411.Flavius Julius Constantineput to death by order of Constantius. He was a private Roman soldier, who invested himself with the imperial purple in Britain, and added Gaul and Spain to his dominions.
741.Gregory III, pope, died. He was a charitable but magnificent pontiff, who added great splendor to the holy see.
1285.Peter III, king of Arragon, died. He is notorious for the massacre of the French in the island of Sicily, called theSicilian Vespers, by which he became master of the kingdom.
1443. Revolt of Scanderbeg from the Turkish power, holding the standard of his native mountains.
1499.Edward Plantagenet, earl of Warwick, beheaded.
1523. Election ofClement VII(Julius de Medici), to the disappointment and deep resentment of cardinal Wolsey; an event which had its weight in the establishment of the English reformation.
1631.Edmund Richer, an eminent French theological writer, died. He possessed great powers of mind, and a lively imagination; but his writings became obnoxious to the pope's legate, and drew on him persecution.
1655. Peace between England and France proclaimed.
1680.Giovanni Lorenzo Berninidied; an Italian famous for his skill in painting, sculpture, architecture and mechanics. He left a large fortune and was buried with great magnificence.
1708.Anthony Vandaledied; an eminent Dutch physician and critic.
1776.Washingtonretreated across the Passaic before Cornwallis. The diminution of the American army by the departure of those whose terms of service had expired, encouraged the British to pursue the remaining force with the prospect of annihilating it. The pursuit was urged with so much rapidity, that the rear of the army, pulling down bridges, was often within sight and shot of the van of the other, building them up.
1778.Edward Rowe Mores, an able English antiquary, died.
1782. Edict of the emperorJoseph II, absolving religious orders in the Low Countries from all foreign dependence whatever.
1785.William Whipple, one of the signers, died. He was a native of New Hampshire, and employed several years in commercial voyages. In 1775 he was a representative from Portsmouth, and in 1777 was placed at the head of a brigade raised to oppose Burgoyne, which he commanded at the battle of Saratoga.
1789. The iron, lead and woodwork of the Bastile were sold at Paris by auction.
1794.Frederick William Augustus, baron Steuben, died at Steubenville, N. Y., aged 61. He came to America from France in 1777, and joined the revolutionary army. His sound judgment and experience, attained in the army of Frederick the Great, was of incalculable advantage to the Americans in establishing discipline and a uniform system of manoeuvres.
1799.Kien Long, emperor of China, died, aged 90. He received addresses from Voltaire and Peter Pindar.
1800.Matthew Young, an Irish bishop and mathematician, died.
1801.Deodat Guy Silvain Tancrede de Dolomieu, an eminent French geologist, died, of a disease taken during an imprisonment. He was indefatigable in the pursuit of his favorite science.
1806. The French under Murat entered Warsaw, the capital of ancient Poland, which had been overawed by the Russian soldiery, kept there for the purpose.
1812.Logan, the Mingo chief, died; so well known by his misfortunes.
1812. Battle of Tchatchovo; the Russians again defeated the French on the left bank of the Berezina. This was the last battle of consequence in Russia. Bonaparte fled the field, and was no more seen in any conflict during this campaign. His army was reduced to a wretched band of the shadows of men.
1818.Ann Dawsondied at Harrowgate, England, aged 161.
1825.Maximilian Sebastian Foy, a distinguished French officer and orator, died. His funeral was attended by thousands of his countrymen, and a monument erected to his memory.
1828.Miller Ritchie, justly considered the father of fine English printing, died.
1840. London enveloped in dense fog, which arrested business in the city and on the river. Serious accidents and loss of life occurred. Such an event had not occurred before in 20 years; it was impossible to find the way along the streets without lighted flambeaux.
1849.Thomas H. Blake, an early settler at Terre Haute, Ind., and a distinguished American statesman, died.
92.Agrippaobserved at Bethynia a conjunction of the moon with the Pleiades about 7 o'clock in the evening.
511.Clovis, the conqueror of Gaul and the real founder of the French monarchy, died. He fixed the royal residence at Lusatia, the modern Paris, which was originally situated on the isle of France, in the Seine.
1268.Clement IV(Guy de Foulques), pope, died. He was a Frenchman, of great moderation, prudence and impartiality.
1290.Eleanor, queen of England, died. She was a Castilian princess, characterized as pious, prudent and charitable, elegant in her person, and gentle in her manners.
1314.Philip IV(the Fair), of France, died. He engaged in a long and bloody war with England, Germany and Flanders, and in a single engagement with the latter 25,000 of his enemies were slain.
1330.Rodger Mortimer, earl of March, hanged near London. He was engaged as a principal actor in a complicated scene of guilt with Isabella queen of Edward II.
1378.Charles IV, emperor of Germany, died. His reign is famous for thegolden bull, enacted by the diet of Nuremberg. He founded the university of Prague, and deserves the respect of the learned for the patronage he extended to literature.
1526.John de Medicisdied, aged 28; a warrior in the service of Francis I of France, and surnamed the invincible.
1530.Thomas Wolsey, an English cardinal, died in disgrace. From a butcher's boy he rose to be archbishop of York, and prime minister of England. He even aspired to the popedom. At the height of his fortune he had in his retinue 800 servants, among whom were ten lords, fifteenknights and forty esquires. His expenses exceeded the revenues of the crown. All this he owed to the capricious favor of the king, Henry VIII, who suddenly stripped him of all his possessions.
1599.Christopher Barker, printer to queen Elizabeth, died at Windsor. His books were specimens of good workmanship of that time.
1632. The king of Bohemia died; on whose youngest daughter, Sophia, by Elizabeth, sister of Charles I, and her issue, the crown of England was finally settled.
1643.William Cartwright, an English dramatic poet, died.
1652. The Dutch fleet under Van Tromp defeated the English, and Van Tromp sailed through the channel with a broom at the mast head.
1661.Brian Walton, an English bishop, died; editor of the Polyglot Bible, in 6 vols.
1662. Countd'Estradestook possession of Dunkirk, purchased by the French king of Charles II of England.
1682. PrinceRupert, son of Frederick, king of Bohemia, died. He acquired military fame in the English civil war, but is better known for his discoveries in the arts and sciences. He invented what is called after him prince's metal, and discovered the art of engraving in mezzotint.
1694.Marcello Malpighi, an Italian physician, died. His discoveries in anatomy were curious and important. By his delicate dissections he found out the lobules of the liver, and the nature of the formation and mechanism of the kidneys, and of the veins and heart.
1695.Anthony Wood, a famous English antiquary, died.
