The Sun.
London, England, 1838-01-27 00:00:00

THE WEATHER.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIR,—The effect of the late thaw has apparently operated
very singularly. At Ilfracombe it commenced early on
Sunday morning. The London newspapers state that it did
not commence in London until Sunday evening, and by your
paper, received to-night, it appears that at Newcastle-upon-
Tyne it did not commence until eight o'clock on Monday
evening, so that it appears that the change in the atmosphere
was not even at railroad pace. I send you these remarks in
hops of inducing some of your meteorological friends to favor
your readers with their opinions thereon.

Sound Sense.—Demosthenes of old it is said travelled in
search of honesty, but now we have a modern traveller (Dr.
Reid, Lecturer on Acoustics) who is said to be in search of
Sound sense.

Ilfracombe, Jan. 25, 1838.

Yours, &c.
R. W. D.

NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, JAN. 26.
The River Tyne was covered to..ay with some hundreds of
persons of both sexes ; some skaiting, others sliding, and all
seemingly enjoying the glacial promenade.
During the last 24 hours there has been a slight fall of
snow,
and at present (eight o'clock in the evening) the ap-
pea
ranee of the atmosphere—the intensity of the frost having
r' —vv
,laxedould seem to indicate a further fall. The Edin-
burgh mail last night was only one hour and a half behind
time, showing that the roads are in tolerable order.

SLEDGE-DRlVlNG.—Thursday considerable sen-
sation was caused by some of the officers of that gallant regi-
th, being seen driving through the town in a
ment, the 79
beautiful sledge. The snow along the principal thorough-
fares being in a manner crystallized by the constant passage of
pedestrians and vehicles, presented a fine surface for this novel
mode of locomotion ; and accordingly the sledge, with two
horses, tandem, was driven in fine style, to the great admira-
tion of the spectators. It was really a very chaste and
striking specimen of art, being formed so as to represent a
dragon, and covered with mythological figures beautifully
carved. We have since understood that it is constructed out
of one solid piece of wood, and that the manufacture, which is
Russian, must have been of very old date. It was purchased
abroad about 20 years since by a highly respectable townsman.
—Caledonian Mercury.
One day last week, as a child belonging to Mr.
James Dunn, Rumford-street, Bridgeton, was standing at its
father's door, it was enticed by three or four young fellows
(some of them, to appearance, twenty years of age), to take a
tobacco-pipe into its mouth, when one of the fellows applied a
light to the pipe and blew up the whole contents, consisting of
gunpowder, into the child's face. So soon as this noble feat
was achieved, the whole gang set off, laughing at the tortures
of the poor innocent. Great fears were entertained for some
time as to the safety of the child's eyes; bu 3 we arc happy to
say that it is rapidly recovering, and that some of the heartless
wretches are known, and will ere long meet their deserts.—
Glasgow Courier.
RARA Avis.—On Thursday last, when William
Ste;.henson, of Anlaby, was traversing part of his master's
grounds, and dispersing a flock of wild pigeons from a field of
Swedish turnips, he discovered, at no great distance from him,
on the snow, something rather large, which displayed signs of
life. On approaching it it took wing, but was immediately
brought down by a shot from his gun. It turns out to be an
eagle of no small size, measuring from the tip of one wing to
the other seven feet. It is in an emaciated condition, and has
probably strayed in quest of food from its native clime, where
the weather must be awfully severe, and destructive of the
provision on Which the force naturce commonly feed.-110
Rockingham.
We hear with great pleasure, that, in consideration
of the dreadful severity of the weather, her Majesty has been
pleased to put 1,000/. at the disposal of the Lord Mayor, to be
applied for the relief of the poor sufferers in his Lordship's
jurisdiction, and for providing increased accommodation for
the houseless poor. We hear that a like sum has been dis-
tributed through the different Magistrates for similar objects
in Westminster and the suburbs. This worthy emulation of
the noblo example set by her Majesty's illustrious prede-
cessors will be most deeply felt and gratefully acknowledged.