1848.] Sixteenth Memoir on the Law of Storms. 517 



This sum, in the absence of proper data on which to found a calculation, 

 I had myself named as likely to be sufficient, but I have lately received 

 estimates from two of the most respectable of the London printers 

 (one being the printer of the Greenwich observations) which would 

 make the cost nearer to 12,000 than 6,000 rupees for 3 volumes ; the 

 question therefore remains for the present unsettled, but it seems desir- 

 able that' the mode of printing which I first gave the preference to, 

 should be finally adopted. The great advantages that would be found 

 in having a printing press working under my own eye have not escaped 

 me, but Colonel Boileau's experience proves that the services of a pro- 

 fessional printer would be absolutely necessary, and hence it is doubtful 

 whether by this means the expense would be materially lessened. 



I have mentioned in former reports that a translation of Brinkley's 

 Astronomy, made under my supervision, was being printed at the 

 King's Lithographic press : I have now the pleasure of announcing its 

 completion. 



I have, &c. 

 (Signed) R. Wilcox, Lt.-Col. 



Supdt. of Observatory, 



Observatory, Lucknow, the 24th March 1848. 



A Sixteenth Memoir on the Law of Storms ; being the Hurricanes of 

 the Maria Somes and other ships, in the Southern Indian Ocean, 

 in March 1846. By Henry Piddington, President of Marine 

 Courts of Enquiry, Calcutta. 



The appalling catastrophe of the suffocation of fourteen individuals, 

 with the maiming of others, and the severe sufferings and narrow escape 

 of the whole detachment of 320 men, women and children of H. M. 90th 

 Foot, on board the transport ship Maria Somes from Ceylon to England, 

 excited much attention both in India and in England at the time, and 

 I spared no pains to collect from every quarter data for the inves- 

 tigation of this hurricane. I have not been very successful, but as 

 ships do not now sail in fleets we have usually a task of no small 

 difficulty to collect together the scattered logs of the few vessels, 



4 a 2 



