The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-14 00:00:00

THE FROST.

The atmosphere on Thursday was again pervaded with
gloomy haze, though of a less dismal character than the
preceding pay. The thermometer at the Royal Humane
Society's receiving-house in Hyde-park- indicated 30
degrees at seven o'clock in the morning, at which time
there was a light breeze from E.N.E. ; but between ten
and one o'clock, the wind having veered to the south-
ward, it became somewhat milder, and the mercury
ascended to 32 degrees. Shortly after a brisk breeze
again sprung up from N.N.E., and the mercury sud-
denly receded to 30 degrees, where it remained till eight
o'clock last night, the wind being at N.N.E., rather
violent and cutting.
The attendance of skaters and sliders, as well as spec
tators in all the metropolitan royal parks, was more nu-
merous than on any preceding day this season.
In Kensington-gardens, on the Long Water, there
were about 4,000, and on the Round Pond 2,000 skaters'
and sliders, with a vast number of ladies and gentlemen
spectators on the ice and the banks. The ice was very
strong, and in excellent condition ; several members
of the Skating Club were present. 'Better skating
has not been witnessed for years, and it was
diversified by the presence of three Dutch gen-
tlemen, wearing their long snipe-bill shaped Dutch
skates, who traversed the ice with such .extraordinary
rapidity as to excite universal attention and admiration ;
they, however, appeared unable to compete in those in-
tricate, scientific, and mazy evolutions displayed by
some of our countrymen. No accident of immersion oc-
curred, but a gentleman, name unknown, had a severe
fall near the bridge, which evidently produced slight
concussion of the brain, for he was taken up in a state
of stupor, and in partially recovering the- use of his
speech betrayed wandering of the mind.
The Serpentine was attended during the day by about
5,000 skaters and sliders, as well as numerous spectators
on shore. The ice, though very strot,g, excepting at the
sides, the cast, and bridge-end, was not in very good
skating condition, in consequence of the eddies of dust
blown thereon from the carriage-drive on the north bank.
About one o'clock a lad named Philip Bury, aged 14, of
6, Christopher-place, St. Martin's-le-Grand, on leaving
the ice, broke through near the south shore, by the
bridge, and became immersed in five feet water. He
fell head downwards, and, in rising again, his feet
came upwards, which were seized by his friend,
another lad of the same age, named Robert Mason,
of 76, London-wall, who thus courageously extri-
cated the former, who was instantly conveyed to the re-
ceiving house, shivering tied suffering both from cold and
alarm. He received from Dr. Woolley stimulants and
the usual kind attention, with warm bath, bed, &c.; and
after remaining till four o'clock, his clothes having been
dried in the interim, he departed homewards, quite re-
covered, first heartily thanking Dr. Woolley and the
officers of the institution for the care and attention he
had received.
The lake in St. James's Park numbered during the
day about 7,000 skaters and sliders. The ice was strong,
about two inches thick in the centre, but weak and dan-
gerous at the sides. In draggiag the water in the course
of the morning, a walking-stick with a bent handle was
found, and also a hat with a crape-band, and a black kid
glove.
In the Regent's Park the number of skaters and sliders
was about 10,000, in addition to innumerable ladies and
gentlemen who were promenading on the ice as well as
shores. The ice is about three inches thick, but in ,bad
skating condition, having been much cut up, and is con-
sequently much flawed, which will render it very dan-
gerous in the event of a thaw. The only accident oc-
curred to3lr. William Clark, of 6, New-square, Lincola's
Inn, who fell while skating, and in so doing cut one of
the small veins of his leg, from which the blood flowed
profusely, and after receiving attention at the marquee,
he was conveyed to Mr. Norton's, surgeon, of Upper
...street, whence he was sent home in a cab, -