The Every-day Book and Table Book. v. 2 (of 3): or Everlasting Calendar of Popular Amusements, Sports, Pastimes, Ceremonies, Manners, Customs and Events, Incident to Each of the Three Hundred and Sixty-five Days, in past and Present Times; Forming a Complete History of the Year, Month, and Seasons, and a Perpetual Key to the AlmanacHone, William
History
The Every-day Book and Table Book. v. 2 (of 3): or Everlasting Calendar of Popular Amusements, Sports, Pastimes, Ceremonies, Manners, Customs and Events, Incident to Each of the Three Hundred and Sixty-five Days, in past and Present Times; Forming a Complete History of the Year, Month, and Seasons, and a Perpetual Key to the Almanac
Hone, William
Days; Great Britain -- Social life and customs
On the 26th, the wind veered to the south-west, and a thaw was speedily
discernible. The great fall of the Thames at London-bridge for some days
presented a scene both novel and interesting. At the ebbing of the tide,
huge fragments of ice were precipitated down the stream with great
violence, accompanied by a noise, equal to the report of a small piece
of artillery. On the return of the tide, they were forced back; but the
obstacles opposed to their passage through the arches were so great, as
to threaten a total stoppage to the navigation of the river. The thaw
continued, and these appearances gradually ceased.
On the 27th, 28th, and 29th, the roads and streets were nearly
impassable from floods, and the accumulation of snow. On Sunday the 30th
a sharp frost set in, and continued till the following Saturday evening,
the 5th of February.
* * * * *
The _Falmouth_ mail coach started from thence for Exeter, after having
proceeded a few miles was overturned, without material injury to the
passengers. With the assistance of an additional pair of horses it
reached the first stage; after which all endeavours to proceed were
found perfectly useless, and the letters were sent to Bodmin by the
guard on horseback. The Falmouth and Plymouth coach and its passengers
were obliged to remain at St. Austell.
At _Plymouth_, the snow was nearly four feet high in several of the
streets.
At _Liverpool_, on the 17th of January, Fahrenheit’s thermometer, in the
Athenæum, stood at fifteen degrees; seven below the freezing point. From
the ice accumulated in the Mersey, boats could not pass over. Almost
all labour without doors was at a stand.
At _Gloucester_, Jan. 17. The severity of the frost had not been
exceeded by any that preceded it. The Severn was frozen over, and people
went to Tewkesbury market across the ice on horseback. The cold was
intense. The thermometer, exposed in a north-eastern aspect, stood at
thirteen degrees, nine below the freezing point. On the eastern coast,
it stood as low as nine and ten; a degree of cold unusual in this
county.
_Bristol_, Jan. 18. The frost continued in this city with the like
severity. The Floating Harbour from Cumberland basin to the Feeder, at
the bottom of Avon-street, was one continued sheet of ice; and for the
first time in the memory of man, the skater made his appearance under
Bristol-bridge. The Severn was frozen over at various points, so as to
bear the weight of passengers.
At _Whitehaven_, Jan. 18, the frost had increased in severity. All the
ponds and streams were frozen; and there was scarcely a pump in the town
that gave out water. The market was very thinly attended; it having been
found in many parts impossible to travel until the snow was cut.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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