1854.] A Twenty-third Memoir on the Law of Storms. 523 



from S. W. blowing with increased violence until 9 a. m. when the gale 

 broke with wind at N. W. 



Abridged Log of the Peninsular and Oriental Company' 's Steam Ship 

 Precursor, Capt. Griffin, at Cowcolly during the Cyclone. — Civil 

 Time. 



On the 22nd Oct. 1851. —At 9.45 a. m. anchored, with Cowcolly bearing 

 West and lower Buoy of the Auckland Channel E. S. E. in 8£ fs. wind at 

 E. S. E. Heavy rain and thick windy weather. Bar. at 8 a. m. 29.905 ;*at Noon 

 29.80; Ther. 80°. p. m. heavy rain, wind E. S. E. to S. E. and at 4 p. M. 

 E. S. E. Bar. at 4 p. m. 29.945 ;6p.m. ship had dragged a little, wind blow- 

 ing strong in squalls ; at 8, Cowcolly light W. f S. About 9 p. m. light not 

 visible, increasing gale to midnight. Bar. at 8 p. M. 29. 785 ; Ther. 78°; atllh. 

 29.385 ; midnight 29.285 ; hard gale with very strong gusts S. E. to S. S. E. 



23rd Oct. — Gale increasing, stern boat blown to pieces; 2 a. m. terrific 

 squalls of wind and rain. Wind marked as S. Easterly to Noon ; steaming 

 full power ahead to relieve strain on the cables which were both veered out 

 and both ahead. At 3.30 a. m., during a perfect hurricane, both cables 

 parted and at 4, grounded on the mud bank carrying away the rudder. At 

 4.30 a. M. wind suddenly lulled having been steady at S. S. E. but at 5, 

 blowing furiously from N. E. to N. West. 4.30 a. m. [fBarometers rising 

 astonishingly fast ; " 5, wind lulled. Set on, but wind chopped round sudden- 

 ly to N. N. E. veering to N. W, blowing harder than before. Reversed the 

 engines to keep the vessel on the bank, it being evident to all on board that 

 had she been blown off the flat, no anchors could have held her and she 

 must have been driven on to the Reefs, the Long sand, or the Mizen."f] At 

 9 a. m. the wind again lulled and a moderate breeze commenced from N. W. 

 Vessel on shore, with Cowcolly light house bearing W. S. W. Got afloat 

 on the 24th. Barometer for this day as follows : 



Bar. 



Ther. 



1 a. m. 29.175 



78o 



2 28.955 



. . 



3 .685 



. . 



4 .585 



, , 



5 .685 



, t 



Bar. 



Ther. 



6 a. m. 28.835 



78° 



7 .985 



, . 



8 29.085 



78« 



9 .395 



t • 



Noon .915 



82<> 



# The Barometer is corrected throughout by the addition of -f- 0.085 being its 

 error by a comparison with the Standard. Some additions are made to the log 

 from a MS. report of the Pilot, Mr. Beaumont, 



t Pdot's notes within these brackets and f s. 



3 z 2 



