AUGUST. (continued 2)

1775. Arnold left the camp at Cambridge, with a detachment of 1,000 Americans, to penetrate into Canada by way of Kennebec river and the wilderness. They reached Quebec after great suffering from fatigue, hunger and cold.

1776. Constitution of Maryland adopted.

1776. Lords Dunmore and Campbell, and sir Peter Parker, joined lord Howe at Staten island, having taken from the Virginians about 1,000 negroes.

1779. American general Lovel raised the siege of Penobscot, having sustained very considerable loss of stores, 19 armed vessels, besides transports, &c.

1787. Edmund Law, bishop of Carlisle, died, aged 84; an eminent theological writer.

1788. Thomas Sheridan died, aged 67; an eminent English actor, philological writer, and lexicographer, son of Thomas Sheridan, the divine and poet.

1788. First newspaper in Goshen, Orange County.

1790. Agostino Carlini, a Genoese statuary, died at London, where he was keeper of the Royal academy. He was celebrated for the grace and skill with which he executed drapery.

1794. George Colman (the elder), died, aged 61; an eminent English scholar and dramatic writer.

1794. Le Quesnoy taken by the French republican army. The garrison consisting of 28,000 men, were made prisoners of war.

1799. Battle of Novi; between the French under Joubert and the allied Russian, Austrian and Piedmontese armies, under Suwarrow. Joubert was mortally wounded.

1813. Action between United States brig Argus, 20 guns, lieutenant Allen, and British brig Pelican, captain Maples. The Argus was captured in 43 minutes, with the loss of lieutenant Allen and 8 others killed, mostly officers. She had taken, prior to her capture, 19 British vessels prizes.

1814. British captured, off fort Erie, two United States schooners, laden with provisions for the garrison of that fort. The fort was bombarded same day.

1814. The Swedish army having obtained possession of several strong places in Norway, prince Christian resigned his pretensions to that crown, and his resignation was followed by the union of Norway and Sweden.

1819. Erik Acharius, an eminent Swedish physician and botanist, died, aged 82.

1837. A great fete for the inauguration of the statue by Thorwaldsen to Guttenberg, one of the inventors or improvers of the art of printing, at Mainz. It continued three days, and was attended by about 20,000 strangers from different parts of Germany.

1839. Marie Jeanne Robin died at New Orleans, aged 108.

1840. The steam packet Britannia arrived at Liverpool in 10 days from Halifax, the quickest passage hitherto made between the American continent and England.

1846. Joshua L. Wilson, pastor of the first presbyterian church erected in Cincinnati, died there, aged 72. He was born in Virginia, and brought up in Kentucky as a blacksmith. He was a preacher of the highest character and influence, during a ministry of 38 years.

1850. Gerard Troost died at Nashville, Tenn., aged 74. He was a native of Holland, who came to this country in 1810. He was first president of the Academy of natural sciences, at Philadelphia, and for a long time professor in the university at Nashville, and also geologist of the state.

1856. William Buckland, an English divine, died, aged 72. He is best known by his scientific pursuits, particularly in mineralogy and geology, upon which subjects he published valuable treatises.

AUGUST 15.

1356 B. C. The Eleusinia, or great Grecian mysteries, founded in this year, so celebrated throughout the classical world, were observed by the Athenians at Eleusis, every fifth year for nine days, commencing on the 15th Boedromion; introduced in memory of Ceres.

310 B. C. Agathocles landed in Africa during an eclipse of the sun, not many weeks subsequent to his defeat by the Carthagenians at Himera. Epicurus began in that year to teach at Mitylene and Lampsacus.

423. Honorius, emperor of Rome, died; who, with his brother Arcadius, first divided the empire into east and west sovereignties.

718. The second and memorable siege of Constantinople (under the reign of Leo the Isaurian), by the Saracens, raised. It commenced, according to Theophanes, on the same day of the preceding year.

1038. Stephen I, of Hungary, died. He introduced Christianity into his kingdom, and enacted wise laws for the benefit of his people.

1096. The princes of the crusade began their march through Germany.

1118. Alexius Comnenus I, emperor of Constantinople, died. He usurped the throne 1080, and distinguished himself in his wars with the Turks.

1279. Albert (the great), of Brunswick, died; a monk who acquired great knowledge in an age of ignorance.

1369. Philippa, of England, died; memorable for her humanity towards the six condemned citizens of Calais, when that city fell into the hands of Edward.

1635. Great storm in New England. The tide rose 20 feet, a great many houses and plantations were destroyed, and the Narragansetts were obliged to climb trees for safety; the tide of flood returning before the usual time, many of them were drowned.

1656. James Bowels, a native of Killingworth, England, died, aged 152.

1661. Thomas Fuller, an English historian and divine, died. It is said of his memory, among other incredible things, that he could repeat a sermon verbatim on once hearing it.

1702. Unsuccessful attack of the British under admiral Rooke and the duke of Ormond, on Cadiz.

1702. Battle of Lauzara, in Italy, between the allies under prince Eugene, and the French under the duke de Vendome.

1725. Gerard Noodt, an eminent Dutch civilian, died.

1728. The queen of Sardinia died; she was the daughter of Charles I of England.

1729. Benjamin Neukirch, a German poet, died. He deserves a place in history rather as having taken the first step to reform German literature, than as a good writer.

1733. A Roman pavement of mosaic work discovered in Little St. Helen's, Bishop gate street, London; supposed to have lain over 1700 years.

1741. Behring discovered East cape, the easternmost point of Asia.

1746. Nicholas Hubert de Mongault, an ingenious and learned