Pacific and Migh Southern Latitudes. 115 
Tf, with Sir J. Ross, we consider this hurricane as begin- 
ning at N.N.W. and veering to the westward, it would have 
a south-easterly progression, and was one of the well-known 
Mauritius hurricanes; but I am disposed to regard the 
westerly winds that preceded and followed the storm as 
parts of the general prevailing current,—the hurricane would 
then begin at S.W. and end at N.W., indicating a westerly 
progressive motion. ‘The ship, sailing eastward, was in the 
northern half of the circle, and had a high fodlowing sea ; 
the lightning in the east shows that to have been the quarter 
from which the storm proceeded. The hurricane described 
begins with all the marks pertaining to the second half 
of a whirlwind storm; a comparative lull, clear weather, 
barometer rising rapidly from a minimum, wind suddenly 
violent, and not increasing in force gradually, as when enter- 
ing the first part of the storm. It is much to be regretted 
that the information respecting this hurricane is not more 
full and definite. Lieutenant-Colonel Reid does not attempt 
to determine its progressive motion. 
At page 28], vol. 2, Sir J. Ross says, “ during our passage 
from the Falkland Islands to Cape Horn we encountered very 
severe weather, the gales usually commencing in the S.W., 
veering to W., and generally, as in the North Atlantic Ocean, 
ending in the N.W.” On this Colonel Reid remarks— 
““T have not been able to obtain a sight of any of the log- 
books of either the Hrebus or the Terror for 1842; Sir 
James Ross may have met gales moving from E. to W. It 
is the barometer which enables us to separate one gale from 
another: the barometrical observations made on board these 
two ships are therefore necessary before these exceptional 
cases can be fully established.” I consider the hurricane 
of the Vincennes a well-determined instance of westerly 
progression, and shall not be surprised to find that westerly 
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