to the year 1716. The references different, and engraved afresh. London: sold by John Lenthall, stationer, at the Talbot, against St. Dunstan's Church, in Fleet Street, London. Price sixpence.'

"3. A copper-plate, ten inches two eighths high (including the margin), fourteen inches one eighth wide, inscribed, ‘A Prospect of the Fair kept upon the River of Thames (during the time it was frozen, beginning on December ye 3rd, and ended on the 28th of January 1715-16. Drawn by C. Woodfield, as it appeared upon a View at the Temple Stairs, London.' Below are twenty-eight references, beginning 'A. The Water-house at London Bridge,' and ending, 4, New Cheapside. Sold by J. Nutting, at y Crown in Fleet Street, near Water Lane end.'

"4. A rude woodcut view of the sports on the river, looking down towards London Bridge, the Monument, Tower, &c. Size, seven inches high, including margin, eleven inches foureighths wide. Below are eight verses • Behold the liquid Thames,' &c. From the Printing-house in Bow Church-yard.' Thirteen references: some curious; viz. 'B-Cripple Atkins roasting an Ox.

F-A Shoulder of Mutton roasting in a String at the Sign of the Rat in a

Cage. M-Huffing Jack. N-Will. Ellis, the Poet, and his Wife Bess rhyming on the hard Frost.' Believed to be the only portrait of that poet. In a bordure in the centre is printed the name of Mr. David Hannott. Printed on the ice, at the Maidenhead at Old Swan Stairs, Jan. 25, 1715-16.""

FROST OF 1740.

The frost of 1739-40 commenced on Christmas-day, and lasted till the 17th of the following February, when it began to break up; but the river was not clear of ice till the end of the month. The usual sports of a fair were made upon the ice; booths and drinking-tents erected; and also printing-presses, which in all these fairs upon the Thames seem to have been considered the greatest wonder of all. The verses beginning" Amid the arts which on the Thames appear," and "You that walk here, and do design to tell," were revived, and indeed appear to have been popular, till 1814, when we meet with them again.

The author of a little work, called "Frostiana," printed in 1814, and which gives a slight account of all the great frosts, with the exception of that of 1683-4, which is not even

alluded to, thus describes, from some contemporary account, to which he has forgotten to give the reference, the severity of the season.

"The watermen and fishermen, with a peterboat in mourning, and the carpenters, bricklayers, &c., with their tools and utensils, in mourning, walked through the streets in large bodies, imploring relief for the necessity of their families. A few days after the frost had set in, great damage was done among the shipping by a high wind, which broke many vessels from their moorings, and drove them foul of each other, while the large flakes of ice there floated on the stream, overwhelmed various boats and lighters, and sunk several coal and corn vessels.

"By these accidents many lives were lost, and many others were also destroyed by the intensity of the cold, both on land and water. Above bridge the Thames was completely frozen over, and tents, and numerous booths were erected on it for selling liquors, &c. to the multitudes that daily flocked thither for curiosity or diversion. The scene here displayed was very irregular, and had more the appearance of a fair on land than a frail exhibition, the only basis of which was water. Various shops were opened for the sale of toys, cutlery,

and other light articles. A printing-press was established, and all the common sports of the populace in a wintry season were carried on with augmented spirit, in spite or forgetfulness of the distress that reigned on shore. Many

of the houses on the bridge, as well as the bridge itself, received considerable damage when the thaw commenced, by the driving of the ice."

The following is Mr. Smith's catalogue of the prints relating to this fair.

"1. An engraving fifteen inches five-eighths high and one inch one-eighth margin below, width nineteen inches six-eighths. The title is

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An exact draught of Frost Fair, on the River Thames, as it appeared from White-hall Stairs, in the year 1740. Printed for, and sold by George Foster, print-seller, in St. Paul's Church-yard, London.' There are twelve verses, beginning, Old Thames, &c,' ending 'to us again.' There are two of the piers of Westminster Bridge on the right, and people mounting on one of them by a ladder, coarsely engraved. There is another engraving of this, apparently retouched all over, with the addition of a booth with a flag at the right-hand edge of the plate, and a little above it, a man up to his middle in the ice; also a woman next

to the man, who lifts both his arms up, on the same side of the plate.

"2. A coarse engraving, nine inches high without the margin, twelve inches wide. In the margin above is The View of Frost Fair.' In the margin below are twelve verses beginning Scythians of old, &c.' and ending,

This view to future times shall show

The medley scene you visit now.'

York Buildings tower is seen on the left. Though there is no date on the print, it evidently belongs to the frost of this year, as the two piers of the new Westminster Bridge are indicated on the right.

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"3. An engraving eight inches six-eighths high exclusive of margin, thirteen inches foureighths wide: the title below is Frost and Ice Fair, shewing the diversions upon the river Thames, begun the 26th of December, 1739-40, ended February the 17th.' Sixteen verses, 'The bleak north-east' &c, and ending, Cheering streams.' To the left, are seen York Buildings waterworks, and St. Paul's; to the right, are the two piers of the new bridge There are numbers on the plate, intended for as many as fifteen references, the same, apparently, as those to G. Beckham's Frost Fair, with a few exceptions. It is printed in red.

"4. An engraving six inches six-eighths high,