296 A Twenty-first Memoir on the Law of Storms. [No. 4. 



E. S. E. East, N. E. and N. N. W. At Midnight, winds light and variable 

 from N. N. W., N. E. and E. S. E. with vivid lightning, showing a heavy- 

 black bank to the Southward. 



May 2nd. — In all sail. At 0.30 a hard squall from E. S. E. with heavy- 

 rain, thunder and lightning, kept away "West under topmast staysail. At 

 2 a. m. light winds from N. N. W. round to East, and back again. At 5 

 a. m. wind apparently steady at North ; set double-reefed topsails, foresail, 

 and bent and set a new fore topmast staysail (the other having split) steered 

 South and S. S. W. At 10 a. m. a threatening appearance all round, wind 

 veering in heavy gusts from North to N. W. in all sail and scudded South 

 under fore topmast staysail. Supposing from appearances this to be the 

 commencement of a hurricane or heavy gale, the centre of which would 

 now be about E. N. E. of us, the wind being N. N. W. kept South to run 

 out of it, according to the theory of storms and made all snug. Noon 

 dark gloomy weather Bar. fast falling, sea getting up and wind agitated 

 with every indication of a gale, wind flying about from North to N. W. 

 and vice versa with heavy puffs and rain. Got stay tackles on foremast to 

 cat-heads. Ship scudding as before South and S. S. W. under fore topmast 

 staysail. 2 a. m. Bar. 29.64 ; 4, 29.64 ; 5, 29.66 ; 8, 29.64 ; 9, 29.63 ; Noon 

 29.61 ; Lat. Acct. 10° 46' N. ; Long. Acct. 81° 41' E. P. m. strong gales, 

 from N. N. W. dark gloomy weather and heavy rain. Ship scudding South, 

 under fore-topmast staysail. At 3 p. m, constant heavy squalls, rain and a 

 high sea. Lashed the courses and fore topsail to the yards with studding 

 sail gear, and jib to the boom. At 5 p. m. Barometer still falling, squalls 

 more frequent and very heavy, accompanied with a torrent of rain. Close 

 reefed and set main topsail, and hove ship to on port tack. Wind then 

 at N. N. W. Head up to N. E. off to East. At 6 p. m. the wind shifted 

 in a furious squall to W. N. W. then to West. We on the right tack to 

 meet it. Ship's head up North, off N. E. with the sea. Midnight blow- 

 ing a heavy gale, squalls harder and more frequent with a deluge of rain 

 and scud, a tremendous sea running and ship lurching heavily, as well as 

 shipping a great quantity of water over all every time she lurched to 

 leeward. Bar. 3 p.m. 29.55; 5, 29.53; 7,29-51; 8, 29.58; 10, 29.56; 

 Midnight 29.56. 



May 3rd. — A. M. gale blowing with unabated fury, violent squalls and 

 rain as before. Sea running in Pyramids. At 4 a. m. frequent lulls of 

 two to jive minutes duration followed by furious gusts, in one of which the 

 main topsail blew away, as also the lee side of mainsail. Ship lurching 

 heavily and shipping much water over all. Noon, blowing a hurricane at 

 W. S. W. Ship's head up N. N. W., off to North. 2 a. m. Bar. 29.52; 



