877.Charles II(the Bald), of France, poisoned. He succeeded to the French crown 840, and was elected emperor by the pope 875. The feudal government may be said to have begun under him.
1274. The English parliament restrained usury. The Jews in consequence were obliged to wear a badge.
1285.Philip III(the Bold), of France, died. He was proclaimed king while in Africa with his father on a crusade, where he defeated the Saracens, and concluded a truce with them for 10 years.
1470.Henry VI, of England, released from the tower of London and again proclaimed king. He was imprisoned the second time in the following year and murdered.
1552.Ivan IV, czar of Russia, took the city of Kazan, and added that kingdom to his empire.
1713.The Englishmanappeared, conducted by the same authors asThe Spectator, but was more political in its character.
1748. The British under admiral Boscawen raised the siege of Pondicherry, in Hindostan, after a loss by battle and sickness of 1,065. Loss of the French garrison 200, and 50 sepoys.
1761.William Pitt, the British statesman, having resigned the ministry, a pension of £3,000 was settled upon him for three lives, and the title of baroness of Chatham conferred upon his wife.
1762. The British under admiral Cornish and general Draper, took Manilla, the capital of the Philippine islands, by storm. Several ships and a large quantity of military stores fell into their hands. The town was ransomed by four millions of dollars.
1767.Francis Wise, an English divine and antiquary, died. His researches led to the publication of several learned works.
1777. The British under sir Henry Clinton, about 3,000 men, attacked and carried forts Clinton and Montgomery, defended by governor Clinton. The post having been designed principally to prevent the passing of ships, the works on the land side were incomplete and untenable, and were carried by the bayonet. Most of the garrison effected their escape, with the loss of 300; British lost about an equal number. Count Grabouski, a Polish nobleman in the American service, was killed.
1778.William Worthingtondied; an English prelate and theological writer of merit.
1780.Henry Laurens, who had been taken on his passage from America to Holland, was committed to the tower of London for high treason. He was afterwards liberated.
1783. Treaty of peace between Great Britain and the United States proclaimed.
1789.Lafayettepreserved the royal family from the popular excitement. The king was then conducted to Paris, where he accepted the "declaration of the rights of man."
1794. British, general Graham, surrendered Guadaloupe by capitulation to the French.
1794. Fall of themountain partyin the French national convention.
1802.Simon de Magistrisdied at Rome; well known for his deep acquaintance with the Hebrew, Greek and Latin, and whose services to literature were liberally rewarded by the pope.
1813. Moravian town, on the river Thames, destroyed by the Americans under general Harrison, after which he marched to Detroit, where peace was negotiated with a number of vanquished tribes of Indians.
1821.Alexander Murray, a distinguished naval officer, died. He fought in 13 battles in the army and navy during the war of the revolution. On the organization of the navy under the new government, he was one of the first officers recalled into service. To the highest firmness and resolution he united a remarkable mildness and serenity of temper.
1836.William Marsden, a learned English orientalist, died. He published a dictionary and grammar of the Malayan language, and other works of acknowledged merit.
1839.Jesse Buel, an eminent agriculturist, died. He was several years member of the legislature and a candidate for governor of New York in 1836. He was also a practical printer, and had filled the office of printer to the state. He was a useful citizen, and highly esteemed in public and private life.
1841. A revolution in Mexico; Santa Anna entered the capital at the head of 10,000 men; displaced Bustamente, and established himself at the head of the government.
1843.James Leonard Cathcartdied at Washington, aged 77. He entered the continental navy at an early age, was a midshipman during the revolution, and was captured by the Algerines and held eleven years in captivity. He turned his knowledge of that country to good account afterwards in the service of the government in quelling piracies, &c.
1848. Insurrection in Vienna; the emperor with his family left the city, escorted by a few troops.
1853.Simeon Greenleaf, a distinguished law teacher, died at Cambridge, Mass., aged 70. His law works attest his diligence and ability in his profession.
1857.Samuel Hueston, for many years publisher of theKnickerbocker Magazine, died in New York.
929.Charles III(the Simple), of France, died. His abilities were unequal to his station; he was defeated in battle by Hugh, and confined seven years in prison, in the castle of Peronne, where he died.
1492. The ship Nina, rigged with latteen sails and usually ahead of the others, supposing she had discovered land, hoisted her flag and fired a Lombardo. This was soon found to be an illusion; the insubordination broke forth among the crews, when Columbus, with the two Pinzons, commanders, was compelled to enter into anagreementwith those murmurers, to return in case land was not discovered in three days.
1521. Date of king Henry VIII's diploma from the pope as Defender of the Faith, for his treatiseDe Septem Sacramentis.
1565.Thomas Chaloner, a noted English ambassador, died. He wrote a work onThe right ordering of the English Republic, and has the honor of having discovered the first alum mines in England.
1571. Battle of Lepanto, a naval action between the Turks, and Venitians assisted by the Germans and Spaniards under Don John of Austria. The Turks were utterly defeated with the loss of 25,000 killed, 10,000 taken, and all their great commanders slain, and 200 galleys taken or destroyed. The Christians lost about 10,000 men. This was the greatest sea fight of modern times, and being the first signal victory achieved over the Turks, diffused the greatest joy over Christendom.
1577.George Gascoine, a celebrated English poet in the time of Elizabeth, died. He served with credit in the wars of the Low Countries; and wrote the first English comedy in prose.
1612.Giovanni Battista Guarini, a celebrated Italian poet, died. ThePastor Fidohas immortalized his name.
1651.James Sirmonddied; a French Jesuit and a voluminous theological writer.
1681.Nicholas Heinsius(the Swan of Holland), died. He was eminent as a statesman, poet and critic.
1708. Battle near Lesno, between 40,000 Russians under Peter the great, and 16,000 Swedes under Lewenhaupt, who was marching with men and supplies to relieve Charles XII. He was defeated after five engagements, which were fought in three days, and reached Charles with only 5,000 men. The Russians took 5,000 carriages, and much of the artillery and baggage.
1753. SirDanvers Osbornarrived at New York from England, to supersede Clinton as governor of the province. (SeeOct. 12.)
1759.Joseph Ames, a celebrated typographical historian, died. He was originally a ship chandler, who late in life took to the study of antiquities, and became secretary of the society of antiquaries.
1763. The king of France, viewing the extensive and valuable acquisitions in America secured by the treaty with Great Britain, granted letters patent under the great seal, to erect within the countries and islands ceded to him, four distinct and separate governments, namely, Quebec, East Florida, West Florida, and Granada.
