The Sun.
London, England, 1841-01-07 00:00:00

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS ON STEAM ENGINES.

'• The 31st article of the Royal decree of the 24th of
June, 1819, contains the following directions:—
" Our Minister of Public Works shall publish every year
in the Moniteur an account of all the accidents which shall
have happened in the preceding year to steam engines ot
every description. This account shall mention the name
of the manufacturer of the boiler, and that of the owner of
the engine—the effects produced by the accident—and the
recognised or supposed causes to which they are attri-
buted. " The Minister of Public Works,
( Signed) " CH. ROGIER.
" Brussels, Jan. 3, 18.11.'%
In conformity with this direction, the Minister of Public
Works announces that it appears from the reports which
have been transmitted to him, that during the year 1840
no accident has occurred.

These reports include both the stationary engines, the
number of which in the kingdom is about 1,160, and those
of the steam-boats and the locomotive.—illoniteur Beige.
A letter from Vienna of the 26th of December, in the
Gazette of Cologne, says—
" The Archduke Frederick has agreeably surprised his
august father by sending him the journal, which he has
kept (all in his own handwriting) during the present ex-
pedition to Syria, accompanied with plans of the coast of
the places taken, and of the military operations."
LUXEMBURG, DEC. 26 —Our Government has just
ordered an inquiry: to be made, the object of which is to
ascertain the opinion of the principal merchants and manu-
facturers of the country on the advantages and the disad-
vantages which might result to the trade and manufactures
of the Grand Duchy by joining the German Custom
Union. This inquiry commenced only a week ago, and a
great number of p::rsons interested in the question have
already given their declarations.

JAN. 2. We find in the Echo that an order has been
receised to arm the citadel, and to make the inhabitants
lay in provisions for six months. The Echo is inistakcn ;
no such orders have been received. What is believed to
be the truth is, that measures arc directed to be taken to
replace the provisions and stores of the fortress which
have been commenced, and to put it in the same situation
as it was in 1831.
r,k.LCil UNDS—BaussEts, JAN. 5.
Actual DOA, '2%, per Cent.
Rothschild's Loan, 5 per Ca nt !Pi
Loan of Thirty Millions, 4 per Cent. FN
PO% '
per Cent.

Thirty-seven -- .• ......
Loan of City, 1i..3•2, 4 per Cent 9a
Society at Cornmcrce, 4 Y, per Cent llO
Bank of Belgium, 5 per Cent ..........
National Society .
Exchange on London (short)
—Brussels Papers, Jan. 5.

SEVERE WINTERS.

The following catalogue of winters of extraordinary
severity, together with their peculiar physical and
historical results, will perhaps at present be interesting.
It will be remembered the thermometer was not invent.
ccl till 1590, by the celebrated Sanctorio : nor reduced
to a correct standard before the year 17'24, by Fah-
reaheit. We have therefore no precise observations of
temperature further back than a century prior to that
period. We must glean our information from the loose
and scanty notices scattered through old chronicles
respecting the state of the harvests, the vintage, and
the endurance of frost and snow during the winter. A
bulky work, published by Pilgrim, in the German lan-
guage, at Vienna, in 1788, displays wonderful indus-
try in this research, and from a translation of it the fol-
lowing passages are abridged. The comparative mild-
ness of recent years will he particularly observable.
In A.D. 401 the Black Sea was entirely frozen over.

In 4G2 the Danube was frozen, so that Thvornedcr
mar:l..llyd over the ice to avingc his brother's death in
Swabia.

In 545 the cold was so intense in winter that the
birds allowed then:selves to be caught by the hand.
In 763, not only the Black Sea, but. the Straits of
the Dardanelles, was frozen over. The snow in some
places rose 50 feet high, and the ice was so heaped in
cities as in some places to push down the walls.
In 822 the great rivers of Europe, such as the Da-
nube, the Elbe, and the Seine, were frozen so hard as to
bear heavy waggons for a month.
In 860 the Adriatic was frozen.

In 874 the snow continued to fall from the beginning
of September to the end of March, and incumbered
the ground so much that the forests were inaccessible
for fuel.

In 891, and again in 893, the vines were killed by the
frost, and the cattle perished in their stalls.
In 1067 the cold was so intense that most of the
travellers of Germany were frozen to death on the
road!.

