Another age shall see the golden earEmbrown the slope, and nod on the parterre:Deep harvests bury all his pride has planned,And laughing Ceres reassume the land.
Another age shall see the golden earEmbrown the slope, and nod on the parterre:Deep harvests bury all his pride has planned,And laughing Ceres reassume the land.
Another age shall see the golden ear
Embrown the slope, and nod on the parterre:
Deep harvests bury all his pride has planned,
And laughing Ceres reassume the land.
Three years after his death the stately mansion was sold by auction, piecemeal, such was the rage to buy something at Canons. Its site was soon an arable.
1746. Battle of Rotto Fredo, between the allies and the Austrians; the former defeated with the loss of 8,000; Austrian loss about half that number.
1748.Alexander Blackwell, a Scottish physician, beheaded in Sweden, on suspicion of treason. His wife, to support him in prison, published aHerbalin two vols. folio, containing 500 plates, drawn, engraved and colored by herself.
1757. Fort William Henry with a garrison of about 2600 men under Col. Monroe, capitulated to Montcalm, who had invested the fort with an army of 11,500. The garrison was to be allowed the honors of war, and protected from the Indians; but with the characteristic perfidy of the French in all these colonial wars, the Indians were allowed to pillage and massacre the defenceless soldiers, so that their baggage was lost and 1500 slain or made prisoners.
1759. Birthday ofJean Baptist Annibal Aubert Dubayet, in Louisiana. He served in the American army during the war of independence, and went to France on the breaking out of the revolution there. He was appointed minister of war, and the next year ambassador to Constantinople, where he died.
1775. CaptainLinzee, of the British sloop of war Falcon, attempted to take an American schooner in Gloucester harbor, cape Ann, in two barges, a whale boat, schooner and cutter, all of which were captured by the Americans; in consequence of which he bombarded the town. American loss 1 killed, 2 wounded.
1778. GeneralGreene'sarmy crossed over from Tiverton to the north end of Rhode Island.
1778. LordHowe'sfleet arrived off Newport, in quest of count d'Estaing, who put to sea the next morning.
1782.De la Perouse, with a considerable French military and naval force, took fort Prince of Wales, at Hudson's bay,and soon after forts York and Severn; the settlements and forts were destroyed.
1787. The ship Columbia, captainGray, and sloop Washington sailed from Boston for the north west coast of America and China. They returned in 1790, being the first American vessels that circumnavigated the globe.
1793.Alexis Brulard de Genlis, marquis de Sillery, a French general, guillotined at Paris. He was a deputy to the states-general, and an avowed enemy to the king, on whose trial he voted for detaining the royal family until the peace, and for their perpetual banishment after that event.
1796. Elba surrendered to the British under commodore Nelson.
1804.Robert Potter, an English prelate, died; known by his elegant translations of Æschylus, Euripides and Sophocles, the three great dramatists of ancient Greece.
1805. LieutenantZebulon M. Pikecommenced his voyage to the sources of the Missouri river, with a party of 22; they were taken by the Spaniards, and returned the next year.
1808.Romana, with 10,000 Spanish troops, deserted the French army under Bernadotte, and were conveyed to Spain in British transports.
1809. The president of the United States,Thomas Jefferson, received official information of the non-ratification of the British treaty, and suspended all intercourse with that country.
1811. Battle of Baza; the Spaniards under Blake defeated by the French under Soult; of 20,000 Spaniards not more than 7,000 rallied again.
1812. Battle of Magauga; the British and Indians under major Muir and Tecumseh, defeated by the United States troops under general Miller, and driven into Brownstown, whence they escaped to Malden in boats. American loss 10 killed, 8 wounded.
1814. Bombardment of Stonington, by the British, commenced. It continued three days. British loss 21 killed, 50 wounded; American loss 6 wounded.
1815. CommodoreDecatursettled the differences between the United States and the dey of Tripoli. The dey made restitution of property and prisoners.
1815. The British ship Northumberland, 74 guns, admiral Cockburn, sailed from Torbay with the exiled Napoleon for St. Helena.
1818. Captain Ross discovered the Esquimaux tribe of Indians, situated at the north east corner of Baffin's bay, extending on the sea shore 120 miles, and not exceeding 20 miles in breadth, and bounded on the south by an immense barrier of mountains, covered with ice. They seemed utterly ignorant of other nations to the south, whence they are supposed to be the original race. They are destitute of boats, and furnish an unique instance of a fishing tribe unacquainted with the art of floating on the water.
1824.Joseph Nightingale, an English dissenting minister, died. He possessed great literary talent, and published many excellent works.
1839. Pera, a suburb of Constantinople, nearly destroyed by fire; 3700 houses burnt.
1841. The steam boat Erie, on her passage from Buffalo to Chicago, took fire and was totally destroyed. Of 200 persons on board, principally Swiss and German emigrants, only 28 were saved. The boat was valued at $75,000; merchandise $20,000; specie $180,000.
1842. Treaty establishing the boundary line between the United States and Canada across the state of Maine; the British acquiring thereby a good portion of the latter state that of right belonged to the United States.
1844. Imprisonment for debt abolished in England; the act taking effect on this day.
1853.Samuel Jones, a New York jurist, died, aged 80.
1855.Santa Annaleft the city of Mexico with 2600 men, under pretence of putting down the revolution at Vera Cruz; but signed an abdication at Perote, and sailed to Havana. On his departure a mob destroyed a large number of houses.
353.Magnentius, emperor of Rome, killed. He was a German, and rose from a private soldier to the throne.
1506. The island of Madagascar discovered by the Portuguese.
1519.Ferdinand Magellansailed from Seville with 5 ships and 234 men, on his voyage of discovery, which was continued round the world.
1543. The Turks under Barbarossa and the French under count d'Enguein assaulted Nice, but were repulsed by Montford, a Savoyard gentleman, and obliged finally to raise the siege.
1557. Battle of St. Quintin; the French under Montmorency defeated by the allies under Phillibert of Savoy and the earl of Pembroke. The duke d'Enguein, 600 gentlemen and 4,000 French were killed; several dukes and many other officers of distinction, 300 gentlemen and 4,000 menwere taken prisoners, and all their standards, cannon and ammunition fell into the hands of the victors.
1607.James Menochiusdied; an Italian author of great repute in his day.
1630. Staten Island was purchased of the Indians by Michael Pauw, a Dutch subject. It was the favorite spot of the primitive settlers. The Indians sold it twice afterwards.
1633.Anthony Munday, an English dramatic author, died.
1637.Edward King, a young English poet, drowned. His death gave rise to the beautiful poem of Lycidias, by Milton, his friend.
1653.Martin Harpertzoon van Tromp, a Dutch admiral, killed in an engagement with the English fleet off the Texel. He entered the navy at the age of 8, and rose from the lowest station to the chief command. This brave man refused all titles except that of father of the sailors. (July 31,O. S.)
