Part 16

1729. The British parliament resolved that it was an indignity and a breach of privilege for any one to publish the debates or report the proceedings of the house.

1767. HYDER ALLY and the nizam of Deccan defeated by the British at Errour, near Trincomalee, in Ceylon.

1769. WILLIAM DUNCOMBE, an English dramatic author, died. He translated Horace.

1770. JOSEPH TARTINI died at Padua; an Italian musician, distinguished for his extraordinary performances on the violin.

1774. JOHN TICE died at Hagley, England, aged 125.

1775. Gen. GAGE despatched 140 soldiers under Col. Leslie to seize the military stores collected at Salem. The people foiled the expedition by drawing up a bridge and causing other delays till it was too late to effect any thing, and they returned bootless.

1789. The Cayugas sold their lands to the state of New York.

1802. ALEXANDER GEDDES died at Paddington, England. He was a catholic and is represented as a man of profound research in biblical literature, and employed himself many years in a new translation of the Bible, which he did not live to finish.

1807. Battle of Braunsberg in Prussian Poland, in which a division of 10,000 Russians were overthrown by the French, who took 2,000 prisoners and 16 cannon.

1810. JOHN DALRYMPLE, a Scottish author, died, aged 84. He was for many years baron of the exchequer in Scotland.

1813. ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON, an American statesman, died. He was one of the committee which drew up the Declaration of Independence. He was afterwards chancellor of the state of New York, and minister to France. He assisted Fulton with means to carry his experiments into effect, which gave to this country the honor of the first successful steam boat.

1815. BONAPARTE escaped from the island of Elba, accompanied by 1000 of his old guards, who had followed him into exile.

1823. JOHN PHILIP KEMBLE died; one of the most eminent tragedians of the British stage since the days of Garrick. He possessed talent and learning, and was an author.

1826. JOHN KAY, caricaturist, engraver, barber, and miniature painter, died in Edinburgh. His small shop in Parliament close, was a great lounging place for the idlers of the town.

1827. WILLIAM KITCHENER, an English physician, died. He is distinguished for his experiments in cookery; he treated eating and drinking as the only serious business of life, and promulgated the laws of the culinary art, under the title of the _Cook's Oracle_, professedly founded on his own practice. He possessed an ample fortune, which enabled him to follow the bent of his eccentricities.

1831. JOHN BELL, who gave direction and name to _Bell's Weekly Messenger_ at London, died.

1833. ELIZABETH PEARCE died in Johnson county, North Carolina, aged 111.

1833. The spasmodic cholera appeared at Havana, and in about one month from that time had destroyed 7000 persons.

1834. ALOYS SENEFELDER, inventor of lithography, died at Munich, aged 63.

1852. THOMAS MOORE, the celebrated Irish poet, died, aged 73.

1854. The gallery of the French opera house at New Orleans fell during the performance, carrying away the second tier, by which the occupants were precipitated into the parquette, killing 3, and badly wounding 56 persons.

1854. Three shocks of an earthquake at Manchester, Kentucky, by which the houses were violently shaken.

1855. Gen. JACKSON'S sword presented to congress by the heirs of Gen. Armstrong.

1855. HENRY PIERPONT EDWARDS, an American judge, died at New York, aged 46.

1856. At the breaking up of the ice on the Mississippi at St. Louis, 23 steam boats were wrecked.

FEBRUARY 27.

212. GETA, emperor of Rome, slain by his brother Caracalla, who was incited to the deed by jealousy.

1411. The charter of the university of St. Andrews, at Aberdeen in Scotland, granted.

1642. TOBIAS CRISP died; a controversial writer on divinity, and a great champion on antinomianism.

1697. JOHN BERKLEY, baron of Stratton, died; a noted commander in the English fleet.

1706. JOHN EVELYN, the English diarist, died. He is ranked among the greatest philosophers of England, who turned his pen readily to almost every topic. His _Diary_ is a curious book, extending nearly from his childhood to his death, and contains much information not elsewhere to be found.

1735. JOHN ARBUTHNOT, a Scottish physician, died. He was attached to the court of Queen Anne, was eminent in his profession, and distinguished as a wit in an age abounding with men of wit and learning.

1738. HENRY GROOVE, an English divine, died. He belonged to the dissenters, and wrote several valuable theological treatises.

