1854.] A Twenty-second Memoir on the Law of Storms. 39 



still blowing violently, and the ship entirely exposed to the tremend- 

 ous seas that were continually washing over her. On the wind 

 shifting the anchors both parted, and the ship drifted through the 

 channel between the Great and Little Cocos ; at midnight the 

 weather moderating a little and the glasses rising ; at daylight the 

 gale had subsided, but a tremendous sea still running — found 8 feet 

 of water in the Hold, and all the fresh water spoilt with saltpetre. 

 The ship had drifted during the hurricane about forty miles to the 

 N. Westward. The glasses were at the minimum at 4 p. m. of the 

 18th when they were as follows : — 



Barometer, 29.15 



Sympiesometer, 29.10 



Aneroid, 28.96 



December 27th, 1850. 



Englishman, February 7th, 1851. 



Abridged Log of the Ship John Adam, Captain Dixon, from 



Calcutta to Singapore. Civil Time. 



Noon, Nov. 17th, 1850.— Lat. by Obs. 14° 58' North. Preparis 



Island bearing E. S, E. distance six leagues. Wind marked North, 



ship steering 2% and 3 knots to the E. S. E. p. m. wind marked 



N. E, ; and at 2, E. N. E. ; fresh breeze and threatening weather. 



2 p. M. Preparis Island E. b. S. kept away to the S. E. for the South 



Channel. 4 p. m. South end of Preparis bearing E. b. S. distance 



twelve miles. At 8 p. M. dirty squally weather ; in topgallant sails 



and double-reefed. Midnight heavy gales and hard squalls. Wind 



apparently* always E. N. E. 



Nov. 18th — Erom 4 to 8 a. m. increasing bad weather. North 

 Coco Island in sight distant six miles (bearing omitted by an error 

 of the copyist) . Noon strong gales and heavy sea. No observation. 

 p. M., wind marked E. N. E. and at 3 p. m. South. 2 p. M. kept the 

 ship away for the Preparis Channel ; but at 4 p. M. she broached to and 

 went over on her beam ends ; lost mainmast and mizenmast, boats, 

 &c. 7 p. m. blowing a steady hurricane. 8 p. m. lost the foremast, 



* I say apparently for it is not marked again till p. m. of the next day ; when it 

 is still set down E. N. E. From the ship's position and the track of the Cyclone, 

 it is not improbable that this was about its direction though it is much steadier, if 

 so, than with the other ships. 