1710. Battle of Villa Visciosa; the left wing of the allies under Staremberg defeated by the French and Spaniards under the duke de Vendome; but the victors instead of following the blow began to plunder the baggage; Staremberg with his right wing fought their left with such valor and perseverance till night, that they retired in disorder with the loss of 6000 killed, leaving him master of the field and all their artillery.
1732. The city of Aveline and nearly all of the city of Oriano, in Naples, destroyed by an earthquake.
1759.William Dickinsdied at Kysoe, England. His life is remarkable for a single feat. While engaged in building the spire of a church, he fell from the height of 132 feet. In his descent he struck the battlements with such force as to fracture his leg and foot severely, and bring part of the stone work to the ground with him. He sustained so little injury in other respects, that he was soon enabled to reascend and finish his work. He lived 40 years afterwards.
1775. CaptainManly, of Marblehead, in a privateer, took an ordnance brig from Woolwich containing a large brass mortar, several pieces of fine brass cannon, a large quantity of small arms and ammunition, with all kinds of tools, utensils and machines necessary for camps and artillery; and a few days after three ships from London, Glasgow and Liverpool, with various stores for the British army.
1780.Maria Theresa, archduchess of Austria, queen of Hungary, and empress of Germany, died. She will ever rank high among illustrious women, and among those sovereigns who have been the benefactors of mankind.
1781. The British evacuated Dorchester on the approach of the Americans under general Greene; by which all the rice plantations between the Edisto and Ashley rivers were saved to the Americans.
1792.David Dalrymple, lord Hailes, died. He was noted for his knowledge of law, and as an antiquarian, and was intimate with the most eminent men of the age.
1793.Anthony Peter Joseph Marie de Barnave, a French avocat, guillotined. He displayed great eloquence and strong powers of mind in the national assembly; but failing to keep pace with the terrorists, was imprisoned fifteen months, and finally brought to the block.
1793.M. F. Duport du Tertreguillotined at Paris; a modest and studious man, whose philosophical ideas led him to declare in favor of the revolution, in which he always displayed great moderation.
1793. The Austrians under Wurmzer defeated the French with great slaughter, and drove them beyond Strasburg. Loss of the French estimated at 15,000.
1793. Battle near Lautern; the duke of Brunswick defeated the French in two attacks, with great slaughter.
1794.Caesar Bonesana Beccaria, an Italian philosopher, died. He published a treatise on crimes and punishments, which became a popular work, and was translated into various languages.
1802. Ohio admitted into the Union.
1807. The royal family and court of Portugal emigrated to Brazil, on the invasion of the Portuguese kingdom by the French.
1812. British schooner Subtle, in chase of the American privateer Favorite, upset in a squall, and sunk before the Favorite could come to her assistance. All the crew perished.
1812. The American troops, 1400, embarked for the invasion of Canada under general Smyth.
1812. Battle of Autosse, between 950 Georgia militia and about 400 friendly Indians and a body of Creek Indians. The Creeks were defeated with the loss of 200 killed, among whom was the Autosse and Talisse kings.
1813.Giambattista Bodoni, a celebrated Italian printer, died. He was placed at the head of an establishment at Parma, in 1766, which he made the first of the kind in Europe, and gained the reputation of having surpassed all the splendid and beautiful productions of his predecessors in the art.
1814. The first newspaper printed by steam power. This was theTimes, of London. The machine was the invention of a Saxon by the name of König, and printed at the rate of 1100 papers per hour.
1830. Revolt of Poland commenced at Warsaw, in consequence of the severe and insulting conduct of the grand duke Constantine. The insurrection extended quickly through the country, and into Lithuania and other parts of ancient Poland.
1842.Edmund Hawleydied at Hawley, Mass., aged 96. He erected the first frame house in that town (then called No. 7), was a soldier of the revolution, and a justice of the peace for more than 50 years.
1847. The presbyterian mission station of Wallah Wallah valley, in Oregon, assaulted by Indians and several of the missionaries slain.
406B. C.Euripides, the Greek tragic poet, died at Barmiscus, in Macedonia. He wrote 92 tragedies which were greatly esteemed, but of which only 19 are extant.
69.Andrew, one of the apostles, suffered martyrdom at Patræ in Achaia, upon the cross. He is the patron saint of Scotland.
1016.Edmund II(Ironside), king of England, assassinated.
1093.Malcolm III, king of Scots, who was the son of the gracious Duncan immortalized by Shakspeare in Macbeth, was slain in his 70th year.
1292.John Baliolcrowned king of Scotland at Scone, after swearing fealty to the king of England.
1603.William Gilbert, a learned English physician, died. He discovered some of the properties of the loadstone.
1654.John Seldendied; an English antiquary, historian and law writer, of most extensive learning.
1672. The English East India company lost the island of St. Helena; the Dutch taking it.
1700. Battle of Narva; the Russians under Peter the great defeated by the Swedes under Charles XII. The forces of the two armies were unequal; that of the Russians differently stated from 80 to 100,000, while that of the Swedes varies from 8 to 20,000. Charles had a horse killed under him, and was struck in the neck by a ball.
1718.Charles XII, king of Sweden, killed by a musket shot while attacking one of the forts in Frederickshall, Norway.
1733. In consequence of a vast exportation of grain from England, freights nearly doubled and the price of wheat rose in some places to four shillings per bushel.
1750. The nunneries of Begging Friars suppressed in Ireland by the pope for vile and disorderly practices.
1750.Mauriceof Saxe, marshal of France, died.
1751.Nicholas Boindin, a French dramatist, died. He left the pursuit of arms for that of literature, and became celebrated for his comedies.
1761.John Dollonddied; an eminent English optician, and inventor of the achromatic telescope.
1781.Theodore Tronchin, an eminent physician of Geneva, died. He was the pupil of Boerhaave, and the author of several medical works.
1782. Preliminary articles of peace signed at Paris between England and America.
1793. Treaty between the United States and the Creek Indians.
1793.Jean Pierre Brissotguillotined; a very eminent Welch writer on philosophy, politics and legislation.
1793.William Lewisdied in the act of drinking a cup of French ale, called atumbler maur. He made it a rule to read a certain number of chapters in the Bible in the morning, and to drink eight gallons of ale in the evening. He weighed 40 stone, and his bulk was enormous. A machine in the form of a crane was constructed to hoist him on the carriage, and to let him into his grave. He had drank beer enough in his day to float a 74 gun ship.
1801.Joseph Francis Maurice de Lascy, a Russian officer in the service of Austria, died. He gradually rose to a high rank by his talents displayed at several important battles.
