33gtoullnurnim Christmas Eve was probably the coldest night and Christmas

Day the coldest day recorded during the last fifty years. Mr. Lowe, of the Ob- servatory at Beeston, near Nottingham, says-

" I herewith send you a report of perhaps the most extraordinary col.1 ever known in England-certainty exceeding every record but one, and that record being looked upon as an error, and, indeed, thought to be an im- possible temperature in England. This morning, the temperature at four feet above the ground was 8 deg. below zero, and on the grass 131 deg. below zero, or 451 deg. of frost. "As the above extraordinary temperature may seem impossible, I here- with append the readings of a number of thermometers placed in different situations- Thermometers. Deg.

1. Negretti and Zambra's patent mercurial minimum, four feet from ground - - 8'3

2. Rutherford minimum, four feet - - 81

8. Spirit thermometer, on grass - -10-8 .3. Ditto ditto - -10.7 5. Ditto ditto - -10-8 6. Sensitive mercurial thermometer, on grass - -11* 7 7. Ditto, on snow - 8. Spirit thermometer, on snow - -121

. id. - -11.7

• d• •

"The above are all readings made at the Beeston Observatory. At High- field House, they were-

. At four feet 8 deg. below zero.

On Fr-tar' 8 deg. below zero.

"The maximum heat yesterday was only 20 deg., and from 7 p.m. till la a.m., the temperature never rose as high as zero of Fahrenheit's thermo- meter. At the present time (12 30 p.m.), the temperature is 7 deg. above zero at four feet, and 2.5 deg. above zero on the grass. Tonight, in all pro- bability, will be even colder, as the sky is cloudless, with a fog in the dis- tance. Wind stationary since 1 p.m. yesterday in West, and calm. The Trent is full of ice, and in a few hours will be quite frozen over. I have just seen a horse pass with icicles at his nose three inches in length, and as thick as three fingers. The ground is about three inches covered with anow- Deg. Deg. Dec. 24, 1 p.m. temperature at 4 feet. .. .. 29'0 on grass 180 II 6 p.m. .• .., 81 „ + 0•3 „ 10 p.m. .. ,,, 11 „ - 2 0 Dec. 25, 21, a.m. .. .. 0.0 „ - 31 " 4 a.m. ., „ -1'1 „ -11.0 >, 5 cm, 111 D. -71 „ - el „ 7 a.m. OP et -71 „ -131 „ - 8 a.m. II It, .—S .0 .. -1I.7

„ 9 a.m. „ „ -8 • 8 „ -121

„ 10 aar. „ ., -21 ‘ „ + 41

„ 121 p.m. „ „ +7-0 „ -

The Reverend T. E. Cross, of Brigg, Lincolnshire, sends the readings of his thermometers-

Night of December 24-25 Minimum on grass -12.9 Corrected. Minimum under shed -111 „ Temperature at 9-30 a.m., Dec. 25 - 5.0 ..

The instruments are by Casella, of Batton Garden, and tested at Kew. Mr. Cary Tyso, Florist, Wallingford states-" Last evening the frost was intense ; a thick fog was stretched over the valley of the Thames. At 1.15 a.m. (Christmas morning), Fahrenheit's thermometer stood at 5 deg., and the air had numerous floating crystals in it hardly of sufficient density to de- scend to the earth. The deposit of boar frost was exceedingly rapid. This morning, at 7.50, two thermometers, one self-registering and one upright, indicated 0 deg., that is zero, and at ibis unusually low point they stood till 8.30. The appearance of the rime on the trees is magnificent, but it may be anticipated that the effects on vegetation will be very disastrous." Mr. T. L. Plant, of Birmingham, adds similar testimony-"itly thermometer this morning stood 1 deg. below zero, or 33 deg. of frost. This is lower, with one exception, than on any occasion for the past fifty years. The date to which I refer was the night preceding January 20, 1858, when the thermo- meter registered 3 deg. below zero, or 35 deg. of frost." Mr. Ward Jackson, of Hartlepool, speaks for the East coast- • The severity of the cold in this district is, I believe, unprecedented. The thermometer last night registered 5 deg. below zero, and during this day (Christmas Day) it has been ranging between 2 deg. above and 2 deg. below zero, with a remarkable clearness of the atmosphere and a light S.W. wind." A Berkshire rector records the experience of the Royal county-" The thermometer in my garden, on a West wall in a sheltered situation, marked 2 deg. above zero (Fahrenheit) at 8 a.m, this morning- a degree of cold, I believe, unknown since the year 1854." [But the cold was felt still more intensely in the neighbourhood of Coventry and Nuneaton ; only there no observations of thermometers were taken : the time is much more gloomily occupied.]

