Page:Item 9 1861.pdf/15

in the St Leonards Gazette for that date, Nov 10th, was

“Now chief among the rising stars
Are Merc’ry, Jupiter and Mars,
Whose sextile aspects seem to say,
Expect a windy sort of day.”

Extraordinary Floods. The frequent heavy rains which accompanied and followed the gale of Sunday, assisted by a great rain-storm on Wednesday, caused immense floods in the valleys and low grounds in and about the locality. The floods in the Priory Brooks, were such as to be from 4 to 6 inches deep in the Railway Cottages, and from 13 to 16 inches above the pavement at Meadow Cottages (where now is the General Post-office and adjoining property, in Queens road. It also extended in a vast sheet of water from the York hotel on the south to the Gas-works and the Local Board Ash-yard in the north. The weather forecast was again pretty well in agreement with the actual occurrence –

“See Mercury still his onward rush performs,
Engend’ring thus some wet or wintry storms.”

A New Comet appeared somewhat suddenly on Sunday evening, June 30th, when it attracted general observation by its meteor-like at near 10 o’clock. It traveled rapidly in a N.E. direction, and its fan-like tail shed a long ray of light over the clouds. It was observed for several evenings afterwards, and some astronomers (Mr. Chambers, of Uckfield among the number) believed it to be the one that appeared in 1556.

Balls and Evening Parties

Following closely on the Christmas Ball there were soirees-dansantes, and evening parties in rapid succession, among which were a ball on Monday night at Mrs. Braham’s, 80 Marina, the guests numbering nearly 100. On Wednesday night, Jan. 2nd, nearly 150 of the elite of the neighbourhood responded to the invitation of A. Burton, Esq. at the Assembly Rooms, where dancing was kept up till the night was considerably advanced. On the following night, a large party assembled at the residence of the Misses Mackay, 6 Upland Views.

The Annual Bachelors’ Ball (fully reported in Brett’s Gazette) came off on the evening of the 11th of January at the St. Leonards Assembly Rooms, with the usual eclât. The rooms were superbly decorated, the company numbered nearly 240, the music was Tinney’s London band, and the refreshments were supplied by Mr. C. Vickery.

A Ball and Supper was given on the last night of the year by T. Brassey, Jun., Esq., at Beauport to a fashionable company, numbering upwards of 100. (For Hastings balls see next chapter).