May 1829. WEATHER—CAPTAIN FOSTER. 203 
The next day, after a beautifully clear and mild morning, 
with a fresh northerly breeze, the weather became cloudy, and 
the wind veered to the S.W. blowing excessively hard, with 
hail and rain. The gusts, or williwaws, rushed through the 
valley of the cove with inconceivable violence, heaving the ship 
over on her broadside every minute, so that we were obliged to 
have every thing lashed as if at sea. Fortunately, we had com- 
pleted wood and water, and now only waited for observations, 
to rate the chronometers, for our run to Valparaiso, whither it 
was my intention to proceed. Days, however, passed without 
a glimpse of the stars, and the sun only appeared for a few 
minutes above the hills. Captain Foster had completed his 
observations, and embarked all his instruments, excepting the 
transit, which remained for taking the passages of stars; but 
the bad weather continued, with little intermission. On the 3d, 
the gale was most violent, and the williwaws became short 
hurricanes, in some of which the ship drifted and fouled her 
anchors. On the 10th, we had a dry and fair day, which per- 
mitted us to sight the anchors and moor again. 
_ The fine weather was of only a few hours duration, when the 
gale again sprung up, and lasted, with little intermission, until 
the day of our departure (the 24th). From the 4th to the 
22d the sky was so perpetually clouded, that the only transits 
obtained in that interval were, one of Antares, one of Regulus, 
and one of the limb of the moon, though Captain Foster 
even slept close to the telescope, in the greatest anxiety to 
obtain observations. On the night of the 22d four stars were 
the ascent the column fell 0-039 inches, and during the descent rose 0-041 
inches. Corrections were made for the dew point, as observed by Daniell’s 
hygrometer at the base and summit, and the calculations were made 
according to the formula in Daniell’s Meteorological Essay. 
The following is the result : 
By Bunten’s Syphon, By Jones 509, 
Ascent: (1743-4 vena aie seca eidess ccs guns L743 
Descent VZ38? << ac sisae os slecieyewas odes, LZBO>} 
Meany Ad smercsictlnaete cist at tansy i442 
Mean of the two instruments 1742°4 feet. 