1746. THOMAS FAUNCE died at Plymouth, aged 99. He knew the rock on which the pilgrims landed, and learning that it was covered in the construction of a wharf, was so affected that he wept. His tears, perhaps, saved it from oblivion.

1776. Battle of Moor's creek bridge, in which the tories and Highlanders under McDonald, were defeated with the loss of their bravest officers. They fled leaving 350 guns, 1500 rifles, 13 wagons, and 150 swords in the hands of the victors, as well as their general. This defeat depressed the spirits of the royalists in North Carolina, and prevented their making any farther efforts.

1794. Of the crews of 13 American vessels captured by the Algerines, four were redeemed, leaving 126 still in the hands of their captors as slaves. Two of these vessels were captured in 1785, and the rest in 1793. A great effort was made throughout the land to raise money for their redemption by charitable contributions.

1797. Bank of England suspended specie payments. Twenty years after it resumed on one and two pound notes.

1806. Action between the British ship Hydra, and French brig La Furet, off Cadiz, in which the latter was captured.

1814. Battle of Orthes, in France, between the British under Wellington and the French.

1817. Two shocks of an earthquake felt at Kingston, Upper Canada.

1829. Battle of Tarqui between the Colombian army of 5000, and the Peruvian of 8000, in which the latter were defeated with considerable loss. Articles for the cessation of hostilities were signed on the field of battle, and mutual differences referred to the arbitration of the United States government.

1844. NICHOLAS BIDDLE, celebrated as the president of the United States bank for a number of years, died near Philadelphia, aged 58. He graduated at Princeton at the early age of 15, and was a man of great ability, of rarely equaled scholarship, and of the most polished and courtly manners. On the ruin of the bank he retired into private life, where however the creditors of the bank did not allow him undisturbed repose.

1853. PAUL FREDERICK AUGUSTUS, reigning duke of Oldenburgh, died, aged 70.

FEBRUARY 28.

509 B. C. Battle of the Œsuvian fields, in which the Tarquins were vanquished and expelled from Rome, with the loss of more than 11,000 citizens on the side of the victors.

509 B. C. LUCIUS JUNIUS BRUTUS, the avenger of the rape of Lucretia, and founder of the Roman republic, fell at the battle of the Œsuvian fields. So great was the fury of the encounter between him and his adversary, that their shields were mutually pierced, and each fell dead from his horse transfixed by the lance of his enemy.

628. CHOSROES II, king of Persia, died. He carried his arms into Judea, Libya and Egypt, and made himself master of Carthage. He forced the Roman emperor Heraclius, to sue for peace; but his country was soon after penetrated by the Romans, his palace pillaged and burnt, and himself dethroned and cast into prison by his own son, after witnessing the massacre of 18 other sons.

1408. Battle of Bramham Moor.

1447. HUMPHREY, duke of Gloucester, murdered. He was the rival of Cardinal Beaufort, as the head of affairs in England, and was the friend and patron of learning. The cardinal lived to enjoy his triumph but six weeks.

1582. GEORGE BUCHANAN, a Scottish poet and historian, died. He occupied the last twelve years of his life in writing a history of his country in Latin.

1594. WILLIAM FLEETWOOD, an English lawyer, died. He was recorder of the city of London in the reign of Elizabeth, and the author of several law treatises.

1604. JOHN WHITGIFT, archbishop of Canterbury, died. He was unwearied in his efforts to make the puritans conform to the national church.

1610. The house of commons complained of the king's profusion, especially in the immense sums lavished on Scotch favorites.

1642. CHARLES I of England sent to the house of commons his reasons for refusing the militia bill; the house declared his advisers public enemies, and passed a vote of approval on the counties which had put themselves in a posture of defence.

1648. CHRISTIAN IV of Denmark, died. He sustained the character of an able and wise sovereign.

1680. DECAN and HENNESSIN were sent out from fort Crevecoeur on the Illinois, to trace the Mississippi to its source. They ascended the river to the 46th degree, where they were stopped by a fall, to which they gave the name of St. Anthony.

1703. JOHN BAPTIST THIERS, died; a doctor of the Sorbonne, and professor of the belles lettres at Paris.

1734. Battle in Syria between the Turks, 45,000, and the Persians under Kouli Khan. The Turks were marching to succor Babylon, but were defeated with the loss of 20,000 killed on the field or taken prisoners. The victory cost the Persians 10,000 men.

