230 M. Arago on the Thermometrical State 



were driven upon the ice across the Seine. (Felibien, Description 

 de Paris.) 



1434. Frost began at Paris the last day of December 1433, and continued 

 for three months all but nine days. It recommenced about the 

 end of March, and continued till the 17th of April. (Felibien.) 

 It snowed in Holland during 40 consecutive days. (Van Swinden 

 from the Dutch Records.) 



1460. The Danube continued frozen for two months. The Rhone also 

 frozen. 



1468. In Flanders, the soldiers' rations of wine were cut with the hatchet. 

 (Philip de Comines.) 



1493. The harbour of Genoa was frozen over the 25th and 26th Decem- 

 ber. (Papon, iv. 18.) 



1507. The harbour of Marseilles was frozen throughout its whole extent. 

 (This indicates the thermometer must have been below zero). On 

 Epiphany day snow fell in the same city to the depth of three 

 feet. (Papon, iv. 26.) 



1545. In France, the wine was cut in the casks with sharp instruments. 

 (Mezeray.) 



1565. The Rhone frozen quite across, at Aries. (Zero.) 



1568. The 11th December, carts crossed the Rhone on the ice. It did 

 not break up till the 21st. 

 1570-71. From the end of November 1570, to the end of February 1571, the 

 winter was so severe, that all the rivers, even those of Lanquedoc 

 and Provence, were so frozen over as to bear loaded waggons. 

 (Mezeray.) 



1594. The sea was frozen at Marseilles and Venice, (at least 4" below 

 zero.) 



1603. Waggons passed the Rhone on the ice. 

 1621.22. The Venetian fleet was frozen in the Canals of Venice. (4° be- 

 low zero.) 



1638, The water of the harbour of Marseilles frozen round the shipping. 

 (Papon, iv. 490.) 

 1655-56. The Seine frozen from the 8th to the 18th of December. It subse- 

 quently froze without interruption from the 29th December to 

 the 18th January. A new frost returned a few days afterwards, 

 and continued till March. (Bouillaud.) 

 1657-58. Uninterrupted frost at Paris from 24th December till 8th February. 

 Betwixt the 24th December and 20th January, the frost was 

 moderate : afterwards the cold was exceedingly intense. The 

 Seine was universally frozen. The thaw of the 8th February did 

 not continue. The frost returned on the Uth, and continued till 

 the 18th. (Bouillaud.) 



1658. This was the year Charles X., King of Sweden, crossed the Little 

 Belt upon the ice, with his whole army, his artillery, waggon- 

 train, baggage, &c. 

 1662.63. The frost continued at Paris from 5th December to 8th March. 

 (Bouillaud.) 



