Chapter XXXII: Part 32

1854. THOMAS DENMAN, an English judge and peer, died, aged 75. He distinguished himself in parliament, and also in the trial of queen Caroline. He presided in the court of queen's bench more than 17 years.

SEPTEMBER 23.

67. Gamala, supposed impregnable, fell before Vespasian on the 23d Hyperbereteus (Tisri), nor age nor sex was spared.

768. PEPIN (_the Short_), king of France, died. He maintained respect at home and abroad by the valor and heroic firmness of his conduct.

1459. Battle of Bloreheath, in England. The Yorkists, under the earl of Salisbury, defeated lord Audley, who was slain.

1519. CORTEZ entered the Indian city of Tlascala; having in the short space of twenty-four days subdued a powerful nation.

1571. JOHN JEWEL, bishop of Salisbury, died; one of the most learned and prominent divines under Elizabeth.

1641. Irish rebellion and massacre. The number of protestants slain is variously estimated, probably, however, not less than 150,000. O'Niel was the instigator.

1641. The Merchant Royall, a fine ship, "having in her a world of treasure," was wrecked near Land's end.

1642. Battle of Worcester; the parliament forces under Sandys defeated by the royalists under Rupert.

1657. JOACHIM JUNGE died; a German philosopher of great ability, who arrayed himself against the Aristotelian philosophy.

1675. VALENTIN CONRART died; to whose influence, taste and love for literature, the French ascribe the origin of their academy, of which he is styled the father.

1709. Newburgh on the west side of the Hudson river settled.

1727. JAMES ABBADDIE, a learned French protestant minister, died. He was an elegant preacher, and his works were unusually popular.

1737. The Hebrews disfranchised by a vote of the New York legislature.

1738. HERMAN BOERHAAVE, an eminent Dutch physician, died. From his multifarious knowledge he has been styled the Voltaire of science.

1746. Namur, in Belgium, taken by the French, and with it 7,000 Austrians surrendered.

1777. The British army under general Howe crossed the Schuylkill.

1779. American frigate Bon Homme Richard, 40 guns, 375 men, captain Paul Jones, engaged and captured the British frigate Serapis, captain Pearson, 44 guns. While engaged, the American frigate Alliance, 36 guns, frequently sailed round the Serapis and poured in a raking fire, both fore and aft, but as they were close alongside of each other, her fire frequently did execution on board Jones's ship, 11 of whose men and an officer were killed by one broadside. The loss on both sides was very great. At the same time, in company, the British ship Countess of Scarborough engaged the French frigate Pallas, and after an action of two hours struck her colors and was made prize of.

1780. JOHN ANDRE, the British spy, intercepted near Tarrytown, about 25 miles above New York, and taken into custody.

1784. Some Americans in Savannah, not to be behind the age, fitted up a balloon in which 6 men with 600 bushels of corn and necessaries for the trip, started from that city for Jamaica.

1792. Dr. PRIESTLY and THOMAS PAINE were elected to the national convention of France.

1794. French national convention decreed the formation of a company of _ærostats_ to superintend the military balloons.

1795. The Dutch colony at the cape of Good Hope taken possession of by the English.

1803. Battle of Assaye, in Hindostan, between the British, 4500 men, under Wellesley, and Scindea's army consisting of 38,500 cavalry, 10,500 regular infantry, 500 matchlocks, and 500 rocket men--total, 50,000 men, with a train of 90 cannon. The latter were defeated.

1806. The American exploring party under captains Lewis and Clarke, returned to St. Lewis, having lost but one of their party.

1807. The British withdrew their troops from Egypt, after having sustained a loss of more than one half by climate and combat.

1813. American frigate President, Com. Rodgers, took the British schooner Highflyer, 5 guns, without any action.

1823. MATTHEW BAILLIE died; an eminent English physician, author of a superior work on the morbid anatomy of the human body.

1824. Major CARTWRIGHT, an enthusiastic English reformer, died, aged 84. So early as 1775 he published a tract entitled American Independence the Glory and Interest of Great Britain.

1835. BELLINI, a celebrated Italian musical composer, died at Paris, aged 29.

1836. MARIA FELICITAS MALIBRAN DE BERITAS, a celebrated vocal actress, died. She possessed extraordinary endowments, and a remarkable combination of fine qualities rendered her the admiration of all who saw or heard her. She was heard to sing in one evening in six different languages, and with unqualified admiration in all.

1842. A great fire took place in Liverpool, England; 500,000 pounds sterling worth of property destroyed and 20 persons killed.

1846. The new planet predicted by M. Leverrier was discovered at Berlin by Dr. Galle. On the 29th it was seen in London; 21st Oct. at Cambridge, Mass.; 23d Oct. at Washington.

1846. Last day's battle of Monterey, in which the arms of the United States troops were gloriously victorious.

1852. The barque Cornelia, having cleared at Havana, was brought to and boarded at the mouth of the harbor, and the mail bags rifled in the expectation of detecting a conspiracy.

1854. The Russians closed the passage to the harbor of Sebastopol by sinking in the entrance five ships of the line and two frigates.

1855. The island of Guam visited by a terrific tornado, nearly every house on the island was destroyed, and 8,000 persons left houseless.

SEPTEMBER 24.

366. LIBERIUS, pope, died. He subscribed, very reluctantly, the condemnation of Athanasius.

867. MICHAEL III (_the Drunkard_), emperor of Rome, assassinated. His minority was governed by his mother, a woman of great ability; but on assuming the reigns of government, his profligate conduct led to his death.

1143. INNOCENT II, pope, died. He was elected to the office in 1130, but excluded by a rival for several years.

1332. JOHN BALIOL crowned king of Scotland at Scone, by the bishop of Dunkeld.

1404. WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM, bishop of Winchester, died. He rose from obscurity, and before his death appropriated the large possessions which he had acquired to endow two new colleges, New College Oxford, and Winchester.

1427. Lady RAVENSWORTH devised to her children the following things: "I wyl yat my son Robert (bishop of London) have a sauter covered with red velvet. My doghter Margory a primer covered in rede," &c., &c.

1635. ANTHONY BRUNI, an Italian poet, died.

1650. CHARLES DE VALOIS, duke de Angouleme, died; a French militaire.

1664. Fort Orange, now Albany, surrendered to the English under colonel Cartwright. The title of Jeremiah Van Rensselaer to the manor of Rensselaerwyck was confirmed.

