  305. Diocletian, the Roman emperor, abdicated the throne in the presence of the soldiery and a multitude of people, at Nicomedia, in the 21st year of his reign. When afterwards solicited by a friend to resume the purple, he calmly replied, that if he could show the cabbages which he had planted at Salona with his own hands, he should no longer be urged to relinquish the enjoyment of happiness for the pursuit of power. 475. Henghist, the Saxon, caused 300 English noblemen to be murdered. 1119. Henry I of England obtained a great victory over the Normans at Brenville. 1291. All the Italian merchants in the realm of France, called money lenders, seized by order of Philip the fair, for their ransoms. 1308. Albert I, emperor of Germany, assassinated by his nephew, John, duke of Swabia. The Swiss were led by his oppressions to assert their liberty. 1515. Henry VIII and queen attended by nobles went a maying and were entertained by the noted forester Robin Hood. 1517. A riot among the London apprentices, against foreign artisans, which resulted in the death and mutilation of many of the latter, principally Frenchmen. It commenced at 9 o'clock in the evening, and continued till 3 in the morning. The exertions of the city authorities, who had notice of the meditated riot, were unable to prevent or quell it. The next morning, several hundred youths, from 13 years upwards, were arrested, and ten gallows, constructed to move from street to street, prepared for their execution. The ring leaders were drawn, hanged and quartered; when an order came from the king to suspend the execution, and the remainder were pardoned. 1557. England made her first commercial treaty with Russia. 1607. Henry Hudson sailed from Gravesend on his first voyage for the discovery of a northwest passage to India. In this voyage he discovered the island of Spitzbergen. 1619. The famous Calvinistic convocation, the synod of Dort, caused their decrees to be publicly read, and dissolved the council. (May 9? 29?) 1637. A court was summoned at Hartford, Conn., to take measures to secure the colony against the depredations of the Pequot Indians. They determined that an offensive war should be carried on against them, and voted to raise 90 men! The Pequots then numbered 5000 fighting men. 1660. The convention parliament having heard Charles's letters read by sir John Granville, voted that the government of England should be by king, lords, and commons. 1683. Robert Fitzgerald received a patent in England for making salt water fresh. 1701. John Dryden, an illustrious English poet, died. "What he has done in any one species or distinct kind of writing would have been sufficient to have acquired him a great name." 1703. Battle of Pultusk, in Poland, in which the Swedes under Charles XII defeated 10,000 Poles. 1707. Union of England and Scotland consummated. 1708. Claude de Vert died; he devoted much attention to the ceremonies of the church of Rome, of which he wrote a history. 1727. Francis Paris, a French ecclesiastic, died. He retired from office, bestowing his property upon his brother, in order to devote himself to the austerities of a religious life. After his death crowds flocked to his grave to touch his holy monument, till the authorities caused the church yard to be shut. 1737. John Alphonsus Turretini died; professor of ecclesiastical history at Geneva, distinguished for his learning. 1755. John Baptist Oudri died; an admired French painter. 1760. William Duncan died; an ingenious Scottish critic, professor of philosophy at Aberdeen, and translator of CÆsar's Commentaries. 1772. Gottfried Achenwall, an eminent German lecturer on statistics, history and the laws of nature, died at GÖttingen. 1774. William Hewson died; an eminent English anatomist, and medical author. 1775. Israel Lyons died; a celebrated English mathematician. 1776. Dr. Adam Weishaupt, professor of canon law at Ingolstadt, founded the secret society of the illuminati. 1785. Miles Cooper died; a learned English divine and poet. 1786. Gibbon concluded the fourth volume of his History, immortal as its subject. 1789. The states general of France met at Paris, convened by the king to calm the troubles of the state, which he had not power to quell, and which had now assumed a menacing appearance towards royalty itself. 1790. Indian war commenced between the British and Tippo Saib, sultan of Mysore. 1807. Slave trade in the West Indies proscribed in the British parliament. 1808. A volcano broke out in the island of St. George, one of the Azores. A crater was formed in the centre of the island, amidst fertile pastures, 3,500 feet in height, and this beautiful island, before rich in cattle, corn and wine, became a scene of ruin and devastation. 1809. Gottlieb Conrad Pfeffel, one of the best poets of Germany, died. He became blind at the age of 21, a misfortune which he bore more than 80 years, and rendered himself a useful citizen by conducting a school where many excellent scholars were educated. 1813. British and Indians opened their fire upon fort Meigs, from a 24, a 12 and a 6 pounder, and a howitzer. They fired 260 shot, and wounded 8 men, 1 mortally. 1813. John Baptist Bessiers, duke of Istria, killed. He distinguished himself under Napoleon, by whom he was greatly lamented. He was killed in the combat that preceded the battle of Lutzen. 1813. James Delille, one of the most celebrated of modern French poets, died. 1814. Pierre Van Cortlandt, a distinguished revolutionary patriot, died at his seat at Croton river, aged 94. He was a member of the first provincial congress, and eighteen years lieutenant governor of the state of New York. 1823. The skeleton, entire, of a mammoth, was discovered at Ilford, in Essex, England. 1830. The Comet started on her first trip up the Arkansas, being the first steam boat that ascended that river. 1837. An official return stated that there were 70,000 English residents in France, and over 24,000 in Paris alone. 1838. Battle of Rio Pardo, in Rio Grande, between the troops of the emperor of Brazil, about 1,800 in number, and the republican forces; the former were completely routed. 1839. Herbert Marsh, professor of divinity in the university of Cambridge, England, died. He was the author of many learned theological works and controversial publications. 1848. Insurrectionary movements at Rome in consequence of the pope's refusal to declare war against Austria. 1854. Great flood in the Connecticut valley; the water was 29½ feet above low water mark, and 2½ feet higher than during the great flood of 1801. Hundreds of persons were driven from their dwellings and drowned. 1855. The French under Gen. Pelissier carried the Russian works at Sebastopol, in front of the central bastion, and held them against vigorous sorties, taking eight small mortars, and 200 prisoners. 1855. An extraordinary eruption of mount Vesuvius commenced, which in ten days had advanced ten miles from its original source. 1856. Ogden Hoffman, a distinguished member of the New York bar, died, aged 62. He served as a midshipman in the last war with Great Britain, after which he studied law, and took the front rank in his profession, and showed an eminent fitness for the public offices which he filled. 1856. George James Guthrie, an eminent British surgeon, died in London, aged 71. He published several valuable works on surgery. MAY 2.373. Athanasius, patriarch of Alexandria, died. His parents were pagans; he became a Christian, and distinguished himself by his learning, and the zeal with which he opposed the Arian heresy. 1450. The duke of Suffolk, prime minister to Henry VI of England, beheaded in a boat at Calais. During his ministry England lost most of her possessions in France. Yet his murder was resented by the formidable rebellion of Jack Cade. 1487. Lambert Simnel, an impostor, crowned at Dublin, by the title of Edward VI. 1494. Columbus discovered the island of Jamaica. 1520. Sebastian Brandt died; counsellor of Strassburg, a lawyer, and author of a curious poem. 1550. Joan Bocher, of Kent, England, burnt for heresy. 1568. Mary, queen of Scots, aided by the gallant George Douglass, escaped from the castle of Lochleven, where she was confined after the murder of Darnley. 1595. Anthony, titular king of Portugal, died at Paris, a fugitive from the victorious arms of the Spaniards. 1606. Fernand de Quiros discovered the New Hebrides islands. 1611. The Half Moon, in which Hudson made his memorable voyage of discovery, sailed in company with another vessel to the East Indies, under captain Laurens Redel, and was lost. (March 6.) 1635. Horace Vere, an English general, died. He was created baron Tilbury by Charles I for meritorious services. 1667. George Withers, an English pastoral poet, died. He was so zealous a partisan of democracy, and of Cromwell, that the authorities frequently placed him in a straight jacket. His poems were numerous and quaint. 1679. James Sharp, archbishop of St. Andrews, assassinated for his zeal in the cause of the episcopacy in Scotland. 1691. George Mackenzie, a Scottish lawyer, died. He figured conspicuously in trials of witchcraft, which puzzled the best heads in those days, and it is probable that he dealt with that sin most thoroughly, for he received the appellation of "the blood thirsty advocate." He was a literary character, however, of no small note, and was among the first Scotchmen who wrote the English language in a style approaching to purity. 1711. Lawrence Hyde, earl of Rochester, died; deservedly respected as an able statesman. 1753. Leonor Jean Christine Soulas d'Allainval died; a native of Chartres, in France, and author of several comedies of merit. 1774. Permission was given to the society of antiquaries to open the stone coffin of Edward I, and it was found that the body was in a perfect state of preservation, and measured 6 feet 2 inches. It had been placed in wax. 1777. David Wooster, a revolutionary officer, died of a wound received in pursuing the British from Danbury (April 27). He graduated at Yale college, and at the commencement of hostilities was appointed to the chief command of the Connecticut troops. 1785. John Lewis Moreau de Beaumont, a French political author, died. His works are much and deservedly admired. 1795. The number of prisoners confined in the 12 prisons of Paris amounted to 2338. 1802. Bonaparte constituted first consul for a second term of ten years. 1808. Embargo laid on American shipping in France. 1808. The royal family of Spain sent prisoners to France. At the sight of this procedure, there was a general insurrection of the inhabitants of Madrid, who attacked the French soldiers with knives, and a bloody contest took place, which was only quelled by scouring the streets with grape shot. The Spaniards finally desisted on seeing their resistance fruitless. It is estimated that 4,000 French and 6,000 Spaniards lost their lives. 1808. John Collins died; author of The Evening Brush, an oral entertainment of story, song and sentiment, which he delivered many years with great success, in all the principal towns in Great Britain. In this sort of entertainment he has had many followers, among whom the most noted was Charles Matthews. 1809. Battle of Amaranta, in Portugal, in which the Portuguese were defeated by the French under Soult. 1813. Battle of Lutzen, between the French army under Bonaparte, and the allies, under the kings of Russia and Prussia. The attack was commenced by the allies under Blucher upon the French centre, with a fury irresistible. The battle was for a long time maintained by both armies with obstinate energy. It was the more desperate and deplorable, says sir Walter Scott, that on the one side fought the flower of the Russian youth, which had left their universities to support the cause of national honor and freedom; and on the other, the young men of Paris, many of them of the best rank, who bravely endeavored to sustain their country's long pre-eminent claim to victory. Both combatted under the eyes of their respective sovereigns, maintained the honor of their country, and paid an ample tribute to the carnage of the day. The victory finally resulted to the arms of the French, by the superior generalship of their great leader, and the determined bravery of his troops. The allies sustained a loss of 20,000, and among them several experienced officers. The French loss was severe. 1817. Catharine Rush died at Philadelphia, aged 110 years, 11 months. 1821. Hester Lynch Piozzi, an English 1825. Adam Seybert, an American statistical writer, died at Paris. He was a member of congress from Philadelphia, and a man of science. 1836. Jeremiah Holme Whiffen, an English poet, died. He belonged to the society of friends, published a variety of miscellaneous poems, a translation of the Spanish poet Garcilasso de la Vega, and of Tasso. 1840. Thomas Manning, an eminent English linguist, died, aged 67. Having made several ineffectual attempts to penetrate China, his services were solicited by the British government, to accompany lord Amherst in his embassy to that country. He made himself one of the first Chinese scholars in Europe, and collected one of the finest Chinese libraries to be found in that quarter of the world. 1844. William Beckford, author of the Arabian tale entitled Vathek, with many other works, died at Fonthill, England. 1855. George Head, a British commissariat, died, aged 73. He published several valuable works, relating to different parts of the world, where his duties called him, and was knighted in 1831. 1856. James Gates Percival, an eminent American poet and philosopher, died in Wisconsin, aged 60. He was a native of Connecticut, graduated at Yale college, and studied medicine, but devoted himself to the cultivation of poetry, and the pursuit of science. He assisted in preparing Webster's Dictionary for the press, and superintended the publication of Malte Brun's Geography. He afterwards made a geological survey of Connecticut, and in 1854 was appointed state geologist of Wisconsin, in which service he died. Although distinguished for his attainments in philology and general science, he will be chiefly remembered as one of the eminent American poets. MAY 3.1324. A poetic festival at Toulouse called jeux floraux, to which all the poets of the Langue d'Oc were invited, where the composer of the best poem was to receive a violet of fine gold. The celebrated troubadour, Arnaud Vidal, won the prize. 1381. John Ball, a priest and compeer of the notorious Wat Tyler, preached to Tyler's army from the proverbial rhyme: 1410. Alexander V, pope, died. He was originally a beggar, but found means to cultivate his mind, and rose by degrees in the church till he reached the pontifical chair. He is distinguished as a man of great firmness, liberal and munificent. 1481. Mahomet II, sultan of Turkey, died. He took Constantinople from the Christians, thereby driving many learned men into the West, which was a great cause of the restoration of learning in Europe. 1573. A border feud at Reedsquair, between the English and Scottish marchmen, in which the former were completely beaten. This skirmish was the last of any note between the two nations. 1621. Sentence of fine and imprisonment passed upon lord Bacon in the house of peers for bribery. 1649. Isaac Dorislaus assassinated; a Dutchman who went from Leyden to England and read lectures on history at Cambridge. He was alternately royalist and republican during the civil wars; and was stabbed to the heart by some enthusiastic royalist while on an embassy to Holland. 1655. The English took the island of Jamaica from the Spanish. 1664. The earl of Tiviot, governor of Tangier, surprised and defeated by the Moors. 1697. Kaldan, khan of the Eleuts, who had for several years eluded the formidable armies sent against him annually from 1702. Lord Cornbury commenced his administration of the government of New York. 1711. Richard Chiswell, a noted English printer and an extensive publisher, died. 1733. Richard Cox, lord chancellor of Ireland, died. He published a history of that kingdom. 