TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 41 



ation, but not now. I may just mention, that over our islands, and especially' in 

 the north of Ireland, at that time, on the 22nd and 23rd of October, barometers 

 were very low. Many days preceding the ' Charter storm,' an extraordinary clear- 

 ness in the atmosphere was noticed in the north of Ireland — the mountains of 

 Scotland were never seen so prominently as they were in the few days preceding 

 those on which the great storm took place. Every one is aware that last summer 

 Was remarkable for its warmth : it was exceedingly dry and hot. All over the 

 world, not only in the Arctic, but in the Antarctic regions, in Australia, South 

 America, in the West Indies, Bermudas, and elsewhere, auroras and meteors were 

 more or less prevalent, and they were more remarkable in their features and appear- 

 ances than had been noticed for many years. There was also an extraordinary dis- 

 turbance of the current along the telegraph wires. They were so disturbed at times, 

 that it was evident there were great electric or magnetic storms in the atmosphere 

 which could be traced to no apparent cause. Lord Wrottesley, in his Address, adverted 

 to some extraordinary facts respecting various circulating substances apparently 

 absorbed by the sun. Perhaps these electric disturbances were connected with the 

 peculiar action of the sun upon our atmosphere. Electrical wires above ground, as 

 well as submarine wires, were unusually disturbed, and these disturbances were 

 followed within two or three days by great commotions in the atmosphere, or by 

 some remarkable change. 



I will now refer to another subject — the question of areas or lines of barometric 

 pressure. Professor Espy, of the United States, contends for a long line from north 

 to south, or from one direction straight to another, and not only Espy but also 

 some among our own countrymen. The principal object of making these sections, 

 as it were soundings, of the atmosphere, shown in the diagrams, was to prove 

 whether lines of pressure, or whether areas of pressure prevailed ; and I think, 

 when they are all closely looked into, they go to prove that while the atmosphere 

 in the British islands varied in its pressure from time to time, such variation was 

 not on a particular line, but extended over a large area. Before I leave this part of 

 the subject, I may say, as some of the remarkable exceptions to the force of these 

 particular storms, that at some places there was little or no wind ; the barometer 

 fell much, but there was no storm, for the wind circulating around these districts 

 did not affect them, while at other places the storm was tremendous. It has been 

 often asked whether the ship that was lost — the ' Royal Charter ' — might have been 

 saved ; and I will give an instance of what another ship did which took ordinary pre- 

 cautions on that night. Whether the ' Royal Charter ' did take the right course it 

 is not for me to say, but I hold in my hand the details of another kind of manage- 

 ment within ten miles of the ' Royal Charter ' that night. The commander of this 

 vessel, a sailing-ship and not a steam-ship (the 'Royal Charter' had the double advan- 

 tage), was guided by the instructions laid down by Capt. Maury, who has treated 

 the subject of winds in a practical manner, and has brought together a large amount 

 of useful information ; and although, as I am aware, he occasionally theorises when 

 he has not facts enough for philosophy, as a practical man he has been guided by 

 plain principles, intelligible to seamen generally. Unquestionably, Maury has 

 brought together a great deal of valuable information, and made it generally avail- 

 able. The following paper has come into my hands within the last few days very 

 opportunely : — 



"Having had many threatenings of bad weather for several days past, I began to 

 apply your views as to storms ; and not having much sea-room, I considered them 

 more closely. For three or four days before the 26th of October, we had very 

 squally weather, with frequent sharp flashes of lightning from east to north-east. 

 During the night of the 24th, I stood to the northward, and till noon of the 25th, 

 with the wind strong from east-north-east. At noon I tacked, thinking that if the 

 gale should come on, I might take the off-shore tack in the night, and have the 

 vortex of the gale to the south-eastward. I stood on, therefore, till half-past five p.m., 

 and then wore ship under short sail, when in a line with Holyhead and Bardsey, 

 about ten miles or so distant from Holyhead, as near as I could judge, being thick 

 and dark. At eight p.m., gale increasing, I took in close-reefed main topsail, and 

 fore topmast stay-sail, having nothing then set but the main spencer and a small 

 storm-mizen. It blew a complete West-India hurricane, but I drove off-shore, and 

 I thought the force of the storm did not increase. I now think, from what other 