In 1133, it was ext7emely cold in Italy. The Po
was frozen from Cremona to the sea ; the heaps of
snow rendered the roads impassable : the wine-easke
were burst, and even the trees were split by the action
of the frost with immense noise.
In 1179, the snow was eight feet deep in Austria,
and lay till Easter ; the crops and vintage failed, and a
great murrain consumed the cattle. ;
In 1234, the Po was frozen, and loaded waggons
Crossed the Adriatic to Venice ; a fine forest was killed
by the frost at Ravenna.
In 1236, the Danube was frozen to the bottom, and
remained long in that state.
In 1269, the frost was most intense in Scotland, and
the ground bound up ; the Cattegat was frozen between
Norway and Jutland.
In 1221, such quantities of snore fell in Austria as to
bury the very houses.
In 1292, the Rhine was frczen over at Breysach,
and bore loaded waggons ; one sheet of ice extended
between Norway and Jutland, so that the travellers
passed with ease ; and, in Germany, 600 peasants were
employed to clear away the snow for the advance of
the Austrian army.
In 1305, the rivers of Germany were frozen, and much
distress was occasioned by the scarcity of provisions
and forage.
In 1316, the crops wholly failed in GerninoT ; wheat,
which some years before, sold in England at 6s. a guar- ,
ter, now rose to 21.
In 1323, the winter was so severe that both horse
and foot passengers travelled over the ice from Den-
mark to Lubeck and I)anizic.
In 1339, the crops failed in Scotland, and such a fa-
mine
ensued, that the poorer sort of the people were re-
duced to feed on grass, and many of them perished
miserably
in the fields ; yet, .❑ England, wheat was, at
this time, sold so low as 35.6(.1. a quarter.
In 13,1-1, it was clear frost from N ()vein:Ler to March,
and all the rivers in Italy were frozen over.
In the year 1408 was one of the coldest winters over
remembered. Not only the Danube was frozen over,
but the sea between Gothland and Oeland, and he-
tween Norway and Denmark, so that wolves driven
from their forests came over the ice to Jutland. In
France the vineyards and orchards were destroyed.
The successive winters of 1432, 1433, and 1431 were
uncommonly severe. It snowed 40 days without inter-

E V

N_ ING ED ITI OIN

mission. All the rivers in Germany were frozen, and
the very birds took shelter in the towns.
In 1460 the Baltic was frozen, and both horse and
foot passengers crossed over the ice from Denmark to
Sweden. The Danube likewise continued frozen two
months, and the vineyards in Germany were destroyed.
In 146 s the winter was so severe in Flanders that
the wine distributed to the soldiers was cut in pieces
with hatchets.
In 1344 the same thing happened again, the wine be-
ing frozen into solid lumps.
In 1564, and again in 1665, the winter was extretnely
severe and protracted. The Scheldt froze so hard as to
support loaded waggons for three months.
In 1371 the winter was very severe. All the rivers
in France were covered with hard and solid ice, and
fruit-trees, even in Languedoc, were killvd by the frost.
In 1394 the weather was so severe that the Rhine
and the Scheldt were frozen, and even the sea at Venice.
In 1621 and 1622 all the rivers of Europe were
frozen, and even the Zuyder Zee. A sheet of ice
covered the Hellespont, and the Venetian fleet was
choked up in the Lagoons of the Adriatic.
The winters of 1635, 1659, and 1660, were intensely
cold. The rivers in Italy bore heavy, carriages, and so
much snow had not fallen at Rome for smral centu-
ries. It was in 1658 that Charles trte Tenth of Swe-
den crossed the Little Belt over the ice, from Holstein
to Denmark, with his whole army, foot and horse, fol-
lowed by the train of baggage and artillery. During
these years the price of grain was nearly doubled. in
England, a circumstance which contributed, among
other causrs, to the Restoration.

In 1684 the wintrr was excessively cold. Many
forest trees, an,: even the oaks in linginnd, were split
by the frost. Most of the hotlies were killed. Coaches
,trove alornz the Thames, which was covered with ice
eleven inches thick. Almost all the birds perished.
In 1691 the cold was so excessive that the famished
wolves entered Vienna and attacked the cattle and
even men.

l'he winter of 1695 was extremely severe and pro-
tracted. The frog in Germary began in October, and
continued till April, and trimly people were frozen to
death.