1747. Naval battle between the English fleet under Anson and Warren, and the French fleet under M. de la Jonquiere, which was convoying six East India ships and a number of transports and merchantmen to Canada. After a regular and well fought battle, the French struck their colors. The loss of the French killed and wounded was 700; that of the British 500. The trophies of the victory were six men of war and all of their East India ships, and between four and five thousand prisoners. The treasure taken on board these vessels was afterwards conveyed to the bank of England in 20 wagons. The French loss by this defeat was estimated at one million and a half. 1759. A young woman in England who had laid a considerable wager that she could ride 1000 miles in 1000 hours, finished her match in a little more than two-thirds of that time. At her coming in the country people strewed flowers in her way. 1763. George Psalmanazar, a literary impostor, died. He was a native of France, and obtained a thorough education. After various adventures he arrived at London under the character of a Japanese converted to Christianity, was patronized by the great, and undertook to translate the catechism into Japanese, and wrote a history of the country. Some absurdities were detected, when he confessed himself an impostor, and afterwards subsisted by turning his pen to better employment. 1765. Sujah ul Dowlah defeated at Calpy, in India, by the British. 1776. Sir Peter Parker's squadron of 20 sail arrived at Cape Fear river, with lord Cornwallis. 1784. Anthony Banezet, a philanthropist of Philadelphia, died. He was a native of France, and early engaged in mercantile pursuits, which he abandoned to devote his attention to objects of benevolence and philanthropy, in which he continued during a long life. 1793. Battle of Famars, in which the allies drove the French from their camp with great loss. 1794. James William Thouret guillotined; he was president of the national assembly when Louis XVI accepted the constitution of 1791. 1797. The first commencement of Union College for conferring degrees in the arts and sciences. 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 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. 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 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 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. 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. 1840. A tremendous tornado passed over the city of Natchez, very destructive to life and property. Almost every building in the city was more or less injured, many being utterly demolished. The amount of property destroyed was estimated at $1,500,000; and 317 persons were killed. 1840. Thomas Barnes, principal editor of the Times newspaper, died in London, aged 56. He was unquestionably the most accomplished and powerful political writer of the day, and particularly excelled in the portraiture of public men. 1842. The island of Hayti destroyed by an earthquake. Not a single town escaped without some casualty. Thousands of lives were lost, and property to an incalculable extent was destroyed. Cape Haytien was entirely leveled with the ground, and of 12,000 inhabitants, one half were buried under the ruins, and of those which escaped, a great part perished by fire and other disasters which followed. Bands of armed negroes came in the next day to plunder, and stabbed and shot the wounded wherever they found them, for the jewels and clothing they wore. 1844. It was discovered that all the watches on board the British schooner Henry Curwen, and the chronometer, had stopped, and on referring to the three compasses on board, they were found to point different ways, and were entirely useless. In about two hours afterward the watches and chronometer recommenced going, and the compasses resumed their position. This occurred in 44° north, and 32° 35´ long., at 4 A. M. 1848. The Polish insurgents surrendered to the Prussian troops, after great slaughter, at Posen. 1848. Insurrection at Madrid, when many lives were lost. 1848. The Indians, who were in a state of insurrection in Yucatan against the Spanish population, entered the town of Marie, and butchered 200 of the inhabitants, besides committing other outrages. 1849. Gen. Worth died at San Antonio de Bexar of cholera. 1849. Macready, the English tragedian, 1852. James Savage, a distinguished London architect, died, aged 74. The Gentleman's Magazine contains a long list of the bridges and churches which attest his reputation and skill. 1854. The gallery of the Catholic church at Erie, Pa., fell, crushing the people below, and killing and wounding several persons. MAY 8.685. Pope Benedict II died. 1360. The treaty called the great peace signed at Bretigni, by which Edward III renounced all his claims to the French crown and its territories. 1429. The siege of Orleans was abandoned. At dawn, the English army was discovered at a small distance from the walls, drawn up in battle array, and braving the enemy to fight in the open field. After waiting for some hours, the signal was given; the long line of forts, the fruit of 7 months' labor, was instantly in flames and the soldiers, with mingled feelings of shame and regret, turned their backs to the enemy. This was one of the inexplicable feats of Joan d'Arc. 1493. Ferdinand and Isabella confirmed, at Barcelona, the appointment of Columbus, on his return from the new world. "The office of admiral of the said ocean, which is ours, commences by a line, which we have ordered to be marked, passing from the Azores to the cape de Verd islands, from the north to the south, from pole to pole; so that all which is beyond the aforesaid line to the west is ours, and belongs to us; and of all this we create our admiral, you and your children." 1532. Francis Alvarez Paez died; a Portuguese divine of the order of the Cordeliers, and an author. 1535. Henry VIII of England had his head shaved, and commanded all about his court to follow his example. 1538. Edward Fox, an English prelate and statesman, died. He was the principal pillar of the reformation in England. 1572. Dame Dorothy Packington sent the trusty and well beloved Thos. Lichfield and George Borden to be her burgess in parliament, informing the queen that whatever they might do in her service in parliament should receive her (Dorothy's) approval. 1638. Cornelius Jansenius died; founder of the Jansenists, who gave the pope and the Jesuits much trouble in Europe. 1655. Edward Winslow died; one of the first settlers of Plymouth colony, Mass., and afterwards its governor. He joined the fleet sent over by Cromwell to attack St. Domingo, the only place of strength which the Spaniards had in Hispaniola, and died at sea, aged 60. His marriage was the first that was celebrated in the colony. 1657. Cromwell refused the title of king of England. 1659. A remnant of the long parliament assembled during the anarchy, and has been termed the rump. 1662. Peter Heylin, an English historian, died. He was an able and indefatigable writer, principally known by his Description of the great World, and History of the Reformation. 1676. Bridgewater, Mass., invaded by the Indian enemy, and 17 buildings laid in ashes. 1703. Vincent Alsop died; a presbyterian clergyman, who attacked Dr. Sherlock with great wit and some seriousness. 1725. Capt. John Lovewell, with a party of 36 men, encouraged by his former success against the Indians (see Feb. 20), undertook an expedition against Pigwacket, on Saco river, was ambuscaded, and himself and a great part of his men killed. They made a brave resistance, determined to die rather than yield, and by their well directed fire thinned the number of the savages so that their cries became fainter, and they finally left the field, carrying off their dead. 1729. William King, archbishop of Dublin, died; author of a celebrated treatise on the origin of evil. 1744. Giles Jacob died; an English law writer, biographer, and lexicographer. 1758. Benedict XIV (Prosper Lambertini), pope, died. His character was that of a learned, liberal-minded and benevolent man. His works fill 16 vols. folio. 1775. The great tunnel at Norwood hill, through which the Chesterfield and Trent canal was to pass, was opened; its length nearly 1¾ miles. 1779. Charles Hardy, an English admiral, died. He was two years governor of New York, and was appointed commander in chief of the western squadron, 1779. 1782. Sebastian Joseph Carvallo de Pombal, a Portuguese statesman, died. He displayed great wisdom and abilities in the offices to which he was promoted; and under his munificence and patriotism the city of Lisbon rose from her ruins by the earthquake, in new splendor and increased magnificence. 1793. Battle of Vicogne, the French defeated by the Austrians under Clairfait, after an obstinate action and great carnage. 1793. Jas. Ridgway and H. D. Symonds, 1794. Anthony Lawrence Lavoisier, a French chemist, guillotined. His philosophical researches were of great service to science, and of practical utility to his country; he was condemned on the most frivolous pretexts. 1799. Bonaparte made an unsuccessful attempt to carry St. Jean d'Acre by assault. 1806. Robert Morris, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, died. He was one of the most extensive merchants in America, and in 1781 was appointed to the control of the government finances, where the services he rendered the country were of the utmost importance. The army was frequently supplied by his own personal credit. It is painful to add, that the latter years of his life were passed in prison, where he was confined for debt. 1813. The Americans evacuated York, Upper Canada, after burning the blockhouses, barracks and king's stores. 1815. David Ramsay, an American physician and historian, died. By unwearied industry and economy of time he was enabled, amidst an extensive practice, to publish several important histories, and left others in manuscript. 1815. Saxony dismembered, and a great part of the kingdom given to Prussia. 1816. The United States ship Washington, 74 guns, put to sea, being the first American ship of the line afloat. 1822. John Stark, a major general in the revolutionary army, died, aged 93. By his skill and intrepidity the first step was achieved towards the capture of Burgoyne, by the defeat of colonel Baum in the battle of Bennington. 1829. Charles Abbot, lord Colchester, died; a British statesman. 1842. More than 70 lives lost by a rail road accident between Versailles and Paris among whom were the celebrated navigator, admiral Dumont d'Urville and his wife and children. 1846. Battle of Palo Alto. The Americans, 2,000, under Gen. Taylor, were attacked on their return from Point Isabel, by 5,000 Mexicans. The former fought their way through the Mexican lines, dispersing the enemy, capturing their baggage and artillery, and several of their superior officers. 1848. Great hail storm at Charleston, S. C.; some of the stones that fell were 7½ inches in circumference. 1852. The emperor of Russia visited the emperor of Austria at Vienna, and two days afterwards reviewed the Austrian troops, consisting of 20,000 infantry and 10,000 artillery and cavalry. 1853. John Farrar, a distinguished American mathematician, died, aged 54. He gave the active portion of his life to the service of Harvard college, to which he brought great natural tastes and aptitudes, habits of persevering labor, and deep conscientiousness. 1854. The sultan of Turkey gave a grand banquet in honor of Napoleon. 1855. Jane Davy, widow of sir Humphrey Davy, died in London; conspicuous in literary circles for her accomplishments, unwearied conversation and physical activity. MAY 9.1502. Columbus sailed from Cadiz, with four vessels and 140 men and boys, in search of a passage to the South sea, being his fourth voyage across the Atlantic. It was a disastrous expedition for the admiral, against whom the elements seem to have joined his countrymen, to complete the ruin of his fortunes. 1657. William Bradford, second governor of Plymouth colony, died. He removed to America with the first settlers of the colony, and was their governor thirty years. He wrote a history of the colony from 1602 to 1646, which was deposited in the library of the old south church in Boston, where it fell a sacrifice to the fury of the British, 1775. 1657. A secret treaty signed at Paris between Louis XIV and Cromwell, for "the ruin and destruction of the proud and tyrannical monarchy of Spain." 1760. Nicholas Lewis Zinzendorf, a German count, died; founder of the sect of Moravians, or Hernhutters. 1767. Cassini observed, by the position of certain spots, the revolution of the planet Venus on its axis. 1768. Bonnell Thornton died; an English poet, essayist and miscellaneous writer, and translator of Plautus. 1776. Ellen Ellis at Beumaris in Anglesey gave birth to a child in her 72d year. 1781. British generals Arnold and Philips took Wilmington, Va. 1781. Spaniards took Pensacola and all Florida. 1791. Francis Hopkinson, one of the signers, died. He was judge of the admiralty court of Pennsylvania; his writings abound with wit, humor and satire. 1794. Charles Henry d'Estaing, a French admiral, guillotined. He was commander of the French squadron in the American war; and at the revolution in France became member of the assembly of notables. 1803. Robert Chambers died at Paris; a learned English judge and orientalist. 1805. Frederick Schiller, an eminent German dramatist, died. He is also the author of a history of the revolt of the Netherlands from Spain. 1813. The siege of fort Meigs raised. It had continued 13 days, and it was computed that 1760 cannon balls and shells had been fired at the fort, by which 17 were killed and 66 wounded. 1832. Israel Thorndike, a Boston merchant, died. He possessed a talent for business which enabled him to accumulate the largest fortune ever acquired in New England, amounting to nearly two millions. In 1818 he purchased the valuable library of professor Ebeling, of Hamburg, 4,000 vols., and presented it to Harvard university. This library is considered the most valuable and extensive in American history and antiquities, ever collected. 1832. Camillo Philip Louis Borghese, an Italian prince of immense wealth, died. He was an officer under Bonaparte, whose sister he married. After the abdication of the emperor, he broke up all connection with the Bonaparte family, and separated from his wife. 1836. Caleb P. Bennett, governor of the state of Delaware, died, aged 78. He was the last surviving officer of the Delaware regiment in the revolutionary army. 1846. Battle of Resaca de la Palma and death of major Samuel Ringgold, whose place of sepulture in Baltimore is surrounded by an inclosure of Mexican bayonets. 1846. Charles Turner Torrey died in the jail at Baltimore, Maryland, while sustaining an imprisonment for a breach of the laws of Maryland in relation to kidnapping slaves. 1853. An earthquake completely destroyed Schiraz in Persia; 12,000 lives were lost. 1854. An imperial ukase in Russia called for nine men out of every thousand souls of the "eleventh ordinary partial levy in the eastern portion of the empire," and, independently of this, three recruits out of every thousand souls to bring up arrears; the Jews furnishing ten men out of a thousand. MAY 10.664. The memorable pestilence in Ireland began. 1307. Battle of Loudown hill; Bruce defeated Aylmer de Valence, earl of Pembroke. 1422. Henry V reduced Meaux, after a siege of 7 months. 1503. Columbus discovered the Tortugas islands. 1547. Charles V summoned Wittenberg, defended by Sibylla, wife of the elector of Saxony; refusing to surrender, he ordered a court-martial who condemned her husband, then a prisoner, to death. 1574. Queen Elizabeth issued her royal license under seal, for the performance of stage plays; the first establishment of a regular company of players in England. 1611. Sir Thomas Dale arrived at the Jamestown colony, with 3 ships, 300 people, 12 cows, 20 goats, and all things needful. Lord Baltimore had previously left for England on account of his health, and Dale took command. Sir Thomas Gates arrived in August following, with 6 ships, 280 men, 20 women, 100 cattle, 200 hogs, and military stores, and assumed the government. These added to the 200 left by lord Baltimore, swelled the number to 800. 