Part 34

1797. BONAPARTE invaded Venice pretending that the Venetians had illtreated the French. This issued in republicanizing Venice and Genoa.

1799. BENJAMIN FLOWER, printer of the _Cambridge Intelligencer_, was fined £100 and ordered by the house of lords to be imprisoned 6 months, for some freedom with the speech of bishop Llandaff.

1802. PETER ELMSLY, a partner of the celebrated Paul Valliant, and himself an importer of books and no mean critic and linguist, died.

1810. Lord BYRON, in emulation of Leander, swam the Dardanelles, from Abydos to Sestos. The distance, including the length he was carried by the current, was upwards of four miles; though the actual breadth is barely one.

1813. Havre de Grace, Maryland, burnt by the British.

1814. BONAPARTE arrived at the island of Elba, and Louis XVIII made his entrance into Paris.

1814. THOMAS COKE, a methodist bishop in the United States, died. He became one of the assistants of Mr. Wesley, and was active in the service of the church. He wrote a _Commentary on the Bible_, _History of the West Indies_, _&c._

1816. JAMES MCHENRY, confident of Gen. Washington, and for some time secretary of war, died at Baltimore.

1818. Capt. Ross sailed from Shetland, on his first voyage for the discovery of the north-west passage.

1839. FERNANDO PAER, an Italian dramatic composer, died at Paris. He was a native of Parma; his pieces have been performed in Germany, France and Italy, with success.

1840. JAMES MORISON, self-styled _The Hygeist_, died at Paris, aged 70. He was the inventor of the vegetable universal medicines, known as _Morison's Pills_, from which he realized great profits, and is said to have paid the English government in ten years £60,000 for medicine stamps.

1849. A serious insurrection occurred at Dresden, in Saxony, but was in a few days put down.

1852. SARAH COLERIDGE died; the accomplished and only daughter of S. T. Coleridge. She translated from the Latin the curious works of Dobrizhoffer on Paraguay, 3 vols., and completed the editorial care of her father's _Literary Remains_, begun by her husband.

1853. JOHN B. GIBSON, an eminent Pennsylvania jurist, died at Philadelphia, aged 73; at which time he was judge of the supreme court.

1856. ADOLPHE CHARLES ADAM, the noted French music composer, died at Paris, aged 54.

MAY 4.

1471. Battle of Tewkesbury, between the York partisans and the Lancastrians, in which the latter were defeated, and queen Margaret and her son Edward taken prisoners. The young prince was basely murdered on the spot, by the dukes of Gloucester and Clarence.

1605. ULYSSES ALDROVAND, a Bolognese philosopher, died. He was the most celebrated naturalist of the 16th century, and spent his life and exhausted his resources in the pursuit of science. He lost his sight, and ended his days in a hospital at the age of 80.

1643. LOUIS XIII (_the just_), king of France, died. He was guided in his conduct by the celebrated cardinal Richelieu, who, from motives of ambition, kept him at war during most of his reign.

1655. GIOVANNI FRANCESCA ABELA, a historian and ecclesiastic of Malta, died.

1668. A riot in London under pretence of destroying brothels. Four of the leaders taken and executed for treason. In the reign of some of the English kings the demolition of such houses would not have been adjudged treason.

1673. RICHARD BRATHWAITE, an English poet and miscellaneous writer, died. His works are numerous.

1677. ISAAC BARROW, an eminent English mathematician and divine, died. His writings are numerous and valuable, and chiefly on mathematical subjects; his sermons are highly esteemed, and have been frequently edited.

1702. War declared against France and Spain, by England, Germany and Holland.

1729. LEWIS ANTHONY DE NOAILLES, a French cardinal, died. Though by birth duke of St. Cloud, he preferred the ecclesiastical state to political distinction.

1734. JAMES THORNHILL died; an English historical painter.

1737. EUSTACE BUDGELL, the friend of Addison, drowned in the Thames. He turned his attention to polite literature, contributed to the _Spectator_, _Tatler_, _Guardian_ and _Craftsman_, and published two volumes of biography.

1768. CHARLES STEPHEN LOUIS CAMUS died, a learned French mathematician.

1786. GEORGE GORDON, an English nobleman, who it is said submitted to circumcision, avowed Judaism, and was excommunicated from the church of Mary le Bone.

