Part 40

1808. RICHARD HURD, bishop of Worcester, died, aged 89. He was a learned man, author of several literary productions, and was offered the primacy, which he declined.

1810. The crown prince of Sweden killed by a fall from his horse. A circumstance which led the way for the elevation of Bernadotte.

1818. First steam boat on lake Erie (Walk in the Water), launched at Black Rock.

1839. MICHAEL BUFF, a soldier of the revolution, died in Oglethorpe co., Ga. He was under Gen. Forbes, 1758, and fought at the battles of Brandywine and Germantown.

1840. THOMAS HARVEY, a distinguished officer in the British navy, died at Bermuda, aged 65.

1841. Capitulation of the city of Canton, which had forfeited previous stipulations with the British and resumed hostilities. The Chinese agreed to pay six millions of dollars in one week as a ransom for the city, and that their troops should be withdrawn 60 miles into the interior, and that all losses sustained by the partial destruction of the factories, should be paid. The sum was paid as stipulated.

1843. NOAH WEBSTER, the American lexicographer, died, aged 85.

1850. JOHN N. MAFFIT, the well known and eccentric methodist preacher, died at Mobile.

1852. THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER, a political exile from Ireland, and convict at Van Dieman's land, arrived at New York.

1853. The French legislature passed an act restoring capital punishment for attempts on the life of the emperor, or to subvert the imperial government.

1854. A riot occurred at the park in New York, between a party of Catholics and the friends of a street preacher; several persons were badly injured.

MAY 29.

71 B. C. The range of embankments thrown up by Titus against the wall of Jerusalem, the work of 17 days, was undermined and consumed, or buried in a pit of fire, with all the Roman engines. This was effected by the skill and conduct of John, the high priest.

1379. HENRY II, of Castile, died. He ascended the throne by the murder of Peter the cruel, which he perpetrated with his own hand. He was one of the bravest princes of his time, and won the good will of his subjects.

1405. Battle of Shipton moor; prince Henry dispersed the 8,000 insurgents under Scroop, by seizing the persons of their leaders.

1453. Constantinople taken by the Turks under Mohammed II, which terminated the Greek empire, after an existence of ten centuries. Constantine XIII (Paleologus), was killed, and the beautiful Irene, whose fate is dramatized by Johnson, was one of the captives.

1545. DAVID BEATON, archbishop of St. Andrews, assassinated. He was a great persecutor of heretics, and united with great talents equally great vices.

1588. The Spanish armada, intended for the annihilation of England, sailed from the Tagus, under the duke of Medina Sidonia. The armament consisted of 92 galleons, or large ships of the line, 4 galliases, 30 frigates, 30 transports for horse, and 4 galleys; on board whereof were 8,350 marines, 2,080 galley-slaves, and 19,290 land-forces. The fleet was dispersed by a storm, and compelled to rendezvous at Corunna for repairs.

1593. JOHN PENRY, an English controversial writer, executed for heresy against the episcopacy.

1660. CHARLES II made his entry into London, after a long series of misfortunes and exile, and re-established the royalty, which had been suspended about 12 years.

1672. The new conduit erected in London by sir Thomas Vyner, ran with wine for a few hours in honor of the birthday and restoration of Charles II.

1691. CORNELIUS TROMP died; a Dutch admiral in the service of the republic, succeeded de Ruyter, 1670, as admiral of the fleets of the United Provinces.

1700. MICHAEL ANTHONY BAUDRAND, a French ecclesiastic, died; author of a _Geographical Dictionary_, 2 vols. folio.

1715. Great riot in London; the whigs complaining that unless they shouted high church and the duke of Ormond, they were insulted by the tories.

1758. Action between the French ship Raisonable, 64 guns, prince di Mombazon, and British ship Dennis, 70 guns. The Frenchman was captured with the loss of 61 killed, 100 wounded.

1762. The duke of Newcastle on resigning his premiership in the British ministry being offered a pension declined, saying, "if he could no _longer_ serve he could not _burden_ his country."

1780. Battle of Waxhaws, S. C., col. Tarleton, with 700 cavalry and infantry, came up with 300 continentals under col. Buford, who surrendered after a short action. A few continuing to fire after the main body had surrendered, an indiscriminate slaughter ensued. Tarleton states that 113 Americans were killed, 153 too badly wounded to proceed, and 53 taken prisoners.

1780. Great meeting of the protestant association was held in Coachmakers' hall, London, lord George Gordon presiding, saying that he would not present the petition unless signed by 20,000.