1631. Magdeburg taken by the Austrians under general Tilly, by assault, and given up to pillage, massacre and fire, only two churches and some ruins remaining. 1632. Louis de Marillac, marechal of France, beheaded. He conspired against Richelieu, to whom he was indebted for much of his good fortune, and to whose resentment he fell a victim. 1641. John Bannier died; a Swedish general under Gustavus Adolphus. 1646. Manuel d'Almeida, a Portuguese Jesuit, died; a missionary to India 40 years, and author of a work on Ethiopia. 1649. Governor Endicott, and other influential men in Massachusetts, formed an association against wearing long hair! 1671. The English admiral Sprague destroyed 12 Algerine pirate ships at Bugea, a seaport of Algiers. 1696. John de la Bruyere, a noted French author, died. His Characters, in imitation of Theophrastus, is a work of established excellence, and descriptive of the manners of that age. 1733. Barton Booth died; a celebrated tragedian in the reign of queen Anne, author of some songs and minor pieces. 1773. An act of parliament passed, authorizing the East India company to export their own tea, duty 3d. per pound; in consequence of this act they determined to send it to New York, Philadelphia and Boston. In October of the same year the Americans refused to receive it. 1774. Louis XV of France died, in the 60th year of his reign. He outlived the respect of his subjects. 1775. Colonels Allen and Arnold surprised Ticonderoga, which surrendered, without the loss of a man. Crown-point was taken by them the same day. 1779. Portsmouth and Norfolk, Va., taken by the British, and many vessels, stores and houses destroyed. 1781. Lord Rawdon evacuated Camden, after destroying the public and private houses, and much of his own baggage. 1784. Anthony Court de Gebelin, a French writer, died; celebrated as the author of The Primitive World compared with the Modern, a work which the French academy were so well satisfied with that they twice decreed him the annual prize of 1,200 livres for the best work. 1790. The Gabelle Tax in France was abolished. This was a duty on salt capricious and unequal in its operation, which notwithstanding had continued since the beginning of the 14th century. 1793. Clairfait attacked and carried the wood of Hasnon; the slaughter of the French was great. 1794. Battle of Tournay and defeat of the French by the British and Austrians under the duke of York. 1794. Elizabeth of France, sister of Louis XVI, guillotined. 1796. Battle of Lodi, in which Bonaparte gained an important victory over the Austrians, under the veteran general Beaulieu. The long narrow bridge which led to the city, was defended by 30 pieces of cannon. The French generals put themselves at the head of 3000 grenadiers, and in the face of a murderous fire crossed the bridge over the dead bodies of their comrades, who were mowed down by hundreds, and took possession of the Austrian batteries. The loss was about 3,000 men on each side. This was one of the most striking military achievements of Bonaparte. It was on this occasion that he received the title of the little corporal. 1796. The Babeuf conspiracy was discovered by the council of 500 in Paris. Babeuf and Darthe, the principal leaders were secured and executed, which completely crushed the Jacobin power. 1809. The Swedish diet renounced all allegiance to Gustavus IV, and deprived him and his heirs of the crown. 1811. French evacuated Almeida, after destroying everything, and the next day they abandoned Portugal entirely. 1824. John Guthrie, the celebrated Edinburgh bookseller of the firm of Guthrie & Jait, died. Like Benjamin Franklin he wheeled home his own purchases. 1831. John Trumbull, an American poet, died. He was for many years judge of a court in Connecticut, and is known as the author of the popular poem, McFingal. 1831. Battle of Terlepe; 20,000 Albanians under the pasha of Scodra defeated by the Turks under the grand vizier. 1837. All the banks in the city of New York without exception, and by common consent, stop specie payments. The banks throughout the Union adopted the same course. 1848. A very destructive fire occurred in Detroit, Michigan. The houses were of wood principally on leased land. 1849. The city of Leghorn taken by the Tuscan troops. 1849. Astor house opera riot in the city of New York. 1853. Ashbel Strong Norton, an American preacher, died, aged 87. He was born in Farmington, Ct., graduated at Yale college in 1790; filled the pastoral office at Clinton, N. Y., with distinguished usefulness and success forty years, during which he was largely concerned in laying the foundations of social and religious institutions in central New York. 1853. The pope prohibited the circulation of Uncle Tom's Cabin, an American novel, in his dominions. 1855. A mob of armed men destroyed the Birch creek reservoir, in Clay county, Indiana, connected with the Wabash and Erie canal. MAY 11.1491 B. C. The Egyptians under Pharaoh drowned in the Red sea. 1153. David I, of Scotland, died. He was earl of Northumberland and Huntington, and married the daughter of the king of England, for whom he claimed the throne on the death of her father. He was a mild and popular king. 1310. James de Molai, grand master, and 54 knights of the temple, publicly burned at Paris, under the decree of an archiepiscopal council. They were condemned on confessions of Islamism and paganism, extorted by the rack, and afterwards retracted. 1537. A terrible and destructive eruption of Mount Ætna. 1553. Three vessels sailed from England, under Sir Hugh Willoughby, to explore the northern seas. By this voyage an inlet was discovered to the White sea and the bay of Archangel, and an almost exclusive commerce established with Russia in that quarter. 1554. Francisco de Orellana sailed from St. Lucar, in Spain, with 4 ships and 400 men, for the purpose of exploring the river Amazon. He forced his way up about 120 leagues, and meeting with disasters by which he lost his ships and the greater part of his men, he turned about 1676. The Indians assaulted the town of Plymouth, Mass., and burned 11 houses and 5 barns; and two days after they burned 7 houses and 2 barns, and the remaining houses in Namasket. 1686. Otho Guericke, a Prussian philosopher, died. He was the most celebrated mathematician of his time, and invented the air pump. 1690. Charlemont, in Ireland, taken by the English. 1696. The Reformed Dutch church at New York incorporated. 1723. Jean Gualbert de Campistron, a French poet, died. He is thought to be little inferior to Racine in the merit of his dramatic compositions. 1743. Several tons of leaden pipe were dug up in Fleet street, London, laid down 300 years before. 1749. Catharine Cockburn, an English poetress, died. She produced the tragedy of Agnes de Castro in her 17th year, which was followed by several others. She possessed also a great and philosophic mind, and wrote an able defence of Locke. 1776. At an action near Charleston, S. C., between count Pulaski and the British, Major Huger of the American army was killed by mistake. 1778. William Pitt, earl of Chatham, a most illustrious English statesman, died. He was the friend of liberty and justice, and eloquent in their cause. 1781. Orangeburgh surrendered to the American Gen. Sumpter; prisoners taken, 82. 1782. Richard Wilson died; an English landscape painter of great merit. 1799. Philip Nicholas Pia, a French chemist, died. He was sheriff of Paris, 1770, and employed his leisure in objects of benevolence, till the revolution overwhelmed him. 1807. Action in the Dardanelles, between the Russian and Turkish fleets; 3 of the latter stranded. 1810. Hastalrick, in Catalonia, evacuated for want of provisions; the garrison cut their way through the French troops. 1813. Spencer Perceval, prime minister of Great Britain, shot in the lobby of the house of commons. 1814. Robert Treat Paine, one of the signers, died. He was a distinguished lawyer, of learning and integrity, member of the first congress, and judge of the supreme court of Massachusetts. 1821. George Howe, editor of the Sydney Gazette, died. His paper commenced in March, 1803, in the 15th year of the colony, and was the first Australian periodical. 1838. Andrew Thomas Knight died. His horticultural writings were exceedingly beneficial, as well to the gardeners as farmers. 1839. Thomas Cooper, president of South Carolina college, died, aged 80. He wrote on law, medical jurisprudence and political economy, and translated Justinian and Broussais. 1844. Stephen Wood, died at Miami, Ohio, aged 82. He was the last survivor of those who were associated with John Cleves Symmes in the settlement of North Bend. 1848. An expedition under Sir James Ross, sailed for the Arctic regions, in search of Sir John Franklin. 1853. Peter Hitchcock, an eminent civilian, died at Painesville, Ohio, aged 70. He was a member of the Ohio senate, and of the house of representatives at Washington; also for twenty-five years a judge of the supreme court of Ohio. 1854. The packet Pike, from St. Louis to Louisville, struck a snag, and sank in a few minutes, by which about fifty passengers lost their lives. 1854. J. Delius, of Bremen, assistant professor of English literature at Berlin, fell into the crater of Vesuvius, and perished there. MAY 12.48 B. C. Battle of Pharsalia, between CÆsar and Pompey, in which the latter was defeated, and escaped on foot. This battle forms an important era in the history of the world. 824. Paschal I, pope, died; distinguished for his benevolence and toleration. 1264. Battle of Lewes and defeat of Henry III by Leicester. 1294. Edward I of England met at Norham the states of Scotland, when they acknowledged his sovereignty, and engaged to deliver up to him their castles. 1430. The famous Joan of Arc, or maid of Orleans, pretended to be sent from God to save the kingdom of France. 1539. Ferdinand de Soto sailed from Havana with ten ships for the conquest of Florida. 1618. The Calvinists of Bohemia entered the castle of Prague, cast the leading members of the council from the windows, and took possession of the capital. 1621. The first marriage in the colony at Plymouth took place, between Edward Winslow and Susanna White. 1641. Thomas Wentworth, an English statesman under Charles I, beheaded on a false charge of treason. The king was 1663. The books of the London stationers company record the names of 59 persons exercising the trade as master printers. 1690. John Rushworth, an English writer, died in the king's bench prison, where he had been confined 6 years; author of Historical Collections, in 7 vols. folio. 1763. John Jackson died; an English divine and historian, author of Chronological Antiquities. 1763. John Bell, the distinguished anatomist of Scotland, was born at Edinburgh. 1771. Christopher Smart, an English poet and miscellaneous writer, died; known by a popular translation of Horace. By some authorities his death is placed in 1770. 1780. Charleston, S. C., surrendered to the British; 2,500 prisoners and 400 cannon fell into the hands of the enemy. 1781. Fort Motte surrendered by the British to the American generals Marion and Lee. 1785. Mr. McGuire having ascended from Dublin in a balloon, was carried with great velocity towards the sea, into which he descended, and was taken up nearly lifeless. 1791. Francis Grose died; author of the Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, a complete collection of British technicals, vulgarisms, and billingsgate used by gamblers, ostlers, servants, fishwomen, &c., which, though not very popular, or creditable to him, is yet quite a curiosity. He produced some other works of great merit, which mark him a profound antiquary. 1795. Ezra Stiles, president of Yale college, died. He was eminent as a divine, and an indefatigable scholar. His publications were few, but he left 40 vols. in manuscript. 1796. The French under Bonaparte defeated the Austrians with great slaughter, who were compelled to abandon their guns and baggage, and take refuge under the cannon of Mantua. 1797. Bonaparte took possession of Venice, boasting an independence of fourteen centuries. 1798. Sidney Smith escaped from France after two years imprisonment. 1809. Vienna capitulated to the French, and Napoleon established his head quarters in the imperial palace of Schoenbrunn. The emperor had already quitted it, with all his family except his daughter the archduchess Maria Louisa, afterwards wife of Napoleon, who was confined to her chamber by sickness—on learning which, Bonaparte ordered that there should be no firing in that direction. 1809. Lord Wellington took Oporto by assault, and the French under Soult were compelled to retreat to Amarante. 1809. Alcantara, in Spain, taken by a division of the French under Victor, together with the British garrison. 1848. Alexander Baring, lord Ashburton, died in England, aged 78. He passed much of his youth in America, and was British embassador at Washington, to settle the Maine boundary in 1842. He acquired great wealth, and was a highly accomplished man. 1848. Posen incorporated with Germany, and the insurgent Poles disarmed.—Violent earthquake at Sienna, Italy. 1849. A crevasse was made in the levee above New Orleans flooding much of the city. 1854. The British ship Tiger, 16 guns, was captured near Odessa by the Russians, with 226 prisoners. 1855. D. J. McCord, an American lawyer, died at Columbia, S. C. He published law reports, and edited the Statutes at Large, on the death of Dr. Cooper, to whom the work was first entrusted. 432. B. C. Meton, the Athenian astronomer, began his famous lunar cycle of 19 years (then marked by successive letters in gold, which are now called the golden numbers), with the new moon nearest to the summer solstice falling upon the 16th of Scirophion. 48 B. C. Pompey, in passing through the Archipelago, stopt at Mitylene to receive his wife, the exemplary Cornelia, and there conversed with Cratippus, the philosopher, on the nature of providence. 1213. King John received Pandulph, the pope's legate, in whose presence he subscribed an instrument by which the sentences of interdict, excommunication and deposition were revoked, conditionally that he reversed all his former acts of oppression. 1539. A bill brought into the English parliament vesting in the crown all the 1568. Battle of Langside hill, Mary queen of Scots defeated by the regent Murray, and fled to England. 1607. Jamestown, Virginia, settled. Three small ships, with 105 persons intended to form a settlement, under Sir Christopher Newport, took possession of a peninsula in Powhatan river, and gave it the name of Jamestown. Though they had to strive against appalling difficulties, and were several times on the verge of losing or abandoning the enterprise, they were ultimately established, mainly through the great exertions and talents of Capt. John Smith, one of the most remarkable persons connected with the early history of the country, and indeed one of the most remarkable of an age prolific of memorable men. Jamestown was for a long time the capital of the state, but has sunk into ruin, and is almost desolate. Two or three old houses, the ruins of an old steeple, a churchyard, and faint marks of the rude fortifications, are the only memorials of its former importance. 1614. Marguard Freher died. His books on law, criticism and history are numerous and respectable. 1619. John Van Oldenbarneveldt, a Dutch statesman, beheaded. Zeal for his country led him to oppose the arbitrary measures of the stadtholder, for which he was accused of treason and condemned at the age of 72. (See April 14.) 1625. Charles I issued a proclamation for "settling the plantation of Virginia." The colony was reduced under the immediate direction of the crown, and the commission to the new governor and council was accompanied with arbitrary instructions. "The commerce of the colony was restrained, and the persons of the colonists enslaved." 1649. William Chappel, bishop of Cork, died. His works have been translated into English. To him is ascribed, among others, the authorship of the Whole Duty of Man. 1704. Louis Bourdaloue died; esteemed the best preacher that France ever produced. 