52 Fifteenth Memoir on the Law of Storms. [Jan. 



Part II. 



Considerations on the Loss of the Cleopatra Steamer, and for Steamers 

 in the Eastern Seas in general. 



The object of the whole series of these memoirs being not only the 

 investigation of the scientific questions which they elucidate, but also 

 the preservation of life and property as promoted by the research, I 

 make no apology if in this section I go into some few technical details 

 which in truth are as scientific, though not so little known or under- 

 stood, as the wonderful and mysterious phcenomena which a hurricane 

 always presents. We fulfil but half a duty if we neglect to enforce on 

 such occasions as these the plain common sense lessons (homely 

 though they be thought) which arise out of the facts before us. 



For European readers it may be necessary to state that the Cleo- 

 patra was one of the E. I. Company's War Steamers, of about 800 

 tons ; her power is not given in the replies to my queries. She would 

 however, it is stated, go 9.6 and 10 knots with a good/^V 7 knot breeze 

 for a merchantman, and 5 knots against such a breeze, and from 3 to 4 

 and 6 knots according to the sea when close hauled with trysails, in a 

 close reefed topsail gale for a merchantman. She is said to have been 8 

 years old, and to have been docked in December 1845, well furnished 

 with pumps and some worked by the engine as usual. She was con- 

 sidered a good sea boat, and it is only stated as " very probable that 

 her Commander had any of the new works on storms on board."* 



The Cleopatra left Bombay with convicts for the Straits settlements, 

 having altogether about 250 souls on board, on the 14th April, 1847, 

 at 1.55 p. m., the time given for her having cleared the harbour. She 



* It will be understood that these statements are all from the replies to my queries. 

 From this last phrase, it is clear that she was sent to sea without any thing positive being- 

 known on the subject ! and it is to me quite probable that she had not ; for since 1839, 

 that the science has been in every way, both at home and in India, urged on the attention 

 of nautical men (the very newspapers in India, and the Bombay Times amongst others 

 constantly recurring to it) we have till 25th Aug. 1847, the date of Captain Carless' 

 remarks, from a service numbering I believe 150 or 200 officers and midshipmen, not a 

 single word or line of report or remark published or forwarded anywhere, and moreover 

 every application for information utterly disregarded ! This is grievous truth for English 

 sailors to read, but it had better be toll than hidden or slurred over, because human life 

 must very often, and even thehonour of our flag, may sometimes, depend upon the progress 

 we nmke in this, as in all other branches of nautical Meteorology. 