1665. The French West India company, purchased of the order of Malta, the islands of St. Christopher, St. Cruz and St. Bartholomew, for 500,000 livres turnois.
1669.Henrietta Maria, queen dowager to Charles I, died at St. Colombe, near Paris, in France.
1672.John De Witt, the famous pensionary of Holland, killed by a mob. "He was the zealous patron of the glory and liberty of his native country; the greatest genius of his time; the ablest politician in war as well as peace; the Atlas of the commonwealth."
1674.Hugh Paulin Cressy, an English divine, died. He became a catholic, was much respected, and published some valuable works, particularly an able ecclesiastical history.
1675. Corner stone for the foundation of the royal observatory was laid at Greenwich, England. The edifice was erected by Charles II, under the superintendence of sir Christopher Wren, and Flamsteed appointed astronomer-royal.
1675.Peter Bales, an early and eminent English writing master, finished a performance which contained the Lord's prayer, the creed, the decalogue, two short prayers in Latin, his own name, motto, the date, and the year of the reign of Elizabeth, within the circle of a penny, and so accurately wrought as to be plainly legible. It was enchased in a ring of gold, and presented to the queen.
1686.John Baptist Cotelerius, a learned Frenchman, died. He published the works of all the fathers in the apostolic age, with learned notes.
1702. LordCuttscarried, sword in hand, fort St. Michael, at Venlo, before any breach had been made. This was considered one of the greatest exploits during the wars of queen Anne.
1709.Lewis Anthony Prosper Herissantdied; an eminent French poet and physician.
1723.William Dubois, cardinal and prime minister of France, died. He rose from an apothecary's shop to rank, power, and immense wealth.
1749.Thomas Topham, an Englishman of remarkable strength, died. One of his feats was that of throwing his horse over the turnpike gate. He possessed the strength of six ordinary men.
1757.Benjamin Hoadley, an English physician, died; distinguished by several able professional works, and a popular comedy, theSuspicious Husband.
1759.Ferdinand VI(the Wise), of Spain, died.
1760. Oswegatchie taken by the British.
1779. A destructive eruption of mount Vesuvius commenced and lasted several days. The country for several miles round was covered with lava.
1783. East India company's ship Antelope, wrecked on the coast of Oorolong, and the crew protected and aided by the king of the Pelew islands.
1790. CaptainJohn Gore, who circumnavigated the earth three times, on the third conducting home the ships after the death of Cooke and Clark, died, a captain in Greenwich hospital.
1791.William Cunningham, captain of the British provost in Boston and New York during the revolutionary war, executed in England for forgery. He confessed to have starved more than 2,000 American prisoners in New York, by stopping their rations, which he sold; and to have hanged upwards of 270 in a private manner.
1792. The alarm bells rung in every part of the city of Paris, and the drums beat to arms, when an immense multitude attacked the palace of the Tuilleries. The Swiss guard at first repelled the populace; but the assailants redoubling their efforts, the palace was carried by storm, the apartments, the passages and courts soon streamed with blood. The king, the queen, and the royal family, fled for refuge to the national assembly. Of the besiegers 3,740 were killed, and 852 of those in the palace. The Swiss guards, who heroically defended the king, were inhumanly butchered by theMarsellois.
1792.Louis Bougainville, the French navigator, massacred at Paris. His discoveries were of importance to the French, but neither his services nor his virtues could shield him against the fury of the mob.
1793. Destruction of the tombs of the kings of France, at St. Denis, by order ofthe national convention. The body of marshal Turenne, deposited there 1675, was found apparently as fresh as ever.
1794. Calvi, in Corsica, surrendered to the British, lord Hood, with the whole of his army, after a siege of 51 days.
1796. Battle of Bassano, in Italy; Bonaparte defeated the Austrians under Wurmzer, took 5,000 prisoners, 25 cannon, &c.
1802. The sea at Teignmouth and coast of Devonshire, England, rose and fell several times two feet inten minutes.
1812. The Russians underWitgensteinattacked the French under Oudinot near Klaistitzy. The action continued into the following day, when the French were defeated with the loss of 5,000 killed, 3,000 prisoners, 2 cannon, and all their ammunition wagons.
1813. Partial action in the night, on lake Ontario, between the United States commodore Chauncy, and British commodore Yeo. The latter succeeded in capturing schooners Julia, 3 guns, and Growler, 5 guns.
1814.William Cowdroy, proprietor, editor and printer of theManchester Gazette, died. Some of his best editorials were set in type without writing.
1821. Missouri became one of the members of the United States confederacy.
1821. The remains of the ill-fated Maj. Andre disinterred and taken to England.
1838. A papal decree issued at Rome by the congregation of the supreme inquisition, forbidding the introduction of infant schools into the pontifical states.
1843.Robert Adrian, a skillful mathematician, and for some time professor in Columbia college, N. Y., died in his 68th year.
1851.M. Daguerre, the inventor of the daguerreotype, died near Paris, aged 63. His peculiar process was published by him in the autumn of 1839, and the French government awarded him a pension of 6,000 francs for his discovery.
1854.Frederick Augustus, king of Saxony, died at Munich, aged 57. His carriage was overturned as he rode into the city, and he was killed by a kick from one of the horses.
1854. A fire destroyed 180 houses at Varna, in Turkey, and destroyed vast quantities of stores belonging to the allies.
1854. A violent tornado swept along the track of the Cleveland and Pittsburg rail road, between Bedford and Macedonia, covering the track with large uprooted trees, and causing great obstruction to the trains upon the road.
1855. Delegates met at the city of Mexico, and chose general Carrera president for six months, and ordained the freedom of the press.
1856. Last island, a summer resort in the gulph of Mexico, was destroyed by a terrible storm of three days' duration. The island was entirely submerged, the houses swallowed up, and 173 persons lost.
1856.James Murdock, an eminent American linguist and theologian, died, aged 80. He studied under president Dwight in 1802, and after preaching sometime became a teacher, and finally an author and translator.
50. The first of the month Thoth, in the movable Egyptian year, corresponded, as Pliny intimates, with this Julian day (798 of the era of Narbonasser); and with the 30th July, A. D. 97 (845 era Narb.), in the Greek month Metagitnion, as we collect from Plutarch.
1332. Battle of Gladsmuir, near St. Johnstown, in which David of Scotland was defeated by Baliol.
1454.Nicholas de Cusa, an Italian cardinal, died. He rose from extreme indigence and obscurity by his own merit, to great dignity and fame. His talents and learning were extraordinary; for besides his profound knowledge of law and divinity, he was distinguished as a natural philosopher and geometrician.
1576.Martin Frobisherentered the strait bearing his name.
1607. A party of English under George Popham landed at the mouth of the Sagadahock or Kennebec river. It consisted of 100 men, with ordinance and all provisions necessary until they might receive farther supplies. Only 45 remained, who built a store house on Parker's island, and fortified it.
