283. MARCUS AURELIUS CARUS, the Roman emperor, killed by lightning,
beyond the Tigris.
400. GAINAS, a Goth of great valor, killed. He became a general under
Arcadius, and desolated Thrace, because refused a church for the Arians.
496. CLOVIS, the first Christian king of France, crowned at Rheims; a
glorious day among the Franks.
800. CHARLES, king of France, crowned at Rome emperor of the West. It
was the commencement of a new Roman era, and he took the name of
_Charlemagne_.
830. LEO V, emperor of Constantinople, assassinated. He was an Armenian,
who became a general by his valor in the Roman armies, and prevailed on
his troops to proclaim him emperor.
1066. WILLIAM, the conqueror, was crowned at London, amid a tumult, and
the better to secure the obedience of the citizens, granted them a
charter.
1440. GILLES DE RETZ, the famous _Bluebeard_, executed at Nantes for his
horrible crimes. The ruins of his castle, La Verriere, are seen on the
banks of the Erde, in the Lower Loire.
1476. GELEAS MARIE SFORZA, duke of Milan, assassinated. He rendered
himself unpopular by his ferocity and debauchery.
1618. The first house erected at Plymouth, Mass., by the puritan
settlers, after having spent more than a month in selecting a place for
settlement. The company was divided into 19 families, and to each person
was assigned a lot, half a rod in width, and three rods in length, for
houses and gardens.
1658. CROMWELL dispersed several congregations, met to celebrate the
birth of the Savior.
1676. MATTHEW HALE, a learned English judge, died. He was conversant
with almost every branch of science, and has left valuable works in law,
philosophy and religion.
1678. JOHN NEWTON died; an English mathematician and chaplain to Charles
II.
1698. JAMES HOUBRACKEN, the celebrated Dutch engraver, was born at
Dordrecht.
1712. WILLIAM KING, an English poetical and political writer, died. His
most useful work is an account of the heathen gods and heroes, necessary
for the understanding of the ancient poets.
1715. JAMES, the pretender to the English throne, landed at Peterhead,
and formed his court.
1740. JOHN SOANEN, an eminent French ecclesiastic, having been deposed
from his bishopric, died in exile.
1741. ROBERT SANDERSON died; an English writer, distinguished as the
continuator of _Rymer's Fœdera_, from the 16th to the 20th volume.
1758. JAMES HERVEY, an English divine of exemplary virtue and piety,
died. His _Meditations_ and _Letters_ are well known.
1762. Great riot at Drury lane theatre, because the managers would not
admit at half price after the 3d October.
1770. HENRY MILL, an ingenious English mechanic, died. He is said to
have been unrivaled in the science of hydraulics.
1777. Vermont became an independent state. It was first settled in 1725,
and claimed as part of New Hampshire.
1796. KOSCIUSKO, with other Polish prisoners, liberated by the emperor
Paul, when he came to America.
1801. HESTER CHAPONE, an elegant English poetess and moral writer, died.
Her works will long be popular.
1813. Violent eruption of mount Etna.
1816. Treaty between the United States and the dey of Algiers.
1822. A hurricane in Iceland, which overthrew the churches. The new
volcano of Oefields Jokkelen, spouted burning stones and ashes.
1827. ENRICO ACERBI, an Italian surgeon and medical writer, died.
1837. JOHN AUSTIN died at Philadelphia, aged 67; a native of Barbadoes,
formerly a surgeon in the British army, and a practitioner at Barbadoes
and Demarara, where he was greatly esteemed.
1853. JOHN MACRAE WASHINGTON, a brave American military officer, was
swept from the wreck of the San Francisco, aged 60. After the close of
the Mexican war he commanded an expedition across the plains of Mexico
to the Pacific, and acted as military governor one year.