1728. Counsellor Hagen, formerly secretary to the famous baron Gortz, shot himself through the head. He left a letter to king George II, and a paper stating "I am quite weary of eating and drinking, of shunning my creditors, weary of being burthensome to my friends, weary of being vexatious to my enemies, and lastly tired with myself." 1734. James Thornhill, an eminent English historical painter, died. 1736. The foundation of the Ratcliffe library laid at Oxford, England. 1760. A copy of Tendall's testament sold at Oxford for 20 guineas, supposed to be the only copy of that edition unburned by Tonstall. This book occasioned some prelates to say that they must root out printing or printing would root out them. 1783. Society of Cincinnati established; originated by Gen. Knox, and composed exclusively of officers who had served in the regular army during the revolutionary war. 1790. Action in the port of Revel, between the Swedish fleet of 23 ships and 18 frigates, and the Russian fleet of 11 sail and 5 frigates, protected by several batteries and fortifications. A furious storm raged at the time, which destroyed two Swedish ships. 1799. Bartholomew Mercier, abbot of St. Leger, died; a learned French author and a worthy man, whom the revolution reduced to poverty and wretchedness. 1806. Broome county in the state of New York erected. 1814. Madam Murat surrendered the fleet and arsenal at Naples, and Ferdinand returned to his capital. 1814. British cannonaded and bombarded the town of Charlotte at the mouth of Genesee river. It was successfully defended by Gen. Peter B. Porter, with 150 volunteers and 350 militia. 1816. Treaty between the United States and the Sac Indians of Rock river. 1825. Charles Whitworth, an English earl, died; employed by the government as ambassador to different courts of Europe—a man of much private worth and unquestioned talent. 1832. George Leopold Cuvier, the French naturalist, died. His grand work, the Animal Kingdom, forms an imperishable monument of his genius. 1835. Elizabeth Cook, widow of Capt. James Cook, the circumnavigator, died near London, aged 94. She survived her husband 55 years, and was highly esteemed for her virtues. 1835. John Nash, the architect of Regent street, Buckingham palace, &c., London, died. 1836. Sir Charles Wilkins, an eminent oriental scholar, died. 1839. Joseph Fresch, archbishop of Lyons, died. He was the uncle of Bonaparte, and after the fall of the emperor resided at Rome in the enjoyment of immense wealth, and one of the first picture galleries in that city. 1841. The American Bible Society celebrated its 25th anniversary at New York. The whole amount of receipts during the year preceding, was $118,860·41; the number of Bibles and testaments published and circulated through the efforts of the society since its organization, three millions. 1849. A revolution at Carlsruhe, and the grand duke of Baden fled. 1852. George Dolland, an English astronomer and optician, died, aged 78. His father and grandfather followed the same pursuits. He is the author of the Atmospheric Recorder. MAY 14.1097. The siege of Nice, the Turkish capital of Soliman, sultan of Roum, opened by the French crusaders, whose camps formed an imperfect circle of more than 6 miles. 1501. Amerigo Vespucci sailed with three ships furnished him by Emanuel of Portugal. This was his third voyage, which he extended as far as Patagonia. 1602. Bartholomew Gosnold, after a passage of 7 weeks direct west from England, discovered land on the American coast, and fell in with a shallop with sails and oars, manned by Indians, with whom they had friendly intercourse. They are represented as naked, "save neere their wastes seale skins tyed fast like to Irish dimmi trouses;" and the chief wore a few things of European fabric, described the coast with a piece of chalk, and "spake diverse Christian words." Their vessel is supposed to have belonged to some wrecked fishermen of Biscay. 1652. British commodore Young fell in with a Dutch convoy, and demanded that according to an act of king John (A. D. 1200) they should strike their flag to the British flag. This being refused, a severe action ensued, which ended in the Dutch flag being struck, after which they were permitted to proceed! 1667. Joan Henry Ursinus died; a Lutheran divine, eminent for his learning in sacred and profane history. 1692. Sir William Phips arrived at Boston with the new charter by William and Mary, where he was received with great pomp, and conducted by the military, magistrates, ministers, and principal men of the country to the town-house, where the charter was published. This charter included the whole of old Massachusetts, Plymouth colony, the provinces of Maine and Nova Scotia, the islands of Elizabeth, Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, as the province of Massachusetts, of which Phips was appointed governor. 1761. Thomas Simpson, an eminent English mathematician, died. He was a weaver in the lowest circumstances, who raised himself to distinction by close application to science. 1780. Peter Montan le Berton died; an eminent French musician, and manager of the operas at Paris. 1781. Lieut. col. Christopher Greene (the conqueror of count Donop) and major Flag, surprised and murdered at Croton river, by a party of refugees. 1785. Canal opened between the Baltic and North seas. 1796. Vaccination for cowpox first applied by Dr. Jenner. 1796. Bonaparte made his public entry into Milan under a triumphal arch. 1798. David Ruhnkenius died; professor of belles-lettres and history, and librarian in the university at Leyden, and a learned and able critic. 1805. Robert Bisset died; a Scottish historian, biographer, and novelist. 1810. Lerida, in Spain, surrendered to the French general Suchet, who found large quantities of stores. Same day, Catalonians defeated the French, whose loss is stated at 45,000, and that of the Catalonians 25,000. 1814. British fleet on lake Champlain commenced a heavy cannonade on the American batteries under colonel Davis, at the mouth of Otter creek. The British were compelled to retreat. 1814. French defeated at Madrid by lord Wellington. 1814. Spanish squadron belonging to Monte Video, defeated by the Buenos Ayrean squadron under com. Brown. 1820. Henry Grattan, an Irish statesman, died. He warmly espoused the 1826. State prison at Sing Sing, New York, commenced. MAY 15.164 B. C. The Jews, upon the 15th Sivan, celebrate a feast for the victory of Judas MaccabÆus over the people of Bethsan, or Scythopolis. 67. Vespasian invested Jotopata, in Galilee, defended by Josephus, the historian, a very interesting siege as it respects the latter. 392. Valentinian, emperor of Rome, strangled at Vienne, in Milan, by order of Arbogastes, his rebellious general. 1213. King John, oppressed with guilt and despair, resigned the kingdoms of England and Ireland to the pope, to be held of him and of the Roman church in fee, by the annual rent of 1,000 marks. 1464. Battle of Hexham, on the banks of the Dilswater, and defeat of the Lancastrians under the duke of Somerset, by Edward IV. The fate of the royal family after this defeat was extremely singular and distressing. 1494. Columbus discovered a great number of small islands in the West Indies, which he called the Queen's Garden. These were in his opinion the 5,000 islands which Marco Polo and Mandeville described as the boundary of India. 1548. The emperor Charles V laid before the diet of Augsburg a rule of faith, which he compelled them to acquiesce in, notwithstanding that it was disapproved by both protestants and papists. 1567. Marriage of Mary, queen of Scots, and the earl of Bothwell. 1571. Moscow burnt by the Tartars, who had surrounded the city, and set it on fire at all points. The entire city was burnt down, and upwards of 200,000 of the inhabitants perished in the flames. 1602. Bartholomew Gosnold, in search of a suitable place to settle a plantation, discovered a head land in 42 deg., where he came to anchor; and taking a great number of cod at this place, they called it cape Cod, which name it still retains. 1618. The celebrated Kepler discovered his canon for the periodical motion of the planets. 1645. Battle of Alderne, in which the earl of Montrose defeated the Scots under Urrey with great slaughter. 1664. The Dutch governor surrendered the island of Cayenne to the French, by treaty. 1674. BesanÇon, an ancient city of France, taken by Louis XIV. 1679. The Ashmolean museum, at Oxford, England, founded for the purpose of receiving the antiquary's "twelve cartloads of rarities." 1716. John Bagford, an English antiquary, died. He was originally a shoemaker, became a bookseller, and an amateur of old English books and curious prints, with which he enriched several famous libraries. 1719. Francis Malaval died; a Frenchman, who, although he lost his sight when 9 months old, acquired celebrity as a mystical writer on quietism. 1737. Alexander Cunningham, a Scottish historian, died. He wrote a valuable History of Great Britain in Latin, which remained in manuscript till 1787, when it was translated by Thompson, and published in 2 vols. quarto. 1740. Ephraim Chambers, an English encyclopedist, died. He was apprenticed to a globemaker, and during his minority projected his Dictionary of the Arts and Sciences, which appeared in 1728 in 2 vols. folio. It was extended by Dr. Rees to 45 vols. quarto. 1747. British fleet under Anson captured 1 French ship of 74 guns, 5 of 64, 4 of 60, 1 of 50, and 20 merchantmen. 1766. John Astruc, a French physician, died; author of several useful and curious works. 1772. Antony Francis Riccoboni died; an Italian actor, author of Art du ThÉatre, a work of great merit. 1773. Alban Butler died; director of the English college of St. Omer's, and author of the Lives of the Fathers, Saints and Martyrs, with valuable notes. 1775. Congress resolved to issue paper money. 1776. American fort at the Cedars, 43 miles above Montreal, surrendered by maj. Butterfield, with 390 men, to capt. Foster, with 650 British and Indians. (See May 20, 27.) 1781. Fort Granby surrendered by the British to col. Lee. 1789. The number of emigrants which had passed through Muskingum to settle in Kentucky since the first of Aug., 1786, (not including those who passed in the night unnoticed) was 19,882. These were accompanied by 8,884 horses, 2,297 cattle, 1,920 sheep, 627 wagons, and 1,067 boats. 1800. James Mallet du Pan died in England, where he took refuge from the revolutionary mania of France. He was a literary and political writer, distinguished by the extent of his knowledge and vigor of style, as well as probity and independence of character. 1800. Bonaparte crossed the mount St. Bernard. Each man, says sir Walter Scott, 1802. The Portuguese frigate Cine captured by the Algerines, after a smart action. The crew having ran below, the officers were all cut to pieces. 1814. The British plundered Poultneyville, on lake Ontario. They were driven off by general Swift. 1817. David Irving died at Philadelphia. He was taken prisoner on board the United States frigate Philadelphia at Tripoli and imprisoned there two years. 1821. John Wall Callcott died; an English musical composer, and author of a Musical Grammar. 1821. John Bonnycastle died; an English mathematician, whose works are in use in this country. He contributed the mathematical articles for Rees's Cyclopedia. 1830. An extensive shower of red dust extending over Italy, Malta, Sicily, Sardinia, &c., observed by Dr. John Davy. 1833. Edmund Kean, a celebrated English tragedian, died. It is ascertained that the total sum which he received for acting from 1814, was £177,000, averaging nearly $40,000 per annum for 19 years; yet he died poor. 1836. The village of Roanoke, on the Chatahoochee, Ga., attacked and stormed by 300 Indians, and burnt to ashes. 1838. John Murphy died in Fauquier county, Va., aged 106. 1847. Daniel O'Connel, the Irish agitator, died at Genoa, on his way to Rome. His heart was sent forward and his body carried back to Ireland. 1848. Attempted communist counter revolution in Paris. 1848. Richard H. Toler, a distinguished writer and for 23 years editor of the Lynchburgh Virginian, died at Richmond. 1854. George Perkins, a retired Boston merchant, was murdered by the Chinese crew of a boat which he had engaged to take him ashore at Macao, whither he had just arrived from San Francisco. 1854. The ship Townsend, from Boston to San Francisco destroyed by fire, and several lives lost. 1854. An explosion took place in the Blackheath coal mines, Virginia; by which of the twenty-three workmen only one escaped death. 1855. The universal industrial exhibition was opened at Paris by Louis Napoleon. 1855. A destructive tornado swept over a portion of Lapeer county, Michigan. MAY 16.1277. John XXI, pope, killed by the fall of a building. He was a Portuguese, and wrote on philosophy, medicine, &c. 1525. Thomas Munzer, a Saxon divine, executed. In conjunction with Stork, he pulled down all the images in the churches which Luther had left standing, and finally at the head of 40,000 men, commenced leveler of all ranks and distinctions, as usurpations on the rights of mankind. He was at length defeated in battle, when 7,000 of his followers were slain and himself captured. 1568. Mary, queen of Scots, crossed the frith of Solway, the irremeable stream, and landed in England. 1681. Female dancers first introduced on the Parisian stage, in a court opera, called Le Triumphe de l'Amour. 1691. Leisler and Milbourne hung as the cause of the Schenectady massacre. 1710. Thomas Smith died; a learned English writer on the manners and religion of the Turks, &c. 1725. Paul de Rapin de Thoyras, an eminent French historical writer, died. He served in the English army, and devoted 17 years to a History of England, which was published in 10 vols. quarto. 1747. M. Buffon, the celebrated naturalist, communicated to the Academy of sciences the results of some experiments on burning glasses, asserting the account of Archimedes burning the Roman ships at Syracuse, were neither absurd nor false. 1770. Louis XVI of France espoused Maria Antoinette, archduchess of Austria. A violent tempest on that day was regarded as an omen of future misfortunes. 1776. The French navigator, De Pages, passed the 81st degree of north latitude, in an attempt to reach the pole. 1776. John Hoadley, an English poet and dramatic writer, died. He was the son of bishop Hoadley, took orders and was loaded with preferments. 1782. Daniel Charles Solander, a celebrated Swedish naturalist, died. He was the pupil of LinnÆus; visited England, and went with Cook on his voyage round the world. 1793. Edmund C. Genet, the French minister, arrived at Philadelphia. He was received with much enthusiasm by the citizens. (See July 14.) 1795. The Batavian republic formed, by the aid of the French, in imitation of France; being governed by a legislature and a directory of five. 1801. Battle of Heliopolis; the French under Belliard defeated by the Turks under the grand vizier. 1806. Blockade of the Elbe and of Brest, a coast of 1000 miles, with no place invested by land, and before many of the ports no blockading ships. 1809. The rear guard of the French army attacked at Salamonde in Portugal, and compelled to retreat before superior forces, with the loss of their artillery and baggage; having lost about 8,000 men, 2,000 of whom were slaughtered by the Portuguese. The army was a fortnight without clothing, shoes, provisions, &c., excepting those procured by marauding, and they must all have been destroyed but for the great military talents of Soult. 1811. Battle of Albuera, in Spain; the allies defeated by the French under Soult; about 20,000 men fell in this battle. 1811. Action between the United States frigate President, Rogers, and British ship Little-Belt, which was captured. 1813. Battle of Mignano, Italy, and defeat of the French. 1828. William Congreve, a British officer, died; inventor of the Congreve rocket, a hydro-pneumatic canal lock, and a new method of manufacturing gun powder, &c. 1830. The bill to remove the civil disabilities of the Jews rejected in the British parliament by a vote of 288 to 165. 