The Sun.
London, England, 1860-12-22 00:00:00

UPWARDS OF FIFTY ACCIDENTS.

The thermometer at the Royal Humane Society's re-
ceiving-house, at Hyde-park, during Thursday night, fell
as low as 27, deg., being five degrees of frost. At nine
o'clock yesterday morning the glass indexed, at the same'
place in the shade, 30 deg., and in the middle of the day it
still stood at freezing point, viz., 32. Last night the mer-
cury was as low as 30 deg., being two degrees below
freezing. During the day the metropolis was visited by
several showers of snow, but although sufficient to clothe
the parks with a mantle of white, the fall has not been so
heavy as in many provincial towns. Consequently, the
London traffic will not be impeded to any considerable
extent. The barometer yesterday stood almost stationary
at 20.90. The wind, however, was so variable that it was
impossible to conclude, with any degree of accuracy,
how long the present weather might continue. Notices
were yesterday placed on the different ornamental waters
in the Royal Parks for the purpose of warning per-
sons from venturing upon the fragile surface, the ice
in not one of the parks being more than an inch and
three-quarters in thickness. Boards marked " Dangerous"
were also placed upon the edges of the various lakes and
rivers, but in spite of these precautionary measures taken
by the Royal Humane Society, some thousand persons,
including men, women, and children, would insist upon
venturing their lives upon the frozen waters, and many
parties became immersed, as will be seen from the following
official returns, supplied by Mr. Williams, Superintendent
of the Royal Humane Society :-•-•
ST. JAMES'S PAltx.—The promenades in this Park, lead-
ing from the Horse Guards, Storey's-gate, and Spring-
gardens, almost as far as to the fountain facing Bucking-
ham Palace, were crowded with persons of all grades in
society for the purpose of witnessing the military and others
disporting themselves by sliding or skating upon the ice.
No scientific manoeuvres were gone through during the
day worth recording, but not fewer than eighteen persons
broke through the ice and became immersed. Six of the
endangered persons were saved by iceman Perry with the
society's apparatus, four were rescued by iceman R. Mas-
kell, and the others got out without assistance. The num-
ber of sliders and skaters on this water was about 300.
REGENT'S PARK.—The ice upon the ornamental waters
in this park is described by Mr. Young, the secretary of
the Royal Humane Society, as being exceedingly danger-
ous, and only one inch and three-quarters in thickness.
Nevertheless, in spite of the cautions given by the society's
icemen and the danger-boards exhibited, 2,000 sliders and
skaters amused themselves upon the frozen waters during
the day, but no accident worth publicly recording occurred.
THE SERPENTINE, HYDE PARE.—Under the direction
of Mr. Williams, the superintendent of the Royal Humane
Society, a number of men were employed in placing the
apparatus for saving life upon the water ; but although
several parties ventured upon the ice, no accident happened.

THE LONG WATER IN KENSINGTON GARDENS..--.The

ice on this sheet of water is described as being very dan-
gerous, but over 200 persons ventured thereon. Mr. Wm.
Walter Fuller, of 21, Phillimore-place, Kensington, broke
through into six feet of water, about half-past twelve in
the afternoon, but was fortunately rescued by iceman
Thomas Pavey, with the aid of the handlines and breaker
ladders. Mr. George Chesland, of No. 22, Lower Pb.illi-
more-place, also broke through the ice and became sub-
merged, and also another gentleman, named Win. Garrett,
of Vincent-square, Westminster. Fortunately
all saved by the Society's icemen, and after being attenwere
ded
thaY
to they were able to return to their respective homes.
THE ROYAL ROUND POND, KENSINGTON GARDENS.—
A large number of members of the nobility, and also of
.the
Skating Club, amused themselves upon thi and. during
into six feet of
the day. Several persons broke throng
water. They wore rescued by the icemenr. Knit
ht sledge,
Sm. Amongst those immersed were Mg, of 12,
C ambrid ge - square ; Joseph Wflougall, of 18, Wilton-place,
Chelsea ; and seven others, who refused to
give their names
or addresses.
VICTORIA PARIC.—OVOr 300 persons amused themselves
on the ice in this park, but no accident of a serious character
occurred.

The Retribution, 28, paddle, Commodore H. E.
Edgell, will be paid off at Portsmouth to-dare
is said to have sustained damage OA'
her passage monib
o Lisbon, owing to the mainstay"
The mainmast of the flag-ship Royal Albert,o 1,
at lyPc,:at
having given way.
One hundred a#•• "rnnir- 'arks are Wait-
ing at Plymouth for passage MJ the Mediterranean
by the screw troopship Himalitia, Capt. Seccombe,
expected to call there after she leaves Portsmouth.
Capt. Richard S. Risk hoisted Lis pendent on
Thursday afternoon on board the screw steamship
Narcissus, 51, at Plymouth, destined for the Cape
of Good Hope.
The ships in the Sound belonging to the Channel
squadron discharged their powder yesterday morn-
ing. Admiral Stopford's ship, the Royal Albert,
121, Capt. Henry J. Lacon ; the Conqueror, 101,
Capt. Edward S. Sotheby, C. 8., and the Donegal,
101, Capt. Broadhead, went up Hamoaze ; the
Aboukir and Emerald are likely to follow.
The sailing frigate Alarm, 26, having been cop-
pered to the bends, was removed yesterday (Fri-
day) from the Devonport dockyard and warped to
the south jetty.
The following appointments were made yester-
day at the Admiralty :—Alexander C. Archdeacon,
assistant-paymaster in charge to the Naiad, and
William B. Eakins, assistant-paymaster to the
Penguin.