The Express.
London, England, 1867-01-17 00:00:00

THE WEATHER A..VD THE PARKS.

There has been a alight modification in the
severity of the frost for the last two days. On Monday
night the thermometer at the receiving.house in Hyde.
park registered 19 deg. below freezing point • on Tuesday
night 10 deg.; and last night at night o'cloolt it stood at
24, or only 8 deg. below. The wind had changed from the
north-west to the north-east, with a slight fall of snow.
There was no skating or eliding on the ice in any part
of the Regent's-park waters, all persona (and there were
several) who evinced any desire to go on being very pro-
perly prevented by the police.
The numbers of persons on the ioe on the
Round Pond and Long Water in Kensington-
gardens, and on the Serpentine, although it
was apparently in a good and sound condition,
were considerably lees than on Monday or Tuesday,
not probably more than one-half—the result, it may be sup-
posed, of the terror inspired by the dreadful occurrence 111
the Regent's-park on Tuesday. Several accidents took
place from falls at the above places during the day, but
the only serious case was that of an elderly gentleman,
name unknown, who, while skating on the Round Pond,
fell down and fractured his leg in a shocking manner. He
was picked up in a state of great suffering, and eonveysd
to the hospital. On Monday and Tuesday evenings there
was a considerable number of skaters on the Serpentine up
to ten o'clock at night, and the banks were lined with the
vendors of peppermint, hot coffee, gingerbread, links, Le. ;
but last night an extra body of police were placed on duty
along the banks on each aide of the water, and every per-
eon was ordered off the ice at six o'clock, and none allowed
to go on after that hour. The stalla of the vendors of the
above articles were also made to leave the park at six
o'clock.

The ice in SL James'apark was thronged during the
day by a rough and noisy assemblage, but nothing of a
serious nature occurred. The ice was cleared at half-past
four o'clock.

The lakes in the Crystal l'alace grounds were crowded
during the day bye fashionable company of ladies and gen-
tlemen, and to give a greater sense of security to the
visitors, the company have obtained the services of some
icemen from the Humane Society. The waters in Batter-
sea and Victoria Perks were all patronised during the day,
the ice being strong and firm.
A special meeting of the committee of the Royal
Humane Society was held yesterday, at the offices in Tra-
falgar-square, in reference to the recent accident,when the
complaints made in some quarters as to the conduct of the
icemen and the inefficiency of the arrangements on the
water in the Regeut's•park came under consideration. It
was ultimately resolved to call a special court of governors
on Monday, to investigate the truth of these com-
plaint..

DISTRESSING ACCIDENT AT CAMBRIDGE.—An
accident of a distressing character in itself, but which will
in addition have the effect of changing the destination of
the senior wranglerahip of the present year, has just
occurred at Cambridge to Mr. Robert Kelley Miller, of
St. Peter's College. Mr. Miller entered in October, 1863,
and from that time to the present the proficiency he exhi-
bited was such as for some time past pointed him out as
the winner of the academic laurel of 1867. About the
middle of October last Mr. Miller, who was suffering
severely as the result of over study, was sent "down" under
the advice of his medical attendants. He returned to Cam-
bridge on the Friday in Christmas week, and went in for
the examination in honours on the first three days—viz.,
on the Ist, 2nd, and 3rd of this month, and his name ap-
peered in the provisional list of those entitled to this dis-
tinction, but he has since met with an accident which has
stopped him in his successful career. After the above
named three days there was, as usual, a lull in the exami-
nation, whch recommenced Ito decide the order of merit)
on Monday last. On Friday last, however, Mr. Miller
met with an accident which has as yet prevented his re-ap-
pearance in the Senate House, and will most probably
do so to the close. He had been recommended by his phy-
sicians to take as much out-door exercise as possible, and
on Friday afternoon set out for a drive in a basket-trap
accompanied by a friend, Mr. Pirie, fellow of Queens'
College. Mr. Miller was driving, and on the return, on
reaching the livery stable yard in Trumpington-street,
cart somewhat barred the entrance. Mr. Miller turned
sharp in, but the wheel of the vehicle caught the gateway,
and the trap was overturned. Mr. Miller received such
severe injuries, principally to the legs (which, however,
were not broken), as prevented him presenting himself
again in the Senate-house, so that he will now be merely
passed or placed instead of occupying the proud position
of " senior," aa be in all probability would as it has oozed
out that he was best man during the lust three flays, Mr.
Pixie escaped with but slight injury. The deepest sym-
pathy for Mr. Miler is evinced throughout the university.