397. ST. MARTIN, the apostle of Gaul, died. He was a soldier, converted
to Christianity, and made bishop of Tours. The festival of Martinmas was
instituted in honor of him, in the year 560.
619. ST. JOHN (_the Almoner_) died. He was a native of Cyprus, raised to
the see of Alexandria.
1100. Nuptials of HENRY I of England (_Beauclerk_) and MAUD, the fair
daughter of Malcolm, king of Scots, and niece of Edgar Atheling, "of the
right kingly kin of England."
1213. Date of the most ancient writ, summoning four discreet knights of
the counties, to meet king John at Oxford, in 15 days from All Saints,
_ad loquendum nobiscum de negotiis regni nostri_.
1400. TIMOUR the Mogul sacked Aleppo, the capital of the Mamelukes. He
thus addressed one of the cadhis: "I am not a man of blood; and God is
my witness, that in all my wars, I have never been the aggressor, and
that my enemies have always been the authors of their own calamities."
1462. ANNE of Cyprus, died. She married Lewis, duke of Savoy, and showed
herself able, active and discriminating at the head of public affairs.
1572. TYCHO BRAHE observed a new star in Cassiopeia, a phenomenon which
had not been recorded since the age of Hipparchus. In splendor it was
equal to Jupiter and Venus, and did not change its position in two
years.
1620. The Plymouth pilgrims signed an instrument for their government,
which was to go into force on their landing. It had the signatures of 41
of their number; and they with their families amounted to 101 persons.
John Carver was chosen governor for one year. Thus did these intelligent
colonists, says Holmes, find means to erect themselves into a republic,
even though they had commenced their enterprise under the sanction of a
royal charter; "a case that is rare in history, and can be effected only
by that perseverance which the true spirit of liberty inspires."
1621. ROBERT CUSHMAN arrived at Plymouth, in a ship from England,
bringing 35 persons to remain in the colony, and a charter procured in
London.
1623. PHILIP DE MORNAY, baron du Plesis Marly, died; an illustrious
French protestant, a political and polemical writer, and privy counselor
of the king.
1671. THOMAS FAIRFAX, one of the principal generals in the civil wars of
England, died.
1673. Battle of Choczin; the Turks defeated by John Sobieski, with the
loss of 28,000.
1692. The negroes of the Barbadoes conspired against their masters for
which many of them were executed.
1714. GEORGE I issued an order of council against the clergy meddling
with state affairs in their sermons.
1750. APOSTOLO ZENO, a learned Venitian, died. He was a poet, and
historian to Charles VI; his works are numerous and popular.
1778. A body of tories, Indians and British regulars, under the
notorious John Butler, attacked fort Alden, at Cherry Valley. After an
attack of 3 hours, they retreated, having killed 10 soldiers, and
massacred 32 inhabitants, mostly women and children.
1793. JOHN SYLVAIN BAILLY, a famous French astronomer, died. He was
induced to leave his studies for political distinction, and lost his
life by manifesting some regard for justice.
1793. The amount of gold and silver collected in Paris from all parts of
the republic, for the purpose of carrying on the measures of the
government vigorously, was about two hundred millions of dollars.
1794. A treaty was concluded at Canandaigua between the United States by
Timothy Pickering, and the Six Nations by 58 of their chiefs, among whom
were Red Jacket and Cornplanter.
1794. Marquis LAFAYETTE escaped from the prison at Olmutz.
1797. JOSEPH TOALDO, an Italian physician, died. He was professor of
mathematics at Padua, and bestowed much attention on subjects of
electricity, astronomy and meteorology.
1805. Battle of Diernsten; the French under Mortier defeated the
Russians after a sanguinary battle.
1807. Three British orders in council restricting neutral trade with
France and her allies. This was termed a paper blockade, was strongly
resisted by America, and finally, with other aggressions, brought on a
war in 1812.
1807. The decree of Napoleon restricting the trade of Holland went into
operation, by which the commerce of that country, after a long
declension, was totally ruined.
1813. Battle of Williamsburg, in Canada. The Americans under general
Boyd, 1700, attacked the British, 2170. The victory was claimed by both
parties, though it seems to have been with the British. American loss,
killed 102, wounded 237; British loss, officially stated at 180--thought
to exceed 500.
1817. FRANCISCO ESPOZ Y MINA, one of the most distinguished of the
Spanish patriots, executed in Spain.
1835. Great tempest on lake Erie; a number of lives and vessels lost;
the water rose higher than it was ever known before at Buffalo, and did
great damage.
1837. THOMAS GREEN FESSENDEN, an American poet and agricultural writer,
died. He conducted the _New England Farmer_ many years; was a man of
extensive information and considerable literary acquirements.
1849. HENRY MAYNADIER, a revolutionary officer and army surgeon, died at
Annapolis, Maryland, aged 93.
1855. THOMAS WILDE, baron Truro, died at London. As one of the best
pleaders at the English bar, he was employed as one of the counsel for
queen Caroline. He filled many offices of distinction and became lord
chancellor in 1850.
1855. JEDDO, in the island of Japan destroyed by an earthquake.