1803. French port of St. Domingo evacuated by capitulation; the French under Rochambeau went as prisoners of war on board the British squadron, and the black prince Dessalines took possession. Almost all the whites that remained were massacred.
1811. British ship Rover captured French corvette Le Compte Reginaud, 14 guns, with a valuable cargo of sugar, coffee andspices. She had before belonged to the British navy.
1812.Harriet Newell, an American missionary, died at the Isle of France. She was a woman of great excellence of character, who was the means of greatly exciting and extending the missionary spirit.
1813. The hereditary stadtholder of Holland arrived at the Hague from England to assume the sovereignty of the country.
1815. Fall of meteoric stones at the village of Chassigny, near Langres.
1828.John Bell, a distinguished citizen of New Hampshire, died. He was a leading member of the senate during the revolutionary war, and possessed great judgment, decision and integrity.
1830. The twoLandersin descending the Niger, reached the sea, completing the discovery of that river; having ascertained that the Benin, the Nun and the New Calabar rivers, are all mouths of the great river Niger, with a direct communication with the Tschad lake.
1833.Gwyllym Lloyd Wardle, an English statesman, died at Florence. He obtained great notoriety for his successful motion in the British parliament in 1809 for inquiring into the conduct of the duke of York as commander-in-chief.
1833.William Macleod Bannatynedied, aged 90; a celebrated Scottish justice, one of the contributors to theMirrorandLounger, and the last survivor of that phalanx of genius which shed a brilliant lustre on the periodical literature of Scotland near the close of the 18th century.
1838. Battle of Tampico; the Mexicans under general Piedra defeated by the federalists under general Urrea, with the loss of 500.
1848. MajorJohn Robertsdied. He served in the revolutionary war, and negotiated the exchange of prisoners obtained by the convention of Saratoga, 1777.
1850.Sereno Edwards Dwight, a noted New England preacher, died, aged 65. He published a life of Edwards, whose works he edited.
1853.Anson G. Phelps, a prominent, wealthy and benevolent merchant, died in New York, aged 74.
1853. Battle at Sinope; the Turkish squadron, consisting of 3 frigates, 2 steamers and some transports, was destroyed by the Russians; 5000 Turks were killed, and Osman Pasha was taken prisoner.
1856.Henderson Yoakem, the historian of Texas, died at Houston, aged 46. He possessed a high order of legal attainments.
627. Battle of Nineveh; the Romans under Heraclius defeated the Persians after a contest from daylight to the eleventh hour; 28 standards were wrenched from the hands of the conquered, and the cities and palaces of Assyria were opened for the first time to the Romans.
801.Alcuin, preceptor of Charlemagne, presented his illustrious pupil with a magnificent folio Bible, bound in velvet, the leaves of vellum, and the writing in double columns, and containing 449 leaves. Prefixed is a richly ornamented frontispiece, in gold and colors. It is enriched with four large paintings exhibiting the state of the art at this early period; there are moreover thirty-four large initial letters, painted in gold and colors, and containing seals, historical allusions, and emblematical devices, besides some smaller painted capitals. (SeeApril 27th, 1836.)
1135.Henry I, king of England, died of a surfeit of lampreys. He is characterized as wise and valiant, and ranks among the most accomplished of the English kings.
1252.Blanche, (of Castile,) queen of France, died. She married Lewis VIII of France, after whose death she was regent of the kingdom during the minority of her son, and governed with spirit and ability.
1521.Leo X(John de Medicis), pope, died. He was the patron of learning and learned men; but is to be remembered as the cause of the reformation, in attempting to raise money by an unlimited sale of indulgencies.
1581.Edmund Camprianexecuted. He was a learned English writer, who became a Roman catholic, and was hanged with three others for aiding the cause of the pope, and drawn and quartered.
1640.Michael Vasconcellos, a Portuguese statesman devoted to the interests of Spain, was murdered during a political convulsion, and his body treated with ignominy.
1640. Portugal, of which Philip II of Spain had made himself master in 1580, became an independent kingdom by a revolution, which placed John, duke of Braganza, on the throne.
1666.James Waredied, a celebrated antiquary and historian, of Ireland.
1722.Anna Louisa Karschin, a German poetess, born. She was deprived of almost every literary advantage by the peculiar circumstances under which she was placed, until she attracted the attention of some influential persons, who published some of her poems. She acquired the title of theGerman Sappho, and died in October, 1791.
1723.Susannah Centlivre, author of several English dramas, died. She was born in Ireland, and becoming an orphan at an early age, set out for London on foot. Her adventures were romantic. Several of her dramas still keep possession of the stage.
1750. A wager was decided at Malden, England, that five men could be buttoned within the waistcoat of a person who had died a short time previous, without breaking a stitch or straining a button. Upon trial, the five persons were buttoned into the waistcoat, and two more with them. The person who wore it died at the age of twenty-nine, and weighed at the time of his death 646 pounds, and notwithstanding his corpulency, he was remarkably agile. There is a print representing the ludicrous appearance of the seven persons buttoned up in the vest.
1775. GeneralMontgomery, having sent several small detachments into the country to strengthen his interest with the Canadians, proceeded with the residue to Point aux Trembles, where he joined Arnold and marched directly upon Quebec.
1783.M. Charles, having made some improvements on balloons, ascended at Paris in one filled with inflammable air, the first which had been so filled. He ascended to the height of 9,000 feet. His predecessors had only reached a few hundred feet.
1787. The people at Worcester, England, rioted under the apprehension, that machines were to be introduced for spinning cotton.
1789. GeneralWashingtonaddressed a diplomatic letter from New York to hisgreat and magnanimous friendSidi Mohammed, emperor of Morocco, inclosing a copy of the new American constitution.
1793. The commune of Paris ordered all the churches to be closed. But the act exciting general abhorrence was soon repealed.
1795. Battle of Mainz; the Austrians under Clairfait attacked and carried the French entrenchments, took 106 cannon, 200 ammunition wagons and 2000 prisoners.
1795. Kreutznach carried by storm twice by the French under Pichegru, who was at length obliged to retire by the Austrians.
1795. At Lauterbach two whole battalions of French were cut to pieces by the Austrians.
1797.Oliver Wolcott, governor of Connecticut, died, aged 71. He was one of the signers of the declaration of independence, for which he was a bold advocate, and was in the army of general Gates at the surrender of Burgoyne. He was remarkable for intrepidity, integrity, strong and bold conceptions, and great decision of character.
1803.Thomas Astle, an eminent English antiquary, died.