1785. ANDREW COLTEE DUCAREL, a French antiquary, died. His researches were confined to England.

1790. ISRAEL PUTNAM, a revolutionary officer, died. He was one of the most daring, brave and intrepid officers of the army, and his adventures almost border on romance.

1790. Rhode Island adopted the constitution of the United States, adding the 13th pillar to the federal edifice, by a majority of only 2--34 ayes, 32 noes; recommending amendments.

1793. The general assembly of Corsica, consisting of 1,009 delegates, unanimously expelled the Bonaparte family.

1796. The floor of the methodist meeting house at Leeds, England, gave way during service, and 18 persons were killed, and about 80 dreadfully wounded.

1811. Battle of Taragonna, in Spain, which was assaulted by the French under Suchet. The garrison consisted of 2,500 men, of whom only 903 prisoners were taken; the remainder were put to the sword.

1813. Attack on Sacketts Harbor, by the British under Yoe and Provost: they were repulsed with the loss of 260; American loss 156.

1814. British repulsed by maj. Finney of the Accomac militia, at Pongoteague creek.

1814. JOSEPHINE, ex-empress of France, died.

1820. CHRISTIAN WILLIAM VON DOHM, a Prussian statesman and scholar, died.

1823. JOHN PHILLIPS, an eminent lawyer in Boston, died, aged 53.

1829. HUMPHREY DAVY, the noted English chemist, died. He made several important discoveries in the science, and invented the miner's safety lamp.

1832. GEORGE BURDER, an English divine, died, aged 80; author of the _Village Sermons_, now so popular.

1837. JOHN AFZELIUS, an eminent Swedish chemist, died at Upsal, aged 84.

1839. DAVID KIRKPATRICK, an officer of the revolution, died. He entered the army at the commencement of the war, was in the battles of Monmouth, Germantown, Brandywine, Trenton, Cowpens, &c., and was the last surviving officer of the Delaware line.

1840. WILLIAM LEGGET, a well known political writer, died at Rochelle, near New York, when preparing for a diplomatic mission to Guatemala.

1848. THOMAS DICK LANDER, a distinguished Scottish literary writer, died.

1849. SARAH J. HOWE, an American poetess and literary writer, died at Louisville.

1855. JESSE CHICKERING, an American statistician, died at Roxbury, Mass., aged 57. He studied theology, and afterwards medicine, but after a practice of ten years devoted himself to literature, and produced works on population and immigration.

1856. The president transmitted to congress the announcement that he had ceased to hold diplomatic intercourse with the British minister, Mr. Crampton, on account of his attempting to make enlistments for the British service among the citizens of the United States.

MAY 30.

542. ARTHUR, a British prince, died. He was a victorious warrior against the surrounding nations, and is celebrated as the founder of the knights of the round table at Winchester.

1216. LOUIS of France, at the invitation of the rebel English barons, crossed the channel with 680 sail, and landed at Sandwich.

1252. The epoch of the Alphonsine tables, constructed by Hazan, a Jew, by order of Alphonso the wise, commencing with the day of his accession to the throne of Leon and Castile.

1416. JEROME OF PRAGUE, burnt for the heresy of protestantism, at Constance, and suffered with great fortitude.

1431. JOAN OF ARC, the Maid of Orleans, burnt at Rouen, for sorcery and intercourse with infernal spirits, by the English. Chapelaine celebrated her in 12 times 1200 verses; Southey has made her the subject of an epic, and Schiller of a tragedy.

1484. CHARLES VIII (_the affable_), inaugurated at Rheims, in his 15th year. He was met at the gates by a young damsel, habited as Flora, who delivered him the keys of the city.

1498. COLUMBUS sailed from the port of St. Lucar de Barrameda, with a squadron of six vessels, on his third voyage of discovery, with additional powers. The Indians were to wear a mark of brass or lead coin about their necks, which were to be _exchanged_ for others on the payment of their tribute money.

1521. The Spaniards under Cortez, invested Mexico with 917 Spaniards and 75,000 Indians, which were soon increased to 200,000. He had 86 horses, 3 large iron cannons, and 15 smaller of copper, 1000 Castilian pounds of gun powder and a large quantity of balls and arrows, the strength of his little army having doubled by the supplies from Spain and the Antilles. The Spanish troops, in proceeding to their posts, in commencing the siege, had several engagements with the Mexicans. In attempting to break the aqueduct of Chapoltepec to cut off the water from the city, a powerful resistance was made. At one assault, so thick was the shower of arrows, darts and stones, which were shot at them, that 8 Spaniards were killed, and more than fifty wounded, and they were with difficulty able to retreat to Tlacopan, where they encamped.