Dr. NW, of Sunderland, contributes the minima registered at 8 a.m. on- Wednesday, and three preceding days, in latitude 54 deg. 54 min.

Dc". Deg.

December 23 „ 17 I December 25 24 15 „ 26 5

The minima for the last few years are-

January 12, 1854 Deg. I

12 I February 14, 1857 Deg.

16 February 16, 1855 5 March 11 1853 15 January 15, 1856 14 December 18. 1839 10

The maxima on Monday and Tuesday were 25 deg. and 29 deg The Reverend a R. Turner, of New Radnor, says-" At 4.30 p.m., on the 24th, my thermometer stood at 8 deg. At 9 a.m., on the 2.5th, is was at 1 and in the course of the night it had been down to 3 deg. below zero." Mr. R. Hanbury, M.P., writing from Poles, Ware, says his "register thermo- meter stood on Saturday night at my front door, North aspect, at 5 de be- low zero, and at eight o'clock, Tuesday morning, at 4 deg." Mr- red Ruston, of Ayleby House, Chatteris, writes on the 26th-" On Mon night, the thermometer fell to 5 deg. below zero, and at ten o'clock on Christmas morning.it stood exactly at zero ; at one p.m. on the same day, it was 7 deg. above zero, and at 4 p.m. it had risen to 15 deg., and at 10 p.m. to 26 deg. During the night, it receded to 22 deg., and at 2 p.m. today (Wednesday) registered 32 deg. ; but, this evening at six, had again fallen to 18 deg., and the appearances of the sky indicate a severe night." Snow fell in Scotland and the North-Eastern counties of England last week ; this week these districts urn reported to experience frost.

Snow in this week has fallen all along the East coast, in the home coun- ties, and the metropolis, and on the South-East and West coasts of England, and in Wales. Dublin is the only point reported yesterday where a " thaw " has as yet taken place. Dense fogs have prevailed in runny parts of the kingdom-at Falmouth, Liverpool, and Glasgow.

The Board of Trade have acknowledged the report of Mr. Trail upon the loss of the Connaught ; the Board do not think it expedient to super- vise the construction of steamers by Government officers ; it would tend to decrease the responsibility of the builders and owners. The Board has no power to order a compulsory examination of masters and mates in steam, but a voluntary examination has for some time been in operation. This, and Mr. Trail's other suggestion, that engineers should be com- pelled to pass an examination and obtain certificates, are questions for the Legislature.

Mr. Sidney Herbert declines to advise the Queen to accept the ser- vices of members of secret societies, the Foresters as such, for Volunteer corps.

The Queen, through Mr. Sidney Herbert, the Secretary of State for War, has, after the necessary preliminary inquiries, been pleased to accept, through Lord Fortescue, the Lord Lieutenant of the county, the services of the Artillery Corps connected with the Devonport Dockyard, which are to be termed "the 12th Devon Volunteer Artillery."

The Bishop of Rochester has admonished his clergy against the growth of beards and too great development of whisker ; and he also proceeds to advise them against archery and cricket matches. [We presume that the Bishop addressed this admonition to his clergy as such ; if so, the Bishop may see by any authenticated or traditional portrait of his Master that beards may be permitted to the Disciples.] The Honourable and Reverend Dr. Samuel Waldegraye, the recently- consecrated Bishop of Carlisle, has become entitled, by the death of Th.. Pepys, Bishop of 'Worcester, to a seat in the House of Lords, and will act as chaplain during the next session of Parliament. The Bishop nominate of Worcester (Dr. Philpott) will, in all probability, be consecrated in the parish church of Lambeth, on the 25th of January.