1664. The first convention was held in Albany between the English and the Iroquois, who were now the predominant race, holding sway over every savage nation. The Iroquois continued the allies of the English until the revolution.

1680. SAMUEL BUTLER, an English poet, died; author of _Hudibras_.

1693. Bayonets first used at the battle near Turin on loaded muskets, which has been practiced ever since. In 1620 they were first constructed at Bayonne. Hence the name.

1722. JAMES WATSON, author of the _History of Printing in Scotland_, died at Edinburgh.

1757. AARON BURR, president of New-Jersey college, died. He was an able divine and an accomplished scholar.

1793. Foundation laid of the Iron bridge over the river Wear, at Sunderland, England. It was finished in 1796.

1803. Berbice, a Dutch colony in Guiana, celebrated for its fine coffee, surrendered to the British.

1805. WILLIAM BYRNE, a distinguished British landscape engraver, died.

1811. French under general MARMONT forced Wellington to raise the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo in Spain.

1816. EUSEBIUS VALLI, an eminent Italian physician, died a martyr to science. He visited Smyrna and Constantinople to make observations on the plague, and the West-Indies to study the nature of the yellow fever. In both instances he voluntarily subjected himself to the disease, and in the latter made a fatal experiment in exposing himself to the infection with a dead body, so that in three days the scene closed upon him in death.

1821. The Hetærists, a Greek brotherhood, extirpated. On the breaking out of the Greek revolution they hastened from all parts of Europe and formed a legion of heroes. The last band of them were attacked and defeated at the monastery of Seck, where their leader Jordaki, being wounded, and to escape falling into the hands of the Turks, set fire to the monastery, and perished in the conflagration.

1825. PETER PAUL DOBREE died; an eminent professor of Greek and Latin, who succeeded Porson at Cambridge, and was one of the most finished classical scholars in Europe.

1831. Mount Auburn, a retired and ornamental place of sepulture about four miles from the city of Boston and containing about fifty acres, was publicly dedicated, the first of the kind in the United States.

1835. JOHN PITT, earl of Chatham, died. He was the eldest son of the great earl of Chatham and brother of the prime minister. As he left no heir, the peerage became extinct.

1839. ROBERT Y. HAYNE, a distinguished American statesman and orator, died.

1841. Mr. BROOKE, an enterprising Englishman, became rajah, or governor, of Sarawak, the first footing obtained by the English on the island of Borneo, it is believed.

1842. Mrs. ELIZABETH AYLETT, daughter of the celebrated Patrick Henry, died at King William county, Virginia.

1847. WILLIAM POPHAM, an officer of the revolution, died in New York, aged 95.

1847. Col. DAVID FOLSOM, a chief of the Chocktaws, died.

1852. General CASTANOS, duke of Baylen, died, aged 95. He was the companion in arms of Wellington and one of the most conspicuous and heroic of the Spanish commanders in war against Napoleon, called the war of independence.

1852. BENJAMIN THOMPSON, a Massachusetts congressman, died at Charlestown, aged 75. He held many responsible offices, possessed great business talent, and his services were especially valuable at Washington on the committee of military affairs, during the Mexican war.

1854. GEORGE LEITH ROUSSELL, an eminent English physician and surgeon, died in London, of cholera, aged 57. He wrote upon typhus fever, cholera, and the effects of poisons.

SEPTEMBER 25.

275. The emperor TACITUS elected, after an interregnum of eight months. He ordered that ten copies of his kinsman's history should be placed in the libraries. _The_ MS. was discovered in Westphalia.

1066. Battle of Stamford Bridge, between the English under Harold, and the Norwegians under Hafalgar and Tostig. The latter were defeated, and Hafalgar and Tostig slain. The Norwegian fleet also fell into the hands of the English. Judith, the wife of Tostig, afterwards married Guelph I, and became the lineal progenitor of the present royal family of England.

1154. King STEPHEN of England, died, and his adopted son Henry Fitzempress reigned in his stead.

1493. COLUMBUS sailed from Cadiz with a fleet of seventeen ships, great and small, well furnished with all the necessaries for the voyage, and having on board 1,500 people, with horses, cattle, and implements to establish plantations.

1506. PHILIP I of Spain, died. He obtained the crown by marriage with Jane, the heiress of Ferdinand and Isabella, was a man of very moderate abilities, but regarded as the fairest man of his age.

1513. NUNEZ DE BALBOA, the Spaniard, discovered the sea, over Darien, and in his transport took corporal possession of the ocean in the name of his master.

1555. The famous _recess_, or peace of religion, established at Augsburg, the bond of union between the German states.

1586. The attainder of GERALD FITZGERALD, 16th earl of Desmond, and forfeiture of 574,628 acres. His head was fixed on London bridge.

1600. ANTHONY DU VERDIER died; historiographer of France, and author of a _Biography of French Authors_.

1602. GASPARD PEUCER, an eminent German physician and mathematician, died. He was imprisoned ten years for his religious opinions, during which he committed his thoughts on the margins of old books, with an ink which he made of burnt crusts infused in wine.

1621. MARY SIDNEY, countess of Pembroke, an eminent poetess and patron of literature, died.

1626. LANCELOT ANDREWS, bishop of Winchester, died; an eminent English prelate.

1638. DE VRIES sailed from Holland on his third expedition to America, with colonists, to settle Staten Island, which he had secured two years before.

1666. SCHAH ABAS, king of Persia, died. He came to the throne at the age of 13; was valiant and enlightened, and promised by deeds of benevolence and liberality to rival the greatest heroes of antiquity, when he was cut off at the age of 37. He died of _lues Veneris_.

1689. Count FRONTENAC arrived at Canada to reassume the government of the province.

1732. MICHAEL ERNEST ETTMULLER died; a German professor of anatomy at Leipsic, and author of several learned and curious treatises on medical subjects.

1758. ROBERT CLAYTON, a learned English prelate and antiquary, died.

1764. ROBERT DODSLEY, an eminent English bookseller and author, died. He commenced life as a footman, but his natural abilities brought him into notice, and recommended him to assistance.

1765. RICHARD POCOCKE, bishop of Meath, died; a celebrated traveler, and author of the _Description of the East_, with observations on Palestine.