1765. First congress of American colonies met at New York.
1777. Second battle of Stillwater, which was an attempt of the British to secure a retreat to the lakes. Darkness put an end to the action, after the Americans had gained decisive advantages. A great number of the enemy were killed; 200 taken, including several officers of distinction; 9 cannons and the encampment of a German brigade, with all their equipage. The loss of the Americans was inconsiderable. British general Frazer and lieutenant-colonel Breyman were killed.
1780. Battle of King's mountain, South Carolina, in which 300 British were killed and wounded, and 800 prisoners, and 1500 stand of excellent arms taken. Maj.Ferguson, who commanded the British, was killed, gallantly defending his post.
1787.Henry Melchior Muehlenbergdied; pastor of the first Lutheran church in Pennsylvania, and distinguished for his learning.
1788.John Brown, an English physician, died; known as the founder of the Brunonian system of medicine, which classes all diseases under two heads, those of deficient and those of redundant excitement.
1792.George Mason, a distinguished Virginia statesman, died at his domain of Gunston hall.
1794.Antoine Joseph Gorsas, a Girondist, guillotined at Paris. He was a school master, a man of letters, and the editor of a paper, through which he became one of the first instigators of the revolution, and actively promoted some of its important events.
1794. Bois-le-duc, one of the strongest bulwarks of the famous Dutch barrier along the left bank of the Meuse, surrendered to the French revolutionary army; by which several other fortresses were hemmed in and rendered useless.
1795.John George Zimmerman, a Swiss philosopher, died at Hanover, where he was first physician to his Brittanic majesty. His work onSolitudeis a popular book in our own language.
1796.Thomas Reid, professor of moral philosophy at Glasgow, died, aged 89; highly distinguished as a mathematician and metaphysician.
1807.Bonapartecalled for a second conscription of 80,000 men for this year.
1810. Coimbra in Portugal, held by the French, was attacked by the British under colonel Trant and carried. Trant took 80 officers and 5,000 men prisoners, mostly sick and wounded.
1812. Battle of the Moskwa. The French army of 150,000 under Napoleon was opposed by a Russian army of about the same number, under Kutusoff. The attack began early in the morning and continued until late in the afternoon, when the Russian army retreated, no pursuit being made by the French; while the field of battle was strewed with 50,000 dead and dying. The Russians acknowledged a loss of 25,000, among whom was Bagration.
1840.William I, king of the Netherlands, published a proclamation announcing his voluntary abdication of the throne in favor of his son William II. He is said to have retired with a private fortune of nearly forty-three millions of dollars, and abdicated in consequence of his determination to marry the countess d'Oultremont, a lady of the Roman catholic faith.
1841.Frederick John, lord Monson, died, aged 32; a patron and amateur of art, a lover of literature and science, and a truly benevolent and public spirited man. A journal of hisTour in Germanywas privately printed in 1839, and some beautiful views of the passes of the Tyrol were drawn on stone from his sketches.
1841. Revolutionary movement in Spain in favor of Christina and absolute government. By the prompt movement of the regent Espartero the insurrection was entirely quelled, and general Diego Leon was executed.
1849.Edgar A. Poe, favorably known as an American poet and magazine writer, died at Baltimore, aged 37.
1849.Louis Batthyanyi, prime minister of Hungary, was shot at Pesth, at the sole urgency of general Haynau.
1850. Disunion meetings were held at Natchez and Yazoo city, at both of which the disorganizing resolutions were opposed and voted down.
1854.Caleb Butlerdied, aged 78; principally known by his history of the town of Groton, Mass.
66.Cestius, the Syrian prefect, in his fatal retreat, was defeated by the Jews at the pass of Bethhoron. Nero received this disastrous news at Achaia, and called in Vespasian.
451. Fourth œcumenical council assembled at Chalcedon, where the heretic Eutyches was finally condemned.
622.Mahometmade his public entry into Medina. He was mounted on a she camel, and an umbrella shaded his reverend shoulders.
1200.John, king of England, and hisnewqueen, Isabella, were inaugurated. The devil was to be released at that year's close, said thelipticianson the canon.
1202. The Venetian crusade sailed, under Boniface, of Montferrat.
1635.John Winthrop, son of the governor of Massachusetts, arrived from England with a commission from the patentees as "governor of the river Connecticut, and places thereto adjoining," bringing men, ordnance, ammunition, and £2000 sterling for the erection of a fort.
1636.John Everard, better known by his bibliographical name, Johannes Secundus, a DutchLatinpoet, died. His works have gone through many editions, and theKisses of Johannes Secundushave been translated into various languages. He also distinguished himself by his skill in painting, sculpture, and engraving.
1684.Geraud de Cordemoidied; aFrench academician, and a great partisan of Descartes' systems.
1729.Richard Blackmore, an English physician, died. He was an indefatigable writer, and has left a great number of works, theological, poetical, and medical.
1744.John Balchen, a celebrated English admiral, perished at sea, in the Victory man-of-war, 110 guns, and 1100 seamen, all of whom were lost.
1754.Henry Fielding, an eminent English novelist, died, aged 48.
1755. The remains of Braddock's army, in 33 transports, passed the city of New York on their way to winter quarters at Albany.
1767.Burchard Christopher de Munichdied; a German who learned the art of war under Eugene and Marlborough, and distinguished himself in the service of Peter I of Russia.
1774. Congress resolved to support Massachusetts, if the acts of parliament were attempted to be carried into execution by force. The general court of Massachusetts met at Salem on the same day, although general Gage had ordered them not to assemble, resolved themselves into a provincial congress, and chose John Hancock president.
1785.L'Evesque de Burigny, a French author, died, aged 94. He wrote a work on the authority of the pope, a learned history of pagan philosophy, and several other works, historical and biographical.
1785.The Loungerappeared at Edinburgh, conducted principally by Henry Mackenzie.
1791. A jury at Sudberry, England, not being able to agree, oppressed by hunger, broke open the doors and went home.
1792.Pietro Antonio Crevenna, an Italian bibliographer, died. He collected a choice library, which he sold by auction in 1790. The learned catalogues of his books, prepared by himself and others, have given to the works which belonged to him, great value, in the eyes of amateurs, and the catalogues themselves have bibliographical authority.
1793.John Hancock, the master spirit of the American revolution, died. He was president of the congress which issued the declaration of independence, and his name stands out in bold relief on that document.
1793. Lyons, in France, surrendered to the republicans, and a most terrible massacre of the inhabitants ensued. The convention decreed that the walls should be razed, and Lyons called La ville affranchie.
1795.Andrew Kippis, a very celebrated English biographer, died. His connection with the publication of theBiographia Britannica, will carry down his name with distinguished reputation to posterity.