In 1709 occurred that famous winter called by dis-
inction the cold winter. Al! the rivers and lakes were

frozen, and even the seas, to the distance of several
miles from the shore. The frost is said to have Pen'-
trated three yards into the ground. Birds and wild
beasts were strewed dead upon the field, and men
perished by thousands in their houses. 'rho more
tender shrubs and vegetables in England were killed,
and reheat rose in its price from two to four pounds a
quarter. In the south of France the olive plantations
were almost entirely destroyed, nor have they yet reco-
vered that fatal disaster. The Adriatic Sea was quite
frozen over, as was the coast of the Mediterranean about
Genoa ; and the citron and orange groves suffered ex-
tremely in the finest parts of Italy. •
In 1716 the winter was very cold ; on the Thames
booths were erected and fairs be:d.

In 1726 the weather was exceedingly severe.
In 1729 much injury was done by the frost, which
listed from October till May. In Scotland multi-
tudes of cattle and sheep were killed by the snow, and
many of the forest trees in other parts of Europe were
killed.

The successive winters of 1731 and 1732 were like-
wise extremely cold.
The cold of 1740 was scarcely inferior to that of
1709. The snow lay eight or ten feet deep in Spain
and Portugal. The Zuydcr Zee was frozen over, and
many thousand persons walked or skated on it. At
Leyden the thermometer fell ten degrees below the
zero of Fahrenheit's scale. All the lakes in England
froze, and a whole ox was roasted on the Thames.
Many trees were killed by the frost, and postillions
were benumbed in their saddles. In both the years
1709 and 1740, the General Assembly of the Church
of Scotland ordained a national fast to he held, on ac-
count of the dearth which then prevailed.
In 1744 the winter ryas again 4ry cold. The Mayne
was covered seven weeks, and at Evora, in Portugal, the
people could hardly creep out of their houses, through
heaps of snow.

The winters of the five successive years of 1743,
1746, 1747, 1748, and 1749, were all of them very
In 1734 and in 1735, the winter was again exceed-
ingly cold. At Paris Fahrenheit's thermometer sunk
to the beginning of the scale, and in England the
strongest ale exposed to the air in a glass was covered
in less than a quarter of an hour with ice, an eighth of
an inch thick.

The winters of 1766, 1767, and 1768, were very eold
all over Europe. In France the thermometer fell :ix
degrees below the zero of Fahrenheit's scale.
In 1771 the snow lay very deep, and the Elbe was
frozen to the bottom.

In 1776 much snow fell, and the cold was intense.
\Vine froze in the cellars both i❑ France and Holland,
Many people were frost-bitten, and vast multitudes.
both of the feathered and finny tribe, perished. Vet 6 c
quantity of snow which lay on the ground had checked
the penetration of the frost. Van Swindell found in
Holland that the earth was congealed to the depth of
inches on a spot of a garden which had been kept
cleared, but only nine inches at another ph..ce near it
which was covered with four inches of snow.

The winters of 1784, 1765, And 17.19 were exceed-
ingly cold, and of 1795, when the republican armies of
France overran Holland.

The wintets of 1799,1800, 1809, and 1812 wcrc rc—
niarknbl;• cold.

ln 1814 a r‘lir held on the river Thames, which
was frozen over, and printing presses were set at work
on the ice.

lo 1824 the son of the celebrated Radical, Itinry
Hunt, drove for a wager his father's blacking-van, drams
by six horses, across the ice on the Serpentine.

