1843.] Law of Storms in India. 359 



N. N. E.j N. E., and East, at 4 p. m. in a tremendous heavy squall 

 with rain. Thermometer 78. Barometer 29.30. At 6 wind, S. E. by 

 S. i S. veering to S. E. At 10, S. E. strong gale. At midnight 

 decreasing. Barometer 29.40. 



25th October — Moderating from midnight. At noon latitude 13° 00' 

 N. longitude 80° 30' East. Thermometer 84. Barometer 29.50. She 

 returned safely to Madras Roads. 



Abridged Log of the Barque Mermaid, reduced to civil time. From 



Captain Biden. 



2ith October — Slipped and put to sea at 7 a. m. Wind at 7 

 North; at 8 N. N. E.; at noon N. E. by N; at 6 p. m. E. by N. 

 veering S. E. ; and Southerly by midnight, when clearing up. Baro- 

 meter from 29.80 ; at 1. a. m. to 29.50 • from 8 a. m. to 5 p. m. and 29.75 

 at midnight again. 



Brig Arethusa. 



From the declaration of the Chief Officer, forwarded by Captain 

 Biden, it appears that she put to sea at 9 a. m. standing to the 

 E. S. E. for 6 hours, when the wind " shifted suddenly in a heavy 

 squall to the Eastward," throwing the vessel on her beam-ends. The 

 masts were cut away, and the vessel anchored in 7 fathoms, but the 

 surf carried her on shore, when she was wrecked. 



The Frances Smith and Brig Ruby. 



The Frances Smith put to sea, but appears either to have been too 

 crank, or leewardly, or not to have carried sufficient sail to obtain an 

 offing, and she was driven on shore and wrecked. The brig Ruby, a 

 coasting craft, was also wrecked to the Northward of Madras. 



From Pondicherry. 



Captain Biden forwards me from this port several reports from 

 residents, which I have printed below, and an official declaration 

 before Captain Hostein, the Master Attendant of that port, relative to 

 the loss of the Antoinette, Captain Prudhomme, and other vessels. 