1830. Great eruption of mount Ætna; seven new craters were formed, and eight villages were destroyed, to which the lava had never before extended. 1835. Felicia Dorothea Hemans, a celebrated English poetess, died. Her poems were extremely popular during her lifetime, and have been published in 2 vols. 1838. New York state banks resumed specie payment. 1841. A constitution of the republic of Yucatan decreed by the legislature and published at Merida, the capital; Yucatan having declared its absolute independence of the republic of Mexico. 1842. Count de Las Casas, author of the Memoirs of Napoleon, died near Paris. 1849. The city of Bologna capitulated to the Austrians after a conflict of eight days. 1850. William Hendricks, for some time governor of Indiana, died at Madison, aged 67. 1854. Tornadoes occurred in Alabama, Missouri and Illinois, accompanied with extensive damage to property. 1855. General Canrobert resigned the command of the French troops in the Crimea, and was succeeded by general Pelissier. MAY 17.1039. Harold I, the second Danish monarch of England, died, at Oxford. A heavy tax which he imposed on his people made him unpopular. He was buried at Winchester; but by the cruel edicts of his brother the body was dug up, beheaded and thrown into the Thames; recovered and again buried only to be a second time disinterred and committed to the Thames; found and privately buried at Westminster. 1163. Heloise, abbess of the Paraclete, died; celebrated as the mistress of Abelard, and for her learning. She was entombed with her husband. At the dissolution of the monasteries in 1792, the principal inhabitants of Nogent-sur-Seine went in grand procession to the Paraclete, to transfer the remains of the lovers to a vault in their church. In 1800 they were transported to Paris, and one of the most picturesque and interesting ornaments in the cemetery of Pere la Chaise, is the sepulchral chapel covering their remains, constructed from the ruins of the Paraclete. 1498. Vasquez de Gama discovered the continent of India. On his return he again doubled cape Good Hope, which had long been regarded as the ne plus ultra of navigation. 1536. George Boleyn, an English statesman, beheaded. He was a man of learning and ability, whose elevation followed that of his sister Anne as queen; and when she fell, he too was degraded and unjustly condemned. 1575. Matthew Parker, second protestant archbishop of Canterbury, died. He was deeply versed in Saxon literature and published a work on the antiquity of the English church. 1610. Gervase Babington died; bishop of Worcester and an eminent theological writer. 1617. Jacob Augustus Thuanus (alias De Thou) died; an illustrious French statesman and historian. 1664. The English conventicle act was passed forbidding more than five persons meeting for religious purposes except those regulated by the book of common prayer. 1690. A party of French and Indians under the sieur Hertel, returning from a marauding excursion among the English settlements, attacked and destroyed the fort at Casco, Me. 1723. Joseph Bingham, an English 1727. Catharine Alexievna, empress of Russia, died. She was the daughter of a peasant of Livonia, married a Swedish dragoon, who was killed on the same day in battle. The Russian general Bauer made her his mistress, after which she lived a short time with prince Mentschicoff. In her 17th year she became the mistress of Peter the Great, who afterwards married her and presented her with the diadem and the sceptre. After his death she was proclaimed sovereign empress of all the Russias, and showed herself worthy of her high fortune. 1729. Samuel Clarke, a famous English divine, died; celebrated also for his writings on mathematics, &c. 1732. William Lowth died; a celebrated English theological writer and commentator. 1738 O. S. Bell, the Scottish traveler, returned to St. Petersburg from his embassy to Constantinople, whither he went at the earnest solicitation of the Russian cabinet, and the British minister. This was the last of his expeditions, and was undertaken in the midst of winter, through a country exposed to all the horrors of a barbarous warfare, attended by only one servant, who understood the Turkish language. 1740. Peter Julian Rouille, a French Jesuit, died; professor of theology and philosophy to his order, and co-editor of the Roman History, 21 vols. quarto. 1742. Battle of Czaslau, or Chatusitz, in Bohemia; the Prussians defeated the Austrians, who lost 7,000; Prussian loss, 3,000. 1749. Samuel Boyse, an Irish poet, died. His talents were amply rewarded, but he unfortunately had a disposition to practice the meanest deceptions to procure benefactions, which brought him to wretchedness and contempt. 1767. Roger Wolcott, governor of Connecticut, died. He never attended school a single day of his life, yet gradually rose by his own efforts to the highest military and civil honors. 1772. The theatre at Amsterdam, in Holland, took fire and burned to death 31 persons. 1774. At a town meeting of the inhabitants of Providence, R. I., the subject of a general congress was acted upon, being the first act of the kind by a public assemblage. 1794. Battle of Surcoign; British defeated by the French after a sanguinary conflict. 1797. Revolution in Venice, and a democratic government formed under the direction of the French general Angereau. 1797. Louis XVIII compelled to quit the Venetian territory. 1797. Michel Jean Sedaine, a French dramatic writer, died, aged 78. Bred to the occupation of a stone mason, by application to study he won a place in the French academy. 1801. A French convoy of 560 men with 1 cannon and 550 camels, in Egypt, captured by the British. 1801. William Heberden died; an English physician and medical writer. 1809. Bonaparte issued from Vienna a decree declaring the temporal sovereignty of the pope to be wholly at an end, and incorporating Rome with the French empire. The "holy father" instantly fulminated a bull of excommunication against the daring emperor, but it did not avail; his holiness was taken in his palace and conveyed away at midnight, under pretence that a life so sacred in the eyes of all Christians, might be endangered! 1817. Samuel Jessup died; an opulent English grazier, of pilltaking notoriety. An apothecary's bill, which was given in evidence on a trial a short time previous to his death, affords a table of statistics which will not be exceeded by the memorabilia of the life of any man. In 21 years he took 226,934 pills. He began with a moderate appetite, which increased as he proceeded, so that in the last five years he took them at the rate of 78 a day, and in the year 1814 swallowed not less than 51,590. Notwithstanding this, and an addition of 40,000 bottles of mixtures, he attained the advanced age of 65 years. 1829. John Jay, a distinguished American statesman, died, aged 84. His public services commenced in 1774, and continued till 1801, when he retired to private life; distinguished as a man of great discernment, extensive information, and fine talents as a writer. 1829. Battle between the Russians under general Diebitsch, and the Turks; the latter of whom, 5,000 in number, were defeated and driven into Silistria, with heavy losses on both sides. 1829. Battle of Pravadia, between the Russian army under general Roth, and the Turks under the grand vizier. The Turks are said to have lost 2,000, and the Russians 1,000. The latter maintained their ground, but no important advantage was gained by either party. 1831. Nathaniel Rochester, an officer in the revolution, died at Rochester, New York, from whom the town took its name. 1841. About 250 feet of the cliff on which the defences of the city of Quebec stand, fell away, causing the ruin of several buildings, and the death of about 30 persons. 1843. Peter W. Gallaudet died at Washington, D. C., aged 88. The Washington manual laborer school and the Howard institution can bear testimony to his industry and patriotism. 1848. Massacre in Naples, justified by the king, on the ground of necessity; 1777 bodies were found, 400 troops killed, and the city given up to pillage. 1849. A severe and very destructive fire at St. Louis, Missouri. 1850. Gallinas, the noted slave factory on the west of Africa, purchased by the Liberian republic. 1856. Redwood Fisher, an American author, died, aged 73. He began business as a merchant in Philadelphia; subsequently edited a daily paper in New York, and took an active part in public affairs. He published several volumes on political economy, and was much interested in statistics. MAY 18.975. Edward (the martyr), murdered by his step-mother. He was the son of king Edgar who enacted laws against excessive drinking, ordaining a size with pins in the cup with penalties on any who should presume to drink deeper than the mark. Hence the phrase drinking deep. 1291. The city of Acre, in Palestine, taken by the Turks; after a siege of 30 days the double wall was forced by the Moslems, the principal tower yielded to their engines, the Mamelukes made a general assault, the city was stormed, and death or slavery was the lot of 60,000 Christians, and the Holy Land was again in the hands of the Turks. 1410. Robert, emperor of Germany, died, just as a powerful combination had been formed to deprive him of the crown. 1565. The Turks under Mustapha, pasha, to the number of 30,000 choice troops, landed on the island of Malta, with a view to extirpate the knights. But the desperate resistance they encountered compelled them to abandon the island with the loss of 25,000 men. Loss of the knights 7,000. 1596. Heemskerk, accompanied by Jan Cornelissen Ryp, with two vessels again attempted the discovery of a northern passage to India. In this voyage he became embayed in ice, and passed the winter in the arctic regions, exposed to the rigors of the climate, and other perils. The ill success of this expedition destroyed all hope with the Dutch of finding a northern passage to China. 1652. Naval action near Dover, England; admiral Van Tromp refusing to pay honor to the British flag by lowering his own, brought on a furious battle between him and admiral Blake. One of the Dutch ships taken, and one sunk. 1663. Samuel Des Marets, a French protestant divine, died; celebrated for his controversies, in which he was diligently engaged 18 years, and displayed astonishing knowledge and erudition. 1664. "His sacred majesty," Charles II, advertised that he would attend to healing his people of the king's evil, by touching, during the month of May. 1675. Stanislaus Lubienietski, a celebrated Polish Socinian, died in exile at Hamburg. His theological works are numerous, but he is better known by a work on comets, entitled Theatrum Cometicum, which was written to show that comets portend both good and evil, in opposition to the prevailing notion that they were the harbingers of misfortune only! It contained an elaborate account of all the comets recorded in history (415), down to the year 1665. 1676. Indian battle at Turner's falls, on Connecticut river above Greenfield. The Indians having planted nothing, were unwilling to lose the fishing season also, and had encamped here in great security; when three of the towns below hearing of their position mustered about 150 men, mounted on horses, and set out for their camp. Arriving towards morning, they tied their horses, and proceeding about a quarter of a mile farther, found them sleeping in their huts, without any sentinels or guard. The attack was so sudden and unexpected that they fled, many into the river where they perished, and others were killed under the banks where they had concealed themselves. The Indians at first supposed they had received a visit from their friends the Mohawks, but the daylight disclosing the error, and the fewness of their assailants, they rallied and 1692. Elias Ashmole, a noted English antiquary, died. His valuable collection of coins, to the number of 9,000 besides books and other curiosities, were destroyed by fire; but his most valuable gold coins and manuscripts escaped. He was an indefatigable laborer in the cause of science. 1701. Frederick Spanheim died; a noted divinity professor at Leyden, and a voluminous writer. 1724. Cardinal Vincent Maria Orsini elected pope and took the name of Benedict XIII. 1733. Edmund Chishull, an English traveler, died; author of a book of travels in Turkey. 1742. Richard Joy (the English Samson), died; a man of wonderful strength. 1769. Virginia entered into the non-importation agreement. 1773. Boundary line between New York and Massachusetts agreed upon. 1787. First attempt made to engrave on glass by M. de Puymaurin, at Toulouse. 1794. Battle of Bullion; French under Jourdan defeated by the Austrians under Beaulieu with the loss of 1,200 killed. 1794. Battle of Tournay; British defeated by the French. 1794. Battle of Lannoy, in France, between the French under Pichegru, and the British under the duke of York; the latter defeated with the loss of sixty pieces of cannon. 1800. Peter Alexis Wasiliowitsch, count Suwaroff-Rimnitskoy, died; a Russian general, known in the wars of Europe as Gen. Suwarrow; distinguished for his bravery and abilities, and equally so for his inhumanities. 1803. War was again declared between France and England. Who, asked Bonaparte, is responsible for the consequences. Ah! who indeed. 1804. The conservative senate of France declared Bonaparte emperor. 1805. Battle of Derne, in Barbary, which was attacked by the Tripolitan army, and defended by the American general Eaton, who repulsed the assailants with great slaughter. 1807. John Douglas, bishop of Salisbury, died. He was one of the first literary characters of the age, and the last surviving member but one of the beef steak club, celebrated by Goldsmith in his poem of Retaliation. 1821. Timothy Bigelow, an eminent lawyer of Massachusetts, died. He was 11 years speaker of the assembly, and during a practice of thirty-two years, argued 15,000 causes. 1822. Iturbide declared emperor of Mexico by the army under the title of Augustin I. 1832. Cassimir Perrier, prime minister of France, died. He left the army in 1800 to become a banker, in which capacity he acquired an immense fortune, with the advantages of which he combined great mental capacity, talent for business and habits of public speaking. He was one of the few victims of cholera in the higher ranks of life. 1843. Charles Bagot, governor-general of the British North American provinces, died at Kingston, in Canada. 1848. Commander Henry Pinckney, of the United States navy, was drowned by the swamping of a boat. 1850. Great fire at the village of Corning, Chemung county, New York. 1855. John C. Spencer, an American statesman, died at Albany, aged 67. He was a man of intellect and energy, and was in public life from an early age. He achieved his highest fame from his connection with the revision of the statutes of New York. MAY 19.804. Flaccus Alcuinus, an English ecclesiastic, died in France. He may be considered as one of the learned few whose genius dissipated the gloom of the 8th century. His writings, most of which are extant, were published 1617. (See Dec. 1.) 1122. Lincoln in England destroyed by fire. 1217. Battle of Lincoln; the French defeated, and England effectually secured from the dominion of Lewis the Dauphin, who was then holding his court within the walls of London. 1218. Otho IV (the proud), emperor of Germany, died. He laid claim to some of the territories of the pope, by whom he was excommunicated and deposed. 1242. Henry III of England embarked for France, taking with him 30 hhds of silver. 1494. Columbus, proceeding towards Cuba, named the headland Cabo de Cruz on this day. He now ascertained from the natives that Cuba was an island, but after coasting it 335 leagues from the eastern point, renounced the idea; and but for the scarcity of provisions, would have attempted to return to Europe by way of the Red sea, under the impression that he was on the coast of India. 1610. Thomas Sanchez, a Spanish Jesuit, died, and was buried with extraordinary magnificence. His works are ingenious. 