1777. JOHN HENRY LAMBERT, a German mathematician, died. He was the son of a poor tailor, but became one of the most learned men of his time by his own unaided exertions.

1777. The American colonel, Ethan Allen, captured near Montreal by the British. He had 15 men killed, and surrendered 38, of whom 7 were put to death.

1786. EDWARD IVES, a celebrated English traveler, died. The account which he published of his travels through Europe and Asia contains much information.

1791. WILLIAM BRADFORD died; an eminent printer of Philadelphia, and an officer in the revolutionary war.

1792. JAMES CAZOTTE, mayor of Pierry, in France, guillotined. He had previously been saved from the mob by the heroic conduct of his daughter, a girl of 17, who shared his misfortunes.

1804. JOSEPH WILLARD, president of Harvard college, died; whose attainments in Greek learning have been equaled by few in America.

1806. BONAPARTE left Paris, to open the campaign against Prussia.

1806. Action between the British squadron, admiral Hood, and a French squadron. Several French frigates were captured; Hood lost his right arm.

1808. RICHARD PORSON, an eminent English professor, died. He possessed great reputation as a Greek scholar and critic, and yet his learning scarcely produced him a living.

1814. The pope issued a bull prohibiting all secret societies, particularly those of freemasons.

1815. JOHN SINGLETON COPLEY, a distinguished American painter, died in London.

1815. First daily paper printed at Albany, N. Y.

1839. Treaty between France and Texas signed at Paris.

1840. Marshal MCDONALD, one of Bonaparte's distinguished generals, died at his chateau near Guise, in France. He was a kinsman of the celebrated Flora McDonald who was instrumental in aiding the escape of the pretender from the Isle of Skye.

1842. RICHARD COLLEY WELLESLY, marquis of Wellesly, and eldest son of the earl of Mornington, died, aged 82.

1854. WILLIAM HENRY PARTLETT, an English artist, died at sea, aged 44; author of _Views in Switzerland_, and other similar works of merit.

1855. JOHN GIFFORD, a British admiral, died at Southampton, aged 90. He had been in the service more than 75 years, was present at the relief of Gibraltar in 1781, and distinguished himself in many important engagements.

SEPTEMBER 26.

33. St. STEPHEN is said to have been stoned this day, Paul consenting.

329. Constantinople founded, about the same day that Solomon dedicated his temple at Jerusalem, 1005 B. C.

1087. WILLIAM II, surnamed Rufus, proclaimed and crowned king of England.

1415. Harfleur, a town in France, surrendered unconditionally to Henry V of England, after a siege of five weeks, and their defences had been demolished.

1417. FRANCIS ZABARELLA, an Italian cardinal, died; noted for his great learning and virtues.

1534. CLEMENT VII (_Julius de Medicis_), pope, died. It was in consequence of his refusing to ratify the acts of Henry VIII, and the issuing of a bull of excommunication against that monarch, that England was separated from the Roman church.

1635. ADRIAN METIUS died; a learned Dutch mathematician and author.

1722. WILLIAM MASSIEU died; a French writer, much admired, who after becoming blind met his death by a stroke of apoplexy.

1747. The leaden coffin of the noted Dr. Sacheverel, and Sally Salisbury, with 150 others, stolen from the church.

1766. The dividends on East India stock advanced in England from 6 to 10 per cent, in consequence of the success of lord Clive.

1776. Congress appointed Benj. Franklin, Silas Dean and Thomas Jefferson, commissioners to the court of France. They were the first persons appointed by the United States to act in the capacity of ministers plenipotentiary, but as the country had not yet been acknowledged by any power, they were designated by the humble title of commissioners.

1777. The British army under lord Howe entered Philadelphia. Washington's army lay at Skippack creek, 18 miles distant from the city.

1780. The advance of Cornwallis' army, consisting of Tarleton's legion, engaged the Americans at Charlotte court house, under Col. Davis.

1789. EDMUND RANDOLPH commissioned the first attorney-general of the United States.

1799. Zurich, in Switzerland, taken by the French under Massena, and Lavater, while occupied in the streets assisting the distressed, received a shot in the side, of which he ultimately died. (Jan. 2.)

1811. A well 400 feet deep and 5 in diameter, exhibiting a fine specimen of ancient masonry, was discovered in the keep at Dover castle.

1812. GEORGE FREDERICK COOKE, an eminent English tragedian, died at New York, aged 57.

1812. The Russian army under Essen, entered Miltau, the French and Prussians under Macdonald, having previously evacuated it, leaving behind a vast quantity of provisions, and the whole mass of pelisses, which were the sum of the requisition upon Courland, and of vast importance to an army in so cold a region.

1813. Privateer schooner Saratoga, of New York, 10 guns and 116 men, captured by boarding, British packet ship Morgiana, 18 guns, 50 men, off Surinam.

1814. American privateer brig, Gen. Armstrong, attacked in Fayal roads, a neutral port, by the boats of three British ships. They were twice beaten off and several of the boats sunk. Capt. Reid was obliged to scuttle his vessel, and the British commander threatened to burn the town if she was not delivered up. American loss, 2 killed, 7 wounded; British loss, 120 killed, 130 wounded.

1815. Treaty of peace and alliance signed at Paris between the emperors of Austria, Russia and Prussia.

1822. JOHN OWEN, an eminent English divine, died. He was one of the originators of the British Foreign Bible Society, to whose establishment and extension he devoted his life with the greatest zeal.

1828. A monument erected at Charlestown, Mass., to the memory of John Harvard, founder of Harvard college, 190 years after his death. It is a monolith, 15 feet high and 4 feet square at the bottom; the expense of which was defrayed by a contribution of one dollar from each of the graduates of the college.

1828. JOHN G. C. BRAINARD, an American poet of considerable note, died, aged 32.

1842. RICHARD RIKER, for many years recorder of the city of New York, died, aged 69. He was a gentleman of the old school, and much respected.

1847. The valuable library of the royal society of Icelandic literature in Copenhagen was destroyed by fire. More than 2,000 unpublished MSS. were consumed.

1854. The French police organized at Paris on the plan of that of London; the number to be 2,900, to do duty day and night, under charge of two commissioners, at an annual cost of about $1,200,000.

1855. The corner stone of the Masonic hall laid in Philadelphia with ceremony, over 4,000 masons marching in procession.

SEPTEMBER 27.

