The Sun.
London, England, 1858-03-16 00:00:00

PETERBOROUGH.

Three trains from London, and several from the
north, brought a good number of passengers here
and to Warrington Junction, four miles nortk of
Peterborough, to see the eclipse. The last train,
one from Manchester and Sheffield, with about 256
passengers, arrived at about a quarter to 1 o'clock
after stopping a few minutes at Warrington Junc-
tion, where upwards of 1,000 people were assem-
bled. The weather was very unfavourable, the sky
being overcast, with rapidly moving clouds. A
mere glimpse or two of the sua was obtained soon
after 12 o'clock, about twenty minutes after the
eclipse had commenced, and from that time, even
by those carefully on the watch, only momentary
glimpses were caught until 1 o'clock. The time of
greatest obscuration passed. over, to the great dis-
appointment of every one, without a sight of the
heavenly bodies. The darkness at the moment
of greatest obscuration was about equal to
that which proceeds from dark masses of
clouds immediately before a heavy storm, and
it bad a marked effect upon birds on
the wing, who flew low, and seemed anxiously
seeking shelter. About two minutes after this
portod aims_ opsziroyjjkly passing
clouds affords d frequent ;Domes Lary glimpses' of at!,
eclipse, and at this time it could be seen quite as
well with the naked eye as with glasses._ The
weather continued cloudy during the remainder of
the afternoon, affording but few opportunities for
observation, and a light shower of rain began to
fall between 2 and 3 o'clock.

LIVERPOOL
The town and port were overcast by clouds which
prevented the eclipse from being seen, but a partial
observation was able to be taken from the high
ground in the outskirts of the borough. The dark-
ness, even at the time when the eclipse was most
comple-e, was not by any means dense, business in
the shops being continued without the necessity of
lighting the gas.

OXFORD.
The only period at which it was vitible was for a
few minutes after 12 o'clock. The apparent lower-
ing of the clouds and the passing of the shadow
was very remarkable ; but the most interesting of
the experiments were with the thermometers,
which, although placed in various situations, and
varying some 6 or 8 degrees, at the moment of the
greatosi obscuration all sank to exactly the same
level. The birds were noticed to be singing almostuP
to the time of the completion of the eclipse. Those of
the Oxonians who remained at home had a much
better view of the eclipse, as it was visible nearly toa
quarter to 1 o'clock. The appearance of the sky was
such as when the shades of evening had approached.
We understand that although little could be seen
of the eclipse at Heyford, Woidatook,
ac., yet at
other villages differently situated it was visible
nearly up to the completion of the circle.

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE.
Mr. John Yeats, F. R.G. S., writing from Fother-
ingay Castle-mound, says I—`` the phenomena
of an annular eclipse were clearly and beautifully
visible on the mound, which is a locality easily
ideutified. Baily's beads were perfectly plain on
the completion of the annulus which occurrence
took place, according to my observation, at about
70 seconds after 1 o'clock ; it lasted about 80
seconds. The i beads,' like drops o
All
f water, ap-
peared on the upper and under sides of the moon,
occupying fully three-fourths of her circumfeience.
There was nothing like intense darkness during the
eclipse ; I have seen more gloom in a thunderstorm.
Bystanders prognoAicated rain, but it was the
shadaw of a rapidly declining day.
At 12 o'clock
a lady living on the farm suddenly exclaimed,
' The cows are coming home to be milked r and
they came,, all but one ; that followed, however,
within the hour. Cocks crowed, birds flew low or
fluttered about uneasily, but every object far and
near was well defined to the eye."