844 Eighteenth Memoir on the Law of Storms. [Aug. 



To the foregoing, which is partly from the ship's log and partly from 

 a note obligingly sent me by Capt. Stuart, he adds : — 



" I must observe that for several days previous to the hurricane the 

 weather assumed throughout the day a very unusual appearance, with 

 light baffling winds and hot sultry weather. Ther. from 86° to 92° ; a 

 misty horizon and at night a misty circle round the moon and an un- 

 usual twinkling of the stars. An immense number of both sea and land 

 birds were constantly about the ship, with much lightning from the 

 Eastward and South Eastward at times. 



Abstract from the Log of the ship Camperdown (No. 12 on the 

 Chart) , Captain Cumberl and, from London to Calcutta. Civil Time. 



At noon on the 10th October, 1848, the Floating light bore N. E. b. N. 50 

 miles, Lat. Obs. 20° 17' N. ; by 6 o'clock we had run about 25 miles, on a 

 N. E, course, when we saw a vessel, which we supposed to be a Pilot Brig, as 

 she was running down to a ship at anchor, bearing N. E. from us dist. about 

 8 miles ; at this time it had fallen calm and we found there was a strong current 

 running to the S. W. but, as the water was too deep for the bower, let go the 

 kedge and veered a hawser, which only checked, but did not stop her from 

 driving. Soon after (about 7 p. m.) a lis;ht breeze sprung up ; weighed the kedge 

 and stood N. W. a few miles, but finding the wind falling light and the ship 

 refusing to steer with a 5 knot breeze, again let go the kedge and veered 2 

 hawsers ; the ship still driving ; the current appeared to be running about 3 

 knots. 



Wednesday, \\th October. — A light breeze springing up, weighed the kedge 

 and stood to the N. East about 15 miles, but at 4 tacked, as she broke off to N. 

 b. E., and knowing the current was running very strong, I was afraid of being 

 driven to leeward, intended to stand well to the Southward to get out of the 

 strong current. 6 a. m. Lat. by Sirius 20° 51', stood S. E. all the day; at 

 daylight saw a steamer steering to the Southward ; noon squally and rain, Lat. 

 Obs. 20° 32' N. There was no appearance of bad weather this day ; p. m. 

 cross sea. 3 p. m. in 1st reefs; there were a few light showers, but the clouds 

 had little motion. 



Thursday, 12th Oct. — Tacked and stood to the northward ; saw a Pilot brig at 

 anchor and a ship. At 11, the brig signalled us to stand to sea till the weather 

 moderated. At this time the weather was not bad, but the Barometer had 

 begun to fall, 29.60; noon Pilot vessel N. N. E. 15'. Tacked and stood S. E. 

 In 3rd reefs. At 11 p. m. hard squalls. 



Friday, 13th Oct. — Weather looking bad, close reefed the main topsail ; at 3 

 a. m. Bar, 29.20. Prepared for a gale : blowing very hard during the day 



