30. Eclipse of the sun in Palestine, accompanied by an earthquake, which
overthrew several edifices at Niceas, in Bythinia. By the calculations
of several eminent astronomers, it is demonstrated that this great
eclipse, which is mentioned by Phlegon, and in the Grecian monuments, as
having happened in the 202d Olympiad, took place on this day and year.
Phlegon says, the day was changed into night at the 6th hour (noon), and
the stars were seen. Between Cairo and Jerusalem it was wholly obscured
for about two minutes, and by calculation, it is supposed, the middle of
the eclipse happened at Jerusalem, an hour and fifteen minutes after
noon.
62. AULUS PERSIUS FLACCUS, a Roman satirist, died, aged 28. He was a
native of Etruria, studied at Rome, and imbibed the stoic philosophy of
Cornutus, to whom he bequeathed his library and 25,000 crowns. His
satires, animated and often beautiful, have been translated by several
of the British poets.
1213. The possessions of the knights templars, in England appropriated
by the crown, in obedience to a papal mandate, in trust for the knights
hospitalers. That distinguished order was instituted in 1118, and
consisted originally of nine poor knights, who for _Christ's love_
protected the avenues of his shrine from infidels and robbers.
1230. MATTHEW DE MONTMORENCY, constable of France, died. He
distinguished himself on many important occasions in the field, and
proved himself equally capable as a statesman.
1516. JAMES V'S charter of the town of Maybole, in Ayrshire, Scotland,
bears this date. A room in the Red Lion inn in this town, is shown as
having been that in which John Knox and the abbot Kennedy had the debate
on the mass.
1567. The laird of Airth and the laird of Wemyss met upon the high
street of Edinburgh, with their followers, when a furious encounter took
place, "many being hurte on both sides by shote of pistoll." Three days
afterwards a strict proclamation was issued, forbidding "the wearing of
guns or pistolls, or aney sick like fyerwork ingyne, under ye paine of
death, the king's guards and shouldours only excepted."
1572. JOHN KNOX, the celebrated Scottish reformer, died. He fiercely
inveighed against the established religion, and succeeded in reforming
the doctrines of the church in his country.
1638. Quinnipiack, now New Haven, purchased of Monauguin, sachem of the
country, in consideration of protection from hostile Indians, and a
payment of 12 coats of English cloth, 12 alchymy spoons, 12 hatches, 12
hoes, 2 dozen knives, 12 porringers, and 4 cases of French knives and
scissors.
1675. Tea and coffee houses in London permitted by royal proclamation to
be reopened, on condition that the keepers should prevent sedition, and
the reading of libels in them.
1694. JOHN TILLOTSON, archbishop of Canterbury, died, aged 65. He was a
popular preacher, who exerted himself strenuously against popery, and
was finally elevated to the highest dignity in the church.
1704. LANDAU surrendered to the imperialists after a loss of 4,000 men.
1728. FRANCIS MASCLEF, a French ecclesiastic, died. A difference in
theological opinions from his bishop led to his dismissal. From this
time he devoted himself to study with so much application as to bring on
a disease that hastened his death. His principal work was a Hebrew
grammar, in which he discarded the vowel points, and embodied an
elaborate argument against them.
1732. OTTOMAR ELLIGER, a distinguished Prussian painter, died by
intemperance.
1751. GEORGE GRAHAM, an ingenious watch maker, died. He was not only the
most eminent of his profession, but the best mechanic of his time, and
had a complete knowledge of practical astronomy.
1755. LAWRENCE RICCI, an illustrious Florentine, died. He embraced the
order of the Jesuits, of which he was general at the time of its
suppression; was imprisoned by the pope, and died in confinement.
1758. Pittsburgh evacuated by the French.
1759. Fort Du Quesne, now Pittsburgh, in Pennsylvania, taken by general
Forbes.
1759. One of the most violent eruptions of mount Vesuvius ever known,
which took place without any of the usual preceding symptoms.
1776. THEOPHILUS BORDEN, an eminent French physician, died. He gained
great reputation at Paris, where he published nine medical works.
1789. Assignats, the name given to paper money, first issued in France.
1790. ROBERT HENRY, a Scottish clergyman, died; author of a history of
Great Britain "on a new plan."
1814. Treaty of peace signed at Ghent, between the United States and
Great Britain.
1819. Champlain canal declared to be navigable.
1828. CLARKE ABEL, a medical officer and naturalist, who accompanied the
embassy of lord Amherst to China in 1816, died.
1835. WILLIAM DUANE died at Philadelphia; many years editor of the
_Aurora_, one of the most able and distinguished papers which supported
Mr. Jefferson and his measures.
1848. Pope PIUS IX, after a week's imprisonment in his palace, escaped
in disguise to Mola di Geta.
1852. WALTER FORWARD, an eminent American statesman, died at Pittsburgh,
aged 66. He was a native of Connecticut, but achieved his reputation at
the west.
1854. The steamer Ocean, from Boston, for the Kennebec, came in
collision in Boston harbor, with the Atlantic steamer Canada, took fire
and was destroyed.
1855. LOUIS MATTHIEU, count Mole, formerly prime minister of Louis
Philippe, died, aged 75. His abilities attracted the attention of
Napoleon, and he filled various offices under the different rulers of
France till his decease.