THE WEATHER.—The first days

of the New Year were unusually warm, the temperature ranging 11° above the average. On the 9t, the thermometer marked 50; but on the following day fell to 26, marking the commencement of the longest and most uncomfortable winter experienced for many years. On the 14th, a period of very cold weather set in, and continued without intermission to the 24th February: some of the days in the middle of Feiruary being from 15° to 18 below the average. From the 24th Feb ruary to the 6th March, the wea ther was more moderate: but on that day the cold again set in, and the weather continued, to the 26.L June, to be cold, nipping, and L. serable beyond record. In Jensens on several days, the mere as low as 15. In Fe

January, and ot every day, at one

station or other corresponding with the Meteorological bocet from January 15 to February 2h. from Marei to the end of the monti.. aud frequently is the muddie of May. It was replete witt:

Blow Crystals, and unusual is gelee.

è inches of snov producing i wen of water. Hai. aud fogs were fre quent all over the kingdom: Bud aurora were puiderous

Tue effects of so ungerne' a beaBOL UPOL tue morially and bellh of the population were as evil as could be anticipater The Geatus

greatly exceeded the average. In Lue winter quarter 159,600 deatur Ben registered, or 2 990 in cess of the average; and thus Excess va distributed over the whole

THE WEATHER.-The first days

of the New Year were unusually warm, the temperature ranging 11° above the average. On the 9th, the thermometer marked 50'; but on the following day fell to 26°, marking the commencement of the longest and most uncomfortable winter experienced for many years. On the 14th, a period of very cold weather set in, and continued without intermission to the 24th February; some of the days in the middle of February being from 15° to 18° below the average. From the 24th February to the 6th March, the weather was more moderate; but on that day the cold again set in, and the weather continued, to the 26th June, to be cold, nipping, and miserable beyond record. In January, on several days, the mercury was as low as 13. In February, it was, on many days, as low as from 3° to 10°. The coldest day in London was the 18th, when the thermometer marked 7°; the lowest temperature recorded by authority was 0.8 (or not quite 1°) at Berkhampstead; at Belvoir Castle it was 25. During this long period, the wind was almost uniformly N.E. Rain was very deficient; but snow fell on the 9th VOL. XCVII.

January, and on every day, at one station or other corresponding with the Meteorological Society, from January 13 to February 28, from March 8 to the end of the month, and frequently to the middle of May. It was replete with snow crystals, and unusually dense, 8 inches of snow producing 1 inch of water. Hail and fogs were frequent all over the kingdom; and

aurora were numerous.

The effects of so ungenial a season upon the mortality and health of the population were as evil as could be anticipated. The deaths greatly exceeded the average. In the winter quarter, 134,605 deaths were registered, or 20,000 in excess of the average; and this excess was distributed over the whole kingdom. The season was particularly fatal to old men and young children. To the immediate effects of the cold must be added the great dearness of all the necessaries of life. Wheat, which, in March, 1853, was 45s. 7d. a quarter, had risen in March, 1854, to 79s. 6d., and in 1855 to 69s. 11d.; and the sale had fallen from 1,236,493 quarters to 780,232 and 1,143,999 quarters. Potatoes ranged from 105s. to 110s. per ton, at wholesale price. In countries where there is no poor B

law, the sufferings of the aged and indigent during this long and severe winter must have been fearful.

FIRES IN THE METROPOLIS IN 1854.-Mr. Braidwood, the Superintendent of the London Fire Establishment, states in his Report

that

"The number of fires from the 1st of January to the 31st December, 1854, is as follows:"Fires at which the premises were totally destroyed or considerably damaged, 339; fires at which the premises were slightly damaged, 614; total fires, 953. Chimney alarms, 91; false alarms, 79; making a total of the two of 170. Showing the total calls to have been 1123."

The trades which have yielded the most fires are-apothecaries, 10; bakers, 20; booksellers and binders, 26; beer shops, 13; builders, 10; cabinet-makers, 15; carpenters, 46; chandlers, 32; coffee-shops, 10; drapers, mercers, &c., 25; milliners, 11; oil and colour men, 31; private houses, 199; printers, 12; stables, 17; tailors, 17; tinmen and smiths, 14; victuallers, 33.

The Society for the Protection of Life from Fire report that they have now in operation 42 fireescapes, placed about half-a-mile apart, which have been the means of preserving the lives of 38 persons from almost inevitable death. They attended at 351 fires, and facilitated the escape of very numerous persons. The report gives several instances of courage and heroism on the part of the escape

men.

ACCIDENTS IN COAL MINES. The Government Inspectors of Coal Mines have presented certain returns, from which, among other useful information, the number of

lives lost by coal-mine accidents may be estimated. The returns are, however, very imperfect. It appears that, in the district of Durham, Northumberland, and Cumberland, 160 persons lost their lives in 1851; 155 in 1852; 151 in 1853. In the Lancashire, Cheshire, and North Wales district, 236 persons perished in the last half-year of 1853. In the Midland Counties district, 140 perished in the last half of 1852. In the Staffordshire district, 115 in the first half of 1853. In the South-Western district, the deaths in the year 1853 amounted to 163. The returns of all districts for any one half-year are not, in any instance, complete; but it appears probable that, in the last half of 1852, no less than 454 persons lost their lives by colliery accidents, or nearly 1000 per annum.

1. WRECK OF THE " GEORGE CANNING."-Ninety-Six Lives Lost. -On New Year's Day, a fearful storm visited the northern coasts of Europe, during which the George Canning, a fine ship of 700 tons, one of the Hamburg and New York packets, was lost, with every soul on board. The storm commenced on the 31st December, and raged with extreme violence, causing a destruction such as has not been witnessed on those coasts for 20 years. It was accompanied by a remarkably high tide, which flooded the banks of the Elbe, and the whole of the lower parts of the towns of Hamburg, Cuxhaven, and all other places situate near the river, were laid under water; the extent of property destroyed is described to be enormous. The unfortunate ship was lost on the south side of the entrance to the Elbe, on the Scearhorn Sand. She appears, by Lloyd's List, to have