The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-26 00:00:00

BRITISH MUSEUM.

This national repository of curiosities, and of re-
mains of the works of nature and art, comprising
the productions of the present time and those of ages
long past, even beyond the creation of man, will not
fail to have its crowd of visitors at this season. The
collections of specimens of natural history, and the
gallery of antiquities, are the parts of the Museum
now in the most perfect order—and, compared with
former years, the Museum is, in these departments,
far better than it was ; nevertheless, the confusion
produced by the new buildings, and the never-ending
arrangements, give the stranger an unfavourable idea
of this great national establishment. A short winter's
day is over before one half the objects worthy of notice
can be examined. For those, therefore, whose time
is limited, it will be better to walk first through all
the rooms and return to those that most interest them,
for to see all in one day is impossible.
NATIONAL GALLERY.

The charm of " nothing to pay" operates wonder-
fully, perhaps as much from its novelty as from the
parsimony of the public at holiday times, consequently
the National Gallery is always crowded at these
seasons. There have been no important additions of
late ; but the many productions of the best ancient
masters in the collection may be admired again and
again, whenever opportunity occurs, as at this time of
general holiday.

THE WEATHER—THE PARKS, &c.
The wind throughout Tuesday was exceedingly
variable, but blowing chiefly from the eastward,
though occasionally due south. The weather was of
an undecided character, the temperature being too
high for the continuance of the frost, but notwith•
standing that some slight rain fell about eight o'clock,
when the moon changed, yet a cold easterly wind
prevailed, and the mercury was at 35 degrees ; yet
shortly after midnight it descended to the freezing
point, and during the night the various waters were
slightly skimmed over with ice. Yesterday morning,
at seven o'clock, the thermometer, at the Royal
Humane Society's Receiving-house, in Hyde-park,
stood at 34 degrees ; and at eight o'clock last night it
was 33 degrees, the wind during the day blew chiefly
from the east, and was occasionally very cold and
piercing, though somewhat milder than the three days
preceding. The atmosphere, however, was rather
hazy, and apparently humid, giving indication of a
thaw.

It being a holiday, and the weather rather fine and
dry for the season, a considerable number of persons
congregated in the vicinity of the ornamental waters
of the metropolitan royal parks, some being engaged
in the amusement of skating, and others promenading
as spectators.

On the Round Pond and Long Water, Kensing-
ton-gardens, there were, during the day, about 4,000
skaters and sliders who were disporting themselves
upon the ice which had not been melted from the first
frost of this season, and which the frost of these last
few days had rendered sufficiently firm. No accident
occurred.

In the Regent's Park there were about 5,000
skaters and sliders in the course of the day, though
the ice was only about two and a half inches thick,
and in so very dangerous a condition that the Humane
Society had deemed it necessary to engage extra
men; but still they could not keep persons on terra
firma. In attempting to do this they were partly
prevented by a gang of fellows connected with pick-
pockets, who, for the sake of obtaining plunder by the
confusion consequent upon accidents, were continu-
ally urging persons to go on, saying it was perfectly
safe. About half-past eleven o'clock Mr. Clements,
coal-merchant, of William-street, Hampstead-road,
with his infant son, aged two years, were, while
walking across the ice, suddenly immersed in eight
feet water. Mr. Clements, who is a good swimmer,
had the presence of mind to hold the infant out of the
water in one hand, until rescued by icemen John
Hall and Joseph Knight, with the aid of an ice-
sledge and ladder. The child was conveyed to the
marquee, placed in a warm bath, and afterwards in a
warm bed. Such attention the father declined, and,
shortly after, with the child enveloped in blankets,
placed it in a cab, and conveyed it home. At one o'clock
Mr. Shires, of Grove•street, Lisson-grove, became
immersed in seven feet water, and was promptly res•
cued by iceman Clapson.