campaign in that sea set sail from Spithead. This fleet was probably the
most powerful that had ever appeared upon the seas.

FINANCIAL OPERATIONS FOR THE YEAR.

In the middle of April the government effected, with great ease, a loan
of sixteen millions sterling to carry on the war. This was followed by
similar transactions.

SEVERITY OF THE WEATHER.

The first days of the new year were unusually warm, the temperature
ranging 11 deg. above the average. On the 9th the thermometer marked 50 deg.;
but on the following day fell to 26 deg., being the commencement of the
longest and most severe winter experienced for many years. On the 14th
a period of very cold weather set in, and continued without intermission
to the 24th February; some of the days in the middle of February being
from 15 deg. to 18 deg. below the average. From the 24th February to the 6th
March the weather was more moderate; but on that day the cold again set
in, and the weather continued to the 26th June to be cold, nipping, and
miserable beyond record. In January, on several days, the mercury was as
low as 13 deg.. In February it was, on many days, as low as from 3 deg. to 10 deg..
The coldest day in London was the 18th, when the thermometer marked 7 deg.;
the lowest temperature recorded by authority was 0 deg. 8 (or not quite
1 deg.), at Berkhampstead; at Belvoir Castle it was 2 deg. 5. During this
long period, the wind was almost uniformly north-east. Rain was very
deficient; but snow fell on the 9th January, and on every day, at one
station or other corresponding with the Meteorological Society, from
January 13th to February 28th, from March 8th to the end of month, and
frequently to the middle of May. It was replete with snow crystals, and
unusually dense, eight inches of snow producing one inch of water. Hail
and fogs were frequent all over the kingdom; and aurora were numerous.
The effects of so ungenial a season upon the mortality and health of
the population were as evil as could be anticipated. The deaths
greatly exceeded the average. In the winter quarter 134,605 deaths were
registered, or 20,000 in excess of the average; and this excess was
distributed over the whole kingdom. To the immediate effects of the cold
must be added the great dearness of all the necessaries of life. Wheat,
which in March, 1853, was 45s. 7d. a quarter, had risen in March, 1854,
to 79s. 6d-, and in 1855, to 69s. 11d.; and the sale had fallen from
1,236,49