1642.Johannes Megapolensis, the first minister at Albany, arrived from Holland to take charge of his church.
1654.Virgilio Malvezzi, an Italian author, died. He quitted the law to enter the Spanish service, at arms, and wrote in both languages.
1673. Sanguinary engagement off the Texel between the combined English and French fleets under Rupert and d'Estrees, and the Dutch under De Ruyter and Cornelius Tromp. Both sides claimed the victory. Admiral Sprague was drowned, his boat being sunk by a cannon shot.
1693. The Indians of New Hampshire sued for peace, after a long and bloody warfare with the English colonists, incited by the French.
1718. Action off the coast of Sicily, between the British fleet, admiral Byng, and the Spanish fleet, under Castanats; the latter lost 21 ships, captured and sunk.
1744.Sarah, duchess of Marlborough, bequeathed to William Pitt £10,000, "upon account of his merit in the noble defence he had made for the support of the laws of England, and to prevent the ruin of his country."
1766.Ann Sowerbywas burnt at York, England, for poisoning her husband; one of the last relics of this mode of capital punishment.
1768.Peter Collinsondied; an eminent English botanist and natural historian.
1772. Acharged cloudat Java destroyed 2,000 persons.
1778.Augustus Montague Topladydied; an eminent English Calvinistic divine and theological writer.
1781. The British took into New York the American frigate Trumbull. Congress had then but two frigates left.
1782. British evacuated Savannah.
1787. First bishop appointed for Nova Scotia. First bishops in England, 694; Denmark, 939; form of consecrating bishops in England ordained, 1549; the office abolished by parliament, 1646; restored, 1660; first episcopal bishop in America, 1784; first catholic, 1789.
1794. Battle of Wilna; the Poles defeated by the Russians, and the town taken by assault.
1809. Battle near Almonacid; the Spaniards defeated by the French under Joseph Bonaparte, and compelled to retreat, after nine hours' hard fighting.
1810. Severe earthquake at St. Michaels, one of the Azores, which continued two days; 22 houses swallowed up.
1813.Henry James Pye, an English poet, died. Having ruined his fortune, he was gratified with the office of poet laureate, and left many poems, original and translated.
1818.Nikolai I. Novikov, sometimes called the Franklin of Russia, died, aged 74. Certain it is that by his activity and taste he contributed not a little to the improvement of Russian literature.
1822.Samuel Auchmuty, commander-in-chief of the British forces in Ireland, died. He was a native of New York, who took the side of the British in the revolutionary contest, and held various honorable and lucrative stations under the British government.
1831. Barbadoes destroyed by a hurricane. It commenced at 3P. M., and continued two hours; 5,000 persons perished; the houses were mostly destroyed, and the face of the country changed to a desert; neither trees nor vegetables were left standing.
1834. The Ursuline convent at Charlestown, Mass., destroyed by a protestant mob. The house was occupied by females, who were driven to seek shelter where they could find it, in the midst of night, while their valuables to a large amount were plundered.
1849. GeneralGörgey, to whom the Hungarian diet had confided its powers, surrendered his army to the Russian general, Rudiger, at Vilagos, and the conquest of Hungary was consumated.
1849. A proclamation was issued by the president of the United States, warning all citizens against connecting themselves with an armed expedition believed to be fitting out with the intention to invade the island of Cuba, or some of the provinces of Mexico.
1853.John Downes, an American commodore, died at Charlestown, Mass., aged 69. He entered the navy in 1802, was in active service during the war of 1812, and commanded the Potomac, which bombarded the piratical town of Quallah Battoo, in reprisal for injuries done American sailors by the Malay pirates.
1853. Great heat from this day to the 14th throughout the United States, and Canada; the thermometer everywhere ranging at about 100° Fahrenheit; 200 deaths in New York on the last of these days, and the total deaths of the four days from that cause exceeded 400.
1855.Samuel J. Petersdied at New Orleans, aged 54. He held various offices, and the city owed much of its prosperity to his energy and enterprise.
403B. C.Act of amnesty, which restored the Athenian democracy, between Thrasybulus and the decemvirate, in the archonship of Euclides, 12th of Boedromion—the year when Thucydides returned from exile.
243B. C.Liberation of Corinth, by Aratus, in his 2d prætorship.
1099. Battle of Ascalon; the Saracens under the sultan of Egypt defeated by Godfrey de Bouillon, and totally overthrown.
1204.Boniface, marquis of Montferrat, disposed of the isle of Candia, with the ruins of a hundred cities, to the Venitians, for 10,000 marks.
1241.Gregory IX, pope, died. He incited the European powers to undertake a crusade, which was joined by Frederick of Germany, who had been twice excommunicated.
1332. Battle of Duplin moor; Edward Baliol defeated the Scots with terrible slaughter. Donald, earl of Mar, the new regent, fell with the host.
1417.Henry V, by a letter to hischancellor, dated Tonques, in Normandy, gave directions for the sealing annuities of £6 13s. 4d. each, to seventeen masters of the "grete shippes, carracks, barges and balyngers," belonging to the royal navy.
1560.Thomas Phaer, an English physician, died. He published various medical works, chiefly compiled from the French, and translated a part of theÆneid.
1577.Thomas Smithdied; a learned English statesman, historian, and critic, and secretary of state under Edward VI, and Elizabeth.
1606.Henry Challonssailed in a ship of 50 tons to make farther discoveries on the coast of North Virginia, and if it should appear expedient to leave as many men as he could spare in the country. He was fitted out by lord chief-justice Popham, sir Ferdinando Gorges and others of the Plymouth company.
1652. CardinalMazarineexiled the second time from France.
1652. An act of the protectorate for thesettlement of Ireland.
1662.Charles Seymour, "the proud duke of Somerset," died. He was in office under several successive sovereigns.
1676. KingPhilip(orMetacom), killed at Mount Hope, in Rhode Island, whither he had been driven by the English, as a last refuge. One of his confederates proposing peace, so irritated Philip that he killed him. A brother of the murdered Indian repaired to the English camp, and offered to lead them to Philip's retreat. Captain Church set out with a small body of men, accompanied by a few friendly Indians, and attacked the chief in his den. He formed his men in extended order, placing an Englishman and an indian together, with orders to fire on any who should attempt to escape. At the dawn of day the sentinels alarmed the camp, when Philip seized his arms and attempted to escape; as he approached two of Church's guards, the Englishman leveled his gun, which missed fire; the Indian sent two balls through his body, one of which piercing his heart, laid him dead upon the spot. When the battle was over, the English repaired to the place where he lay. He had fallen on his face in a muddy spot of the ground, from which he was drawn; the head was taken off and the body left to be devoured by wild beasts. Thus fell a powerful chief, and a ferocious savage. It was then hailed with joy as the extinction of a virulent and implacable enemy; but is now often viewed as the fall of a great statesman and a mighty prince, who died in defence of his just rights. This was a war of extermination; it was a general rising of the Indians, under a powerful and sagacious warrior, against the English, not a vestige of whom would have been left had they been victorious. As it was, several of the tribes were annihilated; a miserable remnant of the others incorporated themselves with distant and strange nations. In this short but tremendous war, about 600 of the white inhabitants, composing its principal strength, were either killed in battle or murdered; 12 towns entirely destroyed, and 600 dwellings burnt. The English triumphed, indeed, but the ravages of the enemy left them in a deplorable condition.