1808. Battle of the Samo-Sierra, a narrow pass which the Spaniards had fortified with 12,000 men and 16 pieces of cannon, which completely swept the road leading to Madrid. The French began the attack at daybreak. Three battalions scattered themselves over the opposite sides of the defiles and a warm skirmishing fire commenced. At this moment Bonaparte came up. He rode into the mouth of the pass, surveyed the scene for a moment, and perceiving that his infantry were making no progress, at once conceived the daring idea of causing his Polish lancers to charge right up the causeway in face of the battery. The smoke of the skirmishers on the hill sides mingled with the thick fogs and vapors of the morning, and under this veil the brave Krazinski led his troopers fearlessly up the ascent. The Spanish infantry fired as they passed them, threw down their arms, abandoned their guns and fled.
1814. Action between American privateer schooner Kemp, of Baltimore, and 9 British merchantmen, several of which were captured.
1814.Gillis McKerhniedied at Gourock, Scotland, aged 104, supposed to be the last of the warriors that fought with prince Charles in 1754.
1825.Alexander Paulowitz, emperor of Russia, died at Taganrog. His efforts to improve his country and people were unceasing and most extensive. It was during his reign that Russia was invaded by the most formidable army ever assembled in Europe, but which in a few months returned in the most wretched defeat ever known.
1840. Battle of Kotriah, in Scinde, between 4,000 Beloochees, posted among the hills, and commanded by Nusser Khan, and 900 Sepoys with 2 field pieces, under lieutenant colonel Marshall. Of the former 500 were slain, and 6 chiefs and 132 followers captured.
1848. Hungary declared itself an independent republic.
1849.Ebenezer Elliott, called thecorn law rhymer, died in England.
1852. The French senate went in a body to St. Cloud to announce officially to Louis Napoleon the result of the election, and to hail him as emperor.
1469.Pietro de Medici, governor of Florence, died, aged 53. He was of weak constitution, but well meaning and prudent, and was assisted by his son Lorenzo in affairs of state. Under his reign an attempt was made to wrest the reins of government from the family.
1549.Margaret de Valois, a French princess, died; noted for her learning and the encouragement she gave to commerce, agriculture and the arts among her subjects.
1552.Francis Xavierdied; a French missionary, denominated the apostle of the Indies. He was one of the most zealous disciples of Ignatius Loyola; performed his mission in Hindostan, the Moluccas, and Japan, and was on the point of landing in China, when he died.
1554.Ferdinand Cortes, the conqueror of Mexico, died, aged 63, leaving a character eminent for bravery and ability, but infamous for perfidy and cruelty.
1581.John Dee, an English mathematician and sorcerer, died. He was a man of uncommon abilities, learning and application, but deluded himself with experiments in the occult sciences, which he continued till he reached the age of 80.
1594.Gerard Mercator, a Dutch mathematician, died. He was self-educated, but attained great eminence, and published numerous valuable maps and charts which he engraved and published himself, and which have been of great use to his successors.
1615.Lewis de Berthon de Crillon, a French general and knight, died. He distinguished himself by his valor at the siege of Calais, at the age of 15, and duringa long series of wars and perilous times displayed so much courage as to acquire the title of the brave Crillon.
1723.Philip, duke of Orleans, regent of France during the minority of Louis XV, died at Versailles in the 50th year of his age. He was a man of talent and political tact, but these qualities were much obscured by his love of pleasure.
1779.Alexander Albanidied; a Roman cardinal and a man of great merit.
1784.Francis Arnauddied; abbot of Grand Champs, in France, and distinguished by his literary labors.
1789.Herschellannounced the discovery of a 7th satellite to Saturn.
1791.Henry Flood, the famed Irish orator and reformer, died. As a member of the house of commons his whole energies were devoted to the promotion of the political interests and internal resources of Ireland.
1792. Frankfort treacherously given up to the Austrians, when 1,300 Frenchmen, were massacred by the Hessians, and several whose lives were spared had their hands cut off.
1792. The French under Dumourier took possession of Louvain.
1794. The United States concluded a treaty with the Oneida, Tuscarora and Stockbridge Indians, residing in the Oneida country. The former engaged to pay the Indians $5,000 for their losses in the late war; to build them a complete grist and saw mill, and hire faithful men to attend said mills for three years, and instruct some of their young men in those arts; to provide teams for carrying on the work of the mills, and to apply $1,000 to rebuild the church burnt in the war.
1796. The adventurousMungo Parkdeparted from Pisania, 200 miles from the Gambia's mouth, to explore the interior of Africa.
1804.Napoleon Bonaparteinaugurated emperor of France at the cathedral of Notre-Dame, at Paris, and was enthroned with Josephine.
1805.Joseph Bernard de Chabert, a French navigator, astronomer and geographer, died. He lost his eye sight by intense application, but his powerful memory enabled him to make many additions to the stores of scientific facts.
1805. Battle of Austerlitz; the French under Bonaparte defeated the Austro-Russian armies, under Alexander I and Francis I, who had united to check the ambition of Napoleon. The defeat was attended with the loss of 35,000 killed or drowned, 20,000 prisoners, and their whole pack of artillery.
1806.Bonapartedecreed at Posen, a monument to the French soldiers who fell at the great battles of Ulm, Austerlitz and Jena.
1812. British again cannonaded Black Rock; the fire was returned with so much spirit that their batteries were entirely silenced.
1816. French generalVandamme, resident at Ghent, arrested and sent to Brussels.
1816. Meeting of the citizens of London at Spafields; about 20,000 assembled to receive the report of Mr. Hunt, who had been appointed to present a petition to the prince regent, praying that two or three hundred thousand pounds should be appropriated out of the civil list fund for the relief of the poor. Only five thousand was granted, whereupon great disturbances took place.
1848.Ferdinand I, emperor of Austria, abdicated the throne, and Francis Joseph, his nephew was proclaimed emperor.
1849.Adelaide, the queen dowager of England, died.
1851.Louis Napoleondecreed in the name of the French people, that the national assembly and council of state were dissolved, that universal suffrage was re-established, that the first military division was in a state of siege, and that the French people were convoked in the electoral colleges from December 14 to Dec. 21.
1852.Louis Napoleonpublicly proclaimed emperor at the Hotel de Ville in Paris, under the name of Napoleon III. The emperor entered Paris from St. Cloud, and took up his residence in the Tuilleries. 80,000 troops were under arms, and the day was celebrated as a grand holiday in Paris, and in the evening there was a grand illumination.
1853. The steamer Winfield Scott, having on board 500 passengers and $1,100,000 in gold, was lost in a fog at night, about 500 miles from San Francisco; the passengers and treasure were saved.