1613. King James issued farthing tokens by proclamation. 1622. Osman I, sultan of Turkey, strangled by his soldiery. He undertook an expedition against Poland, in which he lost 80,000 men and 100,000 horses: these misfortunes were attributed to the Janizaries, who thereupon hurled him from the throne. 1643. Battle of Rocroy, between the French and Spaniards, in which the French under the duke d'Enghien gained a signal victory. 1651. Peter Wright, chaplain to the marquis of Winchester, executed. Romanist priests were viewed in the same light as highway robbers. 1656. John Hales died; an English author, so much admired for his wit and learning, that he is called the ever memorable. 1670. Ferdinando Ugheli, a Florentine monk, died; distinguished for his learning and his virtues. 1676. John Greenhill died; an eminent English painter. 1692. Battle of La Hogue; the combined English and Dutch fleets defeated the French of 50 sail, who lost 20 of their largest men of war, and were prevented from making a descent on England. 1715. Charles Montague, earl Halifax, died; an eminent English statesman, orator and poet. 1769. Cardinal Ganganelli proclaimed pope under the title of Clement XIV. 1776. Captain Mugford having secured his prize (see May 17) and put to sea again, was attacked by 13 British boats, whom he beat off; but was himself killed, being the only person injured. 1780. Dark day in New England, occasioned by a thin cloud or vapor. The people dined by candlelight, and the darkness of the night is represented as Egyptian. 1788. Samuel Badcock, an English divine and writer, died; admired as a pulpit orator and a man of literary talent. 1788. Congress ordered two cannon to be named, one John Hancock, and the other Adams; being one moiety of four cannon which constituted the whole train of artillery possessed by the colonies at the commencement of the war. The other two were taken by the British. 1795. James Boswell, died, aged 55; a Scottish lawyer, rendered famous as the friend and biographer of Dr. Johnson, with whom he lived in the closest intimacy. 1795. Josiah Bartlett, one of the signers, died. He was a delegate from New Hampshire in the first congress, and his was the first name called on the vote of the declaration of independence. 1798. Bonaparte with an immense armament sailed from Toulon for the conquest of Egypt. The sunrise was splendid and similar phenomena were called the suns of Napoleon. 1798. Intelligence having been received by the British that a number of transports fitted out at Flushing were intended to be sent round by the canals to Ostend and Dunkirk, for the purpose of invading England, an expedition was despatched to destroy the sluices and basin of the Bruges canal at Ostend. The direction of the enterprise was entrusted to general Coote and captain Home Popham, who on this day disembarked their troops, and in a few hours the sluices were blown up, and several vessels in the canals destroyed; but on returning to the beach, the wind and surf were so high, that it was impossible to re-embark; meanwhile the country being alarmed, the enemy advanced upon them with a superior force, and the British, after a spirited resistance, were compelled to capitulate. Of 1000 forces landed more than 100 were killed or wounded, among whom was general Coote. 1808. Action in the night between British ship Virginia, and Dutch frigate Gelderland; the latter captured. 1810. Explosion of a powder magazine at New Haswell in Hungary, which destroyed 300 houses, killed 80 persons, and 300 were dug out of the ruins alive. 1831. Francis Maseres, an English mathematician, died, aged 93. He was not only an author, but devoted a part of his income to reprinting such works as he thought useful either in illustration of mathematical history or of that of his country. Penny Cyclopedia says 1824, which agrees with the 93 years from the date of his birth. 1838. Thomas T. Biddulph, an eminent English clergyman, died. He was the author of various publications, one of which, Sixteen Short Sermons, has been translated into 15 languages. 1850. A body of Americans under gen. Paredez landed on the island of Cuba, with a view to revolutionize it, and took the town of Cardenas. 1853. The Chinese rebels captured the city of Amoy. 1854. William Hulme Cooper, a lieutenant in the British navy, died, aged 26, from the effects of exposure and privation during four years arctic service in search 1856. John Keating died at Philadelphia, aged 96. He was a native of France and in early life was an officer in the service of Louis XVI. He came to the United States after the death of that monarch, with about thirty families of the French noblesse and military, and founded the colony of The Asylum, near Towanda, in Pennsylvania. MAY 20.526. Earthquake at Antioch, by which 250,000 persons are said to have perished. 1499. Alonzo de Ojeda sailed from Cadiz on a western voyage of discovery, accompanied by Amerigo Vespucci. It is uncertain in what station Amerigo sailed, but he appears to have had a chief share in directing the voyage, and on his return published an amusing account of the country they visited; which having a rapid circulation, he was supposed to be the discoverer, and it came gradually to be called by his name. 1506. Christopher Columbus, the discoverer of the new world, died at Valladolid in Spain, aged about 70. He had devoted his whole life to the study and accomplishment of his grand enterprise, and its complete success embittered the remainder of his days by exciting the perfidy and ingratitude of a base and treacherous nation. 1521. Cortez mustered his army in the great market place of Tezcuco, to make a division of it, appoint commanders, assign to each the station where they were to form their camps, in order to invest the city of Mexico. (See May 30.) 1610. Nicholas Serarius, a French Jesuit, died. His works, 16 vols. folio, display great labor and extensive erudition. 1618. King James publicly declared his pleasure, "that after the end of divine service, the people should not be letted from any lawful recreation on Sundays, such as dancing, archery, vaulting, May-games, Whitsun-ales, morris-dances, and the setting up of May-poles, and other sports therewith used." 1690. John Eliot, the apostle of the Indians, died, aged 86. He was the first protestant clergyman who preached the gospel to the North American Indians. 1713. Thomas Sprat, an English prelate and poet, died; he was distinguished as a writer, and rewarded with preferments. 1726. Nicholas Brady died; an Irish divine of good ability and learning, translated Virgil and wrote a new version of the Psalms in conjunction with Tate. 1728. James le Quien de la Neufville, a French historian, died; author of an excellent history of Portugal, &c. 1732. Thomas Boston, a Scottish divine, died; author of the well known book, Human Nature in its Fourfold State. 1735. The Turks defeated by the Prussians, and more than 60,000 killed and wounded. 1736. The body of one Samuel Baldwin, of England, in compliance with his will, immersed in the sea at Lymington. His motive for this extraordinary mode of interment was to prevent his wife from dancing over his grave, which she had threatened to do in case she survived him. 1756. Naval action at Fort Philip, Minorca, between the French fleet, 12 ships 5 frigates, and the British, 13 ships 5 frigates. Admiral Byng was afterwards shot in England, on an unjust charge of cowardice in this affair. 1758. The scenery and wardrobe of the Bath theatre burned by the wagons taking fire on which it was being transported over Salisbury plain. 1774. British parliament passed an act for transporting Americans to England for trial. 1775. Articles of confederation and union agreed on by the American colonies. 1778. Gen. Grant with 7000 British, made an attempt to surprise La Fayette, then posted at Barren-hill, Pa., with 2500 men. The latter escaped by a masterly retreat. 1783. William Robertson, the Scottish divine, died. 1789. The French clergy renounced their privileges. 1793. Charles Bonnet, a noted Swiss naturalist, died at Geneva. 1796. Bonaparte passed the river Po; Marceau and Championnet drove the Austrians from Hunsruch; they were also defeated on the Sieg, with the loss of 2400. 1799. Bonaparte raised the siege of St. Jean d'Acre; it had lasted 60 days. 1799. Joseph Towers died; a printer, bookseller, and afterwards a preacher with 1800. Bonaparte passed mount St. Bernard, among the Alps, after astonishing efforts. 1813. Battle of Bautzen, between Russians and Prussians under Barclay de Tolly, and French under Bonaparte. 1813. American frigate Congress, capt. Smith, captured British brig Jean, 10 guns, took out 40 tons copper and sunk her. 1815. Murat, king of Naples, left the city in disguise, while his queen sought the security which had been promised her on board a British man of war. 1820. Charles Louis Sand executed; the murderer of Kotzebue. 1840. Joseph Blanco White, an English preacher and controversial writer, died, aged 67. He was the author of various works, and distinguished himself by the zeal and ability with which he opposed the catholic religion. 1841. William P. Dewees, a distinguished medical writer, died at Philadelphia. 1848. A treaty of peace made with the Navajo Indians and the United States. 1855. The king of Hanover issued an ordinance annulling the constitution settled in 1848, and the provincial electoral law of 1850. 1856. James King, editor of the Evening Mirror, at San Francisco, California, died of a pistol wound inflicted in the street a few days before by Casey, editor of the Sunday Times. Casey was arrested and conveyed to jail under great popular excitement. Subsequently the vigilance committee, numbering 3000 men, proceeded to the jail, and took Casey and another murderer to the committee rooms, where they were tried, and soon after hung. MAY 21.216 B. C. Battle of CannÆ, in Italy, in which the Roman consuls were vanquished by Hannibal, with a loss of 40,000 men, including Paulus Æmylius, and 5,630 knights. The Carthaginians seemed not to know the use of victory. 987. Louis V (the lazy), king of France, poisoned by his wife, Blanche. 1342. John Cantacuzenus, the historian of his own times, and a defender of the faith, inaugurated emperor of Constantinople. 1420. Treaty of Troyes, by which Henry V of England was to marry Kate, daughter of Charles VII of France, and the two kingdoms to be united under Henry on the death of Charles. 1502. The island of St. Helena discovered. 1542. Ferdinand de Soto, a Spanish adventurer, died at the confluence of the Guacoya and Mississippi. He was a companion of Pizarro in his Peruvian expedition, and amassed great wealth; after which he became governor of Cuba. He fitted out an expedition to search Florida for more gold, and lost his life. 1643. Battle of Wakefield; the forces of Charles I defeated by the parliamentary troops. 1647. Peter Cornelius Hooft, one of the most eminent poets and prose writers of Holland, died. 1649. The commonwealth of England proclaimed. 1650. James Graham, marquis of Montrose, executed. He fought with great bravery in the royal cause; but being at length captured he was hung on a gallows 30 feet high at Edinburgh, and his quartered remains exposed over the city gates. 1682. Michael Angelo Ricci, an Italian cardinal, died; celebrated as a mathematician. 1718. Gaspard Abeille, a French poet and wit, died. His writings are not much esteemed. 1723. James Maboul, an eloquent French preacher, died; author of Orationes Funebres. 1724. Robert Harley, earl of Oxford, died; an English statesman and literary character. 1745. British squadron captured French ship Vigilant, 64 guns, and 560 men, with a cargo valued at £60,000. 1762. British ships Active and Favorite captured the Spanish ship Hermione from Lima, with a cargo of $2,308,700. The four highest British officers shared $288,000 each. 1780. Village of Johnstown, New York, burnt by the tories. 1781. British fort Dreadnought surrendered to the Americans under Gen. Lee. 1782. American general Wayne defeated a considerable body of British under Col. Brown, near Savannah. 1789. John Hawkins, an English writer, died; author of a History of Music in 5 vols. quarto. 1790. Thomas Warton, an English poet died; author of a History of Poetry, 3 vols. 1794. French under Dumas scaled mount Cenis. 1794. Bastia, in Corsica, surrendered to lord Hood. 1796. Battles of Tombio and Codogno; the French defeated the Austrians; the gallant French gen. La Harpe killed. 1799. Archduke Charles crossed the Rhine into Switzerland. 1804. The first interment in the cemetery 1807. Dantzic surrendered to the French after a siege of 51 days. Its garrison at first consisted of 16,000; 4000 deserted; only 9000 were taken; 800 cannon and immense stores fell into the hands of the French. 1809. Battle of Essling, in Austria. It began by a furious attack upon the village of Asperne, which was taken and retaken several times. Essling sustained three attacks also. Night interrupted the action; the Austrians exulting in their partial success, Napoleon surprised that he should not have been wholly successful. On either side the carnage had been terrible, and the pathways of the village were literally choked with the dead. 1813. British attacked Sacketts Harbor. 1813. Battle of Bautzen, which had continued two days; the Prussians were driven from their position, and Napoleon advanced to Breslaw, leaving 12,000 Frenchmen in the searching claws of their executors—the crows. 1826. George Reichenbach, a distinguished mechanical artist, died at Munich, where he had a noted manufactory of astronomical instruments, unsurpassed in the world. 1830. Leopold of Saxe Coburg declined the throne of Greece, except on terms which the allied sovereigns would not accede to. 1832. George W. Rogers, an American commodore, died on board ship Warren, off Buenos Ayres. 1849. Maria Edgworth, the popular and distinguished authoress, died at her residence in Edgworthstown, Ireland. 1855. The ship canal round the falls of St. Mary's river, Michigan, was completed and accepted. 1855. The allied fleet of the French and English entered the Russian port of Petropaulowski, and found it deserted. MAY 22.334 B. C. Battle of the Granicus, in Bythinia, in which Alexander of Macedon defeated the Persians. 337. Constantine (the great), emperor of Rome, died. He was an able general and a sagacious politician; celebrated as the builder of Constantinople on the site of Byzantium, and as the first emperor who embraced Christianity. 1424. James I, of Scotland, crowned 18 years after his accession, since which he had been in captivity. 1498. Vasco de Gama landed at Calicut, the first Indian port visited by a European vessel. 1542. Paul III, summoned the council of Trent; but was compelled to prorogue it, his own ecclesiastics only attending. 1555. John Peter Caraffa elected pope, and assumed the title of Paul IV. 1604. The first settlement made on the coast of Guiana, by captain Charles and sir Oliver Leigh. 1611. James I, instituted the order of Baronets, and elevated 75 families to that dignity. 1659. Richard Cromwell's parliament dissolved by commission under the great seal, at the instance of Desborough. 1661. The solemn league and covenant burned by the common hangman at London, and afterwards throughout the country. 1667. Alexander VII (Fabio Chigi), pope, died; characterized as little in great things, and great in little ones. He was liberal towards men of letters, and embellished Rome with some splendid edifices. 1680. A vast luminous meteor appeared at Leipsic. 1688. John Andrew Quenstedt died; a German divine, author of a Latin account of learned men down to 1600. 1690. Naval action at Cherbourg; British admiral Ashby destroyed 3 French ships of the line and several frigates, being part of Tourville's squadron. 1692. Action off La Hogue, commenced the night previous, between the combined English and Dutch fleets, admiral Russell, and the French fleet, which lost 16 sail. 1707. Battle of Stolhoffen, on the Rhine; French under Villars forced the lines of the allies. 1722. Sebastian Vaillant, a French botanist, died. He was originally organist to a convent. 