The Sun.
London, England, 1859-10-25 00:00:00

THE ADVENT OF WINTER.

On Sunday night and on Saturday night t'nere
was a severe frost in and around the mi:tropolis.
Yesterday we had a cold rain. The provincial
journals received yesterday report a fall of snow in
many parts of the country. A letter from Shields,
dated Saturday, says:-" Yesterday morning, when
people arose from their beds on the Northumber-
land coast, they found that winter had suddenly
come upon them, as an intense black frost had
covered the ponds and small pools with a covering
of ice, and large banks of clouds in the north
threatened snow. Heavy snow showers came on
about 10 in the forenoon, and prevailed all day,
the closed shops and absence of business in the large
towns, and the sounds of muffled peals from the
church towers, daring the funeral of Mr. Robert
Stephenson, gave an air of intense gloom and me-
lancholy to all about, which was increased in the
seaports by the wind whistling among the rigging
of the vessels in the harbours, and the moaning of
the sea on the bars. A strong and nipping north-
east wind has blown both yesterday and to-da-v. A
Dutch brig, the Hilka, ran on to the Herd sand
yesterday in attempting to enter Shields harbour,
and to-day the action of the surf has broken her
up. The weather is extremely cold and bleak to-
night, and there is every appearance of more snow.
Within the past two days coveys of partridges have
alighted in the early morning in the streets of New-
castle and Shields, and robins and other small birds
are drawing in towards the habitation of man."
On Saturday, in the district of which Bradford
is the centre, there was a considerable fall of snow,
some of which lay on the ground for hours, giving
quite a wintry appearance to the previously au-
tumnal landscape.
Snow has also fallen in Ireland and Scotland. At
Edinburgh, on Friday, the thermometer was from
six to eight degrees below the freezing point, and
ice fully half an inch in thickness was formed upon
the lochs around Arthur's Seat. The Aberdeen
herald of Saturday says :—'• Winter has come on
us with a start alike unexpected and unpleasant.
While we write, snow, usually driven ' by January's
blasts,' is lying at our doors. Considering the
rough weather and winds we have lately expe-
rienced, we quite agree with the old blacksmith
who, on a stormy day, said, Weel, lads, there's a
precious han' at the bellows.' We hope that this
is no indication of what we are to expect during
the dark months.

In North and East Yorkshire a very heavy fall
of snow set in on Friday afternoon, which greatly
interfered with the progress of the wheat sowing.
Severe frosts have damaged the crops of mangold
wurzel not housed. On the wolds and moors the
snow fell very thick. On Friday evening a heavy
thunderstorm occurred, and until late on Saturday
morning most brilliant discharges of lightning
were prevalent in the north and cast. The severity
of the weather caused a great advance in the price
of all turnips, which are said to be very greatly
diseased, and other root crops.
_ _ _

In Ashton and the neighbourhood there was a
considerable fall of snow during Saturday morning
and Sunday, and the cold was very severe.
The Birmingham Post says:—" After a continua-
tion of almost unprecedented fine weather, the face
of nature has suddenly undergone an alteration,
and the season of out-door flowers is past. Up to
Wednesday, the 19th, we had genial sunshine, and
it was difficult to imagine, looking at the still rich
and beautiful floral display our gardens presented,
and the bright emerald luxuriance of the fields, that
we were approaching so near to gloomy November.
The morning of Thursday was thick and hazy, and
soon after noon a cold miserable drizzling rain
came on, which, as the day waned, turned to a con-
tinuous heavy fall till midnight, when the sky
cleared, and a keen frost set in, and on the morning
of Friday ice was found, we believe, for the first
time, on the ponds and waterbeds. The magnificent
dahlias hung their heads, and the gardener looked
in vain for the loveliness his gay parterre had pre-
sented the day before. Sunday was dry, but in-
tensely cold, and early in the afternoon a fall of
snow, which covered the ground, took place in the
neighbourhood of Coleshill."
A valued correspondent of the Lake district
writes to us :—After two or three weeks of fine sea-
sonable weather in the Lake District, and before
any change was perceptible the barometer began to
fall on Tuesday, the 18th, and fell for 60 hours,
without any other sign of bad weather being per-
ceptible. Friday was a brilliant day; and at night
the sky was cloudless, but quivering with light-
nings in various quarters. At sunrise next morn-
ing, the landscape was sheeted in snow. Such a
depth of snow so early as the 22d of October is a
very rare circumstance; and the peculiarity of the
spectacle will cause it to be long remembered. No
snch thing as a bare tree was to be seen ; and the
massy foliage of the sycamores sustained a dome of
snow ; whiie even the ash trees remained in leaf
amidst a January landscape. The gay foliage of
autumn coming into view as the noon sunshine re-
leased the woods from their burden, formed a sin-
gular contrast with the snow carpet spread be-
neath. On Saturday night again the frost was se-
vere, and more snow fell ; and there must be some
anxiety till it is ascertained how the root crops in
the ground have sustained the extraordinary visi-
tation of frost and snow immediately succeeding a
period of weather as warm as summer. The floods
and drought of the early part of the year had al-
ready made it abundantly difficult to feed farm
stock. Hay has for some time been £7 a ton, tur-
nips prospectively very dear, and carrots ls. a
stone by wholesale. If the potatoes and mangold
are injured by this frost, the disasters of the farmers'
year will be complete.

ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL, Gray's-inn-road.—The
number of patients relieved at this hospital during the
week ending Saturday, Oct. 22, was 2,430, of which 670
were new cases.
MUSEUM OF PATENTS, SOUTH KEN3INGTON.—
Number of visitors for the week ending Oct. 22:—Mornings,
1,026 ; evenings, 1,627 ; total, 2,653. Since the opening of
the Museum free daily (May 12, 1858), 155,221.
THE LATE WRECK OF VIE DUKE OF RICHMOND
STEAMER.—The Board of TrUe has instructed the collector
of Custom's here to institute an inquiry into the circum-
stances connected with the late wreck of the Duke of Rich-
mond steamer.—Aberdeen Herald.
CURIOUS PRAYER.—William Cole says, " This
was brought to me, Aug. 21, 1776, by Dr. Edwin, of Cam-
bridge, from Dr. Coligeon, who took it out of an old Fog's
Journal:—" 0 Lord, thou knowest that I have nine
houses in the city of London, and likewise that I have
lately purchased an estate in fee-simple in the county of
Essex. Lord, I beseech Thee to preserve the two counties
of Essex and Middlesex from fires and earthquakes ; and as
I have a mortgage in Hertfordshire, I beg Thee likewise to
have an eye of compassion on that county. And, Lord, for
the rest of the counties, Thou mayest deal with them as
Thou art pleased. 0 Lord, enable the Bank to answer all
their bills, and make all my debtors good men. Give a
prosperous voyage and return to the Mermaid sloop, which
I have ensured ; and, Lord, Thou has said, That 'the day s
of the wicked are short,' and I trust Thou will not forget
Thy promises, having purchased an estate in reversion of
Sir J. P., a profligate young man. Lord, keep our funds
from sinking; and if it be Thy will, let there be no sinking
fund. Keep my son Caleb out of evil company, and from
gaiming-houses. And sanctify, 0 Lord, this night to me,
by preserving me from thieves and fire, and make my ser-
vant honest and careful, whilst I, Thy servant, lie down in
Thee, 0 Lord. Amen.' "—Notes.and Queries.
PROPOSED MUSICAL FESTIVAL IN GLASGOW.--
The Glasgow Citizen says :—" It is proposed to get up a
musical festivul in this city about the end of January next.
The scheme has originated with the Glasgow Choral Union;
and under the anspiebs of at ample list of patrons, and with
the aid of an influential and energetic body of acting.
stewards, it is likely to be carried out with spirit. As any
profits which may accrue are to be devoted to two of our
most useful public charities—the Royal Infirmary and the
Asylum for the Blind—the festival will appeal to the bene-
volent as well as to the musical feelings of the public.
Fashion will no doubt lend its influence and contribute to
render the undertaking successful."

THE DANGERS OF CRINOLINE.--On Friday even-
ing last two gentleman were passing along Clayton-street,
and observing two females with extra-sized hoops approach-
ing, neither of whom seemed disposed to give way, one of
the gentlemen was in the act of stepping off the flags to the
pavement to give room, when his foot caught fast in ono of
the hoops, and he was thrown down on his face. He had
one front tooth broken out and his faco disfigured ; but,
strange to say, neither of the females stopped to ask if he
was any worso, but left him lying, where lie remained for
fully five minutes, completely anima—Newcastle, Dmly
Chronic*,