1809.James Elphinstone, a Scottish grammarian, died. He undertook the reformation of English orthography by spelling words as they are pronounced.
1820.Henry Christophe, king of Hayti, shot. He was a slave, and served in the American war. His activity in the revolution of the slaves in the island of St. Domingo, led to his elevation.
1822. Eruption of mount Galongoon, in the island of Java. It commenced at 2 o'clock in the afternoon of a fine day, by a loud explosion, which was followed by a thick cloud, that wrapped the whole country in darkness, while immense columns of mud, boiling hot, and mixed with burning brimstone, were projected from the mountain like a water spout, with such prodigious violence, that large quantities fell at the distance of 40 miles. The destruction was at its height at 4 o'clock, and had ceased at 5, having in the short space of three hours, laid a fruitful and thickly peopled country under a crust of boiling mud, in some places to the depth of sixty feet. Five millions coffee trees were destroyed, 87 canals, numerous rice fields, 114 villages, and upwards of 4000 inhabitants. The scene presented a bluish, half-liquid waste, where bodies of men, women and children, partly boiled and partly burned, were strewed about in every variety of death. It was followed by a rain storm of four days' duration, which inundated the country, when another eruption took place, more violent than the first.
1822. The first boats passed from the west and the north, through the Erie and Champlain canals, into the tide waters of the Hudson at Albany, amidst the acclamations of thousands of spectators.
1831. Great earthquake in South America. The town of Arica was utterly ruined, and the shock was felt along the coast, including seven degrees of latitude, shaking to its centre the immense breadth of the main Cordillera. It was attended by a violent vertical movement of the earth, during about 70 seconds, which threw down or shattered the houses, and in some cases pieces were detached from the middle of walls, leaving the rest of the edifice uninjured.
1832.Othoproclaimed and installed king of restored Greece, at the palace of Preysing, in Bavaria.
1837.Charles Fourier, founder of the system of social and industrial reform which bears his name, died at Paris.
1841.Johann Heinrich Dannecker, the Nestor of German sculptors, died at Stuttgardt, aged 82.
1848. The populace of Vienna, which hadbeen in a state of insubordination two days, became calm, and the emperor was invited to return.
1851. The Hudson river rail road was opened throughout, from New York to Albany.
1853.Thomas Childs, one of the bravest and most distinguished officers in the United States army, died at Tampa bay.
1854.Gideon Tomlinson, a Connecticut statesman, died, aged 74.
1854. The steam boat E. K. Collins, from Sault St. Marie to Cleveland, took fire on the lake and was burned, by which 23 persons lost their lives.
1855.Samuel Dickinson Hubbard, sometime post master general of the United States, died at Middletown, Ct., aged 55.
1855. The grand jury in New York city returned indictments against several city officers, for corruption and malversation in office.
1047.Clement II, pope, died. He was a Saxon, elected the year previous, and distinguished for his zeal against Simony.
1192. KingRichardof England embarked from Palestine in a single ship for Europe.
1253.Robert Greathead, bishop of Lincoln, and a learned and voluminous writer, died.
1326.Hugh Spencer, a favorite of Edward II, hanged at Bristol, which city he defended against the forces of queen Isabella.
1555.Justus Jonasdied; a learned coadjutor of Luther and the other reformers, and author of aDefence of the Marriage of the Priests, and other works.
1563.Gabriel Fallopius, a celebrated Italian physician and anatomist, died at Padua. He possessed great powers of mind, which he cultivated by intense application.
1642. The first commencement was held at Harvard college, when nine candidates took the degree of A. B.
1646. The whole order of English bishops abolished by an ordinance of parliament.
1665.Gov. Stuyvesantsubmitted to the states general his report in relation to the surrender of New York to the English.
1682.Henry Blountdied; an English traveler, who made the tour of Europe and part of Asia, and published an account of his travels on his return.
1688.Claude Perrault, a distinguished French physician and architect, died.
1690.John Maynard, an eminent English lawyer, died; celebrated for his eloquence, integrity and public spirit.
1705.John Christopher Wagenseildied; a learned German polemical writer, and professor of history and oriental languages at Altorf.
1707. A fleet of English merchantmen attacked off the Lizard point; the Devonshire man-of-war blown up.
1711. The British fleet returning from its unsuccessful expedition against Canada, arrived at Portsmouth, N. H., when in addition to their other misfortunes, the Edgar 70 gun ship blew up, having on board 400 men besides many persons who came to visit their friends.
1718.Richard Cumberland, a learned English divine and mathematician, died.
1733. Seven hundred British troops withdrawn from Gibraltar to defend the planters of Jamaica from their runaway slaves.
1745. Ath surrendered to the French after a severe and destructive bombardment. This gave France the command of Flanders.
1747.David Brinard, an eminent American missionary among the Indians, died at Northampton, a victim to his extreme mortification and inextinguishable zeal for the success of his mission. He rode about 4,000 miles in 1744, on pastoral duties.
1747.Jonas Surringtondied near Bergen in Norway, aged 159, retaining the perfect use of his faculties to the last.
1759. The architectSmeatonfinished the Eddystone light house; not an accident occurred to sadden the joy.
1760. Berlin in Prussia, taken and sacked by the Russians and Austrians.
1772.Christian Jacobson Drackenburgdied at Aarhus, Denmark, aged 146; "a celebrated and well-known character."
1779. The people of Manchester rioted on account of Arkwright's machinery for spinning.
1779. The French and Americans, about 4,500 men under count d'Estaing and Gen. Lincoln, made an unsuccessful assault upon Savannah, and were compelled to retreat with considerable loss. The brave count Pulaski was mortally wounded in this affair. (Holmes says Oct. 11.)
1781. The French and Americans opened their batteries upon the British at Yorktown.
1791.Abraham J. Lansing, the original proprietor of Lansingburgh, N. Y., died, aged 72, at his seat in that town.
1803. Deluge in the island of Madeira; the city of Funchal, with all its inhabitants, was swept into the ocean, leaving the rocky basis of the island bare. But one human being escaped, which was an infant. The event is supposed to have beenoccasioned by a water spout, which had burst against the side of a mountain, and discharged itself down the declivities upon the city.
1805. Battle of Guntzburg; the Austrians under prince Ferdinand, defeated by the French under Bonaparte, with the loss of 2,000 prisoners, besides killed and wounded.
1806. Battle of Schleitz in Saxony; 10,000 Prussians defeated by Bernadotte; being the recommencement of hostilities between the French and Prussians.