1725. Robert Molesworth, an able English statesman, died. He rendered himself obnoxious to the clergy by insinuating that "religion is a pious craft, a useful state engine, but far inferior to the principles which in the school of Athens and Rome, incited their attentive youth to the love of their country, and to the practice of the moral virtues." 1734. Kouli Khan, defeated the Turkish army in Persia. 1745. Battle Jagernsdorf; Prussians defeated the imperialists. 1773. John Entick, an English clergyman and schoolmaster, died; author of the Spelling Dictionary, and other works. 1775. Meeting of provincial congress at New York. 1780. Sir John Johnson, with a party of British and tories, burnt a mill and 33 houses at Johnson Hall, killed about a 1781. John Baptist Beccaria, a learned Italian monk, died. 1782. Formosa, a large island in the Chinese sea, almost wholly inundated by volcanic agency, during a storm. 1794. Battle of Esperes; French defeated by the British, who took 500 prisoners and 700 cannon. 1795. Mungo Park, sailed from England on his first expedition to Africa, for the purpose of tracing the course of the Niger, and procuring information relative to the city of Timbuctoo, of which little more than the name was known. 1798. Bonaparte and the French fleet sailed from Toulon; at the same time lord Nelson's fleet was in a storm in the gulf of Lyons, not many leagues distant. 1809. Second battle of Essling; French recrossed the Danube. 1810. Charlotte Genevieve Louisa Augusta Andrea Timothee du Beaumont d'Eon, a French diplomatist, died, aged 82; memorable as a politician, but more so for having been discovered to be a female while on an embassy to England, in the year 1777. 1812. Action off the coast of France, between 2 British ships and 2 French 44 gun frigates, and a brig of 18 guns; the latter were destroyed. 1813. Battle of Reichenbach; 1500 French cavalry charged and overthrew the allied cavalry; but many divisions coming to their aid, the French were reinforced by 14,000 horse and cuirassiers and the allies compelled to retreat. 1813. Michael Duroc, a distinguished French general, killed by a cannon ball, which struck him as he stood conversing with Mortier and Kirgener, the latter of whom was also killed instantly. 1813. United States frigate Congress, Capt. Smith, captured the British brig Diana 10 guns. 1814. Joseph White, an eminent English divine, and oriental scholar, died. He was a weaver in humble life till his self-acquired attainments attracted patronage. 1819. The steamship Savannah, started from Savannah, Ga., for Liverpool, being the first passage of the Atlantic attempted by steam. She arrived in Liverpool on the 22d June, having consumed her fuel in ten days. She visited Stockholm and St. Petersburg before her return, which was in December following. 1819. Hugh Williamson, an American physician, scholar and statesman, died, aged 83. He assisted in framing the federal constitution, and made himself useful to his country in various ways. 1854. Rail road inaugurated in Sardinia, running between Turin and Susa; the king and queen, the government officials, and a great concourse of people participating. 1855. The convent suppression bill passed the Sardinian senate. 1856. Preston S. Brooks, a South Carolina member of congress, wickedly and cowardly assaulted Charles Summer, senator from Massachusetts, while seated at his desk in the senate chamber, and felled him to the floor with a cane, in retaliation for abusive language in debate. MAY 23.1270 B. C. Larcher places the chronology of the fall of Troy upon this day. 63 B. C. Jerusalem taken by Pompey on the 23d day of the Hebrew month Sivan, in the consulate of Cicero, a day that was then observed as a fast, in remembrance of the defection and idolatry of Jeroboam, who made Israel to sin. 37 B. C. Jerusalem fell into the hands of Herod, in the consulate of Agrippa; it being one of those septenniary periods called sabbatic years. 683. Leo II, pope, died; an able and resolute pontiff; established the kiss of peace at the mass, and the use of holy water. 1125. Henry V of Germany died; leaving an odious character. 1430. The town of Compiegne in France was besieged by the combined forces of England and Burgundy, and defended by Joan of Arc. 1455. Battle of St. Albans (first of the roses), between the Lancastrians under Henry VI, and the Yorkists. The former were defeated with the loss of 3 earls, 49 barons and about 5,000 men killed, and the king himself was wounded in the neck and taken prisoner. Loss of the other party 500. 1498. Geronimo Savanarola, an Italian monk, burnt. His influence was so great at Florence, that for several years he guided the state as its sovereign; but when he attacked the corruptions of the church of Rome and the infamous conduct of pope Alexander VI, neither his purity nor his popularity could save him from destruction. 1533. Cranmer pronounced sentence of divorce between Henry VIII and Catharine of Arragon. 1679. It was discovered that 27 members of the English parliament had been pensioners on the government. 1692. Third action off La Hogue, between the British and French fleets; 6 ships of the latter burnt. 1701. William Kidd with others executed at Execution dock, London, for piracy. In America every reminiscence of Kidd has yet an air of romance. 1706. Battle of Ramilles, in Belgium, between the French under Villeroy, and the allies under the duke of Marlborough, in which the latter were signally victorious. The armies contained about 60,000 men each; the loss of the French was 15,000, that of the allies 4,000. 1720. The French Mississippi scheme, projected by John Law, dissolved, like those bright floating circles which amuse and vex the hopes of children of a lesser growth. 1752. Wm. Bradford, a noted American printer, died, aged 94. He established the first printing office in Philadelphia, and also in New York. He was government printer more than fifty years, and is said to have walked over a great part of the city of New York on the day he died. 1764. Francis Algarotti died; an Italian, eminent as a connoisseur and critic in every branch of belles-lettres, and an author of repute. 1783. James Otis, an American patriot and statesman, killed by lightning. He was one of the most zealous and active promoters of the revolution. 1785. William Woollet, a celebrated English historical and landscape engraver, died. The death of general Wolfe from West's painting is probably his best. 1786. Mauritius Augustus Benyowsky, an extraordinary Hungarian adventurer, killed on the island of Madagascar in an action with the French. 1783. South Carolina adopted the federal constitution, recommending amendments, being the 8th state in succession; votes 149 to 73. 1793. Battle of Famars; the French defeated by the allies, consisting of Austrians, Prussians, British, Hanoverians, Hessians and Dutch. 1794. Cecile Regnault attempted to assassinate Robespierre and Collot d'Herbois. 1798. The rebellion of the united Irishmen commenced. 1798. Lady Edward Fitzgerald, the celebrated Pamela, daughter of the duke of Orleans, ordered to quit the kingdom. 1808. Riots among the English weavers on account of wages. 1812. Louis Dutens, a French miscellaneous writer, died. 1815. G. Henry Ernest Muehlenburgh, an American Lutheran divine, died. He was a man of extensive science, particularly eminent as a botanist. 1816. Massacre of the Christians by the Turks at Bona in Algiers. 1836. Edward Livingston, an eminent American jurist, died. He was a native of New York, and after holding various offices, removed to New Orleans, where on the invasion of Louisiana by the British, he offered his services to general Jackson, and acted as aid. He was afterwards secretary of state at Washington and minister to France, in which offices he manifested distinguished ability. 1841. Samuel Dale, an eminent pioneer in the settlement of the southwest, died in Lauderdale county, Mississippi. He was remarkable for his courage and bodily strength, and distinguished for his contests with the Indians, and as an officer in the last war with England. 1848. Freedom of the negroes proclaimed at St. Pierre, Martinique; an insurrection followed, and several houses and 32 persons were burnt. 1850. Grinnell's ships of discovery sailed from New York in search of sir John Franklin. 1851. Richard Lalor Sheil, a British statesman and dramatist, died at Florence, aged 59. He was minister of queen Victoria at the court of Tuscany. 1855. The state of siege and blockade of the island of Cuba was withdrawn. MAY 24.1085. Gregory VII (Hildebrand), pope, died. He was the son of a carpenter, and when raised to the papal throne embroiled himself in disputes and dissensions till he was compelled to retire. 1153. David I, king of Scotland, died. He married Maud, daughter of William the conqueror, and is characterized as a mild and popular king. 1276. A capitation tax of three pennies 1357. Edward the black prince, conducted his captive, John, king of France, through the city of London, in triumph. 1430. Joan of Arc, after performing prodigies of valor, deserted and alone, was taken prisoner by the English, after her horse was slain, in a sally from Compiegne. 1551. Von Pannis, an eminent surgeon of England, burnt to death for denying the divinity of Christ. 1572. Drake sailed from England on his voyage of reprisal to the West-Indies, against the Spanish. 1612. Robert Cecil, earl of Salisbury, died; an English statesman, the ablest minister of his time. 1651. Louis XIV of France purchased of the West-India company, for the benefit of the knights of Malta, the islands of St. Christopher, St. Bartholomew, St. Martin and San Cruz, for the sum of 120,000 livres turnois. (See August 10, 1665.) 1663. South Carolina erected into a separate province. First permanent settlement began in 1669; original charter included North Carolina and Georgia. 1686. An eruption of mount Ætna, which extended its ravages four leagues around, and buried several persons alive. 1689. Passage of the well known toleration act of England, which so greatly relieved the dissenters. 1692. Four days' action off La Hogue; the remainder of the French ships, seven in number, and a great many transports and ammunition ships burnt. 1715. William Read died; originally a cobbler, became a mountebank, and practiced medicine by the light of nature! Queen Anne and George I honored him with the care of their eyes! He could neither write nor read, but such was the success of his practice, that he rode in his own chariot, and "dispensed good punch from golden bowls." 1775. John Hancock elected president of congress; he succeeded Peyton Randolph in that office. 1777. Colonel Meigs made a successful attack on the British stores at Sag harbor, destroyed 12 British brigs and schooners, and great quantities of stores, and brought away 90 British prisoners, without sustaining any loss. 1786. Charles William Scheele, an eminent Swedish chemist, died. His discoveries were numerous, though his experiments were made under great disadvantages. 1792. George Brydges, lord Rodney, a celebrated British admiral, died, aged 74. 1794. Battle of the Sambre, in the Netherlands, in which general Kaunitz defeated the French, who lost 3,000 taken prisoners, and 50 cannon. 1798. Several battles were fought at different places between the English troops and United Irishmen, in which the latter were generally defeated. 1811. The Seringapatam, prize to the United States frigate Essex, capt. Gamble, captured by the British sloop of war Cherub, at the Sandwich islands. 1814. Pope Pius VII, whose powers had been abridged by Napoleon, made his grand public entry into Rome, to resume the throne. 1822. Battle of Pichinca, fought near the volcano of that name. The Columbians under Sucre succeeded in gaining the vicinity of Quito by marching over the frozen mountains of Cotopaxi, by which, and several other daring movements, the Spaniards were compelled to hazard a battle, and sustained a total defeat. The patriots thus became possessed of the entire province, with all the Spanish magazines and stores, and the road to Peru was left open to Bolivar. 1833. John Randolph, of Roanoke, an American statesman, died, aged 60. He was a descendant in the 7th generation, from Pocahontas, the Indian woman who saved the life of capt. Smith, and was distinguished for genius, eloquence and eccentricity. 1839. William Legget, an American poet, and miscellaneous writer, died. He was a man of talent, and employed by government as charge d'affaire to Central America. 1844. James Thatcher, a surgeon of the revolutionary army and author of the Military Journal and History of Plymouth, died at Plymouth, Mass. 1845. William Ramsay died in Boone county, Mo., aged 104. Early a pioneer and Indian fighter in Kentucky. MAY 25.535 B. C. The foundations of the second temple at Jerusalem, laid by the children of the captivity, by permission of Cyrus, on the twenty-fifth of Sivan. 67 B. C. Titus Vespasian took the city of Joppa, in Galilee, by assault, on the 25th of the month DÆsius. 337. Constantine the Great died, having divided the empire among his children and nephews. 709. Aldhem, an English divine, died; said to have been the first Englishman who cultivated poetry. 1261. Alexander IV, pope, died. He bestowed the crown of Sicily on Edmund, son of the king of England, and attempted to unite the Greek and Latin churches. 1315. Edward Bruce invaded Ireland with 6000 men. "He fought many battles and gained them all," and was for a brief period king of the country. 1427. Alexander, lord of the isles, performed penance of submission to king James in his shirt and drawers, before the congregation of Holyrood church. 1510. Georges d'Amboise a French cardinal and statesman, died; a great benefactor to France. 1622. Petrus Plancius, who with others contributed so much to the discovery of New Netherland and other countries, died at Amsterdam. 1625. William Barlowe, died; celebrated as the discoverer of the nature and properties of the loadstone. 1630. Eight Englishmen left by mischance in Greenland by their ship, were found on this day by their countrymen, having by good economy and wise expedients, succeeded in passing the winter without loss of life. (See Jan. 14, 1634, and Ap. 16, 1634.) 1681. Don Pedro de la Barca, a noble Spanish dramatist, died; who together with Lope de Vega, gave law to and polished the Spanish theatre. His works comprise 10 vols. quarto. 1743. James Antony Arlaud, a celebrated Swiss painter, died. 1760. Insurrection of the negroes in Jamaica. The loss to the island, in human flesh and blood, was $500,000. 1775. Sir Guy Johnson, called an Indian council at Guy Park, where the Mohawks alone attended; his object being to provide against a rumored attack upon his person by the revolutionists. 1775. Generals Howe, Clinton and Burgoyne, arrived at Boston. 1776. Congress resolved to engage the services of the Indians. 1778. About 500 British and Hessians from Rhode Island destroyed at Kickmut river, 70 boats and other property; burnt the church and several dwellings at Warren, and a church and 22 houses at Bristol. 1780. Two regiments of Washington's troops mutinied; but were persuaded to return to their duty. 1798. Charles James Fox, had his name stricken by the king from the list of privy councillors, for giving as a toast at the meeting of the Whig club, "The sovereignty of the people." 1798. Asmus Jacob Carstens, a distinguished German artist, died. He was the son of a miller, and raised himself to eminence by his great talent and genius as a painter. 1798. A party of United Irishmen defeated near Dublin with great slaughter; many of those taken were executed. 1802. George Fordyce, died; an eminent Scottish physician and writer on medicine and chemistry. 1803. Bonaparte constituted all Englishmen between 18 and 60 years of age, found in the French territory, prisoners of war, and ordered the capture of British vessels. 1805. William Paley died; a learned English divine and writer on ethics. His Evidences of Christianity is one of the ablest defences of the Christian religion that has ever appeared. 