472 MR MILNE ON TWO STORMS WHICH SWEPT OVER 



There is another circumstance which favours the idea that the wind in this 

 and other similar storms was blowing in circular tracks, as in a whirlwind. If the 

 storm had a northerly or north-easterly progressive movement, as well as an in- 

 dependent gyratory movement, the wind blowing from the south or south-west 

 should be stronger than the wind from any other quarter, because, in that case, 

 the progressive and rotatory movements would coincide. On the other hand, the 

 northerly wind of the storm ought, for the same reason, to be the weakest. This 

 inference was fully verified, by what was observed during this storm on the 26th 

 and 27th November. It was the gusts from the south and south-west which 

 were the most violent. 



With regard to the extent and range of the storm, the data collected are not 

 such as to enable me to speak very precisely. I find that, on the 23d November, 

 when the storm was traversing the Bay of Biscay, a vessel from Mirimichi to 

 Liverpool was dismasted by it in Lat. 48 and Long. 24. This would shew that 

 the storm had a diameter of at least 900 miles. On the 24th and 25th Novem- 

 ber, a vessel from Liverpool to Batavia encountered this storm, about 600 miles 

 to the west of the Land's End.* This first storm appears to have lost much of its 

 force before it reached Scotland, the western parts of which only were affected 

 by it, and that but slightly. 



That the storm just described, was quite distinct from the one which I shall 

 next notice, is evident from the fact of the wind having entu'ely died away before 

 this second storm commenced, and of its having then sprang up from a totally 

 different quarter, and that not till after an interval of several hours. The follow- 

 ing account is given of the way in which, at Southampton, the first storm ended 

 and the second commenced. About 2 a. m. on 28th, the wind " moderated, and 

 a light air sprung up from the westward. But it did not last long ; for it came a 

 whole spout of wind from the S.SE., and then S., and now (in the evening) it is 

 blowing hard from S.SW., with every appearance of a dirty night." A similar 

 account is given from a coiTespondent at Penzance : " After nightfall (on the 

 27tli), the weather almost suddenly fell nearly calm, and a most beautiful ap- 

 pearance the moonlight had, till that luminary set, and for some time after. But 

 about five or six o'clock this morning (the 28th), the storm came on with re- 

 doubled fury, and the sea raged so furiously that nothing could brave its power. 

 Our quay, particularly the newly erected part, is in imminent danger, and will, 

 we fear, be prostrated before the tide ebbs." In like manner, at Truro, it is stated 

 that the wind, which shifted about noon on the 27th to W.NW., moderated in the 

 afternoon of that da}'-. A light breeze from W.NW. continued till 4 a. m. on the 

 28th, when the wind suddenly shifted round from SE., and " blew a hm-ricane." 

 At HuU the first gale abated at day-light on the 28th, and during the whole of 



* The position of these vessels was shewn to the Society, on a large map of the Atlantic. 