1809. Great storm at Boston and vicinity, by which a vast number of vessels were lost.
1812. Lieut.Elliott, of the United States navy, with 50 volunteers, attacked and carried two British vessels, the Caledonia and Detroit, on lake Erie. One of these was burnt, with a cargo valued at $200,000.
1813. British broke up their cantonments before fort George, and marched rapidly for Burlington bay.
1822.Richard Earlom, an English engraver of great skill, died. His flower pieces are highly valued.
1826.Charles Mills, an eminent English historian, died. His histories of the crusades, of chivalry and of Muhammedanism, are valuable acquisitions to literature.
1831.Capo d'Istrias, president of Greece, assassinated by one of his own countrymen.
1836.James Saumarez, an English admiral, died; distinguished in the naval history of his country, and eminent for his private virtues.
1842.Joshua Stow, sometime chief judge in Middlesex county court, Conn., died at Middletown.
1845.David Baillie Wardendied at Paris, aged 67. He was a native of Ireland, was sometime consul of the United States at Paris, where he collected a valuable library of American history, was a member of the French academy, and a man of letters and varied learning.
1847. Sweden abolished slavery in the island of St. Bartholomew and all her dependencies.
1849.Timothy Dwight Sprague, editor of theAmerican Literary Magazine, died at Andover, Mass., aged 30.
1849. A riot in Philadelphia, between a set of whites called killers, and some negroes. It was continued the next day, until put down. Four houses were burned, 4 persons killed, and 11 wounded.
1854.William Darby, an eminent American geographer and statistician, died at Washington, aged 79.
1855. A treaty was ratified between Japan and Great Britain, by admiral sir James Stirling.
432B. C.Battle of Potidæa, on its revolt from the Athenians, in which Socrates and Alcibiades were nobly distinguished for their prowess and friendship. In that year Anaxagoras, Phidias and Aspasia were prosecuted, the first for his impiety.
324.Constantius, the second and favorite son of Constantine, was installed by his fathercæsarof the Gallic provinces.
1571. "The field of Tulliangus was stricken" between Adam Gordon and Arthur Forbes, brother of lord Forbes, where the said Arthur was slain, with sundry others of his kin; on the other side John Gordon of Buckie, with divers hurt on both sides. A Scottish foray.
1582. The new style adopted in France, this day being made the 20th.
1615. Battle between Champlain and the Iroquois, in western New York.
1632.Thomas Allendied; an Englishman illustrious for his knowledge of mathematics and philosophy. He published, among other works, the second and third books of Ptolemy on the judgment of the stars.
1706.Paul Pezron, a learned Frenchman, died. He occupied himself with the study of the Greek and Latin historians, and in tracing the origin of the language of the Goths, and made up a new system of chronology.
1710.David Gregory, an eminent Scottish mathematician, died. He displayed great powers in the elements of optics, and physical and geometrical astronomy, improving the discoveries of others by new and elegant demonstrations. He proposed to publish all the works of the ancient mathematicians, but did not live to finish the series.
1742. Sixty persons killed by the falling of the roof of the church in Fearn Russhire, in the time of worship.
1744.John Henry Schulze, a German physician, died; professor of medicine at Halle, and author of a history of medicine from the creation to the year of Rome 535.
1747.John Potter, primate of England, died. Besides theological and other works he wroteAntiquities of Greece, two vols., which have passed through several editions.
1747. British fleet of 14 ships, admiral Hawke, engaged the French fleet under M. de Letender, and captured 7 ships of the line, and a 50 gun ship.
1772.William Wilkiedied; a Scottishdivine and poet, and professor of philosophy at St. Andrews.
1774. Battle between the Americans, 1400 men, from Virginia, under colonel Lewis, and about 600 Ohio Indians. The Indians made the attack; 400 of the Virginians were killed and 100 wounded.
1775. British generalGagesailed from Boston for Great Britain, and the command of the army devolved upon general Howe.
1775.Louis Nicholas Victor Muys, minister of war and marshal of France, died. He signalized himself at several important engagements, which led to his promotion.
1780. Hurricane in the West Indies, which continued about 48 hours. Several towns were leveled with the dust, and many thousand persons lost their lives. Several hundred vessels in the different ports were driven to sea or dashed to pieces.
1783.Henry Brooke, an eminent Irish writer, died. His tragedy of Gustavus Vasa, though forbidden the stage for its tone of freedom and liberty, met with a rapid sale.
1787. The Prussians under the duke of Brunswick took the city of Amsterdam by capitulation. It is said that before the surrender water sold for an English shilling a quart.
1792. LordMulgravedied at Liege, aged 48. He was captain Phipps in the British service, and was celebrated for his voyage towards the North pole.
1794. Battle of Fersen, or Mackowieze, between the Russians and the Poles under Kosciusko. The contest was bloody and fatal to the patriots. The victory was wavering, and the expected reinforcements not appearing, Kosciusko at the head of his principal officers, made a furious charge and plunged into the midst of the Russians. He had three horses killed under him, and finally fell covered with wounds, and was captured.
1797.Carter Braxtondied; a signer of the declaration of independence from Virginia.
1800. Explosion of an infernal machine intended to have destroyed Bonaparte, then first consul, as he proceeded to the opera. The coachman being intoxicated, drove faster than was his custom, and the engine exploded half a minute after the carriage had passed, killed 20 persons, and wounded 53, and shattered the windows on both sides of the street.
1806.Jeremiah James Oberlin, an eminent archæologist of Strasburg, died. He was an accurate and industrious scholar, and besides various original works, published good editions of several of the Latin classics.
1806. Sanguinary battle at the bridge of Saalfeld in Saxony; the French under Suchet defeated the Prussians, and their general, prince Ferdinand Louis, was killed.
1812. Veraya, in Russia, garrisoned by the French, taken by the Russians under Dorochoff; 500 French were killed and 400 captured. The standard of Westphalia and 500 muskets were taken, and the place having been made a depot for provisions, great quantities fell into the hands of the Russians.
1824.Francis Balthazar Solvyns, a celebrated Dutch painter and engraver, died. He spent 15 years in Hindostan, studying the languages, manners and customs of the east, on which he published a work in folio.
1832.James Stephen, an English statesman and philanthropist, died. He suggested and arranged the whole system of continental blockade, which for a long time occasioned great embarrassment to Bonaparte.
1834.Thomas Say, an eminent naturalist, died at New Harmony. He early abandoned his mercantile pursuits to devote himself to the study of nature. Perhaps no man has done more to make known the zoology of this country than he.
1836.Martha Randolph, last surviving daughter of Thomas Jefferson, a lady of distinguished talents and virtues, died in Albemarle county, Va., aged 70.
