The Express.
London, England, 1861-02-13 00:00:00

THE LATE GALES.

TO Tlit IDITOS or TIM EXPIXNS.

SIR,—It is impossible for those who have studied
practical meteorology, and know what power is
available now in diffusing knowledge by telegraphy,
not to feel a keen consciousness that some of those
lives lust in this last gale, to say nothing of any
former storms, might have been saved.
Under the influence of this feeling, may I ask for
your publicity to the following brief remarks.
While no man bad the means of knowing any-
thing about the weather beyond his sight, or the
"feeling" of his own instruments, it was scarcely
possible to foretel changes of importance at a dis-
tance as wed: as on the spot. Now the case is ex-
ceediugly different. A daily glance at the pub-
lished weather reports—a re collection of their prin-
cipal features during the few previous days—a look
at the glasses at home—and an eye turned ooca-
'Madly to the heavens, enable every one who
pleases to take this trouble to foresee and for
accurately, after a little practice, the principal
changes of our very variable, though regularly
varying climate.
The least irregular movement of our atmosphere
is along the surface of the earth from the north-
ward. It is uornuel, With the occasional conti-
nuance, even for weeks, of comparatively cold,
clear, and dry northerly winds, all are familiar,
and we all expect opposite qualities with
southerly winds. It is the alternation, the
opposition and the intermixture--whether late-
rally while flowing in different directions or
while superposed—that cause the principal changes
and varieties of weather. Into the origin
of these currents themselves it would be inexpe-
dient to enter here. We have now to deal with
the facts in evidence, and to draw practical conclu-
sions, useful in daily life, and most important to
seamen. Numerous, and differing extremely in
area as well as degrees of motion, either slow or
rapid, are the circulations of our ever " influenced,"
' highly elastic, and fluid atmosphere. Not only
does it always seek its level like water, but directly
' any pressure on it alters, it expantbe orisuoutructed
like itself alone—the most compressible, elastic,
and mobile of compound substances. Hence it
is that a grist change diver any place affects
not only that locality but a wide area runlet;
awl, as matter is neither moveable nor ceases to
move suddenly, vast accumulations of atmospheric
air, hundreds of miles in extent, although feeling
distant changes quickly, acquire motion hut slowly
at first, and, after being moved, are carried on by
their own momentum. Owing to these causes the
barometer, and its companion the thermometer,
forte' the changes ; and, after the original cause of
its rise or fall has ceased to operate, the barometric
column continues its ascent or descent, being influ
enact by air currents retaining their momentum.
The meeting of such currents rases the barometer ;
their mutual retreat lowers it. Their appubse and
varying combinations occasion all the varieties of
rain, hail, snow, fog, cloud, or misty vapour, that
we experience.
Now the results are that, having daily know-
ledge of the weather (including onlinary facts of a
meteorological nature) at the extreme limits and
centre of our British islands, we are aware of any
great change taking place ; for the great atmospheri-
cal changes are measured by days, not by hours.
Only local changes, however violent they may be,
occasionally (dangerous in proportion to their nud-
dreams and violence), only such changes are unfelt
at a distance, and do not influence great breadths
—say, hundreds of miles in area—of our atmos-
phere.
These extreme changes, showing a difference of
pressure, above or below the normal or mean
level, amounting to an inch or thereabouts, are
certain to be followed by a marked commotion of
the elements in the course of a few days. If the
fall has been sudden, or the rise very rapid, swift
but brief will be the resulting elementary move-
ment ; if slow or gradual, time will elapse before
the change, but the changed state of weather will
last longer, whether for worse or for better.
Warning may thus be obtained and given a few
hours or a day, or even some days, before an im-
portant change in the weather occurs in our
climate.—l am, etc., ROBERT FITZROY.
London, Feb. 12.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
HOUSE OF LORD& —Tomcat Fie. 12.
The house sat at 5 o'clock, the LOAD CIIANCELLOIL pre-
siding.
The Bishop of OXFORD presented petition+ from Cotten-
berg. in the diocese of Oxford, and other placea. against
the abolition of church rates, and two against any alteration
of the law of marriage.
• FRAUDULENT TRADE MARKS, Sc.
The LORD CHANCELLOR sell he had to lay on their
loraildpe table a hill which was of great importance to the
manufacturers of the country. It would afford them the
protection they had long desired—not protection from free
competition, bat from fraud. The great object of the bill
was to remedy the grievance that arose from the forging of
trade marks. Their lordships would be aware that all
maaufacturers, great and small, bad a mark to denote their
workmanship, which was known at home and abroad, and was
• guarantee for the genuineness and excellence of the article.
The practice bad become extremely common of forging the
marks need by successful manufacturers ; and the goals
sold under these forged marks were generally of a very in-
ferior character. At present the only remedy was in the Court
of Chancery, or in the courted law, by action for damages
a dilatory and unsatisfactory proceeding. It was proposed
to render the forging of trade marks as indictable offence,
punishable by fine and imprisonment. The manufacturer;
of this country suffered much from forgeries in other
countries ; and when they sought a remedy they were told,
" Yon do nothing to protect us." It was hoped that this
bill would put an end to that ob ection, and thereby secure
watar • to_eisr ma abroad. Another
object al the bill was to punish false ,statements as to the
quality and quantity of articles sold. It would also extend
to the practice of selling works of art, under the pretence
that they were by eminent men, by putting artists' marks
on them, when they were merely imitations. This offence
would he punishable in the same way.
The bill was read a first time.