1735. Large statute of GEORGE II set up in the royal hospital at Greenwich, Eng., at the expense of Sir John Jennings and sculptor Mr. Rysbrack.

1736. A proposal submitted to the house of commons in England, to levy a duty on distilled spirituous liquors, so as to prevent the ill consequence of the poorer classes drinking them to excess. It was stated that some signs where they were sold had the following inscription: "Drunk for a penny; dead drunk for two pence; clean straw for nothing!"

1757. EDWARD MOORE died; an English fabulist and dramatic writer of considerable note.

1758. Action between the French fleet under Du Quesne and the British, under Saunders, near Carthagena. The British captured the Foudroyant, 80 guns, and Orphee, 64 guns; the Oriflamme, 50 guns, was driven on shore under the castle of Aiglos, coast of Spain.

1759. The pope permitted the Bible to be translated into all the languages of the Catholic states.

1760. Action between the French fleet under Thourot and the British, Capt. Elliot. Three French frigates were captured and Thourot killed. So great a terror had he created in the seaports of Great Britain, that his defeat was celebrated with the greatest rejoicings.

1771. RICHARD GREY, a learned English divine, died. He was a polemical and miscellaneous writer.

1781. WILLIAM STOCKTON died; a signer of the Declaration of Independence from New Jersey.

1783. JOHN BAPTIST D'ESPAGNAC, a French general, died. He signalized himself in the campaign of Italy.

1795. Five hundred emigrant sleighs passed through the city of Albany between sunrise and sunset, on their way to the Genesee country. It was estimated that as many as 1,200 sleighs, freighted with men, women, children and furniture, had passed up State street in the space of three days, destined for the Genesee valley, the _far west_ of the emigrants of that day.

1799. BONAPARTE reached the city of Gaza in Palestine.

1799. Action between the British frigate Sybille, and French ship La Forte, 50 guns. The later was captured in 1 hour 40 minutes. The British lost two of their highest officers.

1804. PICHEGRU, the conquerer of Holland, arrested at Paris by order of Bonaparte.

1815. Action between the United States frigate Constitution, 44 guns, Capt. Stewart, and British frigate Cyane and sloop Levant, 54 guns, Capt. Falcon; British loss, 40 killed, 80 wounded; Constitution lost 4 killed, 11 wounded. The Cyane and Levant were captured.

1823. WILLIAM W. VAN NESS, an eminent judge of the N. Y. supreme court, died.

1834. MODESTE MALHIOT, the Canadian giant, died. His height was 6 feet 4 inches, and his weight 619½ pounds.

1837. ADAM BINKLEY, died in Davidson co., Pennsylvania, aged 138. He was an officer of the revolution and served throughout the war, at which time he had a wife and 11 children.

1843. A remarkable comet first observed in the northern states, which caused considerable controversy whether it was a comet or the zodiacal light. It was first seen at noon, and was distinctly observed with the naked eye from 7 to 9 o'clock in the evening during the month of March. Its train extended about 70° to 100°.

1851. The Spanish government of Manilla, totally destroyed the forts of the pirate Sultan of Sooloo.

1853. Doncaster church, England, built in 1070, destroyed by fire.

1854. Earthquake at Lexington, Ky., and surrounding country, attended by a loud roaring noise.

1854. American steamer Black Warrior, seized by the Cuban authorities at Havana.

1855. An earthquake at Broussa killed or wounded about 800 people, and was succeeded by a fire which destroyed nearly one-third of the houses.

FEBRUARY 29.

1631. The president and counsel for New England, made a grant to Robert Aldworth and Giles Elbridge of a hundred acres of land for every person whom they should transport to the province of Maine within seven years, who should continue there three years; and an absolute grant of 12,000 acres as their proper inheritance for ever, to be laid out near the river commonly called Pemaquid.

1704. Deerfield, in Massachusetts, burnt. Hertel de Rouville with 200 French and 140 Indians, after a tedious march through deep snow from Canada, made an attack upon this place, which was the northern frontier on Connecticut river. A watch had patrolled the streets until about two hours before day, when he incautiously fell asleep, and the snow was of such depth as to admit of an entrance over the pickets of the fort. The whole settlement was burnt with the exception of one house, which was standing until quite recently; 47 were slain, 112 carried into captivity, including among the latter, the Rev. John Williams and his family. Of the captives, 17 died or were killed on the march; 57 were redeemed, among whom were the minister and his family (his wife was killed soon after the capture), except one daughter who could not be persuaded to return; but adopted the manners and customs of the Indians, became a catholic, and married a savage. The bell taken from the church, it is said, still hangs in an Indian church at St. Regis.