1840. The Egyptian army under Ibrahim Pacha and Soliman Pacha defeated near Beyrout, in Syria, by the allied British and Turkish troops under Selim Pacha, com. Napier and colonel Hodges, with the loss of 7000 men.
1841.John Bayley, a noted justice of the King's bench and baron of the exchequer, died in England, aged 78.
1841.Carl Frederich Schinkel, the most eminent architect in Prussia, died at Berlin, aged 61.
1849. A memorial for the annexation of Canada to the United States, received in five hours the signatures of 300 merchants, land owners, and professional men, at Montreal.
1849. Theinitial pointof the boundary line between the United States and Mexico settled, and a monument with inscriptions erected in north latitude 32° 31´ 59´´.58, and in longitude 119° 35´ 0´´.15 west from Greenwich.
1854.Gordon Drummond, a British officer who saw much service in the war with the United States in 1812, died in London, aged 82. He commanded the British troops at the battle of Niagara.
1347.Louis V, emperor of Germany, killed by a fall from his horse. This event prevented a new civil war, which threatened the happiness of Germany.
1441. The government of Venice prohibited the printing and vending of playing cards by foreigners in those dominions.
1492.Columbusdiscovered the Bahama islands, his first discovery of land.
1521.Leo Xissued a decree, conferring upon Henry VIII of England the title of Defender of the Faith.
1531.Ulricus Zuinglius, an able and zealous Swiss reformer, killed in a skirmish with his popish opponents.
1611.John Cowell, an English lawyer and antiquary, died; author of some works on the law.
1612. The remains ofMary, queen of Scots, removed to a vault in Henry VIII's chapel, where a most magnificent monument was erected to her memory.
1614. Charter granted to "the United New Netherland company," giving it the exclusive right to visit and trade with the countries in America, lying between the 40th and 45th degrees of north latitude. This country was now for the first time called New Netherland.
1643.John du Verger de Hauranedied; an eminent French ecclesiastic, who formed a new system of faith, which becoming popular, drew upon him the resentment of Richelieu.
1698. Treaty between England, France and Holland, for the partition of Spain.
1698.William Molyneux, an eminent Irish mathematician, died. He was ardently devoted to science, founded the philosophical society of Ireland, and invented a telescope dial.
1702. Battle of Vigo; the British admiral Rooke attacked the French fleet and Spanish batteries. The French destroyed 8 ships, and the British burnt 6 galleons richly laden with goods and plate, valued at 14,000,000 pieces of eight; they also razed the fortifications, and brought off 10 ships of war and 11 galleons, with 7,000,000 pieces of eight.
1705.William Amontons, an eminent French mechanic, died. He suggested some improvements in barometers and thermometers, and invented a method of communicating intelligence, which has since been adopted under the name of telegraph.
1709. Mons taken by the allies.
1727.Edward Colston, an English philanthropist, died. He acquired wealth by commerce with Spain, with which he endowed numerous charitable institutions.
1736. Great storm on the river Ganges; 300,000 lives are supposed to have been lost.
1750.John Baptist Joseph Languetdied; the celebrated vicar of St. Sulpice at Paris, who refused all preferments, and devoted the revenues which he collected to the institution and support of judiciously planned charitable establishments.
1752.Thomas Stackhouse, a learned, pious but necessituous divine, died.
1776. The Americans under general Arnold attacked on lake Champlain by the British under captain Pringle. Arnold lost two gondolas taken and one blown up, and was forced to retreat, owing to the inferiority of his force.
1779. Several individuals who had voluntarily remained in King's bench prison, London, for the purpose of letting their rooms, were turned out.
1790.Henry Cullen, an eminent physician of Edinburgh, died.
1791. The bank of Providence, the first bank in Rhode Island, began to discount.
1797. Battle off Camperdown, between the British fleet, 17 vessels, admiral Duncan, and Dutch fleet, 23, admiral Winter. The Dutch were defeated with the loss of 9 ships.
1808.John Page, governor of Virginia, died; a patriot, statesman and philosopher.
1817.Andrew Pickens, a distinguished revolutionary officer, died, aged 78. He commenced his military career in the French war which terminated in 1763. He was one of those who indefatigably kept up the spirit of resistance in South Carolina, till the enemy was expelled.
1820. The printers of London went in grand procession to Brandenburgh house to present an address to queen Caroline. It was printed on white satin, and was a superior specimen of typographical skill.
1837.Samuel Wesley, a distinguished English musician, died. "His compositions are grand and masterly; his melodies sweet, varied and novel; his harmonies bold, imposing, unexpected and sublime; his resources boundless."
1841.William Liddiard, an admired and popular English writer in prose and verse, died at Clifton, aged 68.
1841.George Mairs, an eminent preacher of the Associate reformed presbyterian church, died at Argyle, N. Y., aged 81.
1846. Great hurricane in Havana, which began on the previous evening, wrecked or severely injured nearly 100 vessels, destroyed 1275 houses, and injured as many more.
1848. The Hungarian army advancedto within six miles of Vienna; their videttes being visible from the city towers.
1855. The propeller Arctic and the barque Release, under command of Lieut. Hartstene, forming the arctic expedition in search of Dr. Kane and his companions, arrived in New York, bringing with them the objects of their search.
638.Honorius I, pope, died. He presided over the church with great zeal and wisdom.
1303.Boniface III(Benedict Cajetan), pope, died. His ambition and insolence were unbounded, and he hurled the thunders of the Vatican against the kings of France and Denmark; but the former despising his threats, had him seized.
1307. All the knights templars in France ordered to be arrested, and on the following day the grand master, the templars and all their possessions were seized.
1424.John de Troeznou Zisca, a famous Bohemian patriot, died. He was the formidable general of the Hussites, who undertook to avenge the death of their leader; he also defended his country against the emperor Sigismund, and performed prodigies of valor after he had lost both his eyes.
1428. The siege of Orleans commenced, memorable as one of the most extraordinary incidents in history.
1492.Columbuslanded on the island of Guanahani, of which he had seen the first twinkling on the previous night; thus in the space of 36 days completing a voyage which he had been 20 years in projecting, which opened to Europeans a new world, which enlarged the empire of Spain, and stamped with immortality the name of Columbus.
1573. Great naval victory of the Dutch over the Spaniards.
1576.Maximilian IIdied. He was elected king of the Romans 1562, and afterwards succeeded his father as king of Hungary and Bohemia, and emperor of Germany.
1621.Peter Matthieu, a French historian, died. He was historiographer to the king, and wrote the history of France, and of several of the French kings.
