1 851 .] A Twentieth Memoir on the Law of Storms. 37 



N. B. — Since writing the foregoing I have seen Captain Biden's report on 

 the gale which has occurred at Madras, one symptom of which reminds me 

 of its being similar with us here— (i. e.) no admonitory swell, which induces me 

 to think that both these gales have settled down suddenly upon us. I observed 

 some days before the Cyclone of April last, that the upper strata of the clouds 

 were sadly torn and distracted, whereas the lower ones were regular and going 

 with the existing wind, the same appearances was presented at the Sandheads 

 on the 23rd, 24th, and 25th May last. I merely mention this, as there is a 

 curious coincidence in no swell having preceded either of the gales. S. It. 



Extract from a letter from Mr. W. Ainslie, Officiating Collector 

 of Balasore, to the Commissioner of Revenue for the Division of 

 CuttacJc, dated the \5th May, 1850 ; forwarded by G. Plowden, 

 Esq. Secy. Sudder Board Revenue, by order of the Board.* 



From the evening of the 24th April, the weather had been very threaten- 

 ing, with strong but unsteady breezes varying in strength, from E. veering 

 to N. W. with rain, thunder and lightning, until the afternoon of the 26th, when 

 it had again shifted to N. E. From this time which I consider the commence- 

 ment of the Cyclone, the wind increased in force, gradually shifting to N. W. 

 from which point it continued to blow with great violence, accompanied by 

 much rain till 8h. 30m. a. m. of the 27th, (the Barometer had, at this hour, 

 fallen to 28.69.) It then veered to W. its violence still increasing. The gale 

 was at its height at 9 a. m. and continued with unabated fury till 11 a. m. when 

 it began to decline and shifting to S. W. finally broke up. This storm exceeded 

 in violence the storm of October, 1848, but was of short duration, and fortu- 

 nately vk a less unfavorable direction. Excessively heavy rain accompanied the 

 gale to its close. The quantity which fell during the storm was very great, but 

 as the Pluviometer at the office was blown away and broken there was no 

 means of ascertaning it exactly. Indeed had the instrument remained unin- 

 jured, it would not have shown a quantity approaching to the actual fall on 

 account of the violence of the wind. All the low ground in and about the town 

 was flooded to the depth of several feet, the water flowing over the roads to the 

 depth of a foot or more, as the bridges were inadequate to carry it off. 



From reports received from the interior, it appears that the force of the 

 storm was felt principally on the Coast from Dhamrah to Dusmulling. At 

 this point the Coast trends to the Eastward and the storm passed inland its 

 Western limit being about in a line from Balasore to Bustah, inland, and to 

 the S. of Balasore it did not prevail in such force as to cause much damage. 



* A few alterations have been made in this report, in accordance with an expla- 

 natory letter afterwards sent of which a copy was forwarded to me. 