1812. Edmund Malone, an Irish attorney, died. He is celebrated as the editor of Shakspeare, and published several biographies. 1818. David Mitchell, a major-general in the war of the American revolution, died, aged 77. He was the friend of Logan, the Indian, and had fought the Indians in 27 battles. 1830. The French expedition against Algiers sailed from Toulon, consisting of 34,160 men, under the command of General Bourmont, and succeeded in reducing that barbarous kingdom to a French province. 1840. Singular phenomenon in lake Erie, at Toledo; the water rising to the height of four feet above its ordinary level in the space of a few hours, without any apparent cause. The water and the weather were calm and still, and no unusual commotion was observable, as the bay gradually rose nearly a foot higher than ever before known. 1843. One hundredth anniversary of the Am. Philosophical Society, founded by Franklin at Philadelphia. It is the oldest scientific association this side of the Atlantic. MAY 26.604. Augustine (alias Austin), first archbishop of Canterbury, died. He was originally a monk, and was sent into Britain with 40 others to convert the English Saxons to Christianity. 735. Bede (the venerable), a learned English monk, died. He passed his life in severe study, and wrote an ecclesiastical history from Julius CÆsar to his own age. 946. Edmund I, king of the Anglo Saxons, killed by an outlaw named Liof, at the age of 23. He was distinguished for personal courage, as well as taste for elegance and splendor, whence he was called the munificent. 1416. Jerome of Prague made the fearless declaration that he was a supporter of the doctrines of Wickliffe and Huss, for which he suffered martyrdom. 1512. Bayazid II, sultan of Turkey, died on the journey to Denitoka, his birth place, whither he was retiring, having resigned the government to his son, Selim, who had rebelled against him. 1536. Francisco Berni, a Tuscan poet, died. He is the principal writer of Italian jocose poetry, which has ever since retained the name of poesia Bernesca. 1568. An estoddfod of the Welsh bards and minstrels held at Cayroes by commission of queen Elizabeth, when the great prize of the silver harp was adjudged to Simon ap Williams ap Sion. 1595. Philip Neri, founder of the oratorians, died. He was noted for his benevolence, and established a hospice for the accommodation of pilgrims, which has become one of the finest in Rome. 1608. Sir Thomas Sackville, that great servant of Apollo and the state, interred with pomp at Westminster. "There never was a better treasurer," observes sir Richard Baker, "both for the king's profit and the good of the subject." 1623. Francis Anthony, an English chemist, died; who took advantage of his knowledge to impose upon the credulous and unwary, by selling his panacea of potable gold. 1637. Fort Mistic, garrisoned by a large body of Indians under their grand sachem Sassacus, taken by assault, and about 70 wigwams burnt. 1689. Battle at the pass of Killicrankie, remarkable for the defeat of king William's troops by the Highlanders under lord Dundee. 1685. John Marsham died; a learned English chronologist. 1703. Samuel Pepys, a learned Englishman, died; celebrated for his collection of valuable documents, &c. 1746. Thomas Southern, an English dramatist, died. 1766. John Laurence Berti, a learned monk of Tuscany, died; author of about 20 quarto volumes of divinity. 1781. Congress resolved to establish the bank of North America, being the first regularly established bank in the country. 1782. William Emerson, an eminent English mathematician, died. His knowledge was very extensive, and his works accurate. 1784. Musical festival in Westminster abbey, in commemoration of the birthday of Handel. This was the greatest concert ever known; the number of performers was 525; 275 vocal, 250 instrumental. The sum produced was over $12,000. 1794. The French convention decreed that no quarters be given to British and Hanoverian soldiers. But the French troops refused to execute the decree. 1795. The Ottoman Porte acknowledged the French republic. 1798. Battle of Tarah and defeat of the United Irishmen. 1799. James Burnett, lord Monboddo, died. He was one of the lords of session in Scotland, and a philosophical writer of considerable learning, but of peculiar notions. 1809. Francis Joseph Haydn, the celebrated musical composer, died. His works are numerous and highly valued. 1811. James Pulteney, a wealthy English baron, died; whose income was $250,000 per annum. 1813. Cannonade between forts George and Niagara, and bombardment from all the batteries. 1824. Capel Lofft, an English poet and miscellaneous writer, died in Italy. He was the patron of Bloomfield. 1831. Battle of Ostrolenka, between 55,000 Russians and 20,000 Poles, in which the latter were defeated. 1836. William Young Ottley, keeper of the prints in the British museum, died. He was for half a century actively devoted to his favorite pursuit of the fine arts, and is honorably known as an artist, a collector, and an author. 1838. William Butler died at Philadelphia, aged 108. 1840. William Sidney Smith, admiral of the red, died at Paris, aged 76. He was one of the most celebrated naval officers of the last age, and distinguished himself on various occasions by his talents and courage. 1848. By a fire which occurred in the omnibus establishment of Kip & Brown, New York, 130 horses were burnt. 1852. Samuel Nott, for a long time regarded as the patriarch of the clergy of New England, died in Franklin, Conn., aged 98. He graduated at Yale college in 1780, and two years after settled at Franklin, where he spent the remainder of his protracted life. He was also engaged in the business of instruction, and was a maker of public men. He was injured by a burn, and died of the effects of the accident. 1853. The yellow fever made its appearance at New Orleans; the number of victims during the season was 8,186, the greater part of whom died in August and September. 1854. Angus Patterson, for a long time president of the senate of South Carolina, died at Barnwell, in that state. 1854. A great crowd in Boston, excited by inflammatory speeches, attacked the court house and attempted to rescue the negro, Anthony Burns, under arrest as a fugitive from servitude. A special assistant of the United States marshal was killed, but the object of the riot was not effected. 1855. An imperial ukase ordered that all the serfs in certain of the Russian states, between the ages of 30 and 35, should be enrolled. MAY 27.346 B. C. Philip of Macedon took possession of Phocis upon the 27th Scirophorion, and the towers were soon after dismantled, which terminated the ten years' war. 1199. Hubert, archbishop of Canterbury, made lord chancellor in consideration of his services in crowning king John. 1257. Richard, brother to Henry III, crowned at Aix la Chapelle, king of the Romans. 1520. Cortez, with 250 men, without horses, or any other arms than pikes, swords, shields and daggers, attacked the well appointed expedition under Narvaez, sent against him by the governor of Cuba, consisting of about 1400 men, which was defeated and gained over to his party. Thus the almost dispirited adventurer suddenly found himself again at the head of a more numerous army than ever, consisting of nearly 2000 Spanish troops, about a hundred horses and 18 vessels, and a great sufficiency of ammunition. 1538. Anthony Fitzherbert, an able English judge, died; author of several works on the law. 1541. Margaret, countess of Salisbury, beheaded in the tower, at the age of 70. She was the mother of the celebrated cardinal Pole, and the last of the royal line of Plantagenet. 1564. John Calvin, the great reformer, died. He was a man of eminent talents, solid judgment and extensive learning. His great rigor, however, procured him many enemies; indeed it ill became a reformer to defend, as he did, the burning of heretics. 1600. Matins of Moscow, so called from the time of the day when prince Demetrius and all his Polish adherents were massacred at 6 in the morning. 1602. The colony accompanying Gosnold fixed upon a place of settlement, on the western part of Elizabeth island in Narraganset bay. On a rocky islet in the centre of a fresh water pond two miles in circuit they commenced erecting a fort and store house. (See June 18.) 1610. Francis Ravaillac, the fanatic who assassinated Henri Quatre, (see May 14,) was executed by being drawn and quartered by four horses. 1647. Peter Stuyvesant, a man of learning and a soldier, the last Dutch governor of New York, arrived at New Amsterdam, and superseded Kieft. 1648. Vincent Voiture, an elegant French writer, died. He wrote verses with elegance in French, Spanish and Italian, and was a polisher of his native language in a barbarous age. 1679. English act of habeas corpus passed; the act suspending it was repealed, probably forever, 1818. 1681. "The sweet singers" of the city of Edinburgh renounced the printed Bible at the Canon gate tolbooth, and all unchaste thoughts, words and actions, and burned all story books, ballads, romances, &c. 1694. The French under marshal de Noailles defeated the Spaniards near the river Ter, and took Gerona. 1702. Dominic Bouhours, a French Jesuit, died; celebrated as a learned writer and critic. 1703. St. Petersburg founded by Peter the great. Its present population is about one-third that of London. 1721. The Weekly Journal or Saturday's Post of this date adjudged to contain libelous matter against the government of England. 1723. George I assented to the bill for the banishment of bishop Atterbury, whose great virtues are now remembered. 1725. Charles de la Rue, a French Jesuit, died; distinguished as an orator and poet and a professor of belles-lettres. 1775. Battle at Noddle's island, near Boston; the British defeated by the Americans under Putnam and Warren, who had but 3 men wounded. British loss 200, together with an armed schooner and some stores. 1777. Button Gwinnett, one of the signers, died of a wound received in a duel. 1779. Thos. Nugent, a distinguished lexicographer, died. His French and English dictionary has much merit. 1781. Lord Cornwallis, with a vastly superior force, compelled the marquis La Fayette to evacuate Richmond. 1794. Battle of Kaiserslautern, in which the Prussian general Mollendorf surprised the French camp, killed 1000, and took 2000 prisoners, and 20 cannon. 1798. Battle of Oulart Hill; the United Irishmen under father Murphy defeated the English, and massacred all but five. Same day, a large body of Irishmen defeated at Kilthomas hill, 150 killed, and 100 cabins and 2 chapels burnt. 1799. Addison's library sold by auction in London on this and the three following days, 70 years after his death, when it brought about $2,000. 1811. Richard Penn, one of the proprietors, and governor of Pennsylvania before the revolution, died in England. 1811. Henry Dundas, lord Melville, a distinguished British statesman, died. 1813. The American army landed in Canada under cover of the fire from Chauncey's fleet, and carried fort George by assault. The vanguard landed first, consisting of Forsyth's riflemen, and the Albany and Baltimore volunteers, under Col. Scott. 1817. A Tunisian corsair of 12 guns, with two prizes, under Oz Maney, were captured near Dover, England, by two British revenue cutters. 1832. St. Jean d'Acre in Palestine taken from the Turks by the pasha of Egypt. 1840. Great freshet in the Savannah river; the city of Augusta and town of Hamburgh entirely submerged; the water rising 35 feet above low water mark. The destruction of property was very great. 1840. Baron Paganini, the most celebrated violinist the world ever produced, died at Nice, in Italy, aged 57, leaving a large fortune. (See June 27, 1819.) 1848. The princess Sophia, 12th child of George III of England, died, aged 71; an amiable and benevolent lady. 1850. The temple of Nauvoo, erected by the Mormons, finished in 1845, partially burnt in October 1848, having but its four walls left—all its timber works having been consumed by the flames—was destroyed by a hurricane. MAY 28.812. St. William, of Aquitaine, died. He distinguished himself by his valor against the Saracens, under Charlemagne. 1089. Lanfranc, archbishop of Canterbury, died. He was an Italian, and has the character of a great statesman, as well as a learned prelate. 1220. Pope Honorius issued a decree that no person in England should keep in his hands more than two of the royal castles; intended to check the encroaching barons. 1357. Alphonso IV, of Portugal, died. He was an able prince, benevolent, and warred with the Moors. 1500. De Cabral's fleet encountered a violent storm; 4 of his vessels ran foul of each other and sunk. Bartholomew Diaz, the Portuguese navigator, who first doubled the cape of Good Hope, was lost here. 1583. The printing of the Vandalie Bible commenced at Wittemberg, by Samuel Seelfish, at the expense of the state of Carniola, which paid 8,000 florins for 1,500 copies. 1661. The marquis of Argyle beheaded at Edinburgh and his head set upon the Tolbooth. 1672. Battle of Southwold bay, in which the Dutch admiral De Ruyter with 91 ships of the line and 44 frigates and fireships, engaged the combined fleets of France and England, consisting of 130 sail, under the command of the duke of York, afterwards James II, and the admiral count d'Estrees. The conflict was terrible. The allies had a trifling advantage, and the Dutch retired to the coast of Holland. 1672. Edward Montague, earl of Sandwich, drowned in the confusion of the battle of Southwold bay. He was distinguished as a statesman, general, admiral, and writer. 1672. War declared in Boston against the Dutch; the first declaration of war in the colonies. 1673. Action between the English and French fleets, under prince Rupert, and the Dutch under De Ruyter, at Schonvelt; both sides claimed the victory. 1708. Com. Wager attacked and destroyed the Spanish fleet near Carthagena. 1736. Madamoiselle Salle, a famous danseuse at Paris, who piqued herself upon her reputation, instituted an order there, of which she was president, by the name of the Indifferents. Both sexes were indiscriminately admitted, after a nice scrutiny into their qualifications. They had rites, which no one was to disclose. The badge of the order was a ribbon, striped black, white and yellow, and the device something like an icicle. They took an oath to fight against love, and if any of the members were particular in their regards, they were excluded the order with ignominy. 1745. Jonathan Richardson died; a celebrated English painter of heads, and an author. 1754. Battle at fort Duquesne; the French and Indians defeated by the Americans under Washington. 1781. American frigate Alliance, 32 guns, Capt. Barry, captured British sloops of war Atalanta, 16 guns, and Trespasser, 14 guns. 1793. Anthony Frederick Busching, a distinguished Prussian geographer, died. 1794. Lord Howe's first action with the French fleet under Joyeuse. British ship Russell captured the Revolutionaire, 110 guns. 1795. William, prince of Orange, issued a manifesto against the French and Batavian republics, protesting against their right to abolish the stadtholdership. 1797. Toulon, which had been seized by the French royalists, surrendered to the conventional troops. 1798. James Dunbar, professor of philosophy at Aberdeen, died; author of an essay on the history of mankind in the rude and uncultivated ages. 1798. Father Murphy, at the head of the United Irishmen, took Enniscorthy, killed 90 of the king's troops, and set the town on fire. 1803. British ship Victory captured the French frigate Ambuscade, formerly belonging to the British. 1803. Richard Hole, an English poet and divine, died. He published Ossian in a poetic dress and other works. 1808. The bones of the American prisoners who had perished on board the Jersey and other British prison ships at New York during the revolutionary war, solemnly inhumed in a vault erected at the Wallabout. 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 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. |
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