Mr. Raffles, the stipendiary magistratlat Liverpool, has investigated the circumstances attending the loss by abandonment of the ship Maggie Walker. He censures the master for too hastily abandoning the ship, and sends the master's certificate to the Board of Trade. Mr. Raffles and Captain Harris also considered the conduct of the mate to require censure for not keeping a. correct log book.

Mr. Henry Thring, conveyancer, of Lincoln's Inn, who has had con- siderable experience in preparing Government bills, is appointed Parlia- mentary draughtsman to the Home Office, in the room of Mr. Waller Coul- son, Q.C., deceased.

On Friday and Saturday in the past, and on Monday and yesterday in the current week, her Majesty's Royal bounty and gate alms were distributed to aged and meritorious poor in London and its vicinity. The applications for aid were unusually numerous. The numbers relieved amounted to nearly 1000 persons. Colonel Taylor succeeds to the position of "whip," lately vacated by Sir William Jolliffe he will be assisted by Mr. Whitmore and the Ho- nourable Gerrard Noel.

Two of our Bishops carrying out the precept "I was in prison and they visited me," have been preaching to prisoners in gaol. The Bishop of Ripon last visited the House of Correction at Wakefield, and had a large congrega- tion composed of 780 persons of both sexes—all West Riding prisoners and Government convicts. The Bishop of Durham preached in the county gaol, and afterwards had interviews with the two capitally convicted convicts, Smith and Lockey.

Captain Brabazon was an officer of great promise ;. just before his depar- ture for China, he published Soldiers and their Setenee, a most admirable

epitome of the art of war. He was specially selected for his efficiency, by Brigadier Crofton, to go to China, in order that the effects of the Armstrong guns should be reported by a competent person.

The Reverend Mr. Maurice has returned a lengthened answer to the ad- dress presented to him sometime since. He states with the usual modesty of a great mind, that he has no claim to be considered a learned theologian, nor does he assume that he has shown any special zeal in behalf of the working classes,

Mr. Noble has received a commission from Government to execute the national monument of the late Sir John Franklin, for which 2000/. has been

granted by Parliament. The monument will be placed in Trafalgar Square, The Reverend W. James, of Bristol, a Unitarian minister, has had an interview with the Pope.

Mr. Mayan is now exhibiting a full-length photographic portrait of Lord Palmerston, the size of life.

The London Discount Company is to be voluntarily wound up. Liquida- tors are appointed ; the remuneration is fixed by commission of I per cent.

Mr. Alfred Bunn, the once well-known manager and lessee of Drury Lane Theatre, died at Boulogne on Thursday week.

A statue in marble, seven feet in height, of the late Sir William Peel, of the Naval Brigade, executed by Mr. W. Theed, at the expense of the Right Honourable Frederick Peel, M.P., was placed in the Painted Hall, Greenwich Hospital, on Saturday.

Mr. Bailey, curator of the Soane Museum, died on the 17th instant.

The public debt of India on loans secured on promissory notes registered in London amounts to 8,003,2301. The Four per Cent Transfer Loan Stock is 1,836,5001.

The residue of 50,0001., authorized to be raised for Jamaica at 4 per cent, has been offered by the Treasury upon public tenders, and allotted to the Guardian Assurance Company at 105.

The Patric says—" The text of the note inserted in the Mon hear of the 16th relative to the facility henceforth accorded, and by reciprocity,' to the English to enter the French territory without passports, in no way modifies, as some persona have erroneously supposed, the prescription in force with re- gard to French travellers. The latter, in order to proceed to England, must, as heretofore, be provided with a passport for abroad, and procure at the port of departure a permission to embark. By the decision above men- tioned, the Government only grants to English travellers the right of land- ing and circulating in France without passports, by reciprocity' of the

Mme - - _ _ It is announced that the Princess Clotilde has long been in an interestin situation.

The celebrated collection of objects of art and curiosity of the Prince de Soltikoff, the sale of which by auction was about to take place, has been purchased as it stands by the Emperor, and they are now being conveyed to the Louvre. The Musee des Souverains is to receive a part of them.

The Espero of Turin says—" It is feared at Rome that, on the forthcoming proclamation of Victor Emmanuel as King of Italy by the Parliament, France will yield to our Government the honour of guarding the Pope."

