1842.] A Sixth Memoir on the Law of Storms in India. 639 



noon of the 29th place the Elphinstone, then, at least 22 miles to 

 the N. W. of the Winchelsea ; which was of course 22 miles nearer 

 to the centre of the storm, and it is at this time that her log 

 speaks of the " most inconceivable increase in the fury of the storm." 

 If then, judging from some of my former memoirs, in which by means 

 of two or more shore or ship observations we can in some degree judge 

 of the violence of the wind at given distances from the centre, 

 we can make any estimate of the actual measured distance of the 

 Winchelsea from the centre, and call it at most 40 miles? the 22 

 miles farther to the N. W. of the Elphinstone's probable position 

 would then place her exceedingly close to it. We do not know 

 in what ratio to the distances from the centre the violence of the 

 wind augments, but it is evident, here, that the short distance was 

 of such import, that it nearly involved the loss of the ship ! I need 

 not say how important this lesson is to the seaman, teaching him not 

 to allow himself to be tempted by a fair wind into bearing up too 

 soon, when it is not of actual necessity that he should do so. 



TRACK No. VII. 



Tyfoon of H. M. S. Theban and Fleet, 8th and 9th Sept., 1812. 

 Documents from the India House. 



8th and 9th September. — His Majesty's Ship Theban, with the 

 H.C. Ships Marquis ofHuntly, Cirencester, Elphinstone, Bombay and 

 Alnwick Castle, bound to China, experienced a severe tyfoon in the 

 China seas, in which the Theban and Cirencester were left with only 

 their foremasts standing. The other ships escaped without damage.* 



The H. C. S. Glatton was at the same time about three degrees to 

 the Southward of them, and had only a heavy or strong gale. Her 

 log, from which some instructive inferences may be drawn, is subse- 

 quently given. 



The following are the abridged logs of the fleet : — 



* Horsburgh says of this storm in a note Vol. II. p. 267, that Captain Craig of the 

 Elphinstone, warned by his Barometer, prepared for a tyfoon, and sustained no injury. 

 This was also the case with others of the ships, as we shall see. The Cirencester was 

 fully prepared, but lost her masts from the chain plates giving way. 



