130 7 "ransactions. 
what may probably occur in the future regarding ‘ weather,” 
still it may be hoped that from an increased number of meteor- 
ological stations, and more careful and extended observations, 
that ‘‘ weather forecasts” may assume a more important aspect 
than is the case at present in the infancy of this science. What 
has already been accomplished in this direction by the Meteor- 
ological Office has undoubtedly been of much service to the 
country, and the warning notices of approaching storms have 
been the means of saving many lives, although the “ forecasts,” 
generally speaking, can only be relied on for a period of 24, or 
at the most 48, hours in advance, and then not always with 
certainty. About 75 to 80 per cent. of the “forecasts” issued 
by the Meteorological Office prove to be correct, but sudden 
changes of weather and storms, arising, probably, from some 
local atmospheric disturbance, still elude the most careful 
observers. One of the most marked features of the past winter 
has been the difference in temperature between the South and 
North of Great Britain, quite reversing the usual conditions. 
The cold experienced in the South of England has been compared, 
not without reason, to the memorable winter of 1814, when the 
Thames was quite frozen over above Blackfriars’ Bridge, a fair 
was held on the frozen river, booths erected for dancing, &c., 
printing presses set up, and a sheep was roasted on the ice ; and 
had it not been for the extensive embankments, erected since 
that time, contracting the channel of the river, and thereby 
creating a stronger current, it is believed the same things might 
have taken place during the past winter; as it was, the river 
was frozen over at Hampton Court, and for some distance below, 
and skating was indulge] in for miles on the frozen surface. 
Large masses of floating ice accumulated between the bridges for 
a time, quite putting a stop to navigation. The ice on the ponds 
in the different parks was from 7 to 10 inches in thickness. The 
duration of this frost continued for a considerably longer period 
than in 1814. The days on which the mean temperature was 
below 32 degrees during the late frost were 33 ; in 1814, 26 days. 
In the North of England and Scotland, generally speaking, little 
more than an ordinary winter was experienced, and in the 
extreme North of Scotland the winter months were rather above 
the average temperature. The duration of the frost may be 
taken as lasting from the 13th December, 1890, to 22nd January, 