The Opinione of Turin states that Count Ercole Mastai, a nephew of the present Pope and late captain of the staff in the Pontifical army, has offered his services to the King of Italy, who has accepted them, granting him the same rank in the Italian army.

Professor Seyd Abdoolah, of University College, sends "a faithful ver- sion of a communication from a friend of his at Kangra, North-east of the Punjaub, dated November 8— " At Dharam Sal, on the 28th of July, between the hours of two and three o'clock in the afternoon, the inhabitants were thrown into a state of the utmost terror and alarm by a series of fearful shocks, resembling in in- tensity and power the explosion of an immense powder magazine, and which seemed to shake the very mountains from their foundations. In the course of my experience, I never met with any freak of nature which so powerfully

impressed me with its grandeur and sublimity Horrible discordant noises rumbled forth from the bowels of the earth, following each other with the utmost rapidity. Than succeeded long and loud explosions, which-gra- dually decreased in degree and duration until they became beautifully less. Then came intensely luminous flames of fire, each flame about twelve feet in length, shooting with extreme velocity from North to South, as though belched forth from the mouth of ordnance of extraordinary size and calibre. These again were replaced by a shower of meteoric stones, which, wherever they fell, ploughed up the earth like so many cannon balls. I cannot find 'words adequate to describe the sensation which everywhere prevailed at the sight of this singular and startling phenomenon. The over-credulous viewed it as the beginning of the end, while the more enlightened were fear- ful of the destruction of life and property. Happily, however, not a single person was injured, asfar as I have been able to learn, though the stones were of so formidable a nature that one might well be pardoned for looking with the utmost alarm—not to say dread, at the results. I; subsequently strolled over the 'field of destruction,' and discovered a number of boulders and meteoric stones of diverse forms and size, many of which bore a great resemblance to ordinary cannon-balls just discharged from the engines of war, but which when touched by me felt like so many pieces of ice. Of course, a phenomenon so extraordinary has been the all-aborbing topic of conversation in these parts and has given rise to the most absurd and highly coloured reports of witchcraft and sorcery."

A new article of commerce from America seems likely soon to attract much attention. On the Western border of New York State, at a place called Union Mills, some working men a year or two back observed a quan- tity of dark oily matter floating on pools abounding in that district. Subse- quent experiments led to the discovery that the oil is highly adaptable for illuminating purposes, and that by sinking wells to the depth of from 70 to 500 feet it can readily be obtained throughout a very extensive area. Indeed, it is said already to have been ascertained to be dispersed over 100 spare miles. The proportion of oil in the liquid pumped up is about one- third, and the process of separation is very simple. Land in the locality has become exceedingly valuable, and the business is rapidly increasing. About 1200 to 1500 barrels containing 40 gallons each, are now, it is said, being raised daily and sent! to New York, where, when rectified, it sells in any quantity at a price equal to 38. sterling per gallon. There is a resi- duum, also, which is described as being used for the manufacture of superior candles. Many shipments of the oil have been made to Australia. In addi- tion to its illuminating capacity, it is alleged likewise to be suitable, when mixed with fish oil, for the processes of lubrication.

In a prospectus recommending the new Turkish loan, M. Mires gives a summary of the public debts of Turkey—

The exterior debt, contracted since k54. to meet the expenses of the war in the Crimea, represents, after deducting the Francs. redemption already effected, a capital of 310,000,000 1. Essams Djeddides (consolidated issue) 56,000,000 2. Balance of paper-money (Calmes)in circulation, and which will be withdrawn 14,000,000 S. Galata debts, payable at different periods 127,000,000 4. Beane Tahvili (treasury bonds) 56,000,000 5. Essams Atamtuzds (scrip proceeding from the conversion of stock) 15,000,000 6. Serghis (bonds payable by fifths, commencing from the year 1865) 86,000,000 7. Floating debt, represented by the expenses of several ministries 110,000,000 Total of the interior debt 464,000,000

The exterior debt reduced by the redemption effected 310.000,000 The total of all the debts of the Ottoman Empire thus

amounts in capital to 774,000,000