APPENDIX. 143 



irresistible course for liundreds of miles, and thus be found on the European 

 side of the ocean, without exhibiting any material symptoms of exhaustion. 

 Expansion, and a corresponding loss of speed and power, are, I believe, 

 characteristic of these storms, and for this due allowance must be made, to 

 render it possible for opposing winds to offer resistance to its progress. If a 

 north or south wind of less velocity or power than the revolving gale, comes 

 in contact with it, at this period of its career, such a wind would be compelled 

 to give way ; not, however, without infringing upon and disturbing the outer 

 circumference of the hurricane, and causing j^ortions of whirling matter to be 

 separated from it. These minor portions of the cyclone would, I conceive, 

 retain their revolving character, and continue their easterly course, some- 

 what diverging from that of the present storm. 



I think it probable that manj of our West India hurricanes are broken up 

 by repeated collisions of this nature, and that, from this cause, arise those 

 minor revolving gales which sweep over the British Isles and the coast of 

 France in rapid succession, during the autumn months of the year. 



It is likewise evident to my mind that revolving gales of greater diameter 

 and force than these miniature cyclones, occasionally cross the Atlantic and 

 reach the shores of Europe. The gale in which the unfortunate " Koyal 

 Charter" was wrecked on the Welch coast, in October, 1859, may be cited as 

 a case in point. The warm temperature of that gale was alone sufficient to 

 distinguish it from a cold straight blowing easterly wind. 



Valuable information regarding these mighty storms might assuredly be 

 found in the log books of ships which constantly cross and recross the Atlan- 

 tic in the latitudes of their occurrence. The steam packets of the Cunard 

 line, on their outward and homeward voyages must have encountered these 

 gales again and again ; must have steamed into them and through them, or 

 gallantly held their course as the storm swept over them in its N. E. course. 



Now, in regard to the late storms of December 1865, and Jan. 1866, there 

 is no room for doubt ; one and all have shewn the same tropical characteris- 

 tics ; revolving and proceeding in a N.E. direction. As to their destructive 

 tendency, the published accounts sufficiently speak. Was the storm in 

 which the " London" foundered, a revolving one or not ? 



The "Amalia" sailed from Liverpool on the same day the London left 

 Plymouth, following in her track. The Amalia's published account says the 

 storm set in on the 10th January, at noon, with a fresh breeze from S.W. 

 4 p.m. Gale increasing. 

 6 p.m. Blowing a hurricane. 



8 p.m. Violent hurricane. 



9,45 p.m. (Barely 10 hours) Engines stopped, and ship unmanageable. 



January 11. Similar weather. 



2 a.m. Deck pumps rigged. 



9 a.m. Set canvas on ship. 



3,30 p.m. Sighted S. Sh. " Laconia." 

 Midnight. Squally, and high sea. 

 All this time the ship was sinking — January 12th, 9 a.m., " Laconia's" 

 boats came alongside, crew saved. 



