The Express.
London, England, 1853-12-29 00:00:00

THE WEATHER AND THE PAR A'S.

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The continuance of the extreme cold of Tuesday,
during the night, when the temperature stood for several
hours as low as 26 Fahrenheit, with • sharp and strong
N.N.W. wind, had the t tfect of greatly increasing the
thickness and security of the ice, which was on Tuesday
thin and exceedingly brittle.
THE SEILVY.NTINE.—Yesterday morning the Mutinies
Society's men, under the inspection of Mr. Williams, the
superintendent, made an inspection of the ice, and lines
were drawn across so as to mark the open space which would
be comparatively safe, men being placed on duty with ropes
and sledge ladders to be in readiness in case of accident.
There could not have been less than five thousand persons
at one time assembled on the ice, the banks being lined
by several thousand well•dressed spectators, principally
ladies, who appeared to empty the sight of the spurt.
The tent of the Royal Skating Satiety was erected above
the bridge, and a large number of the members were pre-
sent, the snow basing been c:e seed to render the skating
easy. If the weather coutinuee, the ice will be in first-rate
condition. During the day upwards of 20 pereuns were
so severely cut and bruised by falls that medical relief
was administered to them at the Receiving House. From
half-past ten o'clock to half past two g'eluck six immersions
took place in a depth of water varying from 6 to b Wet. The
parties were—William Leach, Thomas Allen, Thomas
Baldwin, Alfred Gashawk, and two gentlemen, names un-
known. Tne whole were rescued by Freemen, Murphey,
Pasty, and Adams. They were placed in warm bathe, and
after receiving other attentions, were eventually enabled to
proceed home.
KENSINOTON GARDENS.-03 the Long Water and
Round Pond there were, during the day, 2,500 skaters and
sliders, including several members of the Skating Club, but
no accident occurred, although the ice is described as only
two inches thick and dangerous.

ItZOk PAYK.—The number of skaters and sliders
mounted to many thousand persons, the ice being in the

morning in a very goad condition. The tent of the Royal
Skating Club was also erected here, and several of the prin-
cipal members of the club were present. In the course of
the day, however, the ice, teem some cause, parted in
several places and became very dangerous. During the day
a great many persons were cut and :bruised by taas. In
one instance, the shock produced a sue,es.tun of
strong fi s, which were eventually mastered by the
attention of Dr. }Lidding, in the marquee. About
three o'clock in the &Item) in a gentleman while
skating was slid tenly left upon an island of ice,
from which he was long unable to reach the shore ; out,
under the directions of Mr. Superintendent Wlllllll2O, a
hand line was swept up to him, and a breaker and ordi-
nary ladder so thrown across the house as to admit of his
walking to the shots without his even being wetted, and
he was received by his friends and the spectators with loud
cheers.

Sr. JAMBS'S PAST.—yesterday there could n 4 tave
been less than 4,000 or 5,0:0 persons on the ornamental
waters, upwards of 2,000 skaters and sliders being on the
ice at one tints. The skating was confined to the open space
in the centre, the icemen keeping the crowd Of from the
east and west ends of the wuter, which arc at present unsafe.
Between eleven and halt-past twelve the ice gate wsy in
three places, and caused the immeraien of nearly 20 persons
in about six feet of water. The whole were reamed by
deputy superintendent Parsons, and icemen Cook, Collins,
Marshall, Knapp, Bally, and Terry. The names of those
who received warm baths, stimulants, eke., at the marquee,
were Philip Whormsley, Ilenry Wilton, John Skelton,
Henry Light, Charles Abbey, J 'mph Cantle, James Long-
worthy, Charles Frow, Alfred Ward, Samuel Binder, and
Alfred Fowler. All were perfectly reattered before the
closing of the gates, which by the exertions of the park-
keepers and the police, was effected as early as half-past
three o'clock.

A CHRISTMAS TREE.

