211 



the cold ill different winters. I have been at some pains to ascer- 

 tain what there is on record on this subject to afford ground for 

 comparison ; — and judging from tlie sources of information 1 

 have had access to, it seems to me a question — whether the 

 Thames was not more frequently frozen, or more thoroughly 

 frozen over, and, consequently, very many of the winters more 

 severe, formerly than now. I refer particularly to the 17th and 

 18th centuries as compared with the 19th century, though it must 

 be remembered of course that this last has still 20 years more to 

 run.* 



In the 17 th century I find that the Thames was frozen over in 

 six instances at least, viz., in 1607-8, 16-1:9, 168.34 and 1685 (two 

 winters in succession), in 1688, 1694-5. There are other years in 

 which, from what is recorded of the intense cold, we might almost 

 assume that the Thames must have been frozen over, though not 

 mentioned. Thus, in 1622, " all the rivers of Europe were frozen, 

 and also the Zuyder Zee." The winter of 1657-8 is said by 

 Evelyn to have been " the severest that anj' man alive had known 

 in England." " In 1 662, the river Thames was partially frozen over 

 towards the end of November," according to Pepys. The winters 

 of 1670, 1696-7, 1698-9, are all likewise spoken of as very severe, 

 " the frost most intense ; " the temperature in London, in the 

 winters of 1670 and 1696, falling to 9° below zero. The above 

 together would make twelve severe winters during the 1 7th century. 



In the 18th century there is mention of the Thames being 

 frozen over in the winters of 1708-9, 1715-16, 1739-40, 1776,t 

 1783-4, 1789, being six instances, while there are other winters 

 which must have been very severe. There was a " great froi^t in 



• The chief authorities consulted on this subject are — the Annual Register, 

 Evelyn's ^Memoirs, Gentleman's Magazine, Notes and Queries, Chambers' 

 Book of Days, Natural Phenomena and Chronology of the Season, MS. 

 Meteorological Registers in the "Jenyns Library," and Cuttings from old 

 Newspapers in the same Library. 



t See " White's Selborne " (Bell's Ed. ), Vol. i., p. 266. 