1539. FERDINAND DE SOTO, landed on the West coast of Florida, in search of gold. He is supposed to have wandered over many of the southern states; but being disappointed in his great object, he returned without effecting a settlement.

1574. CHARLES IX, of France, died, aged 25. It was during his reign that the fatal massacre of St. Bartholomews took place, which renders his name odious.

1577. MARTIN FROBISHER, the English navigator, sailed on his second voyage for the discovery of a north-west passage to India. He coasted Greenland and Labrador, and returned with 200 tons of glittering stones and sand, which he had mistaken for gold ore.

1640. PETER PAUL RUBENS, the celebrated Flemish painter, died. He was also a statesman, and a man of learning.

1654. CHRISTINA of Sweden abdicated the throne, on which occasion she caused a medal to be struck, with the motto, "Parnassus is worth more than a throne."

1658. Prince of Conde, at the head of 2000 cavalry, threw himself into Cambray, then besieged by marshal Turenne.

1663. DENIS DE SALLO, the inventor of literary journals, published the first number of the French _Journal des Savans_.

1676. Hatfield, Mass., burnt by the Indians. The town was attacked by about 600 of the enemy, while the men were all out in the fields at work except one who was very old. They burnt 12 houses and barns without the fortification, and drove away the cattle and sheep. The news of this affair having reached the neighboring town of Hadley, 25 resolute young men hastened to the scene of desolation, and charged the savages with such undaunted courage, that five or six of them fell at the first shot; and making their way through the thickest of the Indians, they threw themselves into the garrison, with the loss of five of their number, who fell as they were entering the town. The enemy, amazed at the resolution of this little band, and having lost 25 of their number, fled from the place immediately, with their booty.

1688. Pere GERBILLON, one of the French Jesuit Missionaries who accompanied Du Halde to China, set out on his first journey into Tartary. His travels are published at length in the great work of Du Halde. (See Ap. 1, 96; May 24, 98; Oct. 13, 98.)

1718. BERNARD NIEUWENTYD, a Dutch writer on mathematics, died.

1744. ALEXANDER POPE died: the celebrated English poet and epistolary writer.

1756. ELIZABETH ELSTOB, an English literary lady, died. She was skilled in eight languages, and published a Saxon grammar.

1764. SIMON SACK, died at Trionia, aged 141.

1770. Fire works in honor of the marriage of Louis XVI, of France, when about 1100 persons were crushed to death in the crowd.

1775. Americans burnt the mansion house on Noddles island, and carried off the cattle.

1778. MARIE FRANCIS AROUET DE VOLTAIRE, the celebrated French philosopher, died. He was an extraordinary man, of whom it has been said, he was a free thinker in London, a Cartesian in Versailles, a Christian in Nancy, and an infidel in Berlin. In society, he was alternately an Aristippus and a Diogenes. For versatility of talent, his equal has, perhaps never appeared.

1796. Battle of Borghetto; Bonaparte defeated the Austrians.

1799. The editor, printer and publisher of the _London Courier_, were fined and imprisoned for saying that the emperor of Russia was a tyrant among his own subjects and ridiculous to the rest of Europe.

1801. JOHN MILLER, who wrote a historical view of the English government, died at Glasgow.

1804. JEFFERSON issued a proclamation erecting the district of Mobile.

1806. Bonaparte issued a decree calling an assembly of Jewish deputies, for the purpose of forming a Sanhedrim.

1813. American privateer Yankee, 16 guns, captured British brig Thames, 14 guns; cargo sold for $180,000.

1814. Treaty of Paris, between Louis XVIII, and the allied sovereigns. The latter left Paris the same day, on a visit to England.

1826. JOHN BEATTY, a general officer in the war of the American revolution, died.

1832. JAMES MACKINTOSH, an English statesman, died; known by his _History of England_. He was employed principally in the affairs of India, during which he found time for literary pursuits.

1833. JOHN MALCOLM, a general in the India service, died. He distinguished himself as a soldier, statesman and scholar. He contributed much information respecting the history and present condition of Persia.

