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Shower of Ice. -Remarkable Frosts

from its sides, with the glittering refraction of the solar rays, whilst tints of the most lively green, blue, yellow, or violet, have the effect of different compartments in the several divisions of the grotto, the whole is so theatrically splendid, so completely picturesque, so great and beautiful beyond imagination, that I can hardly believe the art of man has ever yet produced, or ever will produce, a building so grand in its construction, or so varied in its ornaments. Desirous of surveying every side of this mass, we crossed the river about four hundred yards from its source, and, mounting upon the rocks and ice, approached the vault; but while we were attentively employed in viewing all its parts, astonished at the sportiveness of nature, we cast our eyes at one considerable member of the pile above us, which was most unaccountably supported, for it seemed to be held by almost nothing: our imprudence was too evident, and we hastened to retreat; yet scarcely had we stepped back thirty paces, before it broke off all at once with a prodigious noise, and tumbled, rolling to the very spot where we were standing just before."

SHOWER OF ICE.-A very uncommon kind of shower fell in the west of England, in December 1672, whereof we have various accounts in the Philos. Trans." This rain, as soon as it touched any thing above ground, as a bough or the like, immediately settled into ice; and, by multiplying and enlarging the icicles, broke every thing down by its weight. The rain that fell on the ground immediately became frozen, without sinking into the snow at all. It made an incredible destruction of trees, beyond any thing mentioned in history. Had it concluded with a gust of wind, (says a gentleman who was on the spot,) it might have been of terrible consequence. I weighed the sprig of an ash tree, of just three-quarters of a pound, the ice on which weighed sixteen pounds. Some were frightened with the noise in the air, till they discerned that it was the clatter of icy boughs, dashed against each other." ing Dr. Beale remarks, that there was no considerable frost observed on the ground during the above: whence he concludes, that a frost may be very intense and dangerous on the tops of some hills and plains; while at other places it keeps at two, three, or four feet distance above the ground, rivers, lakes, &c. and may wander about very furiously in some places, and be mild in others not far off. The frost was followed by glowing heats, and a wonderful forwardness of flowers and fruits.

We close this division with an account of REMARKABLE FROSTS. - In the year 220, a frost in Britain lasted five months -In 250, The Thames was frozen nine weeks.--291, Most rivers in Britain frozen six weeks. -359, Severe frost in Scotland for fourteen weeks. -508, The rivers in Britain frozen for two months.-558, Danube quite frozen over. -695, Thames frozen six weeks, and booths built on it.-759, Frost from Oct. 1 till Feb. 26 following.-827, Frost in England for nine weeks.-859, Carriages used on the Adriatic. - 908, Most rivers in England frozen two months.-923, The Thames frozen thirteen weeks. -987, Frost lasted 130 days; begun Dec. 22.-998, Thames frozen five weeks. -1035, Severe frost on June 24: the corn and fruits destroyed.-1063, The Thames frozen fourteen weeks. -1076, Frost in England from Nov. till April.-1114, Several wooden bridges carried away by ice. -1205, Frost from Jan. 15 till March 22.-1407, Frost that lasted fifteen weeks. -1434, From Nov. 24 till Feb. 10, Thames frozen down to Gravesend.-1683, Frost for thirteen weeks.- 1708-9, An extraordinary frost throughout the most parts of Europe, though scarcely felt in Scotland or Ireland.-1715, Severe frost for many weeks. -1739, One for nine weeks; begun Dec. 14.-1742, Severe frost for many weeks.-1747, Severe frost in Russia. -1754, Severe one in England.-1760, The same in Germany. -1776, The same in England.-1788, The Thames frozen below London bridge; and booths erected on it.-1795, The Zuyder Zee frozen over, and the rivers of Holland passed by the French.