Hall, seven thousand panes of glass were broken; in the head office
of police, Scotland Yard, three hundred; in Burford's panorama, ten
thousand. A Citizen steamer on the river was struck by lightning
off Battersea. The suburbs of London suffered from floods, hail, and
lightning, and the royal parks were much damaged, especially that at
Windsor.

Much interest was excited by the marine excursions taken by her majesty
during that summer to the Channel Islands, and various places on the
southern coast of England.

On the 29th of September, an event occurred in London which attracted
much attention. The equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington, by
Wyatt, was removed from the artist's studio, in the Harrow Road, to the
Triumphal Arch, at Hyde Park Corner, where it was set upon the pedestal
prepared for it. The illustrious spectators in Apsley House were almost
as much objects of interest to the multitude below, as the colossal
statue erected to the honour of the hero of Waterloo.

The failure of the harvest throughout the British Isles caused in
England a profound sensation. Prayers set apart to be used in a time
of scarcity were offered up, and subscriptions for the poor were most
generously bestowed by those whose means were ample, and by many from
limited resources: British benevolence had been seldom seen to such
advantage. During the month of November tempestuous weather prevailed
along the coasts, causing many wrecks and much loss of life. Early in
December, the severity of winter fell upon the British Isles. On the
10th, the mercury was fourteen degrees below the freezing-point in
London. This severe weather added to the sufferings of the people,
already pressed by scarcity of food. In the Highlands of Scotland, and
in Ireland, stern destitution was experienced by the whole peasantry.

During the year many eminent persons died whose names shed a lustre on
British history. In January, the Eight Honourable John Hookham Frere,
M.A., expired, who had been ambassador to Spain at the beginning of the
century. His representations had much influence in inducing the English
government to set on foot the expedition to the peninsula, which shed
so much glory on the arms of Britain. Earl Granville, whose name is so
closely associated with English political and diplomatic history, also
died within the month. During the following month, the antiquary,
Gaily Knight, and General Sir Henry Clinton, G.C.B., were among the
celeb