489. THEODORIC, the Ostrogoth, defeated Odoacer, king of Italy, near Verona, who fled to Ravenna.

642. SIGEBERT, king of the East-Angles, assassinated. He was a munificent prince, noted as the founder of churches, schools and monasteries; supposed to have been the founder of Cambridge university.

1087. WILLIAM II, surnamed Rufus, crowned at Westminster. In his reign Malcolm of Scotland was slain at Alnwich by the earl of Northumberland, whose spear piercing Malcolm's eye, gave to Northumberland the surname of Percy (p' eye).

1106. Battle before the walls of Tinchebrai, between the two brothers, Henry of England and Robert of Normandy, in which the latter was defeated and imprisoned nearly thirty years.

1415. The reduction of Harfleur, in France, by Henry V, of England; he rifled the town of its affluent stores, and dismissed the inhabitants with five pennies.

1540. Pope PAUL III confirmed the order of the Jesuits, and authorized its establishment.

1563. NICHOLAS EPISCOPIUS (or rather Bishop), a celebrated printer of Basil, died at London, where he had fled from France to avoid persecution.

1566. MARK JEROME VIDA, a celebrated Latin poet, died, aged 96. Many tributes of praise have been paid to his genius and merits.

1615. ARABELLA STUART died insane in the Tower of London.

1700. INNOCENT XII (_Anthony Pignatelli_), pope, died. He protested against the system adopted by his predecessors, of paying particular honors to the relations of the popes, and condemned Fenelon's _Maxims of the Saints_.

1715. THOMAS BURNET, a learned and ingenious English writer, died; author of the _Sacred Theory of the Earth_, which was very popular.

1719. GEORGE SMALRIDGE, bishop of Bristol, died; an elegant theological writer.

1729. Great fire in Constantinople, which consumed 12,000 houses. 7000 persons are said to have perished in the flames.

1730. LAWRENCE EUSDEN, an English divine and poet, died. He was preferred to the laureateship.

1731. A gang of felons, 130 in number, were taken from Newgate, and put aboard a ship to be transported to America, to colonize the country. In the next century they sent their felons to Botany Bay, and their paupers to America, several shiploads having been discharged on the coast, entirely destitute, directly from poor-houses.

1736. RENE DUGUAY TROUIN died; a celebrated French admiral, who displayed the greatest skill, united with the most consummate wisdom.

1741. DOMINIC PERENNIN died at Pekin; a French Jesuit, who was sent on a mission to China, where he was well received by the emperor.

1743. The first act of governor Clinton was to dissolve the legislature, and issue writs the same day for convening another.

1749. JOHN SARGENT, a noted missionary among the Indians, died at Stockbridge.

1751. A mosaic pavement and other relics of Roman antiquity discovered at Avenches, in the canton of Bern.

1759. ISAAC MADDOX, bishop of Worcester, died. He rose to preferment from a very low station in life, and was conspicuous for the many benevolent institutions which he promoted.

1772. JAMES BRINDLEY died; an extraordinary mechanical genius, particularly successful in planning and executing projects of internal navigation, which were done without any drawing or model.

1775. EDWARD LOVIBOND died; an English poet of considerable talents.

1777. The American frigate Delaware, 32 guns, anchored within 500 yards of the unfinished British batteries at Philadelphia and seconded by another frigate and some smaller vessels commenced a heavy fire upon them. She grounded and struck her colors, and the other vessels were compelled to retire.

1782. HYDER ALLY defeated by the British under sir Eyre Coote.

1783. STEPHEN BEZOUT died; a French writer on mathematics, navigation and algebra.

1799. Rome, the eternal city, surrendered to the British.

1805. WILLIAM MOULTRIE, a distinguished officer of the revolution, died. He was a member of congress at the commencement of the war, and made a brave defence of Sullivan's island in 1776.

1810. Battle of Sierra Busaco, in Portugal; the French under Massena defeated with a loss of about 5000, by the British and Portuguese under Wellington, who lost 1000.

1811. Battle of Aldea de Ponte; the French under Marmont attacked the British general Cole; but were unsuccessful.

1811. BONAPARTE established a maritime conscription in the Hanseatic towns.

1812. Americans under colonel Newman defeated a party of Indians under king Paine, who was killed. A second attack was made by 200 Indians to recover his body, in which they succeeded, but with great loss.

1813. Americans under general Harrison landed in Canada, and in one hour took possession of Malden, evacuated by general Proctor after burning the fort and stores.

1832. Battle of Galeneta, in Mexico, between the partisans of general Montezuma, 5000 men, and those of Bustamente, 3500, in which the former were completely defeated.

1833. Deaths at Tampico, Mexico, by cholera and yellow fever, during the season to this date 2000, out of a population of 5200.

1833. RAMMOHUN ROY, a learned Bramin, died in England. He published works in Sanscrit, Arabic, Persian, Bengalee and English, and was acquainted with ten languages.

1835. GERVAISE DE LA RUE, a celebrated French antiquary, died at a very great age. He wrote various learned works relating to the poetry and literature of the middle ages.

1841. NICHOLAS BROWN, a wealthy and munificent merchant, died at Providence, aged 73. He graduated in 1786 at the college of Rhode Island, of which institution he afterwards became the benefactor, in consequence of which its name was changed in 1804 to Brown University.

1848. MICHAEL HOFFMAN, an American statesman, died at Brooklyn, N. Y., aged 60. He was a physician in Herkimer co., and was long a member of congress from that district. He held other offices, and was noted for stern integrity.

1848. Count LAMBERG, the imperial commissioner, appointed to take chief command in Hungary, was slain by the Hungarian population at Pesth, where he had recently arrived.

1849. Great fire at Owego, N. Y., which destroyed the place so completely that but three shops were left standing.

1849. The fortress of Comorn, in Hungary, one of the strongest in Europe, taken by the Austrians.

1854. The steamer Arctic, captain Luce, when about 50 miles distant from cape Race, came in collision with the French screw steamer Vesta, in a dense fog, by which her bows were stove in, and she filled and sunk in about five hours. The Arctic had 410 persons on board, including the crew, of which 22 passengers and 65 of the crew were saved, and 212 passengers and 110 of the crew were lost; of the 61 women and 19 children on board, not one was saved. The conduct of the crew is said to have been selfish, mutinous and dastardly.

