The Express.
London, England, 1864-01-09 00:00:00

THE WEATHER AND THE PARIS.

The weather, which showed symptoms of giving
way on Thursday night, again set in with severity early
yesterday morning. The fog which enveloped the metro-
polis during the whole of yesterday caused no perceptible
diminution in the numbers of those who disported them-
selves on the ice's the various parks, although the poles-
kians promenading the hanks were not so numerous as on
the preceding day. The carriage drive in Hyde-park was,
if possible, more crowded thou on any day since the corn-
meacemeot of the frost. On the broad water in the Regent's-
park the members of the Skating Club, of both sezes,were
again is full force, and the grateful recreation was
kept up with unflagging spirit until alter dusk,
when the park-keepers. with some difkul% twanged to
Olaf the ice. • s • c; nuardswlA.
large tamper of the Lao
uniform, from she Albany Barracks, were amongst
the skaters. The Serpentine appeared to be the
peat point of attracti.in, however, for the genera!
public, the ice, foam having been so carefully
preserved in the early part at the week, being in a firm
and sound condition. From hook to beak it was ow smooth
even sheet of ice, and presented ell the appearance of a fair.
While the endues of tie ice was severed with skaters,
sliders, and promenader,, dotted over it in all ilinctions,
ringed ou each side along its hanks ware the tents and
stalls of the itinerant venders of peppermint drops, roasted
chestnuts, spiced cakes, belied potatoes, hot coffee, and
warm cordials, and parties letting out skates for ls. 6d.
an hoar, the whole of whom appeared to be driving a
brisk trade. The skating rings were very nainsrons, and
ninny of the seaters displayed considerable dexterity.
About four o'clock a ludicrous scene took place at one of
these rings, where a large crowd were standing looking on at
two gentlemen who were going through some Matti& evo-
lutions. All at once, owing doubtless to the great right
upon it, a sodden and loud cracking of the ice was heard,
followed by the water bubbling up between theatrics'. A
general move took place, and in the scramble to get away
some dozens of people, male and female, were thrown down
in a hasp. Lund shouts ware raised, and the imam came
running from all points with their kidders and rupee, but
fortunately the ice proved strong enough to resist the
pressure upon it, and all got away safely. The gates
of Hyde-perk not being, as is the case to the Itieat'§-.
perk and the St. Jearree-park endemic, closed at
any particular hour, the skating there was kept up
until a late hoar is the eyelike by the aid of lighted
torches as fires on the hanks. There were at least 10,000
parmes on the ice at one period during thusly. Theirs in
the enclosure in St. James's-park was also crowded, but
there the more humble amn,emeot of eliding appeared to be
the order of the day. The ice in many parts is io very led
condition, being broken for the use of the water fowl, and
waxy young men and boys got • good ducking through
their foolhardioess in venturieg, in spite of remonetranoe

sad warning, on the parts marked dsogerout. No serious
modal* however, is reported in Loy of the parka. The
water io the Victoria-pick, and the ponds at Clapham and
Hampstead, had a large number et visitors. The thermo.
meter at the receiving house in Hyde•park at four o'clock
yesterday attenuant registered 2 degrees below freeziog point.

THE Da-ulna MAMIE AND NAVAL FORCHL -
The Copenhagen paper, the DpObled„ gine. the following
informatioo :—The Danisb army now in and about the
Danoevirke positioo is under the command of Limit.-
General de Mesa as commander-in-chief, and consist. of
three uiviaroes of infantry under Generals Gerlach, Do Mat,
and Swimming, each consisting of six regiments of infantry,
two field batteries, and three &quadroon of light eavalry.
The fourth, or cavalry division, is commanded by Lieut.-
General liegerman•Liadenci one, and consists of four regi.
insets of dragoons sod three squadrons of hussars, with •
Sid battery. The infantry reserve is commended by Gene-
ral Came, sad is composed of the remaining fear regiments
( Eloieteiners). Each regiment of iefeatry forma two bat-
tallow*: four campmate each, sod the companies are, or
will be, brought up to 230 men each. The cavalry regi-
ments are each sir squadrons, earls of 100 men. The active
army in the field would thus number—lnfantry, 18 regi-
ment, of 2,000 ma, 36,000 ; cavalry, 6 regiments of GOO
eecb, 2,030; artillery, 7 field batteries of 130 each, 910—
total. 40,510. The naval squadron in commiasioe merdets
of the Skated. 44, 300 h. p. screw frigate, thiptaba handset ;
Niels duel, 44, 300 h. p., screw frigate, Caged% Lathes ;
Hsiaidal. 16, 260 b. p.; screw corvette, Commander S.
Lund; Thor, 12, 260 h. p., screw corvette, Comzesoder

'armor'; Heals, 5, 200 b. p., peddle steamer, Cam-
'crawler °bells ; Geiser, 8, 100 b. p., paddle steamer.
Commander Jam ; Ratko, 2, 00 h. p., paddle steamer,
Compsader Cbassend ; Absalom, 3, 1001. is., irea-cled
screw nchaomr, Cliesereadm Sabomberier ; fishers Snare, •
3, 100 b. p., iroa.ebd screw sehomer, Commander Kraft;
Krieger. 2, 70 k. ; Ilarstroad, 2, 70 h. p. ; and Will..
aloes, 2, 7011. p., .craw gunboats.
Folunox-orrics, Dac. 31.—:Tbe Queen has been
=to approve et Doe Premien de Camila as cowed at
far her MONO toe (Nam of Mena Tee Queen bee
able bass pleased to approve of Nadi Said Grease smooesul
at Gibraltar far the Sultan of XOFOOOO. —Osage.
R2ol2lllMem Lamas Pon J2o27BAmmt.—As the
regulations of Os !reach Post.alke de .it allow of regis-
tered letters for Joreaslan bias met sib Fran, as leaks
eddressed to Jerusalem which Ms willies desire to ;mister
will, `future, be seat rid Belgium aed Germasy, sod Me
rate of postage appikable to letters forwarded by that
rest* road be prepaid up= them, via. :—Not amending
gee., ls. Id. ; above Yes. mid not examen lea, 2*. 24.
above les. end mot emeredimg 2es., 4s. 41. ; ovary eases after
the /M. 2s. 2d. L oddities.' to this presage, e reglelearion
M al slim e°, meat be paid is edema epee registered
letters for Jermilses.—By seemed of the reeleasseist-
oemema, Itorzum Hui, Seteetery.