The Sun.
London, England, 1871-02-07 00:00:00

THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.

The second severe frost of this changeable winter seems
to have terminated on the night of Wednesday,
the Ist of February, while this has been so gradually
effected as to induce the hope that the mischief
done will be less than was feared. The rise as the
consequence of the capitulation of Paris has been
hitherto less than expected, the commercial exhaustion
being also very heavy as the fruit of the war-
Indeed, it is only reasonable to expect that a considerable
time must elapse before monetary ease can be felt, or the
frightful mischiefs be repaired in the vicinity of the
capital and throughout France. The necessities of the
country, however, will be none the less large or
certain, and all this must have a hardening
effect on prices for some time to came. The
present urgent want is flour, and this has further
advanced is. per barrel and is. to 2s. per sack ; while
Wheat has slowly improved is. to 2s. per quarter, and
In some localities tha rise has been 2s. to 3s. per quarter.

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It is more confirmed that the second frost has very mate-
rially damaged the turnips; which have mostly rotted,
and the difficulty of keeping stock will thus be further
increased. A genial spring was consequently never more
wanted to make np for the failure of last season in
this country, and a large part of Europe ; emphasised
as such scarcity is by the waste of war, and the diversion
of such vast numbers of men in Germany and France
from their legitimate occupation. The progress of prices
in the United States has been steadily upwards,
and those who feared that American supplies would be
overwhelming when coupled with those of the Black Sea
at the opening of navigation, will probably now see
came to change their opinions ; while the large
deliveries of our own crop ever since harvest on but a
moderate yield, must leave stocks in farmers' hands
greatly reduced. As to oats, such has been the falling-
off of foreign imports, that had it not been for the
ample stores in granary, prices must have gone up 4s. or
ss. per quarter ; and unless the present thaw extends
to the Baltic, they seem certain to be dearer.—Mark Lane
Ed-press.

The Metropolitan Board of Works are about to
commence the works for the embankment of. the Thames
at Chelsea.

THE MURDER AT NEWCASTLE.—Barbara Sam-
ples, the woman in custody charged with the wilful
murder of her mistress, Elizabeth Matthewson, died on
Friday night in the local infirmary from the effects of
Poison she had taken, prior to her apprehension.
WEST NORFOLK ELECTION.—Mr. G. P. Bentinek
is still the only candidate before the electors of West Nor-
folk. The Liberals seem to have not yet recovered from
the defeat which they sustained in August, 1865, mote
especially. as they have not since improved.their position
on the register. Mr. Bentinek sat for West Norfolk from
1852 to 1865.

COMPLETION OF THE STATE APARTMENTS AT
WINDSOR CASTLE. - The magnificent suite of State apart-
ments at Windsor Castle, the construction of which was
commenced in the reign of King Charles 11., and carried
on during the reigns of King George IV., and King
William IV., has just been completed by the laying clown of
handsome oak floors iu the Vandyke Room and Audience
awl Presence Chambers. These oaken floors are beauti-
fully polished, and greatly add to the magnificent ap-
pearance of the rooms. in the Reubens Room, the Zuc-
carelli Room, Queen's Closet, King's Closet, and Council
Chamber, the deal floors have been removed, and replaced
by oak, previous to the completion of those named above.
The whole of the State apartments are now finished, and
will be available for the marriage of Princess Louise, if
required.