1409. The schism of the church was ended by the council of Pisa.
1519. First regular battle of the Spaniards under Cortez with the
Indians, on the plains of Ceutla, near Tabasco. The Spaniards were
victorious, with the loss of 1 killed and more than 60 wounded. The loss
of the Indians was very great; 800 were left dead on the field; the
Indians being unable to carry off all their dead, as was their custom.
1595. Snow fell at Rome. There is no other record of such an event
occurring there till 1834--exhibiting the curious phenomenon of a space
of 240 years without snow.
1609. HENRY HUDSON sailed from Amsterdam on the voyage in which he
discovered the North or Hudson river, and explored it as far as Albany.
1661. The Savoy conference, concerning the liturgy, between 12 bishops
with 9 assistants, and a like number of presbyterians appointed by King
Charles II.
1678. Ypres, in Belgium, surrendered to the French after a siege of 7
days.
1688. First establishment of charity schools in England.
1693. Printing ordered to be introduced into New York.
1711. NEHEMIAH GREW, a London physician, died. His merits and skill
procured him a very extensive practice; he was also author on subjects
connected with his profession.
1741. The British under Admiral Vernon took the castle of Bocca Chicca,
in Carthagena, by assault.
1751. The commencement of the year in England was altered from this day
to the first of January, to conform with the custom of other European
countries, which had long before adopted the Gregorian calendar. For
this purpose there was passed an act of parliament, directing that the
year should commence on the first of January, and that eleven days, from
the 2d to the 14th September, 1752, should be omitted, so that the 3d of
September should be dated the 14th. This occasioned great perplexity and
confusion of dates, arising from the computations by the old and new
styles.
1754. WILLIAM HAMILTON, an ingenious Scottish poet, died. His pieces are
distinguished for liveliness of imagination and delicacy of sentiment.
1761. The first tree cut towards clearing land for cultivation in the
town of Bennington, Vt. The honor of the act belongs to Samuel Robinson,
who on that day began the settlement of the town. In 1790 it contained
4,000 inhabitants, and by actual return their industry produced 26,000
yards of linen cloth, made in private families from flax of their own
raising.
1763. ELIAS FARNEWORTH, an English prelate, died; distinguished as the
translator of Machiavelli and several other European authors.
1792. Lake Harantoreen, in the county of Kerry, Ireland, sunk into the
earth.
1792. The British under Gen. CAMPBELL carried by storm the batteries at
Port Royal in Grenada.
1793. HEBERT, ANACHARSIS CLOOTS and 18 others, chiefs of the _Cordelier
Club_, executed at Paris.
1799. Florence and Leghorn in Italy, fell into the hands of the French.
1799. Battle of Stockach in Germany. The princes of Furstenberg and
Anhalt-Bernburg killed.
1800. The county of Greene, in New York, erected.
1801. The British army in Egypt reinforced by the Turks.
1808. CHARLES IV of Spain wrote to Bonaparte protesting against his
abdication in favor of Ferdinand VII, as having been extorted from him
by force, at the same time offering to place himself and the royal
family in Bonaparte's power.
1809. ANNA SEWARD, an English poetess, died. She exhibited an early
taste for poetry, and her poems were popular in their day, and often
republished. She held a correspondence with the literati of her time,
and her letters were published in six volumes, octavo.
1810. BONAPARTE issued a decree giving liberty to all state prisoners in
France, and a free pardon to all deserters.
1811. Battle of Campo Major in Portugal, in which the British under Gen.
Beresford defeated the French, took 600 prisoners, and drove them to
Badajos.
1811. British frigate Amazon destroyed off cape Barfleur by part of the
Cherbourg squadron.
1811. Every printing press in Paris obnoxious to Bonaparte, suppressed
by the police.
1812. GEORGE FREDERICK COOKE, an eminent English actor, died. He was
first engaged as a printer, and afterwards in the navy; but left these
for the stage, and acquired a reputation seldom attained, in the highest
walks of the drama.
1815. Confirmatory pact signed at Vienna, by which the allied powers
solemnly united their forces to maintain the treaty of Paris against
Bonaparte.
1815. RICHARD DOWELL, the famed organist at Dulwich college, died.
1820. ALEXANDER of Russia banished all Jesuits from his dominions,
because they interfered with the government and the peace of families.
1836. HENRY ROSCOE died, near Liverpool, England. He was distinguished
for his legal and various abilities and learning, and was the author of
several professional and other works.
1843. Ceremony of opening the Thames tunnel. Its length is 1200 feet,
its cost about two and a half millions of dollars, and it was 18 years
in building, under Brunel. The number of persons who visited it during
the two following days was about 50,000, at a revenue of one penny each
is nearly $1000.
1849. GEORGE COOKE, an artist of some note in the south, died of Cholera
at New Orleans.
1852. JANE WEST died, aged 93; a very fruitful authoress, in the
beginning of the present century, of poems, tales and novels, long since
forgotten, though much in vogue for a time.
1855. An unsuccessful attempt at revolution made in San Domingo with the
intent to recall ex-president Paez.