The cold of mid-winter has come upon us prematurely and
with- out forewarning. That no appeals have yet been made to the public, as is usual in winter, in behalf of the poor, may be accepted, in part, as a sign of the abundance of employment and general wellbeing of the community. On the North-east coast the cold has been accompanied by violent gales and blinding snow-storms, which have been severely felt by the coasting trade. This may se- cure to the report of the committee on the life-boat models com- peting for the premium offered by the Duke of Northumberland, more attention than might have been bestowed upon it in a less 'stormy season. The Duke has not confined his efforts to promoting the improvement of life-boats : with a princely liberality, he has undertaken to plaoe a well-built life-boat at each of the most ex- posed points of the Northumberland coast, and rockets or mortars at all the intermediate stations. It is to be hoped that this noble example may stimulate the Admiralty to a more active discharge of a duty, the neglect of which presents a painful contrast to the watchful care of the United States marine department.
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