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On Friday last, says the Manchester Examiner,
a Christmas tree of extraordinary sin and beauty, was
raised in the schoolroom of the Old Chapel, at Dukinleld,
by the ladies of the congregation, in honour of the teachers
in their Sunday schools. Nearly 903 guests were inilted,
of whom about one-fourth conNisted of the teachers. After
a substantial tea, the tables being presided over by the ladies
of the congregation, the party adjourned from the lower to
the upper room, where the mysterious tree was concealed by
a crimson curtain surrounding it from the ceiling to the
floor. After some music, both vocal end instru-nentsl, tho
curtain was suddenly withdrawn, and there was seen a fine fir
tree, planted in a bed of mass,—its branches glittering with
more than a hundred lighted tapers,—adorned with :fruit,
and flowers, and birds, of variegated hue, and baskets, and
flags, and bannerets. A hearty and prolongt 3 cheer
burst from all sides of the roam. As soon as
the eyes ceases to rest on the tree, it was
seen that on either side of it were tables covered with
an array of beautiful gifts. There were pencil-cases in
gold and silver—desks and writing-cases, workboxes and
baskets (all tic'sly furnished), a glass case of wax flowers
of (qui.• me beauty, engravings framed in imitation of oak
carving, slippers, cushions, worked collar., knives and
scissors, needle-taus, a carpet-bag, money•boxes and purses
in every variety of colour, fora:, and texture. One whole
table was covered with a pile at books,—some of them ele-
gantly bound,—amongst them were the poems of Milton.
Young, Montgomery, Tennyson, Bowring, Heber, Macau-
lay, the lives of Milton, Watt, Newton, licox, Columbus,
and Hutchinson, the works of Washington heir, g, ''• Ni-
cholls's Architecture of the Heavens," " Barthtt's Pilgrim
Fathers," " Higginson's Spirit of the Bible," and a selec-
tion from the publications of Chambers.
The Rev. A. Brook Aspland now stepped forward and
said, that tkey were assembled to effer a tribute of respect
and kindness to the teachers in their Sunday-schools, whose
labours were most praiseworthy. The useful and beautiful
articles which were about to be distributed were chi, fly
contributed by the ladies of the congregation—some of
whom had been for many weeks busily engaged in prepar-
ing for this interesting occasion. Nothing could exceed the
enthusiasm with which some of the ladies had promoted
the work, and he doubted not that the recollection of their
Christmas tree would be long cherished by those who had
planted it, end those who were to receive its goodly fruits.
In the distribution which immediately followed, he was
assisted by Mr. Abel Harrison (the kind donor of the tree),
Miss H. Harrison, Miss Leech, Miss Elizabeth Leee, and
Miss Woolley. When the name of any teacher was an-
nounced whose services had been particularly Tenable, a
sheer was given as he or she received the various tokens of
goodwill which were presented. The absent had not
'begotten the occasion, nor were they neglected. Some
Indus, once valued teachers in the school, but now residing
In a distant county, had sent a box of beautiful gifts, and
to them some presents were in tho course of the evening
announced. Not the least interesting offerings were those
from classes of scholars to beloved teachers; and a very
enthusiastic cheer broke from all parts of the room when
the chairmen placed in the hsods of one of the ladies
assisting in the distribution a gold pencil case, the gift' of a
clue of teachers whom she and others had for some years
instructed one evening in every week. To a former
teacher, now residing in Australia, presents from the
tree were sent. So numerous were the gifts that the pre-
sentation occupied nearly three hours. Refreshments and
music were the only interruption.
Mr. WHITTAKER and Mr. BROADRICK, two of the di-
rectors of the school, returned thanks in behalf the teachers
for the varied pleasures and gifts of the evening, and as-
sured the friends of the school that the munificent proofs of
their goodwill and generositywould stimulate one sod all to
increased energy in the fulfilment of their duties as
teachers. Votes of thanks were given to various persons
who had contributed to the success of the meeting, and on
the motion of Mr. ABEL HARRISON, a vote of thanks was
cordially given to the pastor and his lady.
After some more music the forms were removed from the

centre of the room, and the amusements of tke evening ter-
minated in a dance, in which persons of various age and
station pleasantly joined. Amiability and good. manners
were everywhere exhibited, equally by the mechanic and
the factory girl as by the wealthy proprietor, and Ulmer ac-
customed to the refined gaieties of life. It was a spectacle
as interesting as rare. Well would it be if more frequent
occasions could be devised for bringing into social inter-
course employers and employed—rich and poor. Eitrange-
meat and jealousy would be melted down by the warmth of
social intercourse; and, knowing each other better, they
would respect each other more.

THE LIVERPOOL ELECTION PETITION.—SOmO few
days since, sags the Liverpool Northern Times, our contem-
porary, the Albion, announced, and the statement was re-
peated by others, that the petition against the return of
Messrs. lforsfall and Liddell, as members of parliament for
this borough, had been withdrawn. We have authority
for stating that this announcement only conveyed half the
fact ; for, although it is quite true that the original peti-
tion has been withdrawn, it is equally true that an amended
one hu been substituted, which prays not only for the un-
seating of Messrs. Montan and Liddell, but that a commis-
sion may sit, in Liverpool, for the purpose of inquiring
generally into the practices which prevail here during par-
liamentary contests. It prays, further, for the entire dis-
franchisement of the freemen of the borough.
ADVANCE OF WAGES AT WARRINGTON. —On
Tuesday Messrs. Stubs, file workers, Warrington, without
solicitation, advanced the wages of the workpeople in their
employment 10 per cent. Immedi►tely on the announce-
ment being made a meeting of the workmen was held at
the works, when it was resolved that thanks be given to
their employers for their generous and noble conduct, and
that a dinner be given to them by the workpeople. A de-
putation afterwards waited upon the heads of the firm,
and communicated the result of the meeting, but they de-
clined to attend any dinner, as what they had done was
merely an act of *tic&