1646.Francis Bassompierre, marshal of France, died; a distinguished statesman, whom Richelieu confined 10 years in the Bastile, during which he wrote his own memoirs.
1649. The fall and massacre of Wexford under Oliver Cromwell.
1653.Humphrey Chetham, a great patron of learning and libraries, died, aged 73, at Manchester, England, endowing the city with munificent bequests.
1711.King Charles III, of Spain, elected emperor of Germany at Frankfort, by the name of Charles IV.
1716.Ludolf Kuster, a learned German critic, died.
1753. SirDanvers Osborne, who had arrived at New York on the 7th to succeed Clinton as governor of the province, was found in the morning suspended by the neck in the garden, and dead.
1764.Rene Michael Slodtz, an eminent French sculptor, died.
1793. St. Domingo ceded by its inhabitants to the British.
1798. British fleet, admiral Warren, intercepted the French fleet and captured several ships laden with troops and stores destined for Ireland. Theobald Wolfe Tone, the founder of the united Irishmen, was on board, and taken.
1822. The independence of Brazil, under don John, was proclaimed.
1834.Thos. S. Grimke, of South Carolina, died of an attack of cholera. He distinguished himself in a speech against the test oath of his native state.
1842.Bartlett Bennett, one of the early pioneers of Kentucky, and a baptist preacher, died at Cincinnati, aged 99.
1851.Lewis Washington, an American commodore, died, aged 69. His services in the Tripoli war and the war of 1812 made his name familiar to the American people, as a brave, energetic and skillful captain.
1851.Samuel Beazley, a distinguished English architect died, aged 66. He was not only the designer of more theatres than any other modern architect, but also a dramatic compiler.
1855. GeneralWalkertook possession of Grenada, with a loss to the enemy of 15 killed and several wounded.
49.Tiberius Drusus Claudius, emperor of Rome, died of poison administered by his wife. He succeeded Caligula, and became contemptible for his vices and weakness.
409. Irruption of the Vandals into Spain, who, dividing her prolific territories, turned their swords into ploughshares.
643.Oswy, of Northumberland, and 10th king of Britain, ascended the throne. The great controversy for the celebration of Easter, was decided by him.
1164. The great council opened at Northampton, England, for the trial of Thomas Becket, by whose sentence he was placed at the king's mercy.
1269. The bones of Edward the Confessor enshrined in gold.
1417.Gregory XII(Angelo Corario), pope, died, aged 92. He was elected during the schism of the west, while the opposite party supported Benedict XIII. They were both deposed, and another elected.
1503.Theodore Beza, a learned French protestant, died. He was professor of Greek at Lausanne, in Switzerland.
1515. Battle of Marignon, in Italy; the Swiss defeated by the French under Francis I.
1698. The French missionaryGerbillon, returned to Pekin from his eighth and last journey, from thence into Tartary, journals of all which are published in Du Halde'sHistory of China.
1705. The parliament of Scotland convened for the last time.
1754.Jacob Powelldied at Stebbing, England. He weighed five hundred and sixty pounds. His body was five yards in circumference, and his limbs were in proportion. He had sixteen men to carry him to his grave.
1771.John Gill, an eminent English Calvinistic divine, died. He was a learned orientalist and voluminous writer on theological subjects; his greatest work is a commentary on the Bible.
1777. Esopus, on the Hudson river, burnt by the British under general Vaughan; not a house escaped.
1782. Battle in Persia for the sovereignty, between Abdul Fatcan and Murat Kan, the lord regent. The latter and his three sons were slain, and Abdul caused himself to be proclaimed king.
1793. The allies under Wurmzer invested Landau, and carried the lines of Weissembourg; the French retreated with loss.
1797.Benjamin Hammettfined £1,000 sterling, for refusing the office of lord mayor of London.
1812. Battle of Queenston, in Canada; the Americans, under colonel Van Rensselaer, attacked and carried the heights and fort; but owing to the refusal of 1,200 militia to cross over to their support, and the arrival of British regulars and Indians from fort George, the Americans, to the number of 764, were obliged to surrender. General Brock was killed in this affair, and Van Rensselaer was wounded by four balls. American loss, 90 killed, 82 wounded.
1815.Joachim Murat, king of Naples, shot. He was a soldier of fortune, who emerged from obscurity during the French revolution, became a distinguished general in the armies of France, married a sister of Napoleon, and was placed upon the throne of Naples.
1815.Napoleon Bonapartelanded at St. Helena, a perpetual exile.
1822.Antonio Canovadied; the most eminent sculptor of the age. His statues are in possession of the noble and the rich throughout Europe.
1828.Vincent Montidied; one of the most celebrated poets of modern Italy.
1836.Jacob Spencer, a revolutionary pensioner, died at Washington, N. J., aged nearly 100. He had had seven wives, and left but one child living.
1845.Douglas Houghton, state geologist of Michigan, died, aged 36. He was prosecuting a combined geological and linear survey of the region near lake Superior, on a plan suggested by himself.
1845.W. K. Armistead, a general officer in the United States service, died at Upperville, Va., aged about 60. He had served long in the engineer department, and in 1840-41 had chief command in the campaign against the Florida Indians.
1846. Right honorableHenry Stephen Fox, late her Britannic majesty's minister plenipotentiary to the United States, died at Washington, D. C. He was much respected as well for his prudence and urbane manners, as for his decision and diplomatic talent.
1847. A body of 200 German catholics met at the Tabernacle, in New York, and made a public and formal secession from the Romish church.
1853.Tristram Burgess, a Rhode Island statesman, died, aged 83. He stood in the front rank of the public men of his day.
1853.Thomas Kemper Davisdied at Boston. He stood high in his profession as a lawyer, and having acquired a fortune, devoted himself to and became learned in English and classical literature.
1854. Howard college, at Marion, Ala., destroyed by fire.
1066. Battle of Hastings, and defeat of Harold by William of Normandy, which placed the latter upon the throne of England. The battle lasted from morning till sunset. William had three horses killed under him, and there fell about 15,000 Normans; but on the side of the vanquished, the loss was much greater, and included Harold and his two brothers, who were slain.
1066. The first earl created in England. Alfred in 920 used this word as king is now used.
1292.Edward I, of England, declared John Baliol king of Scotland.
1519. The Spaniards under Cortez entered without opposition the strong andpopulous city of Cholula, where a plot was laid for their destruction, but which resulted in a terrible massacre of the inhabitants.
1529. A placard appeared at Brussels, whereby all such as had any prohibited books in their custody, not brought forth to be burnt, should be put to death.