69B. C.The senate published a general thanksgiving in the name of Cicero for preserving the city from the Catalinian conspiracy. It was the first that had ever been decreed to any man in the gown; all other thanksgivings having been appointed for some particularserviceonly.
1553.Pedro de Valdivia, having conquered the greater portion of Chili, and founded the city of Conception, was attacked by the Araucanians, defeated and made prisoner.
1557. The bond or covenant signed at Edinburgh, by the duke of Argyle and others, renouncing thecongregation ofSatan, with all the superstitious, abominations and idolatry thereof.
1586. In Verde, in Hanover, there fell large quantities of matter, partly red, partly blackened, accompanied by lightning and thunder, a fiery meteor, which burst with a loud noise. This matter burnt the boards on which it fell.
1610. The new bell of the cathedral church of Lincoln, calledGreat Tom, placed in the steeple of St. Mary. It is the largest bell in England, being seven feet in diameter at the mouth.
1632.De Vries, on his second voyage, arrived at the Delaware river. He found that the little colony, left here two years before (seeDec. 12), had been destroyed by the Indians, and the ground strewed with the skulls and bones of his murdered countrymen.
1647.Buonaventura Cavalieri, an Italian astronomer, died. He was the pupil of Galileo, and enjoyed a remarkable reputation in his day, but has descended to posterity solely through his method ofindivisibles, one of the predecessors of the doctrine of fluxions.
1658.John Micrelius, professor of divinity at Stettin, died; a distinguished theological disputant.
1688. The abdication or flight ofJames II, and revolution in England.
1699. CaptainDampierarrived at the island of Papua or New Guinea, in Australasia, and named its eastern extremity New Britain.
1705.Pedro, king of Portugal, died in the 58th year of his age. Juan IV succeeded.
1758. Daring attempt to assassinate Joseph, king of Portugal. It was for this offence that the Jesuits were expelled the kingdom and their property confiscated—a judgment perhaps unequal to the crime.
1775. The continental flag was displayed for the first time, on board the flag ship of Esek Hopkins, who was commander-in-chief of the first American fleet.
1787. Delaware adopted the federal constitution, being the first state to do so. (7th?)
1798. Coni, the strongest fortification in Italy, was taken by the Austrians.
1800. Battle of Hohenlinden; the Austrians under the archduke John, defeated by the French under Moreau in a severe snow storm, with great slaughter, and night alone saved them from complete destruction. The Austrians lost nearly the whole of their baggage, a great number of cannon and ammunition wagons, 3 generals, and from 10 to 15,000 prisoners.
1809. Intelligence was received at London, that the Ionian isles, the principal of which are Zante, Ithaca and Cerigo, had submitted to the British. They form an independent state under the British government, and contain about 200,000 persons, who carry on a considerable commerce.
1810. The French, under general Decaen, surrendered the isle of Man to the British general, Abercrombie, with 209 pieces of ordnance.
1812. The 29th bulletin of the retreating French army was dated at Molodechno, describing their severe privations.
1814. The mayor of Lyons, in France, published an order forbidding all artists to engrave or paint the likeness of Napoleon Bonaparte.
1815.John Carroll, first catholic bishop in the United States, died, aged 80. He was born in the state of Maryland, and educated in France, where he became a Jesuit. On his return to America he rose from a parish priest to the dignity of archbishop.
1818. Illinois admitted into the union.
1821. Royal dance of torches, at Berlin, on the occasion of the marriage of the prince royal with the princess of Bavaria.
1823.John Baptist Belzoni, one of the most eminent travelers in Egypt, died. He was an Italian, who came to England, where he obtained a subsistence by exhibiting feats of strength and activity at the amphitheatre. He was afterwards engaged in exploring and bringing to light the antiquities of Egypt.
1826.John Flaxman, the celebrated English sculptor, died. His death is differently placed on the 7th and 9th.
1834.Simeon De Wittdied, aged 79; surveyor-general of the state of New York. He had filled this office from the time of its establishment to that of his death, 50 years, with the highest satisfaction and ability, and was distinguished for his attainments in astronomy, engineering and physical science.
1838.John Bleecker Van Schaick, a poet of some merit, died at Albany, aged 35.
1839.Frederick VI, king of Denmark, died. He was a benefactor to his country, which is indebted to him for the liberty of the press, emancipation from the last remains of feudal authority, abolition of the slave trade, in which Denmark set the example to the rest of Europe, reforms of the laws, the establishment of schools for general education, the introduction of popular representation, and system, order and economy in the financial affairs of the kingdom.
1839. PopeGregory XVIissued a bull for abolishing the slave trade; "urgently invoking all Christians of whatever condition, that none henceforth dare subject toslavery, unjustly persecute or despoil of their goods, Indians, negroes, or other classes of men, or be accessories to others in so doing; and on no account henceforth to exercise that inhuman traffic, by which negroes are reduced to slavery, as if they were not men but automata, or chattels," &c.
1849.William L. Hunter, a Rhode Island diplomat, died, aged 75. He studied medicine in London under his kinsman, John Hunter, but subsequently adopted the law. He was chargé at Brazil more than ten years.
1851. All attempts to oppose the assumption of power by Louis Napoleon were unsuccessful; the few barricades that were erected were soon torn or battered down.
1854. The people of Mexico completed three days' balloting, and decided with great unanimity that the republic should continue to be governed by Santa Anna.
1137.Lothaire II, emperor of Germany, died. He was king of Saxony when he was made king of Germany, and finally invested with the title of emperor.
1139.Roger, prior of Hexham, died; author of a history of the campaign of the Scottish army under king David.
1214.William(the Lion), of Scotland, died. He confederated with Henry of England against his father, and his inconsiderate valor at the siege of Alnwick, as well as many other rash acts, brought misfortunes on himself and disgrace upon his people.
1334.John XXII(James d'Eusse), pope, died. He rose under the patronage of Charles II, of Naples. He attempted the suppression of the Cordeliers; was an active pontiff, and respected for his frugality, prudence and sanctity.
1402.Charles VIgranted letters patent to the priests to enact mysteries, or as they came to be called moralities, such as the conception of the Savior, &c.
1642.John Armand du Plessis de Richelieu, a celebrated French cardinal and statesman, died. He was a man of great capacity and boundless ambition, whose ministry forms an era in the French government, and prepared the way for the power and grandeur of the reign of Lewis XIV.
1649.William Drummond, a Scottish poet and historian, died. He preceded Waller in polishing English versification.
