1840.] the Theory of the Law of Storms. 401 



17 th November. — The same. ESE. to SE. breezes, and fine. Noon, 

 lat. 16° 37' N. longitude 92° 7 E. 



Abstract of the log of the ship " Rosalind" Captain J. Fenrose. 

 Reduced to civil time. 



13th November, 1839.— Strong gales NE. and squally, with heavy 

 showers. Noon, no observation, p.m. Wind NNE. every appearance 

 of an approaching gale. 4 p. m. Thick, cloudy, and very dark from 

 the eastward. Wind the same, hard squalls and rain, prepared for bad 

 weather. Hove to under close-reefeed main topsail and reefed try- 

 sail, very heavy cross sea. Wind and weather the same at midnight. 



14th November. — a. m. Weather as before. Daylight, hard gales 

 NNE. with heavy squalls of hail and rain. Noon, no observation. 

 p. m. and till midnight, wind North to NbW. At 10 p. m. hard gales 

 and stormy weather, with tremendous cross sea ; lying to as before. 



15th November a. m. The same weather, with much lightning. 



Wind veered to WbN. at 2 a. m. ; to WbS. at 6 a. m. ; and to SW. at 

 10 a. m., at which time it was blowing a hurricane. Sprung the main- 

 mast-head. At noon, wind SW., shipped a heavy sea, which stove in 

 the door and windows of the round house. Wind veering round the 

 compass to SSW. at 1 p. m. No observation. The wind SSW. con- 

 fused sea, strong breeze (gale ?) and squally during the afternoon. At 

 6 p. m. wind SbW. Midnight, squally and rain. 



16th November. — 4 a.m. More moderate, and less sea at 9 a. m. ; 

 made sail at noon. Latitude by observation, 16° 15' N. 



I was, unfortunately, not able to obtain a single longitude with this 

 otherwise valuable log; so that I have been obliged to place the ship, by 

 guess, on the track of the hurricane. Judging from the time of the varying 

 of the wind, she must have been not far from the Ripley, and I have been 

 guided by that vessel's very careful log, in placing the Rosalind. Captain 

 Fenrose concludes his communication with the following remarks — " I 

 have been at sea 41 years, and have remarked that previous to high winds 

 the wind is variable. But previous to a hurricane, the sky is very clear. 

 You can see objects at a very great distance, the sea very smooth, and 

 at night the stars are very numerous, more than at other times ; and 

 at times during the day small clouds are seen at an immense height, 

 such as sailors call, e Mackerel Sky,' and their appearance changes very 

 fast, some parts having the colour of the rainbow. If in north latitude, 