1855. JOHN ADAMSON died at New-Castle-upon-Tyne, aged 68; an English author of a work upon the life and writings of Camoens, and devoted to literary and scientific pursuits, and to antiquarian research.

SEPTEMBER 28.

490 B. C. Battle of Marathon is said to have occurred at the full of the moon on this Julian day. (See Aug. 6.)

351. Battle of Murza, on the Drave, in which the emperor Constantius defeated Magnentius in a most desperate conflict.

855. LOTHAIRE I, emperor of Germany, died. He seized the person of his father, and confined him in a monastery, and waged a bloody war with his brother, during which 100,000 men fell in a single battle.

1014. Nearly the whole of Flanders was immersed by a storm.

1066. WILLIAM OF NORMANDY (_the Conqueror_) arrived at the coast of England, on his memorable invasion.

1197. HENRY VI, emperor of Germany, died. He had the meanness to detain Richard of England, who had been shipwrecked on the coast of Dalmatia. With the large sum of money obtained for the ransom of his illustrious captive he made war against Sicily, and plundered and desolated the country.

1396. Battle of Nicopolis; the Turks under Bajazet achieved a famous victory over the king of Hungary. The greater part of an army of 100,000 confederate Christians were slain, or driven into the Danube, and Sigismund, escaping by the river and the Black sea, returned after a long circuit to his exhausted kingdom. A _rout_ preserved Europe.

1567. JOHN STAININGER died at Braunau, in Austria; he was remarkable for the length of his beard, which reached to the ground.

1582. GEORGE BUCHANAN, a learned Scottish historian, has his death placed on this day by several authorities. (See Feb. 28.)

1616. JOSHUA SYLVESTER, an English poet, died.

1667. JAMES GOLIUS, an eminent Dutch orientalist, died. He traveled into several countries, and published some learned works.

1670. The London royal exchange, having been rebuilt, was opened.

1687. The Venetians under Morosini bombarded Athens, when a bomb fired the powder magazine kept by the Turks in the Parthenon. This noble building, which had stood nearly 2000 years, and was then nearly perfect, was by this calamity reduced to a ruin, and with it perished the ever memorable remains of the genius of Phidias. In attempting to remove the chariot of victory, which stood on the west pediment of the Parthenon, it fell and was dashed to pieces. Though the ancient edifices of the Greeks suffered much from the Turks, the siege of Morosini did infinitely more damage to the Parthenon than it had sustained during the 2000 years of its existence. A fine basso relievo, supposed to belong to the frieze of the building, has lately been discovered.

1708. The French defeated near Wynnendale, yet by means of 2000 horsemen each with a bag of powder behind him, contrived to throw supplies into Lisle.

1728. HENRY BROWN obtained a patent from the English government for an improvement in the manufacture of cannon.

1742. HUGH BOULTER, primate of Ireland, died, leaving behind him an enviable reputation. During the great scarcity of 1741 in Ireland, 2500 persons were daily supported at his expense.

1742. JOHN BAPTIST MASSILLON, a famous French ecclesiastic, died. His name has almost become proverbial as a powerful master of eloquence. (18th?)

1763. JOHN BYROM, an English poet, died. He was also famous as the inventor of a system of short hand writing.

1768. The commissioners of the customs having solicited the presence of a regular force in Boston, two British regiments, escorted by seven armed vessels, arrived from Halifax and took up quarters in the town.

1776. CADWALLADER COLDEN, lieutenant-governor of New York under the British dynasty, died, aged 88. He was a Scottish physician; his publications were numerous in botany, medicine, history and philosophy.

1777. General WAYNE, with a detachment of 1500 men, on the left wing of the British army, was surprised and defeated with a loss of about 300.

1778. A regiment of American cavalry stationed at Tappan on the Hudson river, was surprised while sleeping, by the British under general Gray, who rushed upon them with their bayonets, and giving them no quarter, 67 were killed, wounded and taken.

1779. The famed Houghton collection of pictures (lord Walpole's) was purchased by the empress of Russia, and shipped for Petersburg.

1780. Americans under general Marion attacked a party of tories at Black Mingo; several were killed and others taken.

1789. THOMAS DAY, an eminent English writer and eloquent speaker, killed by a fall from his horse.

1791. The French ships Recherche and L'Esperance under admiral D'Entrecasteaux and Hunon Kermadoc, sailed from Brest in search of La Perouse. The expedition was extremely unfortunate, both commanders dying on the voyage, and the ships and crews were seized by the Dutch governor at Java.

1795. The British under general Stuart took Jaffnapatam in the East Indies.

1803. RALPH GRIFFITHS, an English writer, died; known in the republic of letters as the projector of the _Monthly Review_, begun 1749, and which became so popular as to procure him a comfortable independence, upon which he retired.

1839. WILLIAM DUNLAP, a portrait and historical painter, died at New York, aged 74. He also wrote several valuable historical works, besides biographies and dramas.

1842. Captain ENOCH PREBLE, a skillful seaman and eminent philanthropist, died at Portland, Me.

1843. SHOBAL L. VAI CLEVENGER, an American sculptor of high reputation, died at sea, aged 31.

1848. EDWARD R. TYLER, editor of the _New Englander_, died in New Haven, Ct., aged 48. He was for many years engaged with ability and usefulness as a congregational minister at Middletown and at Colebrook.

1850. The North Star, which was sent out from England in 1849, arrived at Spithead on her return. She was imprisoned in the ice from Oct. 1, 1849 to Aug. 1, 1850.

1852. WILLIAM FINDEN, a celebrated English engraver, died at London of heart disease, aged 66.

1853. A deputation from the protestant alliance waited upon lord Clarendon to state the case of Miss Cunningham, arrested at Lucca for distributing an Italian version of the _Bible_ and _Pilgrim's Progress_, and to urge the government to procure her immediate liberation.

1853. The ship Annie Jane, from Liverpool, was driven on the Barra island, one of the Hebrides, and of 450 passengers 348 were drowned.

1854. The United States sloop of war Albany, James T. Gerry, commander, sailed from Aspinwall and was never more heard of.

1854. GEORGE FIELD, an English philosopher, died, aged 77; well known for his success in the application of science to the arts.

SEPTEMBER 29.

1066. WILLIAM (_the Conqueror_) landed in England, at Pevensey, in Sussex, and made the conquest of the country, and revolutionized its institutions.

