| Description | Extracts from the logbooks of vessels damaged by a hurricane near Mauritius in January and March 1839, and entering the harbour of Port Louis. With an explanatory narrative by Charles Royer. The vessels were: the French barques Diane and Cecilia [pp.3-7]; the English barque Eleanor Russell [pp.7-8]; the American barque Mary Kimball [p.8]; the English barques Gunga and James Irving [pp.8-9]; the American whaler Ceres [pp.9-10]; the English ships William Money, Victoria, and Northumberland [pp.10-14]; and the American ship Lucas [pp.15-17].
The manuscript contains two sets of meteorological tables. The first, kept by Captain Compton of the ship Northumberland, 4-8 March 1839, contains columns for 'H K F' [hour, headway in knots, and depth in fathoms], the ship's course, and the wind direction, with hourly thermometer and barometer readings, and general remarks. The second [pp.18-19], kept at Port Louis, gives daily meteorological data 1 February-31 March 1839, with columns for day and hour of observations, barometer and thermometer readings, wind direction, and weather remarks.
Headed [p.1]: 'Harbour Master's Report on Hurricanes &c.' Inscribed: 'Enclosure with Sir William Nicolay's despatch. No. 19 of 18th February 1840'. Stamped: 'Received C.O. [Colonial Office] May 26 1840'. Signed by Charles Royer [p.17]. |