The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-03 00:00:00

THE WEATHER IN SCOTLAND.

" Winter," says the Scotsman, " has now set in with
considerable severity. On Wednesday morning the
snow commenced, and during the day occasional falls
took place. In the afternoon the depth exceeded two
inches. This snow-storm is the first experienced here this
season. On Wednesday night the thermometer fell in
Princes-street to 21 degs., in Inverleith-row to 1D dcgs.,
and at Canaan to 18 degs. Fahr. This is the lowest
point that the thermometer has reached in this neigh-
bourhood for several years. On Thursday afternoon
thaw commenced, the wind being from the south-west.
Showers of rain fell during the evening. After mid-
night frost again set in, the wind being northerly. The
streets in many places are sheeted with ice, which renders
walking somewhat dangerous. The snow has nearly
all disappeared with the thaw, a thin crust, hardened
by the frost, only remaining. The intense cold,
with snow at this period, would indicate the probabi-
lity of an unusually severe season. Duddingston
Loch, and other sheets of water, have afforded sport
to skaters, though the snow has rather spoiled the
ice. The storm has been somewhat partial through-
out this district of Scotland, as some of the western
Fifeshire hills are free from snow, while others further
east are white. The mails from the north have been
rather irregular, even when conveyed by railway ; while
in some parts of the districts, without the benefit of that
mode of transit, the roads have been completely blocked
up." The Inverness Courier of Thursday informs us
that "on the Aberdeen road the storm has been seri-
ously felt. Yesterday the mail due at five a.m. did not
arrive till more than 12 hours after the time, and then
the bags were carried on horseback from Forres. All
thocoaches plying on this road have heenstOppemih
diTheer
mail going to Aberdeen yesterday, could get no
than Nairn. The Star coach stuck in the snow a
Auldearn, and the Defiance, which left here as usua
this morning, turned back after going three miles. From
Aberdeen the mail passed freely through the Foundland
Hills, and got as far as Newmills, near Forres. Here
the guard was obliged to leave it. All trace of the road
was in many places lost, and it was everywhere impasse
able for a vehicle. He succeeded, by dint of perseve-
rance and good management, in carrying the mails safely
on horseback to Inverness. The wind was northerly,
and kblew strong, and the snow consequently drifted
about very much. About 100 men are engaged at
various points clearing the road, and it is hoped, if the
storm does not increase, that the coaches may be able to
resume the communication in a short time. The north
mail came in last night very little behind the usual hour
but it brought only the bags from TaM, from which we
may infer that the Ord of Caithness and other points on
the north road are impassable. The steamers arrived
about the usual time."

PROGRESS OF UNIONS.—When notice of the " lock-
out" was given, there were only two unions among the
factory operatives of Preston, the spinners and the
power-loom weavers. For some time past there has
been seven unions or committees, the weavers', the
spinners', the card-room hands', the throstle-spinners',
the tape machine sizers', the power-loom overlookers',
and the spinning and card masters' ; and there has, this
week, been added another, the cutlookers and ware-
housemen's, who have hitherto had no share in the funds
raised for the " lockouts ;" and, as many of them are
persons of large families, and no means of subsistence, a
committee was formed on Tuesday last to collect sub-
scriptions for their support from persons in similar capa.
cities in other towns.—Prestoit Chronicle.
Secretary 18.
POSTAL COMMUNICATION W 3.7.71).,
LANDS.—Mr. James Wilson, the
Treasury, in reply to a memorial from Newcastle upon
this subject, states their Lordships are prepared to make
an experiment for two years of a steam postal communi.
cation from Scrabston-pier to Stromness ; the service to
be daily during the six months of summer, and every
other day during the six months of winter, Sundays ex-
cepted, and to be commenced on the 15t of April next.