1654. The expedition under Venables and Penn, sailed for America.
1664. The English, under the duke of York, destroyed 130 of the Bordeaux fleet.
1672. The king of England shut up the exchequer, and suspended payment.
1679.Thomas Hobbes, a celebrated English writer, died. He published his religious, political and moral principles in a complete system, which he called theLeviathan. It is said that few writings have had a more pernicious influence in spreading irreligion and infidelity than his, and yet that none of them were directly leveled against revealed religion.
1679.John Birkenheaddied; professor of moral philosophy at Oxford, a zealous royalist, and a popular courtier.
1680.Thomas Bartholine, a learned Danish physician, died. He lost his library by fire, but that his pursuits might not be interrupted he was made librarian to the university. His works are chiefly medical.
1717. Mr.Shippen, a member of the British parliament, fromSalt Ash, sent to the tower for saying, "The king's speech was fitted rather for the meridian of Germany than England." The king had little acquaintance with the English language.
1732.John Gay, a celebrated English poet, died; whose fables will ever be admired. His play of theBeggar's Operawas received with greater favor than had ever been known on any former occasion.
1746. Genoa surrendered to the Austrians, and was subjected to the most cruel contributions.
1777. SirWilliam Howemarched the British army from Philadelphia, to Whitemarsh, for the purpose of attacking Washington, but marched back again without making the attack.
1783.Washingtontook leave of the officers of the American army in New York.
1789. The city and suburbs of London, overspread with a dense fog, so that the stages traveling between the city and the surrounding villages, were at five in the afternoon, obliged to be preceded by men with lanterns, a thing unprecedented in the memory of any one living.
1792.William Fordyce, an eminent Scottish physician and philanthropist, died in London where he enjoyed an extraordinary reputation.
1798. MinisterPitt'sbill, establishing the ten per cent income tax, was introduced into the British parliament.
1808.Charles Louis Fernowdied; a distinguished German writer on the fine arts. His father was a common laborer, and his early years were those of a talented youth struggling with poverty and other difficulties. After finishing an apprenticeship as an apothecary, he maintained himself by portrait painting and teaching drawing; and finally devoted his attention tothe history of the fine arts and Italian literature. His productions are valuable.
1808. Madrid, being invested by Bonaparte, surrendered. The Spaniards were disarmed, and the town filled with the French army. The pavement had been taken up; the streets barricadoed; the houses on the outskirts loopholed; but in a few days tranquility seemed completely re-established; the French soldiery observed excellent discipline; the shops were re-opened, and the theatres frequented as usual. Such is in most cases the enthusiasm of a great city.
1808. The inquisition abolished by Bonaparte this day.
1815.Christian Godfrey Gruner, a celebrated German physician, died. He was one of the most prolific writers on medical science; having written 50 large works, and as many essays.
1819. Alabama admitted into the union.
1823.Susan Huntingtondied at Boston; an intelligent American authoress, whoseLife of Wisnerhas passed through several editions in Europe and America.
1826.Abraham Robertson, an eminent English astronomer, died.
1829. Abolition of the rite of suttee, or immolation of Hindoo widows on the funeral pile of their husbands; the British government interposed to prevent its continuance.
1829. Commencement of a revolution in Mexico; Bustamente, the vice-president, issued a proclamation against the government of Guerero, demanding the resignation of his extraordinary powers.
1830.William B. Giles, died at his seat in Amelia county, Virginia. He was chiefly instrumental in getting up the celebrated resolutions of Virginia, 1798-99, and the no less celebrated Virginia report.
1831. GeneralTorrijos, with 54 of his partisans, taken and executed, at Malaga, in Spain.
1836.Richard Westall, an eminent English artist, died. He was the author of a great number of works and designs, and well known for his numerous beautiful illustrations of elegant literature.
1839.Samuel Butler, an English prelate, died. He was the author of various publications, and collected a library valued at £30,000.
1840.John Robinson, an English prelate, died, aged 66. He compiled a theological dictionary, and a work on the antiquities of Greece, ancient and modern history, and some others.
1845.Elisha Blackman, the last survivor of the Wyoming massacre, died at his residence, in Hanover, Wyoming valley, aged 89, and was buried with military honors.
1851.George Crabbe, an eminent English author, died near London, aged 73.
1852. An earthquake at Acapulco did great damage to the city, though without destroying any lives. Shocks were continued for a considerable time.
1853. Kalafat attacked by the Russians, who were repulsed with great slaughter.
1056.Macbeth, usurper of the Scottish throne, slain by Macduff, after a reign of 17 years.
1492.Columbusdiscovered the island of Hispaniola, called by the nativesHayti, or high country, from its mountains;Quesqueya, or the whole, from its dimensions; andBohio, or house, from its very superior civilization.
1518.John James Trivulci, marshal of France, died. He was banished from Milan, his native country, and entered into the service of Charles VIII, under whom he distinguished himself repeatedly in battle.
1537. An order for the expulsion of all the gypsies from England.
1560.Francis II, of France, died, aged 17, after a reign of 17 months. He had lately married Mary, queen of Scots.
1639.Henry Wotton, an English statesman and poet, died, leaving many writings.
1712.Anne Mary de Tremouille Ursinsdied at Rome, aged 80. She was a woman of great powers of mind, who as maid of honor to the queen of Spain, possessed so much influence over the court as to give her the direction of the affairs of the nation.
1734.Peter Tillemansdied; a distinguished landscape painter of Antwerp, who settled in England and enjoyed there the patronage of the great.
1754. Battle of Leuthen, or Lissa; the Austrians and Saxons under count Daun defeated by the Prussians under Frederick II, with the loss of 6,000 killed, 21,000 taken prisoners, 134 cannon, and 4,000 baggage and ammunition wagons.
1775. The Americans under Gen. Montgomery and Arnold appeared before Quebec.
1784.Phillis Peters, known to the literary world by her miscellaneous writings, died at Boston. She was an African who acquired the English language, and made some progress in Latin.
1784. A violent storm off the coast of England, which destroyed a vast amount of shipping. A British fleet of 150 sail went out of Yarmouth road that morning, and was totally dispersed, all the sailstorn in shreds, and a great many of the ships foundered, their crews in some instances being lost entirely.
1788. AdmiralGreig, a Scottish naval commander in the service of Russia, was buried at Revel with great honors.
1792.Johann Wolfgang Theophilus Mozart, a celebrated German musician, died. His works will ever rank with those of the greatest masters.
1793.Armand Guy Simon de Kersaint, a French count, and naval officer of high merit, beheaded at Paris.
1793.John Paul Rabaut de St. Etienne, a French protestant minister, guillotined for his bold and eloquent defence of the king.
