646 Researches on the Gale and Hurricane [August, 



those below it,* or on the left hand side, had the wind veering from 

 N. to SW. and were thus safe on the larboard tack. The vicinity of 

 the shore, or the necessity of wearing to ease the masts, if the rigging 

 has stretched too much upon one tack, may oblige the seaman to vary 

 from this rule ; and close to the centres of the hurricanes anomalies may 

 be found; but it will be seen at once, I think, without further explana- 

 tion, of what great value it must ultimately prove to him. 



I annex here a public order recently issued by the Government of 

 India, and a memorandum by the Lords of the Admiralty and by Lord 

 Glenelg, which will assist in shewing both the seaman and landsman 

 what we require in the way of information on this subject. 



Calcutta: Wednesday, 1 \th September, 1839. — Notification. — The 

 importance of investigating the course and Phenomena of Storms has 

 been brought to the notice of Government by the Hon'ble Court of 

 Directors ; and the Hon'ble the President in Council is in consequence 

 desirous of obtaining local Registers of these Phenomena taken simul- 

 taneously at as many stations of India as may be found possible. The 

 public Officers of the different settlements and stations of India are 

 accordingly invited and requested, upon the occurrence of any Hurri- 

 cane, Gale or other Storm of more violence than usual, to note accu- 

 rately the time of its commencement, the direction from which the 

 wind first blows, whether in gusts or regular, and whether accompa- 

 nied with rain, thunder and lightning or other Phenomena. Also to 

 note, with as much accuracy as possible, the changes of direction in the 

 wind, and the time of the occurrence of each, and lastly, the duration 

 of the Gale and in what quarter the wind is when it ceases. The va- 

 riations of the Thermometer and Barometer at each period noticed will 

 also be of importance if the means are forthcoming of making such ob- 

 servations. 



The President in Council refrains from making it the business of 

 any particular Officer to note the above circumstances, but relies on 

 the known desire of all enlightened persons to promote objects of 

 scientific and useful enquiry that the public Officers will arrange 

 in such manner as to ensure that the observations will be taken by 

 some one in the vicinity of each station. 



Reports upon matters of the description comprehended in this Order 

 may be forwarded to the Secretary to Government in the General De- 

 partment, free of postage, (superscribed " Storm Report.") 



A scientific gentleman in Calcutta has obligingly undertaken to 

 combine all reports that may be so received into a synopsis for ex- 

 hibition of the results in the manner adopted and recommended by 

 Colonel Reid, R. E. 



By Order of the Hon'ble the President of the Council of India 

 in Council. 



H. T. PRINSEP, 

 Secy, to the Govt of India. 



* The places of the Justina and Eden, by an oversight, are unfortunately omitted 

 in the diagram of the 5th. It will be seen that they had the wind at SW. and SWbW. 

 on that day. 