---
OPENING OF THE GREAT NORTII OF ENG-
LAND RAILWAY.—NORTIIALLERTON, JAN. 4.—This day,
long looked for, was ushered in with severe snow storms,
which continued throughout the day ; notwithstanding,
imn.ense numbers of people congregated together at ara
early hour in the morning, at the Station-house, the coal-.
depots, and at different places adjoining to the railway,
especially at the Castle-bill, the Zetland-bridge on the
Richmond-road, and the grand stand on the race-grourd,
in order to witnttss the arrival and passing of the engines
and trains of coal waggons. About half after ten in the
morning, the first two engines passed by the station-house
without stopping, drawing one hundred and two waggons:
of coals on their route for York; in about twenty
minutes after, two more engines arrived, drawing SQ wag--
goes leden with coals, which stopped a short time to take.
in avatar, and then proceeded too the southward ; the next
two engines which arrived, drawing ahlut the same number
of waggons, were accompanied by a band of music end
numerous flags flying, which, after taking a supply of
water, also proceeded for the south. Fresh trains conti-
nued to arrive until about halt after three in the afternoon
the last four trains were fur the depots at Thirsk an&
Nerthallerten. Trains of waggons will continue to at.—
rive at the different depots on the line of the said railway,
on Tuesday and Wednesday, so as to fill up each depot
with various kinds of coal front the most celebrated mines
in the county of Durham. On this diy no misfortunes
have happened on this part of the line of railway.—Leeds
Journal.

PORTUGUESE BONDIIOLDERS.-A meeting of
Portuguese Bondholders was held yesterday, at thc Lon-
don Tavern. The meeting was very fully attended. Mr.
Tacker in the chair. The resolutions proposed and
adopted were seven in number, and they set forth that
the Government ought to &vote all its revenues to the re-
payment of the bondholders, as it was pledged to do ; chat
the decrees of the Portuguese Government of the 2,1 of
November was a breach of faith ; that the British Govern-
ment should be called upon to exert its influence to obtain•
the settlement of the claims. They also complained of
the supineness of the contractors for the Peninsular Loans,
with respect to the claims of the bondholders; arid they
stated that thoic claims amount to no less than one hun-
dred millions sterling.

ATTEMPTED A SSASINATrON.—Abota WC'
o'clock on the learning of Saturday last, James Drum-
mond, porter tour. Gilmour, Soutlii Ilanoyer-street, v•Ali
attacked on the Govan road, near Clyde !laugh Nur
scry, by two men, one of whom fired a p•stoi at him,
which slightly grazed his neck, While the other struck
him with a bludgeon, or some heavy weapon. Drummond
immediately screamed out, when the fellows made Ott.!
but it is his impression that they had mistaken him for
some other person. Both the men were armed with
pistols, with caps or bonnete,
and an
seen to
clothes : they were light made, pass the Shed-
d
athey wore fustian
Toil from Glasgow. It is not improbable that they
:re toe persons,
or a part of the gang, who had witnin
Tf New Southlt°F Wales, it appears
that sw
theseyic ini t fourteeny (;
Ia
sdgaoy committed so mt.ny outrages in that
vicinity.—Glasgow
oroithie.
I ESSION.—In the
aristocratic err
ceps arc scarce, as witness the folliiwing, whichi
we take from the
ij
Sydney Herald of August 5 ;—" Sweeps
wanted.—Thcre is a very excellent opecing for a gentle-
man of this Fine it, Sydney at present; et cry body's
iNtrit To:7; o IIE P
chimney wants sweeping, and there i* no sweep, or if
there is a follower of that profession, nobody knows where
to find him—be ought to advertise. Several informations
have been laid a-, t
v,ains parties for vii,t haying their chimneys
swept, and the firemen arc on the luok out to get an in-
formation against some party who Illily follow the goal old
cubtom of setting five to their chinineys occasionlly when
they want sweeping—the punishment for which is eightern
months' imprisonment."

A Bisuol, DisGnAcED.—l had an account
on Thursday of the judgment that was given that day at
Lambeth, when a sentence of deprivation was pronounced
against the Bishop of St. David's, upon three heads:
simony, extortion in taking exorbitant Ices for his ins,tru_
ments, and giving certificates to persons of their having
taken the oaths when they had not, which in the canon law
is called forgery. He is, besides, Condemned to pay
abaut 7001. for costs.—.lames's Court mall, 77;11(4 of Wil-
liam 111.

Form,Ans.—My Lord Dorset was set upon on
Saturday night by four or five footpads, as he cattle by
Tyburn. Ile sa3s little Of it himself, but I hear they took
from ni him to the value of fifty or sixty pounds, with his
gold George. They seeing him fumbling in his pockets,
told him it was not honourable to siokupon them, and
they must search him ; whereon he threw his money out of
the coach, and bid them pick it up. One of th-m told
him, if they did not know him, they should me him Worse.
—James's Court and Times of 'William 111.