The Sun.
London, England, 1855-02-14 00:00:00

THE WEATHER, THE PARKS, cc.

The various Royal parks during yesterday presented
more the appearance of as many fairs in honour of some
great national event than the usually quiet promenades
set apart for the enjoyment of her Majesty's subjects.
The ice was literally covered with human beings, who
were amusing themselves by either sliding or skating,
and, as will be seen from the subjoined, a number of seri-
ous casualties occurred, which in all probability will
compel the sufferers to keep their beds, either in the
hospitals or at their respective homes, for the remainder
of the skating season.
The thermometer at the Royal Humane Society's re-
ceiving-house in Hyde Park, during the night of Mon-
day, fell as low again as 23, being 9 degrees below the
freezing point. Yesterday morning the quicksilver rose
to 25, and even at noon it rose no higher than 27, being
then 5 degrees below the freezing point. Towards seven
o'clock in the evening the mercury commenced to fall
rapidly, indicating a continuance of the present severe
weather. The barometer stood at 29.42. The wind,
which was north-east, was piercingly cold, and was ac-
companied by slight snow-storms, and in many places
the congealed substance was sent over the country dis-
tricts in such bodies as to cause great inconvenience to
pedestrians or persons passing along on horseback or in
vehicles.

The Thames about Richmond is completely frozen
over, and no craft, even of the smallest description, can
either pass up or down the river. As low down as
Illackfriars-bridge a large surface of the water was yes-
terday covered with ice (on the upper side) to the width
of two of the centre arches, which extended many yards
Irons the piers of the bridge. This provcnted any de-
seiiption of ves,els from passing under that part of the
brid;..re. Nearly :111 the steam-vessels plying above Lon-
don Ridge have been compelled to be laid up for the
pr,:ent, :tied strong fears 41/ e entertained, that, if the
present severe weather should last another week, a fair
will be able to be held on the Thanes, as was the case
in the year ISI4.
1.1 St. James's Park about 15,000 persons amused
themselves on the ice, which is now six inches thick. A
very novel scene took place in the enclosure, which drew
many thousands to the spot. Between 2 and 3 o'clock
a performance, termed the " Express Train," came off.
This consisted of 300 or 400 men, who extended back to
front nearly 100 yards. Having seized each other's coats
they started at a given signal, some whistling the " Rail-
way Overture," and others making a noise resembling
the blowing off the steam of a locomotive. This large
body of men who were at certain distances joined by
some of the Foot Guards, glided over the ice at the rate
of three-quarters of a mile per minute. Owing to the
exertions of Deputy Superintendent Parsons and the
icemen under him, the performance went off without
any of those engaged in the affair meeting with any
serious accident ; but owing to the continued crowding
of the spectators, about thirty persons were either
knocked down or fell upon the ice, by which they sus-
tamed serious cuts on the head and other injuries.
They were taken to the society's marquee, where their
wounds were dressed, and they were enabled to be sent
Lome ; but several others, by falling upon the ice, sus-
tained broken arms and legs, and these were forced to
be removed to the hospitals.
The Serpentine River in Hyde-park bad upon the ice
about 8,000 sliders and skaters ; amongst the number
were several members of the nobility, gentry, and clergy.
Five persons were run down, and had their heads
cut open by falling on the points of the gentlemen's or
ladies skates ; of the latter sex there were some bun.
dreds disporting themselves. It is here necessary to
state that the Serpentine River in Hyde-park, as far as
the bridge which divides Kensington-gardens, is under
the direction of H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge,
the ranger ; whilst the other Dart of thA ri.---, : 41.,
gardens, is mule,. 4i.e ,ontroi of her Majesty's Commis-
sioners of Woods and Works. To prevent persons pass-
ing from the Park to Kensington gardens iron chains
have been affixed to the middle of the arches, and car-
ried right across. In each link of the chains are heavy
spikes as sharp at the point as a bayonet. Owing to
the intensity of the frost these have become frozen, and
in some parts only the points of the spikes can be seen,
and when any one is passing over them with great ra-
pidity along the ice, it is almost impossible to see the
.Trialbislewmasemtbheercasa
yesterday for
until in
3ciorn.taLcetslwiei,ththethehmo
honourable
County, when the peak of his skates caught
spikes
the projection, and he fell upon the spikes with such
force that one of them entered the fleshy part of his
thigh, causing the blood to flow most copiously. Great
as the pain must have been, the honourable gentleman
had the presence of mind to take a silk handkerchief
from his pocket, and, after placing it round the wound,
with the aid of his walking cane he wound it up so tight
as to stop in a great measure the hemorrhage. Some of
the icemen, under the direction of Mr. Williams and
his deputy, Mr. Alurphy, took the sledge to his assist-
move bun to the receiving-house
ance, and placed the sufferer thereontil
cameinhtisencadirnrgiatgoerteo-
-haocsasbe,and
he was forthwith
• n
drlve home,
and was immediately
taal
okneg himbe f
ore homehe ccoouuldld a
rr re iairceh.
tFh
eo r
rt ue
enea
itveilnyg,
attended by Dr. Guthrie. The spike, being in such a
rusty state, it is feared that the hon. gentleman nay
he laid up for sonic time. A female, with a child in
her arms, narrowly escaped a similar fate, as she fell
within half an inch of one of the spikes, ould if she had
dropped upon it she would have been injured for life.
It is the opinion of Mr. Williams that the chains and
spikes ought to be removed forthwith, for if they are
allowed to remain until Sunday, presuming that the
frost should last so long, it will be next to an impossi-
bility to prevent several serious, and, perhaps, fatal ac-
cidents.

The Long Water, in Kensington Gardens, had about
1,000 sliders and skaters, including several members of
the Skating Club, but no accident deserving a detailed
notice occurred during the day.
The Round Pond was patronised by not more than
500 persons, and no accidents occurred.
The Regent's Park lyid about 12,000 persons upon
the ice, and several ladies and gentlemen were severely
injured by fatting or being run down by the skaters.
The Crystal Palace Company of Sydenhatu have also
afforded a beautiful sheet of water for some of the mem-
bt rs of the Skating Club and others to enjoy the exhila-
rating exeicise without any risk of being drowned; and,
moreover, the ice of this place is in a far better codition
than in any of the Royal parks.
The Victoria Park in the east was also crawdsd with
sliders and skaters, but no accident of a serious cha-
racter, beyond a few cut heads, took 1 p ace.

ARRIVALS OF GOLD.—The arrivals of gold yezterday
consisted of 60,000/. by the Canada and 6,0001. by the
Hermann, from New York, together with 8,0001. by
the Candace, from Africa, making a total of 74,000/.
The Solent has taken out 24,0001. in gold, and 13,0001.
iu Silveri for Lisbon, Brazil, it C.