1791. The pope burnt in effigy at Paris.

1799. Seringapatam, a city of Hindostan, taken by storm by the British, under Gen. Harris. Tippoo Saib was slain, with 8,000 of his men. The treasure found in the city amounted to £3,000,000; 2,200 cannon, and an immense booty, fell into the hands of the conquerors, and the once powerful kingdom of Mysore was extinguished.

1804. The conservative senate sent a deputation to Bonaparte, expressing their desire that he would accept the title of emperor.

1813. Heavy rain retarded the firing on fort Meigs; 220 cannon shot were fired; 2 killed, several wounded. The rifle was more used this day than on any other.

1831. MEHEMET ALI, pasha of Egypt, employed upwards of 70,000 men in excavating, cleansing and lining canals in his territories.

1842. Great fire at Hamburg, in Germany, destroyed 2,000 houses.

1843. JAMES P. PRESTON, formerly governor of Virginia, died at Smithfield, aged 69. He commanded a regiment in the war of 1812, and was maimed for life in the battle of Chrystler's fields.

1854. ALEXANDER WITHERSPOON, a New York physician, died at Washington, aged 37; a medical writer remarkable for the exactness of his observations and the clearness of his statements.

1854. JOHN MATTHEWS died, aged 70. He served with distinction as a general officer in the war of 1812-15; and for a period of fifteen years was a representative in the state legislature of Maryland.

1856. JOHN COLLINS WARREN, a distinguished Boston physician, died, aged 77. He was the first successful competitor for the Franklin medal. He had a long and brilliant career as a physician, and during the latter years of his life devoted much time to the study of the natural sciences, and collected a valuable museum, among which was the most perfect skeleton of the mastodon known to exist.

MAY 5.

1421. A holy convocation at Canterbury decreed that a bishop's barber should not receive a fee from any one on whom the bishop had conferred holy orders.

1432. FRANCESCO BUSSONE DI CARMAGNOLA, count de Castlenuovo, executed. He was a celebrated Italian general, first in the service of the duke of Milan, afterwards led the Venetian army to repeated victories. His fortune at length turned, when the senate suspecting him of treachery, he was tortured and condemned to death.

1526. FREDERICK (_the wise_), elector of Savoy, died. He was one of the first and most zealous friends of Luther.

1529. PAULUS ÆMILIUS, a learned Italian, died. He was invited to France, where he employed a great number of years in writing a history of the French kings, but did not live to finish it.

1556. The company of London stationers received their first charter from Philip and Mary, under the title of "The master and keepers or wardens, and commonalty, of the mystery or art of the stationers of the city of London."

1586. HENRY SIDNEY, an English statesman, died. He was the favorite of Edward VI, and afterwards employed by Mary and Elizabeth.

1618. One WILLIAMS, a barrister, arraigned for libeling the king, was executed.

1643. Parliament of England ordered the _Book of Sports_ to be burned by the common hangman.

1670. FRANCIS ANNIBAL D'ESTREES, a French statesman, died, aged 98. He distinguished himself by several military exploits, and wrote some valuable historical works.

1682. WILLIAM PENN, published in England his frame of government for the colony of Pennsylvania.

1687. A proclamation was issued by government to establish a manufactory for white paper in England.

1700. STEPHEN MORIN, a French protestant divine, died at Amsterdam. He was professor of oriental languages; his dissertations on various subjects of criticism and antiquity were highly esteemed.

1705. LEOPOLD I, emperor of Germany, died. He was long engaged in sanguinary war with the Turks and the French, who pillaged and destroyed his frontier towns.

1706. Lateral eruption of the peak of Teneriffe. A volcano opened at the south side, towards the port of Garachico, and in a few hours not an edifice of that populous city was left standing.

1710. NICHOLAS JOSEPH POISSON, a French priest, died. He was the friend of Descartes, and a philosopher; distinguished for his eloquence and as an author.

1751. JOHN PICHON died; a French Jesuit and an author.

1757. Battle of Prague, between the Prussians under Frederick the great and the Austrians. The Prussians were victorious, after a bloody contest, in which the distinguished general, count Schwerin, was killed. Austrian loss 24,000; Prussian loss 18,000.

1760. LAWRENCE SHIRLEY, earl of Feraro, executed at Tyburn for the murder of his steward. He was a man of no mean mental acquirements, but passionate and often inflamed by inebriety.

