560 Researches on the Gale and Hurricane [July, 



The sources from which I had to obtain my information were the 

 logs of fourteen vessels which arrived at Calcutta, having felt the 

 effects of the gale or of the hurricane; the reports of the Pilot and 

 Light vessels, kindly furnished to me, with the permission of Captain 

 Harrington, by my worthy friend Captain Clapperton of the Bank- 

 shall; and accounts obtained from Balasore, Poree (Juggernaut), Masu- 

 lipatam, and other places, in all about thirty different authorities. 



These sources form the amount of what was available here ; but, that 

 the inquiry might be as complete as possible, I addressed the follow- 

 ing letter to the President of the Calcutta Chamber of Commerce. 



To R. H. COCKERELL, EsQ. 



President of the Calcutta Chamber of Commerce. 



' Sir, — I beg to state that I have undertaken the investigation of the 

 course and effects of the gale of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th instant, with 

 reference to the theory of Colonel Reid on the Law of Storms. 



* I have applied, personally or by letter, to most of the captains or 

 consignees of the inward-bound vessels which were exposed to it ; and 

 with the permission of Captain Harrington, and kind assistance of 

 Captain Clapperton, shall obtain from the Bankshall reports from the 

 H. C. Pilot and Light vessels. My chart is already drawn, and I am 

 only waiting for the logs and reports. 



( So far, I trust, we shall be able to embody all the information which 

 can be obtained here, and perhaps furnish a valuable supplement to 

 Col. Reid'sbook; but it is evident that our work will not be complete 

 without the statements to be obtained from the logs of the homeward- 

 bound ships from hence ; which, having stood to the south-eastward 

 on leaving their pilots, were more towards the middle of the Bay than 

 the inward-bound ones, whose track is toward Point Palmiras. 



' It is therefore my intention to print the information obtained here, 

 with a lithographed chart, and to forward it to the President of the East 

 India and China Association, by whom it will be forwarded to Col. Reid 

 if in London, or if absent to Mr. Babbage; to whom I am, by the kind 

 assistance of Sir Edward Ryan, allowed to refer ; and who will take 

 up the completion of the investigation, or refer it to competent hands. 



' But it has occurred to me that less attention might be paid to the 

 application of an individual than to that of a public body; and I 

 therefore take the liberty of addressing you, Sir, as President of the 

 Chamber of Commerce, to request that it will be pleased to direct 

 its Secretary to write to the Chambers of Bristol and Liverpool, the 

 East India and China Association, and the owners and commanders 

 of the vessels in the accompanying list, praying from them their 



