184 Miscellanies. 
In the year ’29, before the Christian era, Horace attempts to dis- 
suade Augustus from resigning the empire by mentioning certain 
omens and phenomena, among which was the great quantity of snow. 
Jam satis terre nivis, atque dire grandinis misit pater, &c. 
Other instances are mentioned of severe winters in Italy, but they 
were noted as uncommon phenomena; showing that the few instan- 
ces mentioned, are no evidence that there has been any change in ~ 
the temperature of that climate in modern days. Livy in writing of 
such a hard winter, calls it ‘insignis annus,’ which he would not 
have done, had severe winters been common. 
In the year of Christ, 153, the Thames in England and all rivers 
were covered with ice. 
A. D. 178, the snow in England covered the earth for thirteen 
weeks. 
A. D. 400, the Euxine was covered with ice for twenty days. 
A.D. 859, the Adriatic was cove‘ed with ice. 
A. D. 929, the Thames was frozen for thirteen weeks. 
A. D. 1263, and 1269, the Thames was covered with ice, so that 
horses and carriages passed over the river upon it. 
A. D. 1607—8, the weather was so severe as to cover the 
Thames with ice, and boats were built on it. 
It appears that similar winters have occurred in every period of 
authentic history—several of them every century. 
The first winter of uncommon severity in New England, after the 
pilgrims arrived, was in 1642, when the harbor of Boston was cov- 
ered with ice, so that teams passed from one isle to another. Indeed 
the ice extended so far at sea, that at Boston no water was to be 
seen.— Winthrop, 240, 243. 
A. D. 1696—7, Loaded sleds passed on the ice from Boston to 
Nantasket. 
A. D. 1683, The winter in Europe and America was very se- 
vere. It is related that in Europe, trees burst open, or were split by 
the intense cold. 
A. D. 1708—9, In New Eneland, the winter was nearly of the 
same severity. So intense was the cold on the 14th of December, 
that the day was not forgotten during the generation then living. 
Trees, grain, and vines were killed. 
In February, 1717, fell the greatest quantity of snow ever known 
to fallin one storm. 'The depth cannot be ascertained with exact- 
ness ;. but it was several feet. In Boston, people went out of their 