1776. Congress declared the authority of England over the thirteen colonies abolished.

1785. THOMAS DAVIES (alias _Honest Tom Davies_), an English author, died. He was educated at the university of Edinburgh, became an actor, afterwards a bookseller, turned strolling player, married Miss Yarrow, an actress of great beauty, returned to bookselling, became bankrupt, was relieved by the assistance of Dr. Johnson, wrote the _Life of Garrick_, several other biographies and innumerable miscellanies, and was entrusted with the publication of Granger's _Biographical History of England_.

1789. JOSEPH BARETTI, an Italian lexicographer, died. He emigrated to England, where he published an Italian and English dictionary, and assisted Dr. Johnson in compiling his dictionary.

1789. Assembly of the states general of France, at Versailles. This may be called the first day of the revolution, although the object of the meeting was to prevent such a catastrophe.

1795. The law went into operation in England imposing a tax on wearing hair powder.

1802. Cleopatra's coffin, head of the Theban ram, and other Egyptian curiosities, arrived in England.

1804. France formed into an empire.

1808. PETER JOHN GEORGE CABANIS, a French physician, died. He was the friend of Mirabeau, sat in the council of 500, and in the senate of Napoleon acquired great reputation for talent, learning and benevolence. His works are published in 7 volumes.

1811. Battle of Fuentes d'Onor, in Portugal; the French repulsed with great loss, by the British under Wellington.

1813. Battle at Fort Meigs; Gen. Clay arrived with 1,000 Kentucky militia and volunteers, attacked the British, carried their batteries and spiked their cannon; but having pressed too far in pursuit, were met by a reinforcement of Indians, and in turn defeated, so that only 150 escaped. The British had fired 143 cannon shot into the fort before the arrival of Gen. Clay. American loss, 64 killed, 124 wounded, exclusive of Clay's loss. British stated their loss at 103, killed, wounded and missing, and that they had taken 495 American prisoners.

1814. NAPOLEON landed at Elba at an early hour in disguise, with a sergeant's company of marines. He made a formal landing at 2 in the afternoon, and was welcomed by the people with acclamation.

1821. NAPOLEON BONAPARTE died at St. Helena, in the 52d year of his age, and the 6th of his exile, to the great relief of the British nation. He commenced in 1795 that unparalleled career of military achievements, which continued to agitate Europe for 20 years, and terminated with the battle of Waterloo, 1815.

1822. THOMAS TRUXTON, an American naval officer, died. He distinguished himself in the revolutionary war, and also in the war with France of 1799, after which he retired from the navy, and died in Philadelphia.

1827. FREDERICK AUGUSTUS I, king of Saxony, died, aged 77; a wise and benevolent monarch, who devoted the energy of his mind to promote the welfare of his subjects.

1846. JOHN PICKERING, an eminent American philologist, died at Boston, aged 60. He commenced the practice of the law, and distinguished himself as a jurist; but his reputation rests chiefly on his attainments as a scholar, and on his literary and scientific labors, which were of great service to the cause of learning in this country. He published a vocabulary of Americanisms, and a Greek and English lexicon.

1848. Opening of the national assembly of France, after the abdication of Louis Philippe.

1853. His other demands having been conceded, prince Menschikoff sent in an ultimatum to the Turkish divan, demanding for the emperor of Russia the protectorate of the Greek church Christians in Turkey.

1853. A new planet was discovered at the observatory of Bilk, at Dusseldorf, by Prof. Luther.

MAY 6.

356. B. C. MARCIUS RUTILUS, the first dictator elected from the plebeians, entered Rome in triumph from his victories over the Etrurians.

1527. The imperialists under the duke of Bourbon, took Rome by assault and plundered it. The duke was killed by a musket ball. He had been disgraced at the French court, and was now in the service of Charles V of Germany.

1540. JOHN LEWIS VIVES, a learned Spaniard, died. He resided some time at the court of Henry VIII of England, where he was imprisoned for opposing the divorce of Catharine of Arragon.

1562. PAUL DE LA BARTHE, lord of Thermes, a French general, died, aged 80. He was distinguished in the wars of his country by several important victories.

1569. The first English lottery, which commenced drawing on the 11th January (q. v.), and had been continued day and night, finished on this day. It consisted of 400,000 lots of 10s. each. The prizes were plate, and the profits were to be expended in repairing the havens of the kingdom.

1631. ROBERT BRUCE COTTON, an eminent English antiquary, died. His writings are numerous and valuable, and he did great service to learning by leaving his valuable library to the use of posterity, in the British museum.

