The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-12 00:00:00

THE WEATHER AND THE PARKS,

The comparatively mild temperature which on
Saturday succeeded to the frosty atmosphere and
cutting winds that had prevailed daring the earlier
portion of the week was so far maintained on Sunday
night that the mercury had fallen but four degrees
in the thermometer at midnight. The highest
point reached on Sunday was 40 degrees, or 8 above
freezing point; the minimum temperature dating
the night was 36 degrees, while the lowest point
touched was 30 degrees. At nine o'clock yesterday
morning Messrs. Negretti and Zsmbra's standard
thermometer at the Royal Humane Society's re-
ceiving-house, Hyde-park, registered 36 degrees;
and at noon the mercury had risen to 45 degrees, or
5 above the highest point of yesterday. The wind
blew in the morning from E.S.E. ; at noon it was
almost due south; but it afterwards chopped round
to south-east by east. At four o'clock the mercury
fell to 40 degrees, and later in the evening the tem-
perature indicated was a shade lower than 39 deg.:
Notwithstanding the dangerous condition of the
ice on the Serpentine, and the unwearied exertions
of the icemen of the Royal Humane Society, whose
orders were to prevent all persons from venturing
upon it, over 200 skaters pursued the sport yester-
day, and apparently with all the greeter zest that it
was an enjoyment which, under the circumstances,
prudence would have forbidden. They, however,
disregarded all warning, and, being literally swift
of foot, eluded the efforts made to remove them; A
large number of boys, encouraged by the example
of their seniors, crowded on the ice at various
places. They were in one respect more easily dealt
with, but they contrived to return to the frozen sur-
face at one point or another almost as soon as they
were removed from it. Happily no serious casualty
occurred during the day, and this the more to be
wondered at from the "ragged" and honeycombed
state of the ice. It is now little over two and a half
inches in thickness, and, owing to the lines and
cracks which intersect each other in every direction,
resembles a monster skeleton map loosely put to-
gether, or a Chinese puzzle on a large scale.
The ice on the Round Pond, near Kensington
Palace, is of an average thickness of 4 inches, and
the water being shallow except at one point, which
is marked, and where the depth is about ten feet,
the number of skaters and sliders was comparatively
large, amounting during the entire day to over 300.
A few skaters also ventured on the ice which covers
the Long Water. Although not considered safe for
a crowd, it is in a better condition than that on the
Serpentine, being still 31 inches in thickness; that
being, however, 2 inche© less than its average thick-
ness on Friday last:
At Regent's and St. James's parks the ornamental
waters are still frozen over; but the ice has thawed
to such an extent that it is not in a fit state to resist
the pressure of the numbers of persons who hastened
to the parks yesterday with a view to engage in the
sport of skating and sliding. The icemen were
busily employed in keeping the ice clear, and full
notice was given to the public that it was unsafe to
venture upon it; but in the case of many urchins,
who insisted on running into danger, the conclu-
sive argument of the rope's-end had to be resorted
to.

The skating season, so far, has been short and
sharp. The sun set yesterday with what is under-
stood by the weatherwise as a "frosty appearance,"
and there are some who profess to be learned in
such matters who predict that a return to extremely
cold weather is at hand. Should such not be the
case, however (and the weatherwise are sometimes
otherwise), those who have looked forward to a long
will, at least, have the con-
solation of knowing that the genial influence which
run of sport on the ice
prevents their anticipations being realised gives
work labourer, and mitigates one of the many
hardships
hwe
hic
h thepoor have to endure.