1399. RICHARD II resigned his right to the crown, publicly acknowledging his incapacity to reign.

1494. COLUMBUS met with his brother Bartholomew at the town of Isabella in the West Indies, after a separation of fourteen years, during which the latter had paid an unsuccessful visit to the court of England.

1513. Fall of Tournay, in Belgium, which closed the campaign of the English under Henry VIII.

1526. Rome taken by the partisans of cardinal Calonna, when the palace of the Vatican, the church of St. Peter, and the pope's ministers and servants were plundered.

1560. GUSTAVUS VASA, king of Sweden, died. He recovered the kingdom from the Danish yoke, and established the protestant religion in his country.

1564. The earl of LEICESTER was ennobled, on which occasion it is said coaches were first brought to London.

1604. The act of king JAMES against _witches_ went into operation.

1622. CONRAD VORSTIUS died; a learned German protestant divine and polemical writer, who succeeded Arminius in the divinity chair at Leyden.

1720. The great _South sea bubble_, a scheme for paying off the national debt of England, burst and involved an incredible number of people in utter ruin. The capital of the company was about $168,000,000.

1759. Volcano of Jorullo, in Mexico, by which a mountain was thrown up in a single night to the height of 1224 feet in the midst of a large plain. The volcano is surrounded by numerous conical hills, from which smoke is continually issuing.

1760. The astronomer MASKELYNE was sent by the English government to St. Helena, and Mr. MASON to Bencoolen, to observe the transit of Venus on the 6th June, 1761. Three astronomers were sent from France for a like purpose.

1764. Battle between the Irish White boys and English troops near Kilkenny. Several killed on both sides.

1772. JOHN BENJAMIN MICHAELIS, one of the minor German poets, died in his 25th year.

1778. American frigate Raleigh, after gallantly engaging two British men of war some time, ran on shore, and was captured.

1791. The national assembly of France dissolved itself.

1793. FRANCIS ROZIER, an eminent French agriculturist, killed by a bomb at Lyons, which fell on his bed, while he was asleep. He published a work on agriculture in 10 volumes quarto.

1793. The French convention decreed the incorporation with the French republic of all the Austrian possessions on the west side of the Rhine.

1809. CHARLES FRANCIS DUPUIS, a French philosopher, died; having filled several important professorships and civil offices. He published a work on the origin of all modes of religious worship, in 3 volumes quarto.

1813. The Americans under general HARRISON took possession of Sandwich and Detroit.

1825. DANIEL SHAYS, noted for the part he took in the celebrated rebellion of 1786, which bears his name, died at Sparta, aged 64. He had been an officer in the revolutionary army, and enjoyed a pension.

1827. Captains PARRY and FRANKLIN reached the admiralty, from the arctic and overland American expeditions. The latitude made by Parry was 82¾ degrees.

1833. FERDINAND VII, king of Spain, died, and was buried with great pomp in the Escurial. His reign was a period of disaster to Spain, during which she sank rapidly into insignificance as a European kingdom. He received a superior education, but was a superstitious and weak minded man, the victim or the tool of artful ministers or bigoted priests. His first wife, an accomplished woman, was poisoned in 1806, the second died 1808; the third 1829; the fourth by whom alone he had issue, outlived him. It was during his reign that the inquisition was re-established and six years afterwards permanently abolished. In his latter years he seemed to take little or no interest in public affairs, but continued to reign, nominally, goaded on one side by the liberals, and on the other by the absolutists, or apostolical party as they called themselves, who were for ruling by terror.

1840. JOHN MARSHALL, author of various works on manufactures, commerce and statistics, died at London, aged 58.

1843. RICHARD HARLAN, a noted writer on natural history, died of apoplexy at New Orleans. His parents were among the first quaker families that emigrated from England.

1848. GEORGE F. RUXTON, a British officer, died at St. Louis, Mo., aged 38 (Allen says 88). He wrote the series in _Blackwood's Magazine_ on life in the far west, and also a book of adventures in Mexico and the Rocky mountains.

1854. Marshal DE SAINT ARNAUD, a commander of the French forces in the Crimea, died at Balaclava, aged 53. He served in Algeria, and conducted an expedition against the Kabyles; also executed the _coup d'état_ for Louis Napoleon. He is represented as a man of deep religious impressions, was courted by the clergy, and had been much engaged in building chapels.

1855. The Russians, 35,000 strong, attacked Kars, gained possession of the redoubt four times, and were four times driven back, and at length retreated, leaving 4,000 dead in the trenches and around the city. Loss of the garrison about 800.

SEPTEMBER 30.

610 B. C. A total eclipse of the sun, foretold by the skill of Thales, which determined the battle between the Lydians and Medes.

480 B. C. The Carthagenians were overthrown at Gelo by Himera.

480 B. C. The great victory of Themistocles over the Persians at Salamis, is also placed upon this day by some authorities. (See Aug. 20.)

61 B. C. The great and unrivaled triumph of Pompey, which continued two days, for having concluded a war of 30 years, in which he had vanquished, slain and captured 2,183,000 men; sunk or taken 846 ships; reduced under the empire 1538 towers and fortresses, and subdued all the countries between the Mœotian lake and the Red sea. The golden vine of Aristobulus, king of the Jews, a little chapel of pearl consecrated to the Muses, surmounted by a sun-dial, and twenty kings and princes, with a string of barbaric gods, were among the trophies which preceded the car of the conqueror.

420. JEROME, one of the fathers of the Christian church, died. He was famous for his eloquence, his virtue and his extensive learning.

788. ABDURRAHMAN I, founder of the dynasty of Beni Umeggah in Spain, died, aged 62. On the defeat of his house in the east, he subdued Spain and founded a dynasty which continued 300 years.

1139. A revolt from king Stephen in favor of the empress Maud, daughter of Henry I, of England.

1283. DAVID, brother of Llewellyn of Wales, executed by Edward as a traitor. This opened the way for the title of prince of Wales to the princes of England.

1291. RODOLPH I, emperor of Germany, died. He added Austria, Styria and Carniola to his dominions by conquest.

1400. OWEN GLENDOWER erected his standard as prince of Wales.

1435. ISABELLA of Bavaria, queen of France, died. She was a licentious and intriguing woman, who preferred the interests of England to the prosperity of her own country.