1643. Battle of Stratton, in which the parliamentary army under the earl of Stamford was attacked by the Cornish royalists, who, although far inferior in numbers, gained a complete victory, taking the camp of the enemy, all their artillery, baggage and provisions, and many prisoners.

1667. SAMUEL BOCHART, a learned French protestant divine, died. He was distinguished as an oriental scholar, and died while delivering an oration at the academy of Caen.

1673. The island of St. Helena retaken by the English.

1712. GARIEN DE SIEUR DE SANDRAS COURTLITZ, a French author, died. His works were numerous, and some of them political, for which he was confined in the bastile nine years.

1739. KOULI KHAN, after pillaging the capital of Hindostan, and slaughtering 150,000 of its inhabitants, departed from the city, leaving his son Mohammed Schah on the throne.

1743. ANDREW MICHAEL RAMSAY, a Scottish historian and philosopher, died. He spent much of his time in France, with Fenelon and Turenne, where he died.

1763. JOHN WILKES released from the tower by the memorable sentence of chief justice Pratt. (See April 30).

1766. SAMUEL SQUIRE, bishop of St. David's died; a poetical, historical and antiquarian writer of note.

1766. Lord HOWE and Gen. HOWE appointed commissioners for restoring peace to the British colonies.

1766. THOMAS ARTHUR LALLY, an Irish officer in the service of France, executed. He fought against the British in the East Indies with great bravery, but had become so unpopular, that on being defeated he was imprisoned and condemned for treason.

1780. Fort Moultrie, on Sullivan's island, surrendered to the British, who bombarded Charleston at the same time.

1782. STEPHEN MIGNOL DE MONTIGNI died at Paris; eminent as a mechanic and a man of science, who introduced several useful manufactures into France.

1790. JOHN JAMES GESNER died; professor in the university at Zurich, and a noted Swiss author.

1796. ADOLPHUS F. F. L. KNIGGE, a German author, died. His works were various, and his novels once popular. He was a member of the illuminati, and implicated in some of the disputes relating to that order.

1801. Action of Barcelona, between British ship Speedy, 14 guns 54 men, lord Cochrane, and Spanish frigate El Gamo, 32 guns 319 men. British loss, killed and wounded 11, Spanish loss, 55.

1802. SAMUEL MCDONALD died, aged 40. He served under the British with the Sutherland fencibles, and afterwards as fugleman in the royals. He was six feet ten inches in height, and his strength is represented to have been prodigious. He continued active till his 35th year, when he began to decline, and died of water in the chest.

1811. WILLIAM BOSCAWEN, an English poet and miscellaneous writer, died. His translation of Horace is preferred by some critics to that of Dr. Francis.

1814. Battle of Oswego. The town was attacked the second time by the British, 1,600 soldiers and sailors, and two companies of Glengarians, under Gen. Drummond. The Americans, about 300, under Col. Mitchell, gallantly defended the place, till they were compelled to retreat before an overwhelming force, after securing their stores. American loss, killed 6, wounded 38, missing 25; British, 94.

1839. WILLIAM LENOIR, an officer of the revolution, died. He bore a distinguished part in the war in South Carolina, and was closely identified with the early history of the state. He held various civil offices, was a justice of the peace about 60 years, and for many years a member of the state legislature. He was distinguished for integrity, firmness and patriotism.

1840. DEMETRIUS AUGUSTINE GALITZIN, son of prince de Galitzin, one of the first nobility of Russia, died in poverty at Loretto, Pa., aged 70. He left the princely halls of his ancestors, and spent thirty years in a rude log cabin in America, almost denying himself the comforts of life, that he might devote his days to religion, and assist the poor and distressed. Few have left behind them such examples of charity and benevolence.

1840. FRANCISCO PAULA DE SANTANDER, formerly president of the republic of New Granada, died at Bogota, aged 48. When the revolution began to agitate the country he embarked in the cause of independence, and soon rose to distinction as an officer in the army.

1844. Fearful rioting in Philadelphia between the native Americans and Irish.

1848. Engagement between the Austrians and Piedmontese before Verona; great loss on both sides.

1848. Gen. FOLQUE, a veteran officer, died at Lisbon, Portugal, aged 102.

1853. The drawbridge of the New York and New Haven rail road having been carelessly left open at Norwalk, the cars were thrown into the water; forty-five persons were killed, and many severely injured.

1856. An accident occurred on the Panama rail road, recently put in operation, by which 43 persons were killed, and 60 wounded.

