1842.] Fifth Memoir on the Law of Storms. 23 



the NE. and North and going over the bulwarks, p. m. heavy gale from 

 the Northward, scudding under double reefed main topsail on the cap, 

 foresail and foretopmast stay sail: obliged to carry sail on account of 

 the cross sea, ship rolling gunwales under. At 5 wind at NNW. to 

 NW. At 6 caught by the whirlwind, as above related. Captain Saliz 

 who was upon deck, says, that at the moment of being taken by it every 

 thing was in a blaze of light (no lightning is marked before on the log, 

 and he says that there was none worth noticing) like a sort of 

 meteor, for there was fire every where, though nothing was burnt. 

 The fire had no electrical characters. He distinctly saw the light- 

 ning cross the main* topsail in zig-zags, when the sail disappeared. 

 He says further that the whirlwind turned from left to right out- 

 wards. The vessel's head was about NE. while on her beam ends, 

 and it was blowing so furiously, that it was impossible to look to 

 windward. A very remarkable fact is, that while all around the horizon 

 was a thick, dark, bank of clouds, the sky above was so perfectly clear 

 that the stars were seen, and one star shone with such peculiar brilliancy 

 above the head of the foremast that it was remarked by every one on 

 board ! The Barometer which, as stated, was at noon at 27.5 Fr. 

 or 28.00 Eng. was at 6 p.m. at 27*3 Fr. 27'79 Eng., and at midnight 

 again at 27 '5 Fr. The gale after the whirlwind was at WNW. veering 

 to the West, and remaining there till fine weather on the following day, 

 when the American ship Thomas Perkins passed them with royals and 

 studding sails set. A remarkable fact also was the warmth of the wea- 

 ther. Capt. Saliz did not notice the thermometer, but says that every 

 one found it " quite warm I ' 



No person on board was in any way affected by the lightning. The 

 sea after, and during, the vessel's lying over was much diminished, and 

 was a sheet of foam. After righting she steered EbS. and ESE. with 

 the wind. 



They found, on saving the wreck of the main top mast and mainmast 

 head, that the topmast, though the vessel was upon her beam ends, ap- 

 peared to have been lifted out of its place instead of being wrenched 

 over in any way ! I should not omit to say here, for it is due to them, 

 that Captain Saliz speaks in the highest terms of the spirit and courage 

 shewn by his gallant little crew and officers in this perilous crisis. 



* Some fragments were left, but these had no traces of ignition 