1837. CHRISTOPHER BROWNE, a soldier of the revolution, died at Philadelphia, aged 107.

1844. The Irish agitator DANIEL O'CONNEL, sentenced to fine and imprisonment.

1848. Battle of Goito, Italy; the Austrians defeated by the king of Sardinia.

1848. Ratifications of the treaty between the United States and Mexico exchanged with the latter government at Quaretaro.

1848. General HERRERA elected president of Mexico by 11 states against 5.

1854. Three British steamers destroyed the ships, dockyards and stores at Brahestadt, in the north of the gulf of Bothnia.

1854. The Turks made a sortie from Silistria, and killed 3000 Russians in the trenches.

1854. PEREGRINE MAITLAND, a British officer, died, aged 76. He served at Walcheren, in the Peninsula at Corunna, and at Waterloo. For his services on the Nive as commander of the first brigade of guards, he received a medal. He had been lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada and Nova Scotia, and commander-in-chief of the Madras army.

1856. The ship Pallas, sailing from Cork to Quebec, struck the breakers off St. Paul's island and bilged; of 120 passengers 72 were drowned.

MAY 31.

1434. LADISLAUS IV, king of Poland, died, aged 80; universally respected for all those virtues which should grace a throne.

1521. The siege of Mexico having been begun by Cortez, Sandoval with a division of the Spaniards and more than 35,000 allies marched to the assault of the city of Iztapalapan, situated about 8 miles from Mexico, on the eastern border of the lake. Great havoc was made upon the people and the city, devastated by fire. The inhabitants attempting to escape by water, were met by Cortez, who rushed among their frail boats with his brigantines, and destroyed immense numbers of them.

1589. WALTER MILDMAY, an English statesman, died; founder of Emanuel college.

1658. Kingston, Ulster county, N. Y., founded.

1672. Union between the colonies of Massachusetts, Connecticut and Plymouth.

1680. CHRISTOPHER DAVENPORT, died; a learned Englishman, who became a Franciscan, and published several theological works.

1707. SIMON PATRICK, an English bishop, died, aged 80. He rose from the lowest condition by his own worth.

1723. WILLIAM BAXTER, an English critic and grammarian, died, aged 73. Few _litterateurs_ have commenced their career more unpromisingly; for at the age of 18 he could neither read a word, nor could he speak any thing but Welch; yet he became a noted linguist, translated several Latin authors, and compiled a _Dictionary of British Antiquities_.

1731. PHILIP WHARTON, died; an English nobleman, remarkable for his eccentricities.

1740. FREDERICK WILLIAM, king of Prussia, died. He was a wise and politic monarch, who sought the prosperity of his subjects and the kingdom.

1745. Shah NADIR, defeated the Turks at Erzeroum.

1775. The Americans landed on Pettick's island, near Boston, and carried off 500 sheep and 30 cattle.

1778. Col. ETHAN ALLEN arrived from England, and was received with discharges of cannon.

1779. Stoney Point evacuated by the Americans, and taken possession of by Gen. Clinton.

1791. Punishment by the wheel abolished in France.

1793. An armed force beset the palace of the Tuilleries, and demanded the arrest of the Brissotine party.

1796. BONAPARTE dissolved the great council and took possession of Venice.

1830. FREDERICK A. WILSON, inventor of gaslight, died at Paris.

1832. MAXIMILIAN LAMARQUE, died at Paris; a distinguished French officer, and defender of liberal principles.

1833. JOHN MALCOLM, a distinguished philanthropist and faithful servant of the English East India Company, died. A tasteful obelisk 100 feet high is raised to his memory in his native Eskdale, Scotland.

1835. WILLIAM SMITH, an English statesman, died. He was 46 years a member of the British parliament.

1839. Great Western steamship arrived in New York from Bristol, in 13 days 8 hours, the shortest voyage from Europe to America theretofore made.

1847. THOMAS CHALMERS, the eminent Scottish divine, whose powers of oratory were the admiration of the world, died at Edinburgh, aged 67.

1853. THOMAS M. PETIT, director of the United States mint, died at Philadelphia.

1853. The second American arctic expedition left New York in search of Sir John Franklin, and for scientific purposes.

1854. The British transport Europa, having troops on board, was totally destroyed by fire opposite Brest, and 21 lives lost.

1854. Three wagon loads of powder, 11,250 pounds, exploded in the street at Wilmington, Delaware, killing several persons, and badly injuring 75 houses in the vicinity.

1855. CHARLOTTE NICHOLLS, died; an English authoress under the _nom de plume_ of Currer Bell. Her fame was established by the novel of _Jane Eyre_.