1793. Battle of Martigne; the French under Danican defeated by the Vendeans.
1795.John Bewickdied; an English engraver on wood, of great excellence; who with his brother carried the art to a state of perfection before unknown.
1806. The French underMuratcrossed the Vistula and occupied Praga.
1808.William Hawes, an English physician and philanthropist, died. He was the founder of the Royal humane society, for the recovery of persons apparently dead by drowning, strangulation or suffocation; an institution which has renewed the lives of thousands that would otherwise have perished.
1813.Charles John Maria Denina, an Italian historian, died at Paris; the author of many excellent works.
1815. A foot-ball match at Carterhaugh, Ettrick forest, between the Ettrick men and the men of Yarrow. One party was backed by the earl of Home, the other by sir Walter Scott, sheriff of the forest, who wrote two songs for the occasion.
1819.Frederick Leopold Stolberg, a German writer, died. His works consist of travels, history, poems, dramas and translations.
1835.Thomas Pringle, the first editor ofBlackwood's Magazine, and for many years secretary to the London anti-slavery society, died at London.
1837.James Marshman, an eminent and learned baptist missionary, died at Serampore, aged 70. He was the son of a poor English weaver, who having received his education, went to India in 1799. He published a Chinese grammar, and a translation of the entire scriptures.
1838. The French evacuated the city of Vera Cruz. In an engagement between the French and the Mexicans, Santa Anna, who commanded the Mexicans, was wounded so as to oblige an amputation of his leg.
1851.Kossuth, the Hungarian general, arrived at Staten island, and the next day, as the guest of the city of New York, reviewed the troops, which formed a military and civic procession in his honor.
1853. The steamer Humboldt, of the New York and Havre line, run upon a rock in attempting to enter the harbor at Halifax, and was lost.
342. St.Nicholas, an eminent Grecian bishop, and the patron of children, died. At the council of Nice he was said to be like a sun among so many stars.
884.Carloman, king of France, died.
1139.Alphonso I, king of Portugal, died; celebrated for the defeat of five Moorish kings at the battle of Ourique.
1216. Hertford, in England, taken by the French under Louis the dauphin.
1352.Clement VI(Peter Roger), pope, died. He was a doctor of the Paris university, and is represented by Petrarch as a worthy, generous and learned prelate; but is differently represented by others.
1527. PopeClement VIIescaped in disguise from prison, although, by a treaty with the emperor Charles V, he would have been liberated the following day.
1540. Diet of Worms; conference between the popish and protestant divines; Melanchton and Eckius maintained the principal part of the dispute.
1540.Thomas Davidson, licensed by the "rycht excellent prince James V, king of Scots, to print the new actis and constitutionis of parliament."
1541. EmperorCharles V, obliged by a storm to relinquish his attempt on Algiers and return to Europe.
1557.John Macchabaeus(or Macalpine) died. He was a Scotchman, who resided sometime at Wirtemberg, with Luther and Melanchton. He was afterwards invited to Copenhagen, where he assisted in translating the Danish Bible.
1648. ColonelPrideprevented about 200 members of parliament from entering the house. This is usually calledPride's purge.
1670.Henry Jenkins, an Englishman, died at the remarkable age of 169. He retained his faculties to the last, and was once examined in court on a circumstance that happened 140 years before. As he was born before parochial registers were kept, no parish would support him, and he was obliged to beg for a subsistence.
1672.Jasper Maynedied; an English divine, poet and dramatic writer.
1675.John Lightfootdied; an eminent English divine, distinguished as an able scholar and an eloquent orator.
1688. Flight ofMary d'Este, queen ofJames II, of England, with her child, afterwards thepretender.
1711.Jane Schrimshawdied in Rosemary hospital, near London tower, aged 127.
1718.Nicholas Rowedied; an eminent English poet and dramatic writer.
1726.Florence Carton d'Ancourt, an eminent French actor and dramatic writer, died. He was the author of 32 plays.
1734.Abigail Masham, the favorite of queen Anne, died; noted in the history of the time for her political intrigues.
1776. The capture of Rhode Island by the British under Gen. Clinton and sir Peter Parker. "It is called theEden of America," says an English work, "and celebrated (very naturally) for the beauty of its women."
1787.La Perousereached the Navigator's islands, in Polynesia.
1790. Kentucky was erected into an independent state.
1798. Turin and Piedmont relinquished to the French by the king of Sardinia.
1806. Thorn, in Prussia, taken by the French under marshal Ney, after a slight resistance.
1812. Boston privateer brig Montgomery, of 18 guns, captured British ship Surinam, 20 guns.
1815. A magazine at Dantzic containing 6,000 pounds of powder, with filled bombs and shells, blew up, destroying 700 houses and killing upwards of 600 persons.
1834.Edward Irving, a celebrated and eccentric Scottish preacher, died. He was minister of the Caledonian church in London, and, by the force and eloquence of his discourses, attracted large congregations; the greatest orators and statesmen, the wealthy and fashionable hurried to hear him. But he became finally subject to the wildest vagaries, in respect to theunknown tongues, and was ejected from his place.
1835.Nathan Smith, an eminent lawyer of Connecticut, died at Washington. He was several years United States attorney for Connecticut, and senator in congress, and was respected for his integrity and ability.
1843.John M. Taylor, commissary-general of the American army under Gen. Montgomery at Quebec, 1775, died at Philadelphia, aged 92.
1844.Nathan Rogers, an artist of merit and reputation, died, aged 57. He was a member of the national academy of design, and lent his aid to institutions of morals and charity.
1848. The king of Prussia dissolved his assembly and promulgated a new constitution.
1852.Horatio Greenough, an eminent American sculptor, died at Somerville, Mass., aged 47. He spent most of his life in Italy in the pursuit of his art, where he produced his colossal statue of Washington, and other works which stamp his fame.
1855.Anselm Rothschilddied at Frankfort, Germany; the founder of the great financial house of the Rothschilds.
424B. C.The accession of Darius II (Nothus). This is also the date of the battles of Delium and Amphipolis, where Xenophon and Thucydides were present, and of the occupation of Cytheria by the Athenians.
43B. C.Marcus Tullius Cicero, the celebrated Roman orator, statesman and philosopher, assassinated at his villa, by Popilius, at the instigation of Antony.
983. Otho II (the Bloody), emperor of Germany, poisoned.
1154. Landing of Henry II in England from France.
1229. Theboy bishopsaid vespers before Edward I at Heton near New Castle upon Tyne. On Childermas the scholars of St. Paul's and other schools were enjoined to hear the "Chylde Bishop's sermon."