1689.Innocent XI(Benedict Odescalchi), pope, died. He effected several important and useful measures and reformations during his reign.
1712. The first stamp on English newspapers used this day.
1715.Nahum Tate, an English dramatic writer and poet, died. He succeeded Shadwell as poet laureate, and assisted in a version of thePsalms.
1724. Battle of Norridgewock, in New Hampshire, and death of Ralle. He was a Jesuit, and a principal agent in instigating the Indians against the English colonies; had resided at this place twenty-six years, and become thoroughly acquainted with the country. An expedition was fitted out to destroy his den. The place was attacked by 240 men, and carried. Ralle was found in his cabin firing upon the English; orders had been given to take him alive, if possible; but refusing to ask quarter he was shot down. Eighty were killed, among which were some of the most noted warriors of the tribe, and the remnant scattered. Ralle was a man of extensive learning, and of great service to the French; he wrote a dictionary of the Norridgewock language, which was taken, and is deposited in Harvard library. He was sent out as a missionary, had acquired the languages of nearly all the tribes in America, and spent thirty-seven years among them.
1728.William Sherard(Sherwood), an eminent English botanist and antiquarian, died. He spent the greater part of his life, abroad, in the pursuit of his favorite studies, and founded a professorship of botany at Oxford.
1759. Battle of Kunersdorf; the Prussians under Frederick II defeated with great loss by the Russians and Austrians. The allies by their own confession lost 24,000 men, says Gillies (Smollet says 10,000); the Prussians fought desperately and left 20,000 dead on the field, among whom were several generals. The king had two horses killed under him, and his clothes perforated by several balls. He lost his whole train of artillery.
1759.Ewald Christian de Kleist, a Prussian general and poet, killed at the battle of Kunersdorf.
1765. The great mogul constituted the East India company receivers of all the revenues of Bengal, Bahar, and Orissa.
1778. The French fleet under count d'Estaing dispersed in a gale off Rhode Island, and much damaged.
1778.Robert Goadbydied; an English printer and bookseller, and author of several useful publications.
1801.Thomas Hastings, author of theWars of Westminster, and other political papers, died. He was an itinerant bookseller.
1803. Agra taken by the British under the duke of Wellington. Among the trophies was an immense gun, 25 feet long, said to have carried shot into the camp of the British, though out of the range of all ordinary weapons, also a howitzer 14 feet long and 22 inches calibre, throwing a shot of 1,494 lbs.
1805. Capt.Lewisarrived at the head of the Missouri river, and having crossed the mountain this day struck the waters of the Columbia, in the Shoshone country, which he named Lewis's river.
1806. Spaniards recaptured Buenos Ayres, and made the British troops there prisoners.
1811.Mirandareduced New Valentia, in South America.
1812. LordWellingtonentered Madrid, Joseph Bonaparte having evacuated it the day before.
1812. Sanguinary battle on the heights, near Kobrine, between the allied French, Austrian and Saxon army, under Schwartzenberg, and the Russians under Tormozoff. The latter retired with the loss of 4,000; loss of the allies 5,000. Many officers of rank were wounded on both sides.
1813.Samuel Osgood, an officer of the revolution, and for a time postmaster-general, died, aged 65. He published several works of a religious character.
1814.Lodowick Morgan, major 1st U. S. rifle regiment, killed, with 10 of his men, in an attack on the British near fort Erie.
1822.Robert Stuart, lord Castlereagh, premier of England, committed suicide by opening the jugular vein with a penknife.
1828.William Blake, an English painter, died. He is described as a gentle visionary in shapes and fancies, and airy somethings upon paper.
1830. First American rail road, Mohawk and Hudson, between Albany and Schenectady, completed.
1849.Albert Gallatin, a statesman and scholar, died at Astoria, N. Y., aged 88. He was a native of Switzerland, and emigrated to America in 1780. He settled in Pennsylvania, and became soon a prominent member of the legislature, and then of congress. He was secretary of state under Jefferson, and spent many years abroad as American minister.
1851. The steamer Prometheus arrived in New York from San Juan, the Atlantic terminus of the Nicaragua route, now for the first time opened.
1854. LordJocelyndied in London, aged 38; military secretary of the Chinese expedition, and author ofSix Months in China.
582.Tiberius II, emperor of Constantinople, died. His character was conspicuous for humanity, justice, temperance and fortitude.
587.Radegonde, the queen of Clotaire of France, died. At the age of 18 she renounced paganism, and was celebrated for her personal charms, and devotedness to religious duties.
875.Louis II, king of France and emperor of Germany, died. He was a brave and virtuous monarch.
1415.Henry Vof England sailed for the conquest of France with a fleet of about 1,300 vessels, and landed his force at Harfleur on the second day following, consisting of 24,000 foot and 6,500 cavalry.
1482.Sixtus IV(Francis Albecola), pope, died. He was the son of a fisherman at Geneva, became professor of divinity at Padua, and rose by degrees to the papal chair.
1521.Cortezretook the city of Mexico, assisted by 10,000 Tlascalans, and an innumerable host of other Indian allies from the neighboring nations, whom he had attached to his service. It was not, however, till after seventy-five days of fierce and almost daily fighting, that he accomplished his victory. On no occasion did native Americans so bravely oppose European troops; but the superior discipline of the Spaniards carried the day: and thus a daring adventurer, regarded and treated by his countrymen as a rebel, after a bloody struggle, gained possession of a country which for more than three centuries formed one of the brightest gems in the Castilian crown. It is computed that during this siege 100,000 Mexicans were slain and 50,000 died of sickness and famine. The inhabitants being ordered to leave the city without arms or baggage, the three roads leading from it were full of men, women and children, in the most wretched condition, for three days and nights, seeking anasylum in the open country. The city contained at this time 50,000 houses. Sixty dangerous battles were fought in which 100 Spaniards were killed, or taken and sacrificed, and some thousands of the allies slain.
1535.Hippolyto de Medicis, an Italian cardinal, died. He possessed great talents as a negotiator and military man.
1553. The chaplain of bishop Bonner preached a sermon at St. Paul's abusing the administration of the late Edward, whereupon the people very much abused him; but he was rescued by two protestant ministers.
