1855.] A Twenty -four tli Memoir on tie Law of Storms. 401 



14^.— Up to 4 a. m. a heavy gale from the S. W. with fearful sea ; 

 Ther. 85|° ; Symp. 29.40 ; Bar. 29.51. At 6 a. m. more moderate, wind 

 S. W. very red appearance in the Eastward ; 7h. a terrific squall coming 

 up which appears like a cloud of brick-dust. Took in fore topsail. But 

 before we could get the main topsail in it was up to us, and with such ter- 

 rific violence that we were obliged to keep her right before it, as if it had 

 struck her on the broad side nothing could have saved her. Managed to get 

 the main topsail in. When right before the squall her masts bent like wil- 

 lows. In fact I thought nothing could have saved them. It blew with 

 terrific violence until 10, when it moderated a little, but the wind is still 

 West up to Noon, strong squalls with constant rain. Sea very much con- 

 fused with snaked lightning in the East. Lat. 17° 00' ; by 2 Alt. 16° 50' N. ; 

 Loig. 87° 13' East by Chr. ; Ther. 82° ; Symp. 29.56 ; Bar. 29.64. p. m. 

 heavy squalls, wind W. S. W. kept her away N. E. under easy sail; 4h. 

 squalls very much diminished, wind S. W. J counted thirteen whirlwinds 

 all in sight at one time and as high as my main mainmast. There was 

 one passed close to me and it left a very troubled wake. They appeared 

 to blow with terrific violence, 



Ship Eaireield of Liverpool, Gapt. Hornell, towards Calcutta. 



\3th May. — Noon Lat. 11.39. Strong breeze and gloomy weather from 

 S. W. and N. W. Ship standing to N. b. W. and N. N. W. 



14^ May, 1852.— Noon Lat. 15.08 ; fresh breeze S. W. and cloudy 

 weather with much lightning. Ship standing to N. N. W. 



15^7* May. — Gloomy weather and steady strong breezes from S. W. 

 5 p. m. Ganjam Flag Staff N. W. b. W. 8 miles. Ship running along 

 shore from 6 p. m. 



Abridged Extract from the Log of the Ship " London," Capt. H. 

 O'Neill, from Ahyab to London — reduced to Civil Time. 



This unfortunate ship left Akyab bound to London with a cargo of rice 

 on the 8th May, and on the 11th at Noon she was in Lat. 18° 12'. N. 

 JiOng. 91° 28' East, with S. S. W. and S. W. winds ; and on the 

 12th May, a. m. had fresh breezes and squally weather from W. S. W. 

 to S. E. and N. East. Ship steering to the S. W. being at Noon in Lat. 

 16° 40' N. ; Long. 90° 00' East, going 8| knots. Wind and sea increasing 

 rapidly from Noon. Wind marked N. East at 4 p. m. and North at 

 11.6 p. m. Heavy gale with violent squalls of wind, rain, thunder and 

 lightning* Tremendous sea rising and ship making bad weather. Hove to 



* Italics are mine. — H. P. 



