1842.] A Sixth Memoir on the Law of Storms in India. 665 



Abstract from the Log of the Ship Fort William. 



" Sunday, 23d October, 1831.— Our Canton Pilot left the ship, 

 when we hauled to the Eastward, being bound to Manilla." 



Monday, 2ith Oct. — At 8 a. m. passed between the Asses' Ears and 

 the Lema. Strong breezes and cloudy weather from the N. N. E., 

 double-reefed the top-sails and reefed the main-sail. At noon, strong 

 breezes and increasing sea. No land in sight. 



p. m. Blowing strong, and sea still increasing ; sent down the top- 

 gallant-yards and masts, wind N. E. ; steering E. S. E. At 11 

 p. m. hard squalls and high sea ; clued up the top-sails to close reef 

 them. Midnight, weather getting worse, furled the top-sails, and 

 struck top-gallant-masts. 



25th October. — At 4 a. m., a sea struck, and carried away the star- 

 board quarter cutter. Daylight blowing a perfect hurricane ; furled the 

 main-sail. Noon, hard gales and thick drizzling rain. No observation. 



p. m. Blowing a dreadful gale, with violent squalls; the sea still 

 increasing. At 8 p. m. the main-mast went over the starboard side, 

 about 14 feet above the deck, and the mizen-mast immediately fol- 

 lowed, falling nearly right aft on the poop, the top just clearing the 

 stern, carrying away with it the larboard quarter cutter, stern boats, 

 davit, &c. &c. ; cut away all the wreck with every possible despatch, 

 and soon got clear of it. During the night the gale still continued, 

 and the ship labouring excessively, expected the fore-mast to go every 

 moment. 



26th October. — At 4 : 30 a. m., the fore- top- mast went, and at 8, per- 

 ceived the fore-mast badly sprung under the fore-castle. Several of 

 the chain-plates and shrouds gave way, the fore-mast immediately 

 went over the larboard bow, sprung the cat-head, and carried away 

 the head rails, bumkin, &c. &c, and struck the ship a violent blow 

 under the water, which shook her, as if she had struck a rock. Cut 

 away every thing, and got clear of all the wreck without, (we hope), 

 seriously injuring the hull, and she made no water, and now being 

 obliged to choke the rudder amidships, for which we had been under 

 very great apprehension during the whole gale. Noon, gale abating, 

 and sea still very high. No observation. Ship labouring so excessively, 

 that we dare not cast loose the booms to prepare jury-masts. 