1542.Mary Stuart, sole daughter and heir to king James V, born.
1626.John Davies, an eminent English lawyer and poet, died. His works on legal subjects are numerous and valuable.
1641.Ralph Brownrig, bishop of Exeter, died. He had the hardihood boldly to advise Cromwell to restore Charles II to his throne.
1657.Cromwellsent an agent to the duke of Savoy to negotiate respecting his protestant subjects.
1666. Ten of the Scottish covenanters executed at Edinburgh.
1672.Richard Bellingham, governor of Massachusetts, died. He had exercised the offices of governor or deputy for 23 years.
1683.Algernon Sidney, an English patriot and political writer, beheaded at the age of 66.
1721.Bernard Albinus, a celebrated German physician, died. He was professor at Frankfort and Leyden.
1741. Revolution in Russia.
1776. British under Cornwallis marched to Princeton.
1787. The deputies of the Delaware state convention signed the constitution of the United States, which they had agreed by vote to adopt the day previous. She was the first state that ratified the instrument.
1796.Washingtonmet both houses of congress for the last time as president of the United States.
1799. Battle of Sediman, in Egypt; the French under Dessaix defeated 3,000 Mamelukes and 10,000 Arabs under Murad Bey.
1805. Action off cape St. Mary between the British ship Polyphemus, 64 guns, and Spanish ships Santa Gertruyda, with twelve hundred thousand dollars on board, and El Felix, valued at nearly one million, both of which were captured.
1812.Bonapartein disguise with Caulincourt arrived at Wilna in a sledge.
1815.Michael Ney, a French marshal, shot. His career under Bonaparte was distinguished during ten years, by great military skill and daring bravery. On the second restoration of the Bourbons he was condemned to death.
1822.John Aikin, an English surgeon, died; better known as a writer of great erudition. He edited the first twenty volumes of theMonthly Magazine, theAthenæum, various editions of the poets, and was one of the writers of theGeneral Biographical Dictionaryin 10 vols. quarto.
1832.Victor Jacquemont, a distinguished French naturalist, died at Bombay, aged 32.
1835. The rail road from Nuremberg to Furth, the first rail road in Germany, opened, and the journey made in 15 minutes. The monumental stone has the inscription: "Germany's first iron rail road, with steam power, 1835."
1842.Thomas Hamilton, the author ofCyril Thornton, a contributor toBlackwood's Magazine, &c., died at Pisa, in Italy.
1853. A statue inaugurated to marshal Ney at Paris, on the place where he was shot on this day of the month, in 1815.
1275. Meeting ofStationarii, or booksellers, at London. For a quarter of a century previous to this time, booksellers not unfrequently kept school in their porches. The portal at the north end of the cathedral in Rouen is still calledLe Portail des Libraires, the porch of the booksellers.
1315. Battle of Morgarten, or Ægeri, in Switzerland; the Austrian army of 20,000 under the archduke Leopold, defeated by 1,600 mountaineers in the pass between the mountain and the lake.
1437.Sigismund, emperor of Germany, died. He volunteered his assistance to tranquilize the church, and proposed the famous council, which consisted of 14,000 ecclesiastics and 16,000 noblemen. His perfidy in allowing Huss and Jerome of Prague to be burnt, after giving them a passport of safety, armed against him the bravest of his subjects, and led to a civil discord and bloodshed of sixteen years' duration.
1493. Isabella, the first European town in America, founded by Columbus. All his men, provisions and utensils, were landed on a plain near a rock, on the island of Navidad, in the West Indies, and a fort erected. The town was named in honor of the Spanish queen, to whom the great navigator was much indebted.
1612. Great earthquake at Munster.
1643.John Pymdied; a celebrated English republican, distinguished for his virulence against Charles I.
1660. First time of the appearance of a female on the public stage; the character was Desdemona.
1661. An order of both houses of parliament was passed for hanging the carcasses of Oliver Cromwell, John Bradshaw, Henry Ireton and Thomas Pride upon the gallows at Tyburn, and then burying them under the gallows.
1677.Nicholas Pavillon, an eminent French ecclesiastic, made bishop of Alet by Richelieu, and afterwards deposed, died in exile.
1691.Richard Baxter, a celebrated English nonconformist divine, died. He wrote a vast number of books; his practical works were collected in 4 vols. folio.
1695.Bartholomew d'Herbelot, a French orientalist, died. He wrote aUniversal Dictionary, "containing whatever relates to the knowledge of the eastern world."
1709.Thomas Corneille, a French dramatist, died. He wrote 42 dramatic pieces, which were received with greater applause than those of his brother Peter, but have been lost and forgotten.
1741.Vitus Behring, a Danish navigator, died. He was a commodore in the Russian service, and was employed in exploring some of the northern coasts of America, where he died, after having made some important discoveries, among which was the strait that bears his name.
1745.John Roque, a French traveler, died at Paris. He published an account of his travels in Arabia Felix, Palestine and Syria.
1746.Charles Ratcliffe, earl of Derwentwater, executed at Towerhill, London. He had resided 30 years in France.
1751.Louisa, youngest daughter of George II, queen of Denmark, died.
1775. A number of American whaleboats under captain Manly captured three British ships with various stores intended for the army.
1776.Washingtonretreated across the Delaware. The British, on the same day, blocked up commodore Hopkins' squadron and a number of privateers at Providence.
1792.Henry Laurens, a patriot of South Carolina, died. He was distinguished for talent and activity, and succeeded Hancock as president of congress. He was captured by the British on a mission to Holland, and confined a long time in the tower of London. At his death he left a property of about $250,000 to his son, on condition that he should burn his body on the third day after his death.
1803.Hippolytus Theodorovitch Bogdanovitch, a Russian poet, died. His poem ofDushenkaprocured him the favor of the queen and the whole nation. It is founded on the mythological story of Psyche, but so unlike any thing that had preceded it in that language that he immediately became the favorite of all classes.
1806.Andrew Dalsell, professor of Greek at Edinburgh, died; an amiable and a learned man.
1821.Ebenezer Cobbdied at Kingston, Mass., aged 107. He was the cotemporary for ten years of Peregrine White, the first born child of English parents in America. His mode of living was extremely simple, having tasted tea but twice in his life. He shrewdly remarked, a short time before his death, that it was very unusual for persons of his age to die.
1847. The United States brig-of-war Somers thrown on her beam ends by a squall near Vera Cruz, and 2 officers with 39 out of 76 of her crew drowned. The French and Spanish men-of-war lying at Sacrificios rendered much assistance and received the thanks of congress.