1855. The propeller Arctic and barque Release, left Brooklyn navy yard under command of Lieut. Hartstein, in search of Dr. Kane and his companions in the Arctic sea.

1856. JOHN M. NILES, a Connecticut statesman, died, aged 68. He commenced the practice of the law in Hartford, in 1816, and was concerned in establishing the _Hartford Times_, which he principally edited. He held various offices with distinction; among others that of post master general under Mr. Van Buren.

JUNE.

JUNE 1.

67 B. C. Jotopata, in Judea, captured by the Romans under Vespasian, on the first of Panemus, in the 13th year of Nero. The city was demolished, entombing 40,000 Jews, the number of slain.

1205. HENRY DANDOLO, duke of Venice, died. He was a brave admiral, who took Constantinople, 1203, and had the moderation to refuse the imperial dignity.

1204. Rouen, the capital of Normandy, conquered by the French, which with the Dutchy had been separated from France for 300 years.

1450. JACK CADE'S rebellion broke out in England.

1533. ANN BOLEYN crowned queen of England.

1571. Dr. JOHN STORY, an unrelenting persecutor of the protestants, was executed at Tyburn. On the accession of Elizabeth he fled to Flanders, and used all the influence he possessed to injure the trade of his native country.

1572. _Ovid's Elegies_ burned at Stationer's hall by the order of the bishops of Canterbury and London.

1572. THOMAS, duke of Norfolk, executed for high treason. He was the first subject in England by rank, and the qualities of his mind corresponded with his high station. He fell a victim to love and ambition, in attempting to marry Mary Stuart.

1593. CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE, an English dramatist and poet, murdered in an affray. He was accounted an excellent poet in his time.

1603. A man was whipped through London for going to court when his house was infected by plague. In this visitation 30,244 persons died. James I, to avoid this plague retired to Wilton.

1638. Earthquake in New England; it occurred in the afternoon, and was so violent as to shake down movable articles in houses, and formed a memorable epoch in the annals of the country.

1660. MARY DYER executed. She was a quakeress, who had been banished from Massachusetts, and on her return was sentenced to death for "rebellious sedition and obtruding herself after banishment on pain of death."

1666. Great naval action between the Dutch under de Ruyter and Tromp, and English prince, Rupert, which continued four days with great fury, and the victory was claimed by both parties.

1679. GRAHAM of Claverhouse defeated by the Scottish covenanters at Drumclog, Scotland.

1740. SAMUEL WERENFELS, a Swiss professor and author, died; respected for his learning and many virtues.

1743. ROBERT LE LORRAINE, a celebrated French sculptor, died.

1764. The French carried off all the inhabitants of Turk's island, in the West Indies, with 9 English vessels.

1769. EDWARD HOLYOKE, president of Harvard college, died; an excellent mathematician and natural philosopher.

1774. Boston port bill went into operation. Business closed at noon, and the harbor was shut against all vessels. The citizens, on a short notice of 20 days, were deprived of the means of gaining a subsistence. Contributions were raised in other cities for their relief, and the inhabitants of Marblehead offered the merchants the use of their wharves. Universal indignation spread through the colonies against this high handed measure of the British king and parliament.

1780. American privateer Pickering, 16 guns, Capt. Harridon, captured British ship, Golden Eagle, 22 guns.

1783. CHARLES BYRNE, the Irish giant, died. His height was 8 feet 2 inches. (See May 13, 1781, Roger Byrne).

1785. JOHN ADAMS, the first minister of the United States of America to England, was presented to the king.

1791. The United States army under gen. Chas. Scott entered the Kikapoo villages, on the Wabash, and taking the Indians by surprise, exterminated their villages, killed and took many prisoners. He returned without the loss of a man killed by the enemy. These savages committed great depredations on the frontiers, and refused all terms of peace.

1792. Kentucky admitted into the Union with the consent of Virginia.

1793. The armed Parisians again assembled with cannon around the convention, and demanded the arrest of the Brissotine party. The decree of accusation was passed.

1793. The death of Richard Crutwell, the well known editor of the _Bath Chronicle_, took place at Cheltenham, England.

1794. Action between the French fleet, 26 ships of the line, under Joyeuse, and the British fleet, 25 ships, under lord Howe. The French were defeated with great loss.

1795. PETER JOSEPH DESAULT, a noted French surgeon, died.

1796. Tennessee admitted into the Union.