1856. WILLIAM HAMILTON, a distinguished Scottish metaphysician, died at Edinburgh, where he was professor of logic and metaphysics, and became more widely known by his volume of _Essays_.

MAY 7.

431 B. C. The war which wasted the Athenians for 27 years, commonly called the Peloponnesian war, began May 7th.

399 B. C. SOCRATES, the greatest of the ancient philosophers, died. He was put to death by the Athenians on a charge of atheism, and corrupting the youth.

973. OTHO (the great), emperor of Germany, died. He was an active and valiant prince, who made himself respected by the powers of Europe.

1253. RUBRUQUIUS (or Ruysbroeck) landed at Soldaia, on the Black sea, on his way to discover a Christian people, who were said to inhabit the centre of Tartary. On this embassy he explored that country, and though unsuccessful in the object of his mission, he brought back a fund of curious information, which after the lapse of centuries is still about the best picture we possess of Tartar life. But few have been among them in their native wilds since then, and those who have, like Marco Polo, John Bell and Timkowsky, confirm most of his details.

1402. Battle of Nisbeth, between the English and Scottish forces, in which 10,000 of the latter were slain.

1588. Lord BURLEIGH, as chancellor of Cambridge, issued rules for reforming the apparel and other "disorders" of the scholars: "and that the excess of colored shirtbands and ruffs, exceeding one inch and a half (saving for the sons of noblemen), be avoided presently; and that no scholar do wear any long locks of hair upon his head, but that he be polled after the manner of the gravest scholars, under pain of 6s. 8d."

1621. JOHN GUILLIM died; rouge-croix pursuivant at arms, and author of a celebrated work called _The Display of Heraldry_.

1621. JOHN SUCKLING, an English poet, died. He also signalized himself as a soldier under Gustavus Adolphus.

1660. The king's statue was again set up in Guild hall, London, and the states arms taken down.

1768. PATRICK DELANY died; an eminent divine and theological writer of Ireland, better known now as the friend and correspondent of Dean Swift.

1676. HENRY DE VALOIS (Henricus Valesius) died; a French critic of great abilities and learning.

1776. The American army under Gen. Thomas, on their retreat from before Quebec, took up their line of march at 1 in the morning, and reached Point de Chambault. At Jaques Cartier they had but one batteau to cross the army over with, and were fired upon during the whole time by two frigates.

1777. CHARLES DE BROSSES, president of the parliament of Burgundy, died. He is the author of several useful works.

1778. British took possession of Bordentown, N. J. They burnt 4 store-houses and about 40 vessels.

1794. ROBESPIERRE appeared before the French convention as the _Champion of the Supreme Being_! It was thought advisable to found a religion, and it was necessary first to enact a supreme being, for _God had been abolished by a decree of the convention_. The tyrant made an eloquent speech, and concluded by declaring the real temple of the supreme being to be the universe; his worship, virtue; his festivals the joy of a great nation. His propositions were carried by acclamation, and a solemn festival proclaimed, which under the arrangement of David, the painter, was a magnificent affair.

1795. ANTHONY QUENTIN FOUQUIER TINVILLE, a notorious French revolutionist, guillotined. As public accuser, he caused the death of immense numbers, of all ages and either sex.

1796. BONAPARTE and the army of the French republic crossed the Po at Placenza.

1800. NICHOLAS PICCINI, an eminent musical composer, died at Naples.

1811. RICHARD CUMBERLAND died; eminent as a British poet, essayist, novelist and dramatic writer. The number of his works is very extraordinary, as was also his vanity.

1825. JOHN GABRIEL CHASTELER, governor of Venice, died. He was a Spanish grandee of the first rank, entered the Austrian service, and distinguished himself in several engagements with the French. He possessed a chivalrous and cultivated mind, and spoke 12 languages.

1830. Treaty between the United States and Turkey signed at Constantinople, securing to the United States the free navigation of the Black sea, and the trade of the Turkish empire.

1838. MARY SPROUSE died in Albemarle county, Va., aged 99. She was in the practice of carrying poultry, vegetables, &c., to market at Charlottesville, a distance of 8 miles, on foot, till within a few weeks of her death.

1838. THOMAS BRADFORD, the oldest master printer in America, died at Philadelphia, aged 94. He was the successor of Dr. Franklin as editor, and entered upon the business in 1763. During the revolutionary war he was commissary-general to the Pennsylvania division, and printer to congress. He was long known as a distinguished printer, editor and publisher.