1517. LUTHER maintained his ninety-five propositions at Wittemberg.

1572. Pope PIUS V died. He issued the famous bull, absolving the subjects of queen Elizabeth from their allegiance, but the lioness of England heeded not such bellowings.

1628. FULK GREVILLE, lord Brooke, assassinated; a literary character of considerable celebrity in the reigns of Elizabeth and James I.

1630. ISAAC JOHNSON, one of the principal founders of the city of Boston, died. He was the first magistrate who died in the colony, and was buried on his own lot. The first burying place in Boston was laid out around his grave. The spot is now built upon, being bounded by Tremont, Cornhill, Court and School streets.

1632. THOMAS ALLEN died; an Englishman, eminent for his knowledge of mathematics and philosophy.

1659. JUAN DE PALAFOX, an illustrious Spanish ecclesiastic, died. He was appointed bishop of Los Angelos in America, where he displayed an admirable character.

1662. A rencontre between the French and Spanish ambassadors, at which many were killed. The contest was precedency.

1682. Colonel THOMAS DONGAN preferred by the duke of York to the government of his province of New York in America.

1707. JOHN REINHOLD DE PALKUL, a Livonian gentleman, who resented the oppression his country suffered from the Swedes, was basely broken on the wheel, by order of Charles XII.

1719. BERNARD RENAU D'ELISAGARAY, a French mathematician, died. He obtained a pension for his improvements in the construction of ships.

1747. THOMAS HALL died, aged 6 years; four feet six inches high, and weighing upwards of seven stone. He died as if of extreme old age.

1761. JOHN DOLLOND died; an eminent English optician and inventor of the achromatic telescope.

1770. GEORGE WHITEFIELD, one of the founders of the sect of the methodists, died at Newburyport, Mass., aged 55. He visited America seven times, and preached in all parts of the Atlantic states with great power and success.

1775. British ship Rose, captain Wallace, cannonaded Stonington. The town was considerably injured, 2 persons killed and a loaded schooner and two sloops carried off.

1779. Colonel JOHN WHITE, with 6 volunteers and his servant, captured a company of 141 British, posted on the Ogeeche river, and brought them safe to an American post 25 miles distant. He also took 5 vessels, one of 12 and another of 10 guns. The exploit was effected by kindling large fires round the post, and making such other parade as demonstrated a large encampment.

1781. Yorktown invested by the American and French armies under Washington and Rochambeau, assisted by the French fleet under count d'Estaing.

1789. Nova Castella and several villages in Italy destroyed by an earthquake.

1790. General HARMER with 320 regulars and 1133 militia, defeated the Indians at Miami village, in Ohio, but with the loss of 141 killed and 31 wounded. The loss of the Indians was estimated at about 100 killed and 300 wigwams burnt. They also destroyed 20,000 barrels of corn, and a great quantity of other provisions.

1793. A furious riot occurred at Bristol, England, on the erection of a new toll gate on the bridge. Several persons were killed and wounded by the military. But the tumults were allayed by the Bristoleans' agreeing to raise the money some other way than by toll.

1795. GEORGE BUTT, an English prelate and poet, died.

1797. The state road having been completed, the first stage started from fort Schuyler (Utica) and arrived at Geneva in the afternoon of the third day, with four passengers.

1811. THOMAS PERCY, a learned English prelate, died. Besides his _Reliques of Ancient English Poetry_, a valuable work, he published translations from the Chinese, Icelandic and Hebrew languages.

1824. WILLIAM WINDHAM SADLER, an English æronaut, killed by a fall from his balloon. The accident occurred by the car being driven against the chimney in the descent. He was a skillful chemist and engineer, cut off at the early age of 28.

1826. JOSEPH PETER PICOT CLORIVIERE, director of the monastery in Georgetown, D. C., died. He was a royalist of France, and the reputed inventor of the infernal machine for which he had to leave his country.

1826. A magazine of powder near Ostend, containing 1,300 barrels, or about 60 tons, exploded, damaging many houses by the concussion, and destroyed several lives.

1830. Independence of the South American republics acknowledged by France.

1849. SILAS JENISON, for several years governor of Vermont, died at Shoreham, an esteemed and valuable citizen.

1849. Mrs. MAURY died in Virginia; an artist, linguist and authoress, known in the United States by her _Statesmen of America_.

1849. ROBERT GOLDSBOROUGH, for many years president of the medical and chirurgical society of Maryland, died at Centreville.

OCTOBER.

OCTOBER 1.

2016 B. C. The call of Abraham is placed by Eusebius upon this day, A. M. 1921. The Cæsarian era used by the Syrians, commenced from the same Julian day, first of their month Tisri, B. C. 48.

325. CONSTANTINE ordered that those criminals hitherto employed by a barbarous custom in the gladiator shows, should be sent to the mines.

829. MICHAEL II (_the Stammerer_), emperor of the East, died. He was of obscure origin, and dragged from prison to the throne on the death of Leo. He compelled the Christians to observe the sabbath and other holy days of the Jewish law.

1240. Dedication of the cathedral church of St. Paul's, at London.

1500. JOHN ALCOCK, a distinguished English prelate, died. His great learning recommended him to preferment, and he was appointed president of Wales and chancellor of England. He founded Jesus college.

1621. By an act of the British parliament, no tobacco was to be imported after this date but from Virginia and the Somer isles, and none to be planted in England. The merchant was to receive no more than eight, and the retailer ten shillings the pound, but they who sold by the pipe might make the most they could!

1664. Articles of capitulation were agreed to between the English under sir Robert Carr, and the Dutch and Swedes, on Delaware bay and river; which completed the subjection of New Netherland to the British crown.

1670. JAQUES DE PAULMIER, an eminent French physician, died. Besides some prose works he wrote poems in several European languages.

1684. Review of the marines at Putney heath, which were first established in England this year.

1684. PETER CORNEILLE, the great French poet, died. His dramas were eminently successful, and his poems are among the sublimest effusions of the French muse.

1728. Mr. PHILIPSE, speaker of the New York assembly, held a treaty with the Six Nations at Albany, and renewed the ancient covenant. He gave them great presents, and engaged them in the defence of Oswego.

1746. Battle of Roucoux, between the allies, who were defeated with the loss of 5,000 men and prince Tingray killed, and the French, whose loss was nearly equal.