1587.Manteo, a friendly Indian, who had been to England, was baptized, according to a previous order of sir Walter Raleigh, and in reward of his faithful service to the English, was called lord of Roanoke and Desamonguepeuk.
1636.De Vries, who had been two years on the coast of America, with a view to settling a colony, entered on his diary this day, that he requested Wouter Van Twiller to put Staten island down to his name, intending to form a colony there, which was done, and two days after he sailed on his return to Holland.
1660. A proclamation was issued by Charles II against dueling.
1667.Jeremy Taylordied; an eminent English theological writer and controversialist.
1704. Battle off Malaga, between the British fleet of 33 ships of the line and several frigates, admiral Rooke and Cloudesley Shovel, and the French fleet of 54 ships and 24 galleys. The action continued all day, and at night the French bore off. No vessels were taken by either.
1743.Francis Peckdied; an eminent English antiquary, biographer and critic.
1762. Cuba surrendered to the British. The booty was great; £3,000,000 in specie, large quantities of goods and munitions of war, 9 ships of the line and 4 frigates. It was exchanged into the hands of the Spanish again the next year for the Floridas.
1775.Washingtoninformed congress that the whole stock of powder in New England amounted to no more than 9,927 pounds, about 9 rounds to a man. Although this information was communicated to the British by a deserter, they could not believe it possible that the Americans possessed such consummate assurance as to continue to invest them in Boston, while so destitute of ammunition.
1778. The Languedoc of 90 guns, count d'Estaing's flag ship, having lost her rudder and masts in the storm of the day before, was attacked by the British ship Renown, 50 guns, which was beaten off. At the same time a British ship of 50 guns attacked another of d'Estaing's ships, of 80 guns, having only her mainmast standing, but was also beat off.
1782.Henry Lewis du Hameldied at Paris; eminent for his knowledge of mechanics, agriculture and commerce.
1786.Gilbert Stuart, an eminent Scottish historian, died.
1794. Battle of Bellegarde, between the French and Spanish. The action was a severe one; both claimed the victory.
1806.Mirandaabandoned his conquests on the Spanish main, and sailed to Aruba.
1808. The French in the night raised the siege of Saragossa, in Spain. It had been most nobly defended since July 2d, by general Palafox and the countess de Burita, who raised a company of ladies, that exposed themselves to the greatest personal dangers and fatigues.
1810.James Francis Menon, a French general and politician, died. He was in the employ of the national convention and of Bonaparte.
1812. The British sloop of war Alert, attacked the United States frigate Essex, captain Porter, and after an action of eight minutes struck her colors with seven feet of water in her hold, much cut to pieces and three men wounded. The Alert had been sent out to capture the Hornet, and mounted twenty 18 lb. carronades, and had 130 men.
1817.John Beale, aged 87, a member of the society of Friends, died at his residence in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, in the same house in which he was born, having never resided in any other.
1819. Just after a brilliant meteor a mass of gelatinous and very fetid matter fell at Amherst, Mass.
1822. An earthquake devastated the greater part of Syria. It began about half past nine in the evening, and in ten or twelve seconds, Aleppo, Antioch, and every village and detached cottage in the pashalic of Aleppo, and several towns in the adjoining territories, were entirely ruined. There were 20,000 people destroyed by it, and as many more maimed or wounded.
1826.Laennecdied; author of theAuscultation System of Ascertaining Diseases of the Lungs.
1838.John Farmer, an American archæologist, died. He published several works relating to the early history of the country, which evince great patience and industry, and bring to light many important facts which would have perished otherwise. For some time previous to his death he was engaged in arranging the state papers in the public offices at Concord, containing the old province andcouncil records, and revolutionary papers. By supplying omissions, transcribing papers that were scarcely legible, and having them arranged and bound, the state of New Hampshire has a very complete set of its early records.
1841.J. B. Richsonville, principal chief of the Miami nation, died near fort Wayne, Indiana, aged 80. He is said to have left $200,000 in specie, besides immense quantities of valuable real estate.
1842.Thomas P. Emmet, son of Thomas Addis Emmet, and a contributor toSilliman's Journal, died in New York, aged 47.
1851. The people of Litchfield county, Connecticut, celebrated the two hundredth anniversary of its settlement.
1854. GeneralPaixhansdied at his estate of Jouy-aux-Arches, near Metz, aged 72. He was renowned by his connection with the artillery, and especially with the celebrated gun which bears his name.
1854. At Marysville, Kentucky, a powder magazine, containing 800 kegs, was fired, and the explosion caused the entire destruction of 13 houses, involving a great loss of property.
394B. C.An eclipse of the sun noticed by Xenophon, which just preceded the battle of Coronea, where Agesilaus stood his ground against the Greek confederates. Xenophon, who fought under the Spartan, describes it as the most desperate conflict in his time.
376B. C.Chabrasdefeated the Lacedæmonian fleet off Naxos, full moon of Boedromion. The youth Phocion here distinguished himself.
1211.Llewellyn, prince of Wales, made his submission to king John of England, and delivered 28 hostages at the foot of Snowdon, for his good faith. These young noblemen were hanged the ensuing year.
1248. The great cathedral of Cologne commenced. It was prosecuted at intervals during 200 years, and then suspended 400 years. It was taken up again with new vigor in 1842, and became a popular enterprise of the day to strive for its completion.
1433.John I, king of Portugal, died. It was under his reign that the Portuguese began their famous discoveries.
1457.John FaustandPeter Schoefferpublished at Mainz thePsalter, supposed to be the first printed book of any magnitude, on record.
1464.Pius II(Æneas Sylvius), pope, died; celebrated for his wise and witty sayings.
1613.John Harrington, an English nobleman, died, aged 22. He was distinguished for the talents and genius which he displayed at a very early age.
1621. An army offourteen mensent out from Plymouth colony to awe the Indians. Corbitant, a petty chief, had seized Squanto, a friendly Indian, and threatened Massasoit; the menaces of revenge in case of any disturbances, are said to have settled all difficulties.
1678. Three days after the conclusion of a peace between France and Holland, the prince of Orange fell upon the marshal of Luxemburg, by which 4,000 lives were sacrificed.
1681. The Scottish parliament adopted a resolution asserting that difference in religion does not bar the right of succession, or make void the magistrate's just and lawful authority.
1711. SirHoveden Walker, with the British and colonial fleet intended to invade Canada, arrived at the mouth of the St. Lawrence. A succession of untoward winds and accidents rendered it necessary to put back soon after, without accomplishing any thing.
1756. Fort Oswego capitulated to the French under Montcalm. It was commanded by colonel Mercer with 1,400 men. Montcalm besieged it with an army of 5,000. Colonel Mercer was killed by a cannon ball on the 13th, and there being no probability of aid, the fort surrendered on condition that they should be exempted from plunder, conducted to Montreal, and treated with humanity. The terms were agreed to, the garrison marched out, and the fort was demolished.