1537.Jane Seymour, third queen of Henry VIII, died.
1644. Birthday ofWilliam Penn, the first proprietor of Pennsylvania, son of admiral sir William Penn.
1645. Battle of Basing, in which Cromwell at the head of the parliamentary forces stormed and took, after an action of only three-quarters of an hour, the fortress of Basing house, which the royalists considered almost impregnable. There was immense booty taken with the place, of every kind. The plunder of treasure and furniture amounted to more than $1,000,000; in one room was found a bed which cost nearly $6,000. The mansion was set fire to and destroyed, with most of the valuable paintings, papers, &c., by the roundheads, who acted up to the scripture, "cursed is he that doeth the work of the Lord negligently."
1656. Act of the Massachusetts authorities, prohibiting the immigration of quakers, and subjecting such as should arrive to 20 lashes, and imprisonment at hard labor until transported, and if they returned to suffer death.
1660.Paul Scarrondied; an eminent French comic writer and satirist.
1660.Hugh Peters, chaplain to Oliver Cromwell, hanged at London. His death was the result of the most infamous trial on record. He was 7 years in New England as minister, first at Salem then in the Great church at Boston.
1734. Birthday ofFrancis Lightfoot Lee, a distinguished statesman and signer of the declaration of independence. The day of his death is not known.
1736.George Clarkedelivered his first speech to the assembly, as governor of the province of New York; and consented to introduce the practice which has ever since prevailed, of absenting himself from the council while they sit as a branch of the legislature.
1747. Six ships of war taken by admiral Hawke off the isle of Aix.
1756.John Henley, an eccentric English writer, died. He acquired the appellation oforator Henley, and entertained the public by theological orations on Sundays, and political and miscellaneous subjects on Wednesdays; also by a weekly paper calledThe Hyp Doctor.
1758. Battle of Hochkirchen; the Prussians under their king Frederick II, defeated by the Austrians under marshal Daun, with the loss of 7,000 men, all their tents, and baggage, &c. James Keith, a brave and experienced Scottish general, who had distinguished himself in the memorable wars of the king of Prussia, was killed, and general Geist mortally wounded.
1761. Volcanic phenomenon seen at Great Malvern in Worcestershire, Eng.
1781. Two British redoubts at Yorktown taken, and included in the second parallel, which greatly facilitated the subsequent operations of the besiegers.
1783.Antonio Nunes Ribeiro Sanchez, an eminent Portuguese physician and writer, died.
1791.Gregory Alexander Potempkin, a Russian statesman, died. He was descended from a Polish family, was the favorite of Catharine, and her minister of war.
1805. Battle of Ulm; the French under Bonaparte captured the bridge and the Austrian position of Elchingen.
1806. Battle of Jena, or Auerstadt, in Saxony, between the French under Bonaparte and the Prussians under king Frederick William. The Prussian line extended 18 miles, and numbered 150,000 strong; the total number of men engaged on both sides was over 250,000, and the number of cannon employed over 700. The Prussians were defeated with the loss of 20,000 killed and wounded, and 40,000 taken prisoners; together with 300 cannon, and immense magazines of stores. The French admitted a loss of only 1,200 killed and 3,000 wounded.
1813.Bonapartearrived at Leipsic, in Germany, having in the course of four days assembled there an army whose numbers are variously stated at from 150 to 400,000 men, with 600 cannon, and commanded by the ablest generals of the age.
1831.Louis Pons, an eminent Italian astronomer, died at Florence.
1836.James Wild, an English geographer, died; distinguished for his numerous maps and charts.
1841.Heyerembarked at Boston for India, as the first missionary of the Lutheran church in the United States. He established a mission at Guntoor.
1842. Grand celebration in New York of the completion of the Croton water works; more than 15,000 persons joined in the procession.
1843. A check was put on the progress of Irish agitation by the arrest of Daniel O'Connell and his son on a charge of conspiracy and other misdemeanors.
1845.William Pridgendied, in Bladen county, N. C., aged 123. He was a volunteer in the revolutionary army, although even then exempt from service by his age.His grand children were aged people at the time of his death.
1850. The convention for amending the constitution of Virginia assembled at Richmond.
1854.Hugh A. Garland, an eminent lawyer of St. Louis, died; author of a life of John Randolph.
1854.Samuel Phillipsdied at Brighton, England, aged 39. He was some time the literary reviewer forThe Timesand author ofReadings on the Rail.
55B. C.Titus Lucretius Carus, one of the best of the Latin poets, died.
1564.Andreas Vesalius, a celebrated Dutch anatomist, died. He revived the study of anatomy in Europe, which had been neglected, and impeded by the prejudices of ignorance.
1608. Birthday ofEvangeliste Torricelli, the Italian mathematician, and inventor of the barometer.
1634. About sixty men, women and children, with their horses, cattle and swine, commenced a journey from the vicinity of Boston, through the wilderness to Connecticut river. After a tedious journey of fourteen days through swamps and over mountains and rivers, they arrived at the place of their destination, and commenced the settlements of Hartford, Windsor and Weathersfield.
1644.Gabriel du Pineau, an eminent Frenchavocat, died; celebrated for his genius and eloquence; his counsel was often sought by the court, and he acquired the title of father of the people.
1651.John Owen, an eminent English divine, died. His works amount to 7 vols. folio, 20 quarto, and 30 octavo.
1651. KingCharles II, who since his defeat at Worcester had wandered about from one royalist family to another, sleeping in their barns at night and concealing himself in the woods by day, escaped to France. A large oak on which he frequently stood in the woods near White-ladies, obtained the name of the royal oak.
1671.John Amos Comenius, an eminent German protestant divine and grammarian, died.
1711. The Edgar, admiral Hovenburgh's ship, blown up with 400 seamen on board, the officers being on shore.
1728.Bernard de la Monnoye, an elegant French poet, died. He also wrote in Greek, Latin and Italian.
1743.John Ozell, an indefatigable English writer, died; he is immortalized by Pope in theDunciad.
1760. Battle of Campen; the French defeated the prince of Brunswick, who had a horse killed under him, and lost 1,600 men, chiefly British troops.
1764.Gibbonsays that on this day, as he sat musing among the ruins of the Roman capitol, while the barefooted friars were singing vespers in the temple of Jupiter, he first conceived the idea of writing theDecline and Fall of the Roman Empire.
1778.Pulaski'sinfantry surprised in the night by the British, and 50 killed, including baron de Bose. The timely arrival of Pulaski with the cavalry alone saved them from utter destruction.