1744. JOHN THEOPHILUS DESAGULIERS died. He was the son of a French protestant clergyman, who resided in England. Having been educated for the ministry, he settled in London; there he acquired a turn for natural philosophy, and was the first person who lectured on experimental philosophy in the metropolis. He was a man of rare ability, and his income enabled him to keep an equipage. His coachman, Erasmus King, from the force of example, became a kind of rival to the doctor; for he also undertook to read lectures, and exhibit experiments in natural philosophy. The terms of admission to the _lyceum_ of the latter philosopher were in proportion to the humble station he had filled.

1793. The French convention passed a decree of accusation against Marat, and by so doing tore off the cloak of inviolability which covered its members, and constituted itself its own jury of accusation.

1808. Denmark declared war against Sweden.

1810. Battle of Vique, in Spain, in which the Spanish General O'Donnel attacked the French under Souham. The impetuosity of the charge made by the Spanish troops lost them the battle.

1844. Fatal explosion of the great gun, Peacemaker, on board the American war steamer, Princeton, by which several government officers lost their lives, and many persons were seriously injured.

MARCH.

MARCH 1.

509. B. C. VALERIUS PUBLICOLA pronounced a funeral oration over the body of Junius Brutus, which was the first institution of that generous tribute to the memory of the virtuous dead.

1554. In the household expenses of Queen Mary 15 shillings are given to a yeoman for bringing her majesty a leek on this day.

1562. The catholics under the duke of Guise fell upon a body of Calvinists at Bassi in France, who were singing the psalms of Marot in a barn. The latter were insulted, and induced to come to blows: when nearly 60 of these unhappy people were killed and 200 wounded. This unexpected event lightened the flame of civil war throughout the kingdom.

1564. Printing introduced again into Moscow. Some 12 years previous it had been used there, but the burning of the city by the Poles suspended it.

1625. JOHN ROBINSON died; minister of the first English church in Holland, to which the first settlers of New England belonged. He fled to Holland with his congregation to avoid persecution, and at the time of his death was preparing to follow with the remainder of the brethren to America. He was distinguished for his learning, liberality and piety.

1645. Battle of Pontefract, in which Sir Marmaduke Langdale defeated the lord Fairfax.

1663. ADAM ADAMI, a French ecclesiastic, statesman and historian, died.

1682. THOMAS HERBERT, an English author of _Travels in Asia and Africa_, died. He was engaged in the civil wars between the parliament and the royalists, and on the restoration was created a baronet.

1689. The odious hearth stone tax ordered to be taken off by William, prince of Orange.

1711. The _Spectator_, a daily critical, satirical and literary paper made its appearance in London, under the conduct of Addison and Steele principally, with the assistance of some of the master spirits of the day, and had a reputation which has never been equaled by any other periodical of the kind.

1733. That mysterious person, the _oldest_ inhabitant, witnessed a great flood in the north of England, wholly unprecedented in his life time.

1766. ZABDIEL BOYLSTON, an American physician, died. He was the first to introduce inoculation for small-pox into New England. This mode of treating a virulent disease brought upon him the ridicule of his medical brethren; but he outlived these prejudices and realized a handsome fortune by his profession.

1774. Prince A. D. KANTEMIR, died; a Turk by birth, but subsequently a distinguished oriental scholar.

1781. Maryland ratified the articles of the confederation of the United States being the last state to do so.

1786. The first No. of the _Observer_ appeared, conducted by Cumberland, the dramatist.

1791. The annual masquerade held at Rutland square rooms, Dublin, was the cause of a great riot and the death of many of the police.

1792. LEOPOLD II of Germany, and I of Tuscany, died. He made the latter the happiest and best governed state of Italy. In 1790 he succeeded to the imperial crown, and was noted for the wisdom of his measures, his affability, strict justice and kindness to the poor.

1793. Battle of Aldenhoven, between the French under Dumourier, and 40,000 Austrians under Gen. Coburg. The French were defeated with the loss of 6,000 killed and 4,000 prisoners.