1761. Action between British ships Bellona and Brilliant, and one French ship and three frigates. The Frenchmen were captured with the loss of 240 killed and 110 wounded; British loss 6 killed, 28 wounded.
1775. The celebrated Liberty Tree of Bostonconsecrated, by exposing on it the effigies of the men who had rendered themselves odious by their agency in procuring the passage of the stamp act. A copper plate 30 inches by 42 was fixed upon it, bearing the inscription in golden letters—The Tree of Liberty, Aug. 14, 1765. Ten years afterwards the British cut it down, at which time it had been planted 119 years. They left nothing but the stump above ground—therootthey could not exterminate. It produced fourteen cords of wood. One of the party engaged in demolishing it lost his life.
1775.Arnoldleft the camp at Cambridge, with a detachment of 1,000 Americans, to penetrate into Canada by way of Kennebec river and the wilderness. Theyreached Quebec after great suffering from fatigue, hunger and cold.
1776. Constitution of Maryland adopted.
1776. LordsDunmoreandCampbell, and sirPeter Parker, joined lord Howe at Staten island, having taken from the Virginians about 1,000 negroes.
1779. American generalLovelraised the siege of Penobscot, having sustained very considerable loss of stores, 19 armed vessels, besides transports, &c.
1787.Edmund Law, bishop of Carlisle, died, aged 84; an eminent theological writer.
1788.Thomas Sheridandied, aged 67; an eminent English actor, philological writer, and lexicographer, son of Thomas Sheridan, the divine and poet.
1788. First newspaper in Goshen, Orange County.
1790.Agostino Carlini, a Genoese statuary, died at London, where he was keeper of the Royal academy. He was celebrated for the grace and skill with which he executed drapery.
1794.George Colman(the elder), died, aged 61; an eminent English scholar and dramatic writer.
1794. Le Quesnoy taken by the French republican army. The garrison consisting of 28,000 men, were made prisoners of war.
1799. Battle of Novi; between the French under Joubert and the allied Russian, Austrian and Piedmontese armies, under Suwarrow. Joubert was mortally wounded.
1813. Action between United States brig Argus, 20 guns, lieutenant Allen, and British brig Pelican, captain Maples. The Argus was captured in 43 minutes, with the loss of lieutenant Allen and 8 others killed, mostly officers. She had taken, prior to her capture, 19 British vessels prizes.
1814. British captured, off fort Erie, two United States schooners, laden with provisions for the garrison of that fort. The fort was bombarded same day.
1814. The Swedish army having obtained possession of several strong places in Norway, prince Christian resigned his pretensions to that crown, and his resignation was followed by the union of Norway and Sweden.
1819.Erik Acharius, an eminent Swedish physician and botanist, died, aged 82.
1837. A great fete for the inauguration of the statue by Thorwaldsen to Guttenberg, one of the inventors or improvers of the art of printing, at Mainz. It continued three days, and was attended by about 20,000 strangers from different parts of Germany.
1839.Marie Jeanne Robindied at New Orleans, aged 108.
1840. The steam packet Britannia arrived at Liverpool in 10 days from Halifax, the quickest passage hitherto made between the American continent and England.
1846.Joshua L. Wilson, pastor of the first presbyterian church erected in Cincinnati, died there, aged 72. He was born in Virginia, and brought up in Kentucky as a blacksmith. He was a preacher of the highest character and influence, during a ministry of 38 years.
1850.Gerard Troostdied at Nashville, Tenn., aged 74. He was a native of Holland, who came to this country in 1810. He was first president of the Academy of natural sciences, at Philadelphia, and for a long time professor in the university at Nashville, and also geologist of the state.
1856.William Buckland, an English divine, died, aged 72. He is best known by his scientific pursuits, particularly in mineralogy and geology, upon which subjects he published valuable treatises.
1356B. C.The Eleusinia, or great Grecian mysteries, founded in this year, so celebrated throughout the classical world, were observed by the Athenians at Eleusis, every fifth year for nine days, commencing on the 15th Boedromion; introduced in memory of Ceres.
310B. C.Agathocleslanded in Africa during an eclipse of the sun, not many weeks subsequent to his defeat by the Carthagenians at Himera. Epicurus began in that year to teach at Mitylene and Lampsacus.
423.Honorius, emperor of Rome, died; who, with his brother Arcadius, first divided the empire into east and west sovereignties.
718. The second and memorable siege of Constantinople (under the reign of Leo the Isaurian), by the Saracens, raised. It commenced, according to Theophanes, on the same day of the preceding year.
1038.Stephen I, of Hungary, died. He introduced Christianity into his kingdom, and enacted wise laws for the benefit of his people.
1096. The princes of the crusade began their march through Germany.
1118.Alexius Comnenus I, emperor of Constantinople, died. He usurped the throne 1080, and distinguished himself in his wars with the Turks.
1279.Albert(the great), of Brunswick, died; a monk who acquired great knowledge in an age of ignorance.
1369.Philippa, of England, died; memorable for her humanity towards the six condemned citizens of Calais, when that city fell into the hands of Edward.
1635. Great storm in New England. The tide rose 20 feet, a great many houses and plantations were destroyed, and the Narragansetts were obliged to climb trees for safety; the tide of flood returning before the usual time, many of them were drowned.
1656.James Bowels, a native of Killingworth, England, died, aged 152.
1661.Thomas Fuller, an English historian and divine, died. It is said of his memory, among other incredible things, that he could repeat a sermon verbatim on once hearing it.
1702. Unsuccessful attack of the British under admiral Rooke and the duke of Ormond, on Cadiz.
1702. Battle of Lauzara, in Italy, between the allies under prince Eugene, and the French under the duke de Vendome.
1725.Gerard Noodt, an eminent Dutch civilian, died.
1728. The queen of Sardinia died; she was the daughter of Charles I of England.
1729.Benjamin Neukirch, a German poet, died. He deserves a place in history rather as having taken the first step to reform German literature, than as a good writer.
1733. A Roman pavement of mosaic work discovered in Little St. Helen's, Bishop gate street, London; supposed to have lain over 1700 years.
1741.Behringdiscovered East cape, the easternmost point of Asia.
1746.Nicholas Hubert de Mongault, an ingenious and learned French critic, died.
1751.Thomas Shaw, an English divine and antiquary, died; a writer on Barbary and the Levant.
1758. Kustrin, the capital of the new march of Brandenburg, bombarded by the Russians, and reduced to a heap of ruins.
1758.Pierre Bouguer, a celebrated French mathematician, died. He was employed to measure a degree of the meridian in Peru, a difficult task, which he accomplished with great fidelity.
1760.Lacy Ryandied; an English dramatic writer, but more eminent as an actor.
