262 Seventeenth Memoir on the Laiv of Storms. [March, 



instantaneously thrown by the shift of wind on her beam ends against, 

 and with her deck towards the sea ; so as to be for a time and until 

 the rain and opposing wind had somewhat abated the fury of the rollers 

 (for that is the appearance the sea then takes) like a vessel on a reef, 

 which has fallen over to seaward, and no seaman can doubt I think 

 of the necessity of every precaution being taken to meet this fearful 

 complication of dangers should it perchance arise. 



The remarks on the effect of the sudden bursts of the squalls on the 

 compasses are new* and deeply interesting, inasmuch as they go far to 

 shew that the Cyclones are purely electrical phsenomena, though of this 

 we want much more confirmation ; and I have little doubt that when 

 attention of seamen is properly directed to the numerous signs and 

 effects of Cyclones which have been hitherto unobserved or casually 

 mentioned, or forgotten when the storm was over, we shall have a large 

 harvest of novel and important facts. In the meantime every intelligent 

 seaman, and every friend to science will I am sure join with me in ex- 

 pressing our great obligations to Capt. Shire for this addition to our 

 knowledge. 



Track U. 



Shanghae Tyfoon, July, 1848. 



While preparing this Memoir for the press I received from Mr. 



A. R. Elliot, Master of H. M. S. Childers, a very full report on a Cy- 

 clone which passed over that place on the 18th July, 1848, and shortly 

 before a letter from Commander J. C. Dalrymple Hay, of H. M. S # 

 Columbine, with copy of a carefully kept meteorological register at Amoy 

 from the 18th to the 25th of July, and some especially valuable remarks 

 on the weather and appearances. From the first of these two documents 

 we can estimate pretty nearly the track of this Cyclone, which is still 

 farther to the North than any one we have as yet registered. Mr. Elliot's 

 note, with some little abridgment, is as follows : — 



Notes on the Cyclone which passed over Shanghae on the 20th of 

 July 1848, taken on board H. M. S. Childers, by A. R. Elliott, 

 Esq. Master, R. N. 



On Tuesday the 18th, fresh breezes and steady at S. E. (force of wind 5 to 6) 



B. C. Q. Barometer rather unsteady and falling from 29.73 at Noon to 29.68 at 

 6 p« m., where it remained until midnight ; wind at this time 4 ; B. C, 