1783.Pilatre de Rozier, the first aerial adventurer, made his first ascension from a garden in Paris. The balloon was of an oval shape.
1793. Battle of Tirlemont; the French defeated by the Austrians under Clairfait, with the loss of 2,000 killed, and 24 cannon, &c.
1793. Battle of Maubege; the French under Jourdan defeated the prince of Coburg, being his first defeat in a pitched battle, and compelled him to repass the Sambre.
1797. Celebration at Mantua of the birthday of the poet Virgil, when handsome dowries, raised by voluntary contributions among the "friends of learning and rural felicity," were distributed among fifty poor girls, who were the same day married to fifty industrious but poor young men.
1806.Paul Joseph Barthez, a learned French physician, died. He founded the celebrated medical school at Montpellier, and acquired so great reputation that he became a member of almost every learned society, and some of his works were translated into most of the European languages.
1808.James Anderson, an eminent Scottish writer, died. His first literary productions were on agriculture, which produced a greatly increased attention to the subject. His learning and research were conspicuous in the various subjects on which he wrote, and he was an original and accurate thinker.
1812. Action between United States frigate President, commodore Rodgers, and British packet Swallow; the latter was captured, with nearly $200,000 on board.
1814. Skirmish between detachments of the armies of the American generals Brown and Izard, each of whom had advanced to reconnoitre the British works. Four men were killed before the mistake was discovered.
1838.Letitia Elizabeth McLean(better known asL. E. L.), died at Cape-Coast castle, Africa, of which settlement her husband was governor. Her writings consist of poems and novels.
1529. The Turks under Solyman abandoned the famous siege of Vienna.
1555.Hugh LatimerandNicholas Ridley, English bishops, burnt at Oxford.
1586.Philip Sidney, an English statesman, soldier and scholar, died of a wound received at the battle of Zutphen.
1660.Hugh Peters, a famous English prelate, executed for conspiring, with Cromwell, the king's death.
1678.Cæsar Egasse du Boulaidied; register and historiographer of the university of Paris, of which he wrote a history in 6 vols. folio.
1679.Roger Boyledied; an eminent Irish general, statesman and writer.
1725.Ralph Thoresbydied; an eminent English topographer and antiquary.
1725. First newspaper published in New York.
1726. The public granaries plundered by the turners of Cornwall for want of provisions.
1756. Battle of Pirna; the Saxons defeated by Frederick II, of Prussia, with the loss of 17,000 prisoners.
1760.Nicholas d'Assas, a French officer, killed at Klosterkamp. On going out to examine the posts, he was captured, and threatened with immediate death if he alarmed his regiment. Without a moment's hesitation he summoned all his strength, and exclaimed "Onward Auverne! here is the enemy!" The threat was immediately executed, but the patriot had gained his object; the attack was unsuccessful. A pension of 1,000 livres was decreed to his family forever.
1767.Burchard Christopher Munich, a German officer in the service of Russia, died. He was promoted by Peter I and Anne; banished by Elizabeth to Siberia, and recalled by Peter II, after an absence of 20 years, when he appeared at court in the same sheepskin dress which he had worn in his exile.
1774.Robert Ferguson, an excellent Scottish poet, died at the age of 24 in a lunatic asylum.
1778. Pondicherry, after a gallant resistance by the French, surrendered to the British.
1779. The fortress of St. Fernando de Omoa, in the bay of Honduras, taken by the British by assault. In the fort was found 250 quintals of quicksilver, and on board the vessels 3,000,000 piasters.
1780. The town of Royalton, Vt., was attacked by a party of 300 Indians of various tribes from Canada, and many of the houses burnt.
1781. A sortie consisting of 360 men under Col. Abercrombie, at Yorktown, forced two American batteries and spiked 11 cannon; but the guards from the trenches immediately repulsed them and restored the cannon. In the afternoon the Americans opened several batteries in their second parallel; and in the whole line of batteries nearly 100 pieces of heavy ordnance were now mounted. The works of the besieged were in no condition to sustain the fire which might be expected next day.
1783. The inhabitants of Canada were surprised by a very extraordinary phenomenon. About 2 o'clockP. M., an unusual darkness, equal it is said to the darkest night, took place. Its approach was instantaneous. This continued about 40 minutes, when there was a short interval of light, but soon was succeeded by darkness, horrible as before, though not of so long duration. The whole is said to have continued upwards of an hour, and to have extended, more or less, throughout the province.
1793. The French convention constituted death onlyan eternal sleep! It was afterwards restored, however, to its original condition!
1793.Marie Antoinette, queen of France, and sister of the emperor of Austria, guillotined. She was tried and condemned at 4 o'clock in the morning, dragged to the scaffold in an open tumbril, amid the scoffs and insults of the populace, and beheaded at the age of 38.
1793.John Hunter, a very eminent British surgeon and anatomical writer, died. From a humble assistant of his brother he became the first surgeon in the world, both in theory and practice.
1796.Victor Amadeus, king of Sardinia, died in his 71st year, and 23d of his reign.
1806. Erfurt, the capital of Upper Thuringia, surrendered to the French; 14,000 prisoners, 28 cannon, and immense magazines of stores were taken.
1813. Battle of Leipsic, between the French under Bonaparte, Ney, Murat, &c., and the allies under Blucher, Benningsen, Bernadotte, &c. It was a conflict between the best disciplined armies, commanded by the ablest generals in the world. Night alone put an end to the carnage, and the armies retired to rest on the ground which they occupied in the morning. The number of men engaged was 150,000 French and 230,000 allies.
1817.Thaddeus Kosciusko, the famous Polish general, died in Switzerland; one of the noblest characters of his age.
1836.Francis J. M. Reynouard, an eminent French philologist, died. He was one of the conductors of theJournal desSavans, distinguished as a scholar, poet, historian, philologist and archæologist.
1837.Matthieu Dumas, peer of France, a lieutenant-general in the French army, and an old companion in arms of Lafayette, died at Paris, aged 84.
1839.DeaseandSimpsonaccomplished an expedition which established the fact of a north-west passage, and gave to the world some new and interesting discoveries respecting the geography of the northern coast of America, and the arctic regions. The intervening space between the discoveries of Parry and Ross were traversed, and a curious point of science established; yet it can not be supposed that the passage can ever be of the smallest utility to navigation.
1842.Benjamin Eaton, said to have been the last survivor of Washington's life guard, died at Cuddeback, Orange co., N. Y., aged 85. He joined in the pursuit at Lexington, and served till 1779, with an absence of only 20 days.
1848. The emperor of Austria issued a proclamation against Vienna, and appointed count Windischgratz to command his armies in Austria.