(Rom the Scotsman.)
The weather on 15aturday was more genial than
it had been for some days previous, the keenness of
the frost being somewhat neutralised by the rays of
the sun, which occasionally shone out brightly
through the thick misty
atmosphere. As was to be
expected, the lochs proved the great centre of
seekers. All day long
crowds of people of all ranks of the community
attraction for the pleasare.
thronged the Drive between Edinburgh and Dud-
dingston, going to and returning from the ice; and
the road towards midday presented an appearance
matisveiety such as in ordinary circum-
stancesn in the greatest thoroughfares
Carriages,
oo ff bustleth e
is a
sne
city.dld
oa
coaches, cabs, gigs, and
other conveyances swelled the living tide that rolled
dhsypeAntratthnursr Seat, bearing thousands of
skaters
srdans
to the ice, and at parts of the
roshuhPie and vehicles was so great
a
plogress of pedestrians.
T
och during the day was
imposing and picturesque. From the hill
somewhat
: ne en thenw scene
ata t crowd
Dtoa
impeded odf
i people t
o t
it:
e L
strikingly
and rising ground overlooking the ice thousands of
ladies and gentlemen watched win keen interest
the shifting and manifold phases )f the wintry
pastimes
in
n a
s 130
loch )elow. These
they were exciting, and
afforded infinite amusement to the onlookers. Here
and there, within privileged enclosures swept clear
appeared progress
as
upon
a s the
ed
w d
withskaters performed
omystic a w
evolutionsskill
them conspicuous among the motley thousands who
sought recreation upon every part of the firm and
compact expanse of ice. Higher up, towards the
eastern end of the loch, eager, high-spirited curlers
a t a veteran
te
easera and gran that made
carried on their invigorating game in presence of
amused spectators, jest and laugh mingiiir, with
the rumbling music of the stones as they slinswiftly
from goal to goal. Occasionally dense crowds of
boys pursuing the flying ball swept, whtlwind
fashion, over different parts of the ice, now, ta seen
from a distance, settling into a confused and udis-
tinguishable mass, and then, breaking up, seater-
iug into long, straggling files, and earr:ieg
humorous terror into the hearts of nervous wd
undisciplined skaters, who, without warning, lir
pened to be enveloped in and carried away with tie
rushing tide. Prominent in the changing scerc
crowds of gaily-dressed ladies and gentlemen en.
joyed with unflagging energies the healthy and
exciting exercise of the slide, receiving with hearty
good humour the little accidents and laughable
contretemps to which the pastime not un frequently
gave rise. These constituted the chief features of
the sports; the minor episodes of the scene were
almost innumerable, and afforded endless gratifica-
tion to the beholder. The ice swarmed with skaters
—skilled and unskilled, woeful and ungraceful,

whose fantastic and seemingly interminable ma
nccuvres generally gave rise to admiration, but not
unfrequentiy to uncontrollable mirth. Between-
-12 and 4 o'clock the number of people upon the loch
could not have been less than 6,000 at one time ;
and as crowds were continually arriving and de-
parting, the number who visited the ice throughout
the day must have been between 12,000 and 15,000.
During the two hours preceding twilight the sight
which Duddingsten and the acclivities surrounding
it presented was one that has been rarely seen in
the neighbourhood of Edinburgh. The bold features
of the neighbouring scenery, partially disclosed
through the overhanging mist—the gay aspect of
the crowds who watched the sports from the banks
and from the carriages drawn up along the drive—
the sharp, whirring sound of innumerable chairs
driven at headlong pace by skaters over the ice,
and bearing young ladies in swift flight across the
loch—the varying aspects of the surface of the loch
as the huge crowds skimmed and swayed to and fro
upon its surface—the brilliant colours of the ladies'
dresses; these combined with the noise and bustle
everywhere prevalent, formed a panorama that was
pleasant above measure to the eye to dwell upon.
Nor did evening, which closed with a keen air and
thick fog, wholly interrupt the progress of the sport.
For hours after darkness fell adventurous skaters
traversed the loch in all directions bearing torches,
which, as seen from the upland overlooking Dad-
ningston, glared ruddy and wild through the thick
misty atmosphere. Many lovers of the pastime,
whom business prevented attending during the
day, and not a few whose enthusiasm made them
eager to make the most of the time while the frost
lasted, remained on the loch till near midnight,
steering their uncertain course over the ice by the
aid of paper lanterns and other improvised helps
to safety. The ice was very good throughout the
day, and with the exceptio❑ of some concealed ruts
that occasionally overthrew the unwary tyro, or
taxed the good temper of the practised skater, there
was little to complain of in its quality or condition.
About an hour before dark the number of people
who thronged the road leading citywards, on their
return from the loch, was almost as large as the
crowd that pours down to the Queen's Park to
welcome her Majesty on her visits to Edinburgh.
Notwithstanding the immense number of people on
the ice during the day, we can say that only one
accident occurred. Skaters—and their name is
legion—will be sorry to learn that the healthy and
invigorating exercise which they have enjoyed with
such zest during the past week is likely for the
present to be suspended. Early on Sunday morn-
ing a thaw set in accompanied with a gentle breeze,
which sent the mercury up to 12 deg. above freezing
point. On Sunday night the thermometer regis-
tered 43 deg., and there was a prospect of the mer-
cury rising still higher. There were two inches of
water on Daddingston Loch on Sunday.

