 

 accounts of many navigators, there seems to 

 be no doubt but that something is seen, which 

 they take for a distant sailing vessel ; but the 

 most intelligent naval officers, with whom I have 