1748. Action between the British fleet, admiral Knowles, 7 ships, and the Spanish fleet, under Spinola, 6 ships and a frigate. The latter were defeated with the loss of two ships.

1756. Battle of Lowositz, between the king of Prussia and the Austrians under Braun. Each army sustained a loss of about 2,500.

1761. Schweidnitz, a strong fortress in Silesia taken from the Prussians by a skillful coup-de-main of the Austrians under Laudohn. The governor and about 3,000 men were made prisoners.

1768. British troops landed at Boston from Halifax, and one regiment was quartered at Faneuil hall. (Sept. 30. ?)

1777. ALEXANDER SUMOROKOF, founder of the Russian theatre, died at Moscow. He wrote a number of plays and historical works.

1778. WILLIAM BUTLER made a successful expedition against the Indian towns, and returned to Schoharie on the 16th.

1795. ROBERT BAKEWELL, an eminent English agriculturist and cattle breeder, died. His improvements in the breeds of domestic animals were unprecedented; a single ram selling for nearly $4,000.

1796. JAMES FORDYCE died; a popular and eloquent Scottish preacher, who left behind him several excellent moral and religious works.

1799. JOHN WILLIAM BRUGUIERES, an eminent French botanist and mineralogist, died.

1800. Treaty of St. Ildefonso, by which Spain ceded Louisiana to France.

1802. Ratification of a treaty between Bonaparte and the bey of Tripoli, effected by Col. Sebastiana, who the same day concluded a treaty between the Swedes and the bey, by which the Swedes engaged to pay 150,000 piasters for the captives, and an annuity of 8,000 more.

1807. The first steam boat sailed from New York to Albany. It was 130 feet in length, called the Clermont, and made 5 miles an hour.

1831. BLACKHOOF, a chief of the Shawnee tribe of Indians, died at Wapaghkonnetto, aged 114. He was at the defeats of Braddock, St. Clair, Harmer and Crawford, and probably the last survivor of the former disaster.

1838. The law abolishing imprisonment for debt in England went into operation.

1841. The Chinese island of Chusan recaptured by the British forces under sir H. Gough, with the loss of only 2 killed and 24 wounded.

1842. The war in Afghanistan closed by the capture of Ghuznee and Cabul, and the withdrawal of the British troops.

1847. A telescopic comet was discovered by a lady of Nantucket, Mass., in the constellation Cepheus.

1847. A violent tornado unroofed the steam factory in Portsmouth, N. H.; weight not less than 70,000 pounds. It separated into 3 sections, one falling within 100 feet, another 200, the rafters coming down endways and sinking 4 feet in the earth; the largest section weighing 30,000 pounds, was carried 300 feet.

1848. JAMES BIDDLE, United States commodore, died at Philadelphia, aged 65.

1849. Hudson river rail road opened to Peekskill.

1850. Whitehall and Rutland rail road opened.

1853. The Turkish divan resolved on the most vigorous measures against Russia, and the sultan signed the declaration of war, and permitted the allied fleets to pass the Dardanelles.

1854. The shores around the harbor of Vera Cruz strewn with an immense number of dead fish, supposed to have been killed by the gas evolved in some submarine volcanic eruption.

1854. The steamer Yankee Blade from San Francisco to Panama, struck a reef of rocks, and was wrecked. Although there were 800 passengers on board, all but 15 were saved; $153,000 of specie was lost.

OCTOBER 2.

331 B. C. DARIUS, king of Persia defeated by Alexander at Arbela, losing 300,000 men. This defeat of Darius decided the fate of Persia.

322 B. C. ARISTOTLE, the celebrated Greek philosopher, died. It is said that he threw himself into the Euripus because he could not satisfactorily explain the cause of the tides. He was the first person on record who was possessed of a private library.

1346. The Scots under king DAVID took Liddel castle in Cumberland, after a siege of six days, beheaded the governor, plundered the abbey of Lanercrost, and then directed his march towards Durham.

1394. RICHARD II having made a truce with France, landed in Ireland with a large force; he succeeded in reducing the natives to obedience, who in the absence of the English barons and knights, had intercepted and refused the revenues. The country was divided, at that time, into different kingdoms.

1410. The heroic earl of WARWICK was _retained_ under covenant by prince Henry, at a _wage_ of 250 marks. Whenever he should be in the king's court, he was to have four esquires and six yeomen with him, and diet for them all; and the prince should have a third part of what he acquired in battle, and the third of the thirds of what should be taken by Richard the earl's men at arms.

1629. PETER BERULLE, a French bishop, distinguished for his learning and exemplary piety and virtues, died at the altar while performing mass.

1661. BARTEN HOLYDAY, an English divine, died; known as the author of several literary and theological works.

1693. CHARLES PATIN, a distinguished French physician, died at Padua. At the age of 14 he maintained a disputation for five hours in Greek and Latin, and took the degree of master of arts.

1710. The conquest of Port Royal, or Annapolis Royal completed by the British and colonial forces under colonel Nicholson.

1711. Memorable fire in Boston, which swept down Cornhill, and other streets, and was attended with loss of life and limb.

1724. FRANCIS TIMOLEON DE CHOISI, a French ecclesiastic, died. He was sent by the French government to convert the emperor of Siam, who had expressed a wish to embrace Christianity. He wrote several historical and other works.

1746. The French East India squadron destroyed at Madras by a hurricane.

1780. JOHN ANDRE, a British officer, hanged at Tappan, New York, as a spy, while Arnold made his escape to the British head quarters, where he received £10,000 and a commission in the army, as a reward for his treachery.

1780. A violent hurricane in the West Indies, which devastated the island of Jamaica. In one town of 200 inhabitants, not a vestige of man, beast or habitation was left. Twelve men of war were lost, and in most of them their entire crews perished.

1782. CHARLES LEE, a major-general in the revolutionary army, died. He was an officer in the British army at the age of 11, and distinguished himself in 1762 under Burgoyne in Portugal. He joined the American army at the outbreak of the war, but was suspended after the battle of Monmouth, for some improper conduct.

1786. AUGUSTUS KEPPEL, a distinguished British admiral, died. He accompanied Anson in his voyage round the world.

1801. AUGUSTUS FERDINAND VELTHEIM, an eminent German mineralogist, died; he published several valuable scientific works.