The Bishop of ST. DAVID'S presented petitions against
the abolition of church lutes.
FICTITIOUS SAVINGS BANKS BILL.
Lord MONTEAGLE moved the wood reading of this
bill. The saving, bank system bad been established in
1917, sad sow involved a capital of forty millions sterling.
There had been TRAMS acts on the subject, and the law was
now in a very complicated state, which he hoped would be
remedied in the present session. About 18.57 fictitious—
he might say, fraudulent—savings banks hug been esta-
blished in different parts of the country ; for there was no
necessity imposed
.on them of investing their deposits in
government eecenties having their rules certified, or
making returns to parliament. Still they received deposits
from number of people, who imagined that they were sat-
ing uoderthe onartioo of the legislature. In Glasgow alone
sixteen of those hanks had been established in 18.57, under
the colour of being savings banks receiving deposit; and
holding them without any security to the depositors. It
bad been stated by Sir A. Spearman, before a committee
of the House of Commons, that it was MM.
tial that measures should be adopted for prevent-
ing persons being deceived by the pretensions of
those so called " National Savings Banks." The bill before
the house provided that persons acting under thews pre-
tences would be guilty of a misdemeanour. The bill had
been introduced Wit session, but too late to allow of its
gaming. Siam introducing the bill this session he had
heard that a clause effecting the same object had been in.
trodueed into a government bill in the other house ;
but that was a very complicated measure, and he
hoped that the home would give this bill a second reading.
Until he obtained some guarantee against the evils to which
be had referred he should not cease to urge upon their
lordships, respectfully but firmly, the necessity of some
measure like the present He therefore moved the seemed
reeding of this bill. He did not propose to go into commit-
tee on the bill for some time, because the noble lord the
chairmse d committee; who had always taken a very
great intereet in laving, banks, was likely to be absent from
town. Hi therefore proposed to defer going into
cosamit-
tee en the bill three weeks.
Far
the

The
AMC
Lord

Lord GRANVILLE having viedicated Lord Carlisle,
Their lordships adjourned at a quarter to 8 o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—TUESDAY, Fen. 12.
The SMARR took the chair at 4 o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
_ _

Private bilk to the number of 61 were read a second time.
THE NAVAL EV. FIXATES.
Lord C. PAOET laid on the table the naval estimates.
NOTICES OF MOTIONS.
TRAMWAYS IN SCOTLAND.

Sir E.COLEBBOOHEgave 'intik@ that on Friday he
should ask for leave to bring in a bill to provide) tram-
ways in Scotland.
CHINA.

Colonel SYKES gave noticetthat on Friday he should call
the attention of the house to the accounts received from
China, and ask the Secretary for Foreign Affairs what line
of policy the government intended to pursue with regard
to the Taiping/I' or native party in China, and what further
papers have been received relative to Chinese affairs.
ITALIAN AFFAIR&

Mr. GRIFFITH pve i;cliiceicuaOUiciday be would ask
the noble lord the of State for Foreign Affairs,
whether he was understood to give encouragement to the
idea that a confederation under the Pope would he the best
possible solution of the Italian question, and whether under
any circumstances it would be assented to by the Italian

.
°al 77i weep.
Earl 3 . aired no intention wh ea
e part of the government, of offering any oppeei the
assure. The noble loot bad been correctly Int that
the other house of parliament • bill relating, ravings,
irks connected with the Poet-office bad beat • • • • • et,
• the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
Misr to these. .
The bill won then read a second time. •
LDMINISTRATION OF THE LAW. is Alf 1. r.
Loot LEITRIM, in presenting a petition d by 2,079
rmere and Inhabitants of the soutbrea etibe empty
Leitrim, paritythic:for retention. sad a* laws may
properly administe
make • TWINS
rd, and drew a startling picture of the malsdminiatra•
in of the law in certain districts of Ireland.
Lord GRAHAM) defended himself against the charges
ought forward by Lord Leitrim, and recretted that any
teendaub! have been made on Lord Carlisle.