1764.Iwan, son of prince Anthony Ulric, of Russia, massacred in prison by his keepers. He was grandson of Peter the Great, and had been kept in prison almost from his birth.
1769. Birthday ofNapoleon Bonaparte, at Ajaccio, in the island of Corsica.
1771. Birthday of sirWalter Scott, at Edinburgh.
1780. American generalSumpterattacked and carried a redoubt on the Wateree, and intercepted a convoy from fort Ninety-six, with 40 wagons loaded with stores, and took 100 prisoners.
1782. Briant's Station, near Lexington, Ky., attacked by 500 Indians and Canadians, who were repulsed, and retreated on the third day, having lost 30 killed.
1786.Thomas Trywhitt, an English antiquary and critic, died; author of several learned works, and one of the many commentators on Shakspeare.
1793.Levée en massewas proposed in the French assembly which proved the foundation of the famous but tyrannical conscription act of Napoleon.
1794. French convention ordered the French and American flags to be united and hung up together in the hall of their sitting. James Monroe was received as minister from the United States.
1799. The French underMassenadefeated the Austrians and Russians under the archduke Charles, at Richterswyl, Etzel and Schwindelezzi, in Switzerland. Lecourbe forced the famous pass of the Devil's bridge, took possession of St. Gothard, and seized on the Valois.
1801.Charles Louis l'Heritier de Brutelle, a French botanist, assassinated. He publishedStirpes Novæ, a splendid book, and was engaged in preparing a work on English plants.
1802.Bonaparteinvested with the sole power of nominating his successor and of appointing two subordinate consuls, and nominating a large number of additional senators, &c.
1812. British generalBrocksummoned the city of Detroit to surrender, occupied by general Hull.
1812. Battle of fort Chicago; the garrison, consisting of 54 regulars and 12 militia, was attacked by the Indians and after a resolute resistance of some hours, in which 26 of the regulars, all the militia, 2 women and 12 children, were killed, they surrendered on the promise of protection. The survivors, however, 25 men and 11 women, were brutally massacred.
1814. Assault on fort Erie by the British under colonel Drummond, who were repulsed with great loss. The attack commenced at 2 o'clock in the morning, and it was a part of the British orders that no quarters should be given. The action was desperate and bloody; the British lost by official report, 57 killed, 309 wounded, 539 missing—by another account they lost 222 killed, 174 badly wounded, and 186 prisoners, besides 200 killed at Snake Hill. Colonel Drummond was killed; acting upto his barbarous order, when a wounded American officer asked quarter, he shot him with a pistol, whereupon a soldier leveled his piece and shot Drummond in the breast. Total American loss, 93—killed 26, wounded 92, missing 11.
1815.John Meerman, a celebrated Dutch author, died. Under Bonaparte he was made director of the fine arts and minister of public instruction, and became a count of the empire and senator. His library sold in 1824 for 131,000 florins.
1816. Great fire at Constantinople; 1200 houses and 3000 shops and magazines destroyed.
1844.William Leet Stone, a New York editor, died, aged 52. He published memoirs of Brant, and of Red Jacket, and some other works, and edited for a long time theNew York Commercial Advertiser. He was also superintendent of common schools in that city.
1849. Riot at Montreal; house of L. H. Lafontaine, head of the Canadian ministry, was assailed by a mob. Fire arms were discharged from the building, by which one person was killed, and the rest driven back.
1851. A violent and destructive tornado occurred at St. Louis, Missouri.
1853. A conspiracy discovered in Rome; 146 persons arrested.
1854.Stephen Simpson, died at Philadelphia. He was at one period of his life an editor, and gained considerable celebrity as a political writer, especially against the United States bank, over the signature of Brutus, in Duane'sAurora.
1191. The Saracen hostages, 2500 in number, put to the sword beneath the walls of Acre, by order of Richard, with the sanction of his confederates. The galls of the murdered infidels were converted into Christian medicines.
1380.Johnof Gaunt erected acourt of minstrelsat Tutbury, England, with legal jurisdiction over the men in that profession in five counties. It consisted of a king and four other officers, who had sovereign authority upon this day.
1424. Battle of Verneuil, in France; the French and Scotch under Buchan, constable of France, defeated by the English. The Scottish auxiliaries were nearly annihilated.
1494.Ferdinandand Isabella addressed letters of approbation to their high admiral of the Indian seas, Columbus, from Segovia, wishing "to know all the seasons of the year, such as they take place there in each month separately: some wish to know if there are two summers and two winters in the same year."
1513. Battle of the Spurs, in France, between the French, and the English under Henry VIII, at Guingette. It received its title from the flight of the French gendarmerie, and the pursuit of the English, in which the contest was one of speed.
1519.Cortezset out from his colony of Villarica on his expedition to Mexico, with 415 Spanish infantry, 16 horses, 200 Indians to transport his artillery and baggage, and some native troops, among which were 40 nobles, whom he took as auxiliaries in war, and hostages of the Totonecas.
1604.Hubertus Gifanius, a Dutch critic and civilian, died at Prague. He wrote notes and commentaries on Homer, Aristotle, Lucretius, and other authors, and was a noted professor of philosophy.
1654. Onondaga salt springs discovered.
1677. The second ship from England arrived at West Jersey, bringing 230 passengers, most of whom were quakers, some of good estates in England.
1681.Nikon, a celebrated person in the annals of Russia, died. He was the sixth patriarch in the Russian church.
1705. Battle between the French and Imperialists at Cassino in Italy. Both claimed the victory and sang a Te Deum.
1718. Action off Sicily, between the British and Spanish squadrons, in which the latter were defeated, and several large vessels taken or destroyed.
1721. No. 1 of theNew England Courantwas issued. James Franklin, brother to Benjamin, was the publisher. It lived only about six years.
1730.Lawrence Echard, an English historian and divine, died. His works were creditable performances.
1733.Matthew Tindal, a celebrated English polemical writer, died.
1738.Joseph Miller, better known asJoe Miller, died. He was an English comedian, and the compiler of a popular jest book.
1777. Battle of Bennington; general Stark with about 1600 New Hampshire militia, attacked and defeated a detachment of 1500 British regulars and 100 Indians, sent out by Burgoyne, under the command of the Hessian generals, Baum and Breyman, to take a magazine at Bennington. British loss 226 killed, and 33 officers and 700 privates prisoners; they lost four cannon, with all their baggage, wagons and horses. Americans lost less than 100 killed and wounded.
1780. Battle of Camden; the Americans under general Gates totally defeated by the British under Cornwallis. Baron DeKalb received 11 wounds in this engagement, which proved mortal.
1792. First theatre opened in Boston. It was called theNew Exhibition Room; the statute of the state prohibiting dramatic performances, they advertised to represent the moral lecture ofDouglas!One evening, about two months after, as sir Peter, and lady Teazle were representing their parts of the moral lecture ofSchool for Scandal, the sheriff made his first appearance on that stage, and arrested them by virtue of a peace warrant.
