587 B. C. On the 9th _Thammug_, an especial fast of the Jews was
observed for the taking of Jerusalem under Nebuchadnezzar, king of
Babylon, on that day.
597. COLUMBA, the founder of the famous monastry of Iona, or Icolmkill,
in the Scottish Hebrides, died. This island was in that age the luminary
of the Caledonian regions.
911. LEO VI (_the philosopher_), emperor of the east, died. He was a
politic monarch, the patron of men of letters, and an excellent author
himself.
1075. HENRY IV defeated the Saxons at Thuringia.
1099. The siege of Jerusalem opened by the first crusaders. Godfrey of
Bouillon erected his standard on the first swell of mount Calvary; to
the left as far as St. Stephen's gate the line of attack was continued
by Tancred and the two Roberts, and count Raymond established his head
quarters from the citadel to the fort of mount Sion.
1496. COLUMBUS returned to Spain from his second voyage.
1536. Dr. HEYLIN says: On this day the clergy of London agreed upon the
form of a petition to king Henry, for permission to the people to read
the Bible.
1553. Battle of Sieverhausen in the Duchy of Lunenberg, in which Albert
of Brandenburgh was defeated by the confederates. His camp equipage
taken and 4,000 killed.
1586. Great earthquake in Lima.
1625. First child of white parents born in Brooklyn, New York.
1674. The English parliament prorogued on account of the differences
between the lords and commons. It is said more than £200,000 was spent
in bribing the commons.
1681. WILLIAM LILLY, a famous English astrologer, died. He made quite a
snug fortune out of the cavaliers and roundheads by predicting for both
parties. The parliament under Cromwell gave him £100 a year for
flattering their prospects, and he was complimented with a gold chain
and medal by the king of Sweden. He also made a handsome business by his
almanacs and other publications.
1696. ANTOINE VARILAS, a French historian, died. His works were popular
for a time, until they were discovered to be very inaccurate, and
carelessly compiled.
1724. BENEDICT PICTET, a Swiss professor of theology at Geneva, died. He
possessed great abilities and learning, and published several valuable
works.
1758. The English effected a landing at Louisbourg.
1770. British settlers expelled from the Falkland islands by a large
Spanish force. They were restored the following year, when the dispute
was ended.
1775. Force of the American army assembled at Cambridge, 1,581 officers,
6,063 privates; total 7,644.
1776. JOHN IVES, an eminent English antiquary, died, aged 25. He had
accomplished much at his early age, but had published only three papers
from his collection.
1779. WILLIAM KENRICK, an English dramatist and miscellaneous writer,
died. He was originally a mechanic, and became an author of great
popularity and merit.
1790. ROBERT ROBINSON, a self-taught English preacher, died. He was an
apprentice to a wig and curl maker, when Whitefield attracted his
attention, and he became a methodist preacher. He soon after became a
baptist, and preached that doctrine a number of years, and was extremely
popular. He finally became a unitarian, and died at Birmingham while on
a visit to Priestly, before he had time to shift his opinions to any
thing else.
1795. The only son of the unfortunate king LOUIS XVI died in the Temple
in his 12th year. The convention agreed to exchange his sister for the
commissioners, betrayed by Dumourier to Austria.
1798. Battle of Arklow, in Ireland, between the United Irishmen and
British. More than 20,000 of the insurgents, under father Murphy,
advanced against the town, which was defended by only 1,600 men. The
contest was continued with great obstinacy till nightfall, when the
rebels retired. Father Murphy was killed by a cannon ball.
1798. An eruption of the peak of Teneriffe. It continued 4 months and 6
days, had 4 mouths, and projected rocks 3,000 feet.
1811. Second unsuccessful attack on fort San Christoval, Badajos, by the
British under lord Wellington.
1814. United States brig Rattlesnake, lieut. Renshaw, captured and
destroyed British brig John, laden with English goods.
1824. WILLIAM OXBERRY, the comedian, died by apoplexy, the consequence
of over living. This was acting tragedy.
1825. ABRAHAM REES, the cyclopedist, died. He was born in Wales, and
educated for a dissenting minister, and officiated as such more than 40
years. He published sermons, and contributed to the _Monthly Review_,
but is best known as the editor of the _Cyclopedia_, 47 vols, quarto.
1826. JEDEDIAH MORSE died, aged 65; author of the geography so well
known.
1829. Battle of Oriva, in Turkey; the Russians, under general Geismar,
assaulted and took the town.
1834. WILLIAM CAREY, the devoted and pious missionary, died.
1836. Battle of Micanopy; about 200 Indians defeated by a detachment of
United States troops under Heilman.
1839. War declared by the sultan of Turkey against Mehemet Ali of Egypt,
and his son Ibrahim, deposing them from the government of Egypt and
Syria.
1846. The water in lake Ontario had fallen 14 inches since the 24th
March. (See Aug. 21.)
1849. CHARLES ALBERT, ex-king of Sardinia, died on his arrival at
Portugal, soon after his abdication.
1850. JOHN MELCHER, the oldest printer in N. H., died at Portsmouth,
aged 90.
1853. Father GAVAZZI, an emissary of the pope to America, caused a riot
by his preaching at Montreal. A mob attacked him in the pulpit; the
military fired upon the people, and 10 persons were killed and 16
wounded.
1854. The emperor and empress of France attended the first agricultural
exhibition ever held in Paris.