28 



under ordinary circumstances ; the result is, that the agent that forces the 

 South-coming tide up checks that from the JNTorth, in the same propor- 

 tion, both as to rise and duration. The equilibrium being destroyed, the 

 stronger current from the South overruns its natural bounds (between 

 Morecambe Bay and Carlingford), whereby a large proportion of the 

 water which enters by the South escapes by the JN'orth Channel, giving 

 additional velocity to the succeeding ebb thereof, and reducing the force 

 of the South in a corresponding ratio. 



^' Continuing to speak of the South Channel, which is the great high- 

 way to and from Liverpool, and the other large commercial ports in the 

 St. George's Channel, let us imagine a vessel between Holyhead and 

 the Irish Eanks being caught in thick weather, with strong winds up- 

 channel ; let us suppose her to be for two or three days (as is often the 

 case) without being able to ascertain her position; a fair wind springs up; 

 the master, after making due allowance for all things to the best of his 

 judgment, shapes a course to clear the Tuskar ; but I am sorry to say 

 that they, in too many cases, find themselves on shore, or escaping by a 

 miracle from Arklow, Blackwater, or some of the other numerous banks 

 above the Tuskar. 



I have been for the last twenty-six or twenty-seven years, from time 

 to time, cruising in the Irish and English Channels, and have had ample 

 opportunity, in all kinds of weather, of studying the effects of the tidal 

 currents, and my experience has led me to believe the above to be 

 correct. 



" I have, particularly for the last nearly six years that I have been on 

 this station, made it my business to question masters of vessels (and 

 particularly those who had the misfortune to get on shore), upon the 

 point above set forth, but have never met one who appeared to bestow a 

 thought on the possibility of the water escaping by any other than the 

 channel by which it entered; but all have admitted the force and justice 

 of my argument, and most were ready to attribute their misfortune to 

 some such unforeseen circumstance. 



' ^' I may add, that it is a well-known fact, that all vessels brought up 

 by the l)anks imagined themselves to have been much further to the 

 southward than where they had found themselves. 



These remarks are equally applicable to the English Channel, as 

 well as to winds from the opposite direction. 



''J. Bowling, 



" Second Master in command" 



The Secretary of the Academy having announced the presentation of 

 the remainder of the documents belonging to the Antiquarian Depart- 

 ment of the Ordnance Survey of Ireland, it was 



IIesolved, — That the Academy gratefully acknowledge the receipt 

 of 35 MS. volumes of the Irish Ordnance Survey collection, supplemental 

 to the 103 volumes iDresented on the SOthN'ovember, 1860, by authority 

 of the Eight Hon. the Secretary of State for War ; and hereby present 

 their special thanks to Sir Henry James, E. E., Superintendent of the 