1800.Samuel Barringtondied; a distinguished admiral in the British navy.
1806. Action between the French ship Veteran, under Jerome Bonaparte, and 6 British vessels of the Quebec fleet, homeward bound, which were captured.
1812. Detroit surrendered by general Hull to the British under general Brock, without firing a gun from the fort or consulting an officer. The American force amounted to 1100 men. The British took about 40 cannon, 2500 stand of arms, 400 rounds 24lb. shot fixed, 40 barrels powder, 100,000 musket cartridges made, and 15 days' provisions.
1814. The United States fleet, employed in the expedition to Mackinaw having failed in its object, colonel Croghan re-embarked his troops.
1824.Charles Thomson, died, aged 94. He was the first secretary of congress, in which office he continued 15 years. The Indians called himThe man of truth. He translated theSeptuagintin 4 vols. 8vo.
1825. The northern sea discovered by captain Franklin, who traced the Mackenzie river to its source.
1844.Turhand Kirtland, aged 89, died at Poland, Ohio. He was one of the pioneers of the Northern Ohio, then called New Connecticut.
1848. An immense conflagration at Constantinople consumed about 2500 shops and 500 houses.
1848. A serious insurrection took place at Ceylon against the British authorities, which was subdued by strong measures.
1851.George McClure, a general in the war of 1812, died at Elgin, Illinois, aged 80. He resided a long time at Bath, Steuben county, N. Y., was many years member of assembly from that county, and at different times judge, surrogate and sheriff.
1851.Stephen Olin, an eloquent Methodist divine, died at Middletown, where he was president of the University, aged 54. He held the presidency of Macon college also, in 1833; and is known as an author.
1851. The division of the forces of Lopez under colonel Crittenden having been driven to the coast, where they embarked in open boats, were captured and shot at Havana.
1854. The Russians blew up the fortifications at Hangho, in sight of the allied fleets; the evacuation of the Principalities by them was continued.
1854. The allied fleets in the Baltic accomplished the final conquest of the Bomarsund forts, situated on the largest of the Aland islands, accompanied by the capture of 2000 Russians.
1855. Battle of Tchernaya; the Russians under Gortschakoff attacked with great force the lines of the allies, and drove in the outposts, defended by the Sardinians; but after a severe contest were driven back with great loss; 4000 supposed to have been killed, and 2200 left prisoners and wounded. Loss of the allies 1200, of whom 200 were Sardinians.
1856.Henry Colburn, an eminent London publisher, died. He brought out the works of Bulwer, D'Israeli, Hook, Maryatt and James, and originated several very popular magazines.
1408.John Gower, an early English poet, died. He was a member of the bar, and a severe contemner of the vices of the age.
1483.Edward Vof England, and his brother the duke of York, smothered in prison by order of the duke of Gloucester, their guardian.
1502.Columbussent his brother Bartholomew on shore at Orejas, and took possession of South America in the name of Ferdinand and Isabella.
1544. St. Dizier surrendered to the emperor Charles V, after a noble defence made by the French governor.
1590. The governor of the colony of Roanoke returned from England, whither he had been for supplies (seeAugust 27), and found the settlement deserted, the houses taken down, and the word Croatoan written upon the trees. He was compelled to return without finding the place of their removal.
1657.Robert Blakedied; one of the most intrepid and successful admirals that have adorned the British navy.
1673.Regnier de Graafdied in France, where he acquired great celebrity as a physician and a writer; aged 32.
1679.Jonas Moore, an English mathematician, died; noted in the reigns of Charles I and II for his labor and enterprise in the cause of science.
1682. A comet made its appearance before the people of New England, with atail of the very respectable length of 15 degrees; which that goodly folk did not see the last of till the 15th September.
1714.George Iarrived in England to succeed on the throne.
1720.Anne le Fevre Dacier, a French lady of great learning, died. She translated the principal Greek and Latin poets into her native language, and was noted for her many virtues. (6th by some authors.)
1748.Jonathan Baxterperformed the singular feat of crossing the Thames at Blackfriars in a butcher's tray in 1h. 10m., paddling with his hands.
1755.George Jeffreys, an English dramatic and miscellaneous writer, died.
1758.Richard Houseman, a laborer of Knaresborough, was committed to York castle on suspicion of having murdered Daniel Clark.
1765.Timothy Cutler, an Episcopal clergyman, died at Boston, aged 82; formerly president of Yale college.
1779. The independence of the United States declared at New Orleans by beat of drum.
1785.Jonathan Trumbull, governor of Connecticut, died. He bore a conspicuous part in public affairs during a period of 50 years; and retired at the close of the revolution.
1786.Frederick II(the Great) of Prussia, died. He distinguished himself as a warrior, and a man of letters, and was one of the most celebrated characters of his day.
1796. The Dutch fleet under admiral Lucas surrendered to the British at the cape of Good Hope.
1807. British army invested Copenhagen; at the same time the Danish gun boats attacked the British with grape and round shot.
1808. Battle of Roleia, in Portugal, between the French, 6,000, under Laborde, and a much superior force of British under Wellesley. The French were compelled to retreat with the loss of 1,500; British loss 500.
1809.Matthew Boulton, an English engineer, died. He erected an extensive establishment at Soho, and expended £47,000 in the course of experiments on the steam engine, before Watt perfected the construction and occasioned any return of profit.
1812. First day's battle of Smolianovo, on the Dwina; the Russians under count Witgenstein defeated the French under Oudinot, with great carnage. Oudinot was dangerously wounded, and St. Cyr took the command.
1812. Battle of Smolensko, on the Boristhenes. Upwards of 100,000 men were engaged, and the conflict was long and bloody. The French under Bonaparte and his best generals maintained their ground; the Russians retreated in the night, after having fired the city. The French are supposed to have lost about 13,000, and the Russians about half the number.
1813. Battle near lake George, between the United States troops under Gen. P. B. Porter and a body of British and Indians; the latter were defeated.
1818.James Constantine Perier, an able French machinist, died. He was the greatest manufacturer of machinery in France, having at one time no less than 93 establishments. Notwithstanding this weight of business, he found time for literary pursuits, and was an author.
1830.La Fayettecreated marshal of France.
1832.Jean St. Martin, an eminent French orientalist, died at Paris of cholera. He was principal editor of theJournal Asiatic, and particularly distinguished for his knowledge of the languages of western Asia.
1836.M. de Rayneval, an eminent French diplomatist, died. He was employed in important missions under Bonaparte, and after the restoration had a still more distinguished career in diplomacy.
1838.Lorenzo da Pontedied in New York, aged 89. He was an Italian by birth, but long a resident of the city of New York; distinguished for his attainments, particularly in Italian literature and art, and author of various publications, among which are some celebrated operas.