1799. Essex county, N. Y., erected.

1811. Massacre of the Mamelukes in Egypt by order of the pasha.

1814. Treaty of Chaumont, between Austria, Russia, Prussia and Great Britain, against Napoleon.

1815. BONAPARTE landed at Frejus in France from Elba, and resumed the imperial crown.

1816. Ontario co., N. Y., erected.

1838. The Patriots of Canada, about 600 in number, under Nelson and Cote, surrendered to Gen. Wool of the United States army, near Alburg Springs, Vt., and the frontier became tranquilized.

1845. Texas admitted into the Union as an independent State.

1854. The steam ship city of Glasgow left Liverpool for Philadelphia with more than 300 passengers, and was never more seen.

1855. THOMAS DAY, an eminent Connecticut jurist died, aged 78. He published 26 volumes of law reports, and his entire works number about 40 volumes.

1856. The colossal bronze statue of Beethoven, the gift of Charles C. Perkins, inaugurated at the music hall, Boston.

MARCH 2.

986. LOTHAIRE, king of France, died of poison, said to have been administered by his wife Emma.

1492. The Jews banished from Spain by an edict of Ferdinand V. They numbered 800,000 souls.

1585. Dr. PARRY executed for a design to assassinate Queen Elizabeth. She had formerly released him from imprisonment, on a charge of justifying Romanism.

1611. BARTHOLOMEW LEGGAT, convicted of the Arian heresy and delivered over to the secular power.

1617. ROBERT ABBOTT, bishop of Salisbury, died, aged 58. He was active and pains-taking in his office; a profound scholar, and an industrious author.

1619. QUEEN ANNE, consort of James I, died at Hampton Court.

1622. JOHN MARION AVANTIO, a learned Italian civilian, died at Padua.

1629. The speaker of the house of commons, in England, refusing for fear of the king's displeasure to put the question of reading the remonstrance against the king's usurpations, is held in his chair, the doors of the house shut, and the remonstrance read.

1711. DESPREAUX NICHOLAS BOILEAU, the French poet, died. He was born 1636, and in early youth gave indications of the future bent of his genius, by his fondness for the great poets of antiquity. His works are frequently republished in France, though some of his satires are little to the taste of the present day. Bruyere has said of him, that his verses will be read when the language is obsolete, and will be the last ruins of it!

1713. The first No. of the _Guardian_ appeared, conducted by Steele during the temporary suspension of the _Spectator_.

1714. Peace proclaimed with Spain, and a special privilege granted to the English of supplying the West Indies with negro slaves at the rate of 4800 a year.

1714. Gibraltar and Minorca also ceded to the English.

1715. EMANUEL THEODOSIUS BOULLION, a cardinal and ambassador of Louis XIV of France, died.

1729. FRANCESCO BIANCHINI, an Italian antiquary and astronomer, died. He devoted his life to intense study, and in his character extensive learning was united with great modesty and amiability of manners. He was patronized by the pope, and received marks of respect from the Roman senate.

1738. JOHNSON and GARRICK started from Litchfield for London as literary adventurers. The former had two pence half penny in his pocket, and the latter something less.

1767. JAMES DRAKE, an English political and medical writer, died. He is chiefly known now by his _System of Anatomy_.

1768. The extensive copper mine in the isle of Anglesey was discovered.

1776. The Americans cannonaded Boston from Cobble hill and Lechmere point.

1786. JOHN JEBB, an eminent English non-conformist divine and physician, died. His publications, theological, medical and political, gained great approbation.

1788. SOLOMON GESNER, a Swiss bookseller, poet and painter, died at Zurich. Of his writings the best known, in English, is the _Death of Abel_.

1791. JOHN WESLEY, founder of the methodists, died, aged 88. He was born at Epworth, England, and at the time of finishing his studies, was distinguished for his classical attainments, skill in dialectics, and talent for poetry. The origin of the sect called methodists is to be attributed to the circumstance of a club of kindred spirits, who used to meet on week days and read classics, and on Sundays divinity, but shortly their meetings became exclusively religious. This society consisted of fifteen members, who from the strictness of their manners and deportment, obtained the name of _Methodists_, an appellation which they sanctioned and retained. He visited America, and afterwards Germany, and on his return commenced the systematic labors by which he became the founder of a numerous religious sect. He joined with Whitfield in field preaching, but their opinions being at collision on some point, they finally separated. He continued his active labors till within a week of his death. His works on various subjects amount to upwards of thirty volumes octavo.