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 Hayii, or St. Domingo, and Porto Rico, and it ended 

 at Barbadoes, on the 10th of the same month." — Memoir of the 

 Atlantic, 1th 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. I am 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 laws, 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 of 

 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 

 la Mar, which is near the west end of the island ;* and also, that on 

 the 4th, at half past 5 a. m. the British frigate Phoenix, was wrecked 

 on the island of Cuba, near Cape Cruz, a little before the close of 

 the o-ale 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 hurricane is fully set- 

 tled, by the fact that the Phoenix first took the gale on the evening of October 3d, 

 off port Antonio, which is on the eastern part of the island of Jamaica; as appears 

 from the very interesting account of Lieut. Archer, which was not at iiand when 

 the above was written. 