CONSPIRACY AGAINST THE FRENCH
EMPEROR'S LIFE.

(From the Paris Correspondent of the Times.)

The discovery of the conspiracy against the Em-
peror's life, mentioned in my letters of Thursday
and Friday, has filled with consternation every one
who has heard of it. The agents of this plot, which
was to have been executed with circumstances of
extraordinary atrocity are found. It was at first
said that one of the party was a Belgian, and then
a Pole. The circumstance of a Pole who was em-
ployed on the Northern railroad having been arrested
in consequence of the last fatal accident on that line
led to the mistake. It would now appear that the
four are Italians; their names are Greco, Impera-
tori, Trabuco, and Saglio, otherwisecalled Marpholi.
They were arrested in the afternoon of Sunday last.
When they were examined before the Juge d'ln-
struction, Greco, who, it seems,was at the head of the
band, unhesitatingly, and with audacious frankness,
avowed his crime, affected to glory in having been
employed to execute it, and regretted that he had
not succeeded. If the disclosures made.by this man
are to be trusted, it would appear that towards the
end of September, or beginning of October last, he
and his three accomplices were summoned to Lugano
by Mazzini, with whom they had been for some time
in correspondence. It was then and there arranged
that they should proceed to Paris to assassinate the
Emperor. Mazzini gave them four shells which
he had received or brought from England ; four
shells of a similar description which he had caused
to be made at Genoa; four revolvers and four
poinards. On leaving Lugano Mazzini gave him
4,000 f., telling him he was going to London to
await the result of the attempt, and would then
send him more money. He tit the same time left
him the address of a person through whom he wa
to write to him in case he wanted more funds.
The address, in Mazzini's handwriting, was found
on Greco's person. Among other papers was a
copy of instructions from Mazzini written in cipher,
and containing certain signs which he was to send
him on the eve of the day the crime was to be at-
tempted. Mazzini also gave him two photographic
portraits of himself, with his name at the bottom
written in his own hand. Those papers were
found in Greco's trousers, between the lining and
and the cloth. There was also found in Greco's
pocketbook a letter addressed by Imperatori to
Mazzini, stating that, having heard of a plot for
the murder of the Emperor, he claimed to be one
of the party. Greco admitted that this letter had
been handed to him at Lugano by Mazzini.
It was on Christmas-day that the men bent on
this mission of blood arrived in Paris. It was at first
said that they had come direct from London to
France; but it appears from the depositions that
they entered the French territory from Switzerland,
and with passports perfectly en regle, without a
single flaw, which had been given them by the Swiss
authorities. Each had two shells uncharged on his
person. From the day of their arrival to that of
their arrest they changed their lodging more than
once in order to throw the poliee, whom they seemed
to know were on the watch for them, off the scent.
They did not all live together, but met in the day-
time to concert the means of carrying oat their
object.

Greco, who appeared to be as eager an approver
as he had been a conspirator, related to the Judges
every movement, every particular of himself and his
accomplices since their coming to Paris. They had
made a careful inspection of the approaches to the
Operain the Rue Lepelletier, and of those of the other
theatres which the Emperor was in the habit of visit -
ing. They bad examined every piece which gave
access to the. Palace of the Tuileries, and repeatedly
visited the Bois de Boulogne when the Emperor
went to skate. Their plan was that wherever, or
whenever, the opportunity presented itself they were
to throw their shells (said to be more destructive
than those of Orsini) under his horses' feet, and at
once rush on him and his attendants with their
revolvers and poniards. Greco added that the
poniards, which he had received from Mazzini,
were poisoned, and it seems on examination that
the points and blades are of a peculiar colour,
as if they had been long steeped in some liquid.
The conspirators, who declare that they w ere in
constant correspondence with Mazzini, resoived to
effect their purpose on Monday or Tuesday last at
the Bois de Boulogne, On the previous Saturday
the shells were loaded and everything prepared.
They were, however, ont of money, having al-
ready spent the 4,000 f. Mazzini had given them
in October. Their way of life contrasted strangely
with the secret object on which they were bent.
They had been constantly traced by the police, and
from their frequent changes of domicile seemed to
be perfectly aware of it, yet they acted as if they
wished to give every facility to those who were so
vigilantly watching them. They denied themselves
no pleasure; they lived joyously, and a dinner for
the four cost over 200:. They contemplated escaping
from Paris after the perpetration of their crime ; but,
as they had spent their money in orgies of every
kind, they wrote to Mazzini, who is now in Lon
don, for more. The Emperor had been kept ac-
t quainted with what was going on, but it did not
prevent him from going cut as usual, and the
)(Aloe, knowing that Monday or Tuesday was fixed
for the attempt, made all sure by arresting the con-
siirators on Sunday evening. The money they had
witten for did not arrive the day they expected;
but' hear that a letter, containing an order—some
any for 500 f., others for 4,oool—addressed to one of

