1340. The king of England assumed the title of the king of France,
quartering his arms with the motto, "Dieu et mon Droit."
1513. GIULIANO DELLA ROVERA, (pope Julius II,) died. He was originally a
fisherman. He built St. Peter's at Rome, to procure means for which he
ordered the sale of indulgences, which was one of the immediate causes
of the reformation; so that it may be said without paradox, that St.
Peter's is the great monument of protestantism. He is considered one of
the most immoral of the popes, though a generous patron of the polite
arts.
1595. ROBERT SOUTHWELL, called sometimes the English Jesuit, died. He
was esteemed no inferior poet in his day.
1633. Order of the privy council to stay several ships in the Thames,
ready to sail for New England with passengers and provisions. The
jealousy of the government was early directed towards the infant colony
of Massachusetts. It was observed by one of the kings, that the _wheat_
of the population was sifting across the Atlantic. These orders were
ineffectual, for great numbers continued to emigrate, and scarce a
vessel arrived in the colony that was not crowded with passengers.
1660. The secluded members of the long parliament again took their seats
and voted Monk to be general of the English, Scotch and Irish forces.
1668. JOHN THURLOE, secretary of state to the two Cromwells, died. He
was a man of very amiable character, and exercised all possible
moderation towards persons of every party.
1676. Two or three hundred Indians principally Narragansetts, surprised
the town of Medfield, Mass., killed 18 men, women and children, and
burnt half of the town.
1682. The following appears in the minutes of the governor and council
of Virginia: "John Buckner called before the Ld. Culpepper and his
counsel for printing the laws of 1680, without his excellency's license,
and he and the printer ordered to enter into bond in £100 not to print
anything hereafter until his majesty's pleasure shall be known."
1684. CHARLES SPON, an ingenious and learned French physician, died at
Lyons. He wrote Latin verse with ease and elegance, and corresponded
with most of the learned men of Europe.
1717. PETER ALIX, a French protestant of eminent piety and learning,
died. He resided in England, where he was greatly esteemed and honored.
1730. BENEDICT XIII, pope of Rome, died. He was a Dominican of Venice,
and before his elevation bishop of Benevento, where his palace was
destroyed by an earthquake, and he narrowly escaped. He filled the
pontifical office six years, and sustained an excellent character.
1746. Le Bourbon and La Charite, French ships, captured by Com. Knowles
in a heavy gale. The military chest belonging to the French vessels
contained £5,000.
1759. Action between the British frigate Vestal, Capt. Hood, and the
French frigate Bellona, which resulted in the capture of the latter,
with the loss of 42 killed. British loss 2 killed and 22 wounded.
1760. The neighborhood of Mt. Vesuvius overflowed by burning lava.
1760. Commodore THOUROT arrived in the bay of Carrickfergus with a 43
gun ship and two sloops of war, and having landed 800 men, attacked the
town, which, with the castle, he carried after a smart action. The
French embarked a few days after, and meeting with a British squadron,
an action ensued in which Thourot and 300 of his men were killed.
1792. JACOB SCHNEBBELIE died at London. From the profession of a Swiss
confectioner, he rose to be one of the best draughtsmen in England, but
too intense application to his studies hastened his death.
1796. Field Marshal CLAIRFAIT, the Austrian general, resigned, and was
succeeded by the Archduke Charles, for whom a new rank was created, that
of field-marshal-general, being the highest military rank in the empire.
1799. GILBERT WAKEFIELD was fined £100 and condemned to two years
confinement, for his pamphlet against the bishop of Landaff.
1805. Dominica attacked by a French squadron, which was repulsed by the
British under Gen. Provost.
1810. Action between the British ship Horatio, and French frigate
Necessity, 21 guns, which last was captured in one hour.
1812. Action between the British ship Victorious, Capt. Talbot, and the
Venitian ship Rivoli, 74 guns. The latter was captured, after an
engagement of 5 hours, with the loss of 400 killed and wounded; British
loss 42 k. 99 w.
1813. Ogdensburgh, N. Y., taken by the British.
1814. The British, about 2000 in number, under Col. Scott, crossed over
to the French mills, burnt the arsenal at Malone, N. Y., pillaged the
town and carried off some provisions. The enemy retreated in great
haste, and lost 200 men by desertion. Gen. Wilkinson endeavored to come
up with him, but was prevented by the weather.
1818. DAVID HUMPHREYS, an officer of the revolution, died. He was a
native of Connecticut, and successively aid to generals Putnam, Greene
and Washington. He is also known as a poet of very fair pretensions.
1824. EUGENE DE BEAUHARNAIS, duke of Leuchtenberg, died. He was the son
of Josephine Tacher de la Pagerie, afterwards wife of Napoleon. He
distinguished himself in the army, and was made viceroy of Italy, the
government of which he managed with great prudence. With the fall of
Napoleon he lost his titles and offices, but was in a measure
indemnified by the articles of Fontainbleau, the congress of Vienna, and
the duke of Bavaria. Under a simple exterior prince Eugene concealed a
noble character and great talents.
1831. ROBERT HALL died at Bristol, England; a very eminent man and a
celebrated preacher.
1838. ANTHONY ISAAC SYLVESTRE DE SACY died, aged 80; renowned
principally for his extensive critical knowledge, particularly in
oriental languages and literature; esteemed, in this department of
learning, the first scholar of his age.
1839. CHARLES ROSSI, a celebrated sculptor, died at London, aged 77.
1840. WILLIAM FREND, died in London, aged 84; a writer on algebra,
taxation and various other subjects.
1845. SYDNEY SMITH, canon of St. Paul's in London, and well known to
Pennsylvania repudiators, died in London.
1855. CHARLES ROGER DOD, assistant editor of _The Times_ newspaper, died
aged 62.
1856. The students of South Carolina college, armed with rifles,
surrendered to the governor of the state and a posse of armed citizens.