The Express.
London, England, 1865-04-06 00:00:00

ksitt,

fogs, our @oft
ISMS ; which, in fact, Is the great cause and direc-
tor of our weather. We know that this vast
=son strewn, in its pussy acmes the Atlantic,
splits in two off Newfoundland ; that while ow por-
tion comes to our islands, and coasts along Nor-
way, soother fork descends below the surface and
pews up Davis Straits, even at the moment
when a counter current of cold water is bearing
huge ice floes on the audios sonshvrards. But we do
not know where these warm currents again unite,
we do not know where they spend their
remaining temperature ; we do not know whether
they are uniform or variable in their relative
proportions ; and we cannot know' this until we
learn whether in the Arctic regions there is, as
some think, • vast sea of comparatively warm
water, fed by the streams that pass to it be-
meth the surrounding ice, or whether there is
only an unbroken expanse of solid ice, through
which there is no image, and beneath which
there is no higher temperature than at the surface.
Now, there is every meson to expect that the
full knowledge of the varying or uniform course
and volume of the Gulf Stream,which Arctic explo•
rations would furnish, would be a very important
guide in foreseeing our probable weather, not indeed
from day to day, but, what would be more service-
able to the farmer, from year to year. For we do
know that a periodic change in the position of the
Gulf Stream probably produces the sole periodic
change in our weather on which we can with some
confidence depend. This warm current, which in
winter bathes our shores, is in summer and
autumn at some distance from them, in the mid
Atlantic, and is replaced by a cold back current
flowing down the North Sea. The alteration room-
mences in March ; therefore, in April and early
I May we have a body of warm water at some
dia-
tans westward, causing an upward draught in the
air, which is fed from the European continent,
not yet sufficiently warmed by the spring
sunshine ; and this is at least • proba-
ble explanation of our spring Ma winds.
They cease as soon as the sun has gained power
enough to warm the earth more than the water,
exactly as in tropical countries there is • night
breeze blowing off the land, followed by a day
breeze blowing off the sea. And if this is the
cause, it follows that an earlier removal of the Gulf
Stream westward would produce an earlier and
even steadier course of easterly and northerly
winds, such as, in fact, we have been suffering
from this spring. But such a cause must itself
hare some cause. Is it that the Stream is warmer,
or is it that a larger portion than usual is now
peeing up Baffin's Bay f The former inquiry can
be partly answered from observations on the tem-
perature of the sea, such as the Meteorological
Society in Scotland carries out, and from which
already some remarkable results may be deduced.
But the latter inquiry cannot be answered till we
know the ultimate course of the Gulf Stream,
which only Aretio exploration can tell us ; and if
we knew this, we should lay a solid foundation for
our meteorologists to tell us in their turn what
sort of coming season we have any year in prospect
as soon as we perceive the symptoms that would
inform them of the conditions, for that season, of
the great weather breeder on our coasts—the
perennial Mexican current.
In this very practical and personal direction,
then, there is found an instance of the invaluable
knowledge the Polar expedition would yield. And
in almost every other branch of science that con-
duces to human safety and instruction there would
be something of like importance ascertained• It
is well that the public should keep this fact
steadily in view while it watches the discussions on
the best means to attain the end. Because we
have given up the notion of the North-west pas-
sage, and do not expect that the North Pole is
block of solid gold that we can carry back in our
ships or sledges, we are not to suppose that all the
science and learning in England is gone mad when
it still is earnestly bent on winning its way to that
unknown storehouse of Nature's sezrets.

Ebt Coun.

WINDSOR CASTLE. Ann. rt.

The Queen, accompanied by the Princess Helena,
drove in the Great Park yesterday after:moo, attended by
the Hon. Florence Seymour.
MINIM Lorries alio drove out.
The Earl of Derby arrived at the Castle yesterday, and
had the honour of diction with her Majesty.
The Qoeen left the Castle to-day at a quarter before
4 o'elook, accompanied by Princess Helena, Prises. Louise,
and Princess Beatrice, and drove to the station of the
Great Western Balmy, in Windsor, and proceeded by
special train to London.
In attendance were the rewarder Jooslyv, the Hon.
Mrs. Brace, Major-General F. Seymour, and Lieutenant-
Colonel Du Plat.
Prince Leopold, attended by Mr. Buff, left Windsor by an
earlier train. - -

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, WZDMDAY.
The Queen, aorompented by Mao= Helena and Primes§
Louie, honoured the Dowager Durham of fluthreland with
a visit at Btafford-house, attended by Viseountow Jooslyn.
The Princess of Wales dined with the Queen in the
evening.

The Prince of Wales, accompanied by Prince Alfred,
visited the studio of M. Carl Hug, in New Burlington•
street, yesterday.
The Prince of Wales visited the Queen at Buckingham
Palace in the afternoon.
In the evening the Prince of Wales, accompanied by
Prince Alfred, and attended by Major Grey, went to Drury.
lane Theatre.

A Cabinet Council was held yesterday at the
official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury,
in Downing-street. The ministers present were—
Viscount Palmerston, the Lord Chancellor, Earl
Granville, Sir George Grey, the Right Hon.
Edward Cardwell, Earl de Grey Sir Charles
Wood, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the
Duke of Somerset, the Right Hon. T. Milner
Gibson, Lord Stanley of Alderley,the Earl of
Clarendon, and the Right Hon. C. P. Villiers.

A deputation from the pariah of St. Paul, Covent-garden,
had an interview with the Right How. Mr George Grey, at
the Home-office, yesterday, on the subject of the Public
Homes Closing Act (1864) Amendment Bill.

Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and
PANS Allred, attended by Major Grey, honoured the per-
tetuesoe at the Theatre Royal, Drury-lane, with their pre-
sume bat 'using (Wednesday).
_ . .

Their Hoyel 'Highnesses the Princess Helens
sad the Princess looks, atteeded by Meier-General Sey-
mour end the Hoe. Mrs. Brim, visited the Exhibition of
rm. Arts at Windier Teen Hall yesterday afternoon.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge
entertained a select party at dinner yesterday evening at
Glenceeter Hones, Faccedrny.
_ _

Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cam-
bridge and Priooses Mary have left their residence at St.
James's Folios for Belvoir Castle, on a visit to the Doke of
Rutland.
The Duke and Duchess of Buckingham and
Cbandos are expected to arrive In Ragland shortly from
Malta, in his graces schooner yacht Surprise, ea/ling at
Algiers es Use way.
The earl of Derby returned to town yesiterdy
frees a visit to her Majesty at Windsor Castle.

Viscount and Visoonnteas Palmerston are ex- !
ported to leave town oa Saturday for Brookot Hall, Herta

THURSDAY
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