them, was intercepted on Saturday at the Post-
office. Had the funds arrived before Sunday they
would, they said, have at once proceeded to action.
Such in substance is the confession of Greco, and
it is in all respects corroborated by his accomplices.
The only one who has shown compunction for the
crime in which he was to have a share,is Saglio, alias
Marpholi, a young man of two or three and twenty,
and he declares that when matters came to the point
he would have refused to act. Imperatori and
Trabuco describe themselves as formerly belonging
to the band of Garibaldi, as having taken part in
the affair of Aspromonte when ho was wounded ;
and both wore the Marsala medal. Trabuco, who
had passed under another name, is said to have been
tried and convicted in France for swindling, and in
London for theft. Greco, the head of the party,
was in a state of great excitement during his ex-
amination by the Juge d'lnstruction. He blas-
phemed, foamed at the mouth, cursed himself for
having failed, and declared that there were others
bound like himself by oath to complete the crime.
The shells found at the house where they lodged
are about the same siza as the Orsini ones, but some-
what differently shaped. Orsini's were in form like
a pear; these are perfectly oval, and very thick, and
instead of being charged with fulminating powder
were filled with ordinary powder. The conspirators
are now lodged in the prison of Mezas ; their pre-
liminary examination is not yet quite ended, and it
is believed they will make further disclosures. Tra-
buco was seized at the door of his house on Sunday
afternoon, Imperatori almost at the same moment
while preparing to go out, and Greco and the other
in another house in the Rue St. Honore.

LONDON GAZETTE,—This Evening-,

WAR OFFICE, DEC. 31.
The Queen has been graciously pleased to give orders
for the appointment of Commissary-General-in-Chief Jobn
William Smith, C. 8., to be an Oruinary Member of the
Military Division of the Second Class, or Knights Com-
manders of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath.
WHITEHALL, JAN. 11.

The Queen has been pleased to give and grant unto
Captain Sir Adolphus Slade, of the Royal Navy, K.C.8.,
who is actually and entirely employed iu the service of his
Imperial Majesty the Sultan, beyond the Queen's deral-
nions, and who in the year• 185 S received her Majesty's
permission to accept and wear the Insignia of the Third
Class of the Imperial Order of the Medjtdie, her Majesty's
royal licence and authority that he may accept anu wear
the Insignia of the Second Class of the said Imperial Order
of the Medjidie,which the Sultan hath been pleased to con-
fer upon him.
The Queen has been pleased to nominate the Rev.
Sidney Henry Widdrington, M.A., to toe pe, petual curacy
of the district parish of St. Mark, St. Marylebone, in the
county of Middlesex, and diocese of London, void by the
resignation of the Rev. Ashby Blair Haslewood.
FOREIGN. OFFICE, JAN. 12.
The Queen has been pleased to approve of Don Manuel
do la Quintana as Vice-Consul at Liverpool for the Re-
public of Peru.
The Queen has also been pleased to approve of Senor Jorjo
Dunlop to be Vice-Consul at Southampton for the United
States of Colombia.

DOWNING-STREET, JAN. 12,

The Queen has been pleased to appoint John Foster
Gresham, Esq., to be Chief Justice of the ',Lind of
Grenada; and William Alexander George Young, Esq., to
be Colonial Secretary for the Island of Vancouver.
WAR-OFFICE, PALL-MALL, JAN. 12,

COMMISSARIAT DEPARTMENT.—Commissary-General
William James Tyrone Power, C. 13., to be Commissary-
General•in-Chief, vice John W. Smith, C,8., retired.
INDIA-OFFICE, JAN. 12.
Her Majesty has been pleased to approve the undermen-
tioned promotions and alterations of rank amongst the Offi-
cers of the Staff Corps and of her Majesty's Indian Military
Forces.

MADRAS STAFF CORPS.
To be Lieutenant-Colonels—Major Francis Greetharq
licmpster and Major Alexander Robert Fraser.

➢fADRAS ARMY.
10th Native Infantry—Lieut. Robert Beaty to be Captain;
vice Mitcalfe, deceased.
General List of Infantry Officers—Ensign Augustus
Frederick Wilkinson to lie Lieutenant, vice Lee, .37th
Native Infantry, deceased—Ensign George Leckey to be
Lieutenant, in succession to Somerville, 26th Native In-
fantry, deceased.
Medical Officers—Assistant-Surgeon Edward Dixon to be
Surgeon, vice Hadwen, deceased—Assistant-Surgeon Jas.
Cowper to be Surgeon, vice Scott, retired.

BOMBAY STAFF CORPS.

Admission—Captain Artnur Henry Curtis, of the 2d
Native Infantry.
Promotion—To be Major— Captain Arthur Henry
Curtis.

BOMBAY ARMY.

Late 31st Native Infantry—Captain Montague John
Battye to be Major—Lieutenant uharles Donald Macleod
to be Captain, in succession to M'Culloch, retired.
General List of Infantry Officers—Ensign Stanley Carter
to be Lieutenant, in succession to Showell (23d Native In-
fantry), deceased—Ensign Harry Trevor Bulkley, to be
Lieutenant, in succession to Taylor, 22d Native Infantry
(Staff Corps), deceased.
ADMIRALTY, JAN. H.
In pursuance of her Majesty's pleasure, Admiral of the
Red Sir Lucius Curtis, Bart., K.C.8., has this day been
promoted to be Admiral of the Fleet; and in consequence
thereof the following promotions, also dated this day, have
taken place :
Admiral of the White Sir Augustus 'William James Clif-
ford, Bart., C. 8., to be Admiral of the Red.
Admiral of the Blue Sir Provo William Parry 'Wallis,
K.C.8., to be Admiral of the White.
Vice-Admirals The Right Hon. Charles Lord Colchester
and 'William Keats, on 'the Reserved List, to be Admirals
on the same List.

Vice-Admiral of the lied Sir Henry John Leeke, 1i.C.8.,
K.H., to be Admiral of the Blue.

ViCe-Admiral of the Whita John Alex. Duntze to be
Vice-Admiral of the Red.

Vice-Admiral of the Blue Henry Wolsey Bayficld to be
Vice-Admiral of the White. _ _

Rear-Admirals--Sir Wm. Dickson, Bart., and William
Sydney Smith, oil the Reserved List, to be Vice-Admirals
on the same List.

Rear-Admiral of the Red the Hon. Sir Henry Keppel,
K.C.8., to be Vice-Admiral of the Blue.
Rear-Admiral of the White Robert Spencer Robinson to
be Rear-Admiral of the Red.

Rear-Admiral of the Blue George Ramsay, C. 8., to be
Rear-Admiral of the White.

Captain Sir George Graham Otway, Bart., and Captain
Sir Andrew Snape Hamond, Bart., to be Rear-Admirals on
the Reserved List.
Captain the Hon. James Robert Drummond, C. 8., to be
Rear-Admiral of the Blue.
Retired Rear-Admiral Henry Ommanney Love to be Re-
tired Vice-Admiral, in pursuance of tho Order in Council
of the 7th May, ISSS.

Course of the Exchange—This Day.

-

Amsterdam
Ditto
Rotterdam — 11 14,

11 17i
11 0
11 0

Antwerp
Brussels

25 C2i
25 62i:

25 671

25 6%
13 S

Hamburgh — 13 7}
Paris
Ditto .. 3 Mouths; 25 70
Marseilles

25 30
25 75
25 75
113;
12 43
12 50
33a

Frankfort on Maine
Vienna

119
12 37

Trieste
Petersburgh
Berlin
Madrid ......
Cadiz
Leghorn
Milan
Genoa
Naples
Palermo
Messina

12 40

47!
471
25 821
25 821
25 821
25 821
25 85
25 85
52$
521

481
`2,5 872
25 87t
25 871
25 871
25 96
25 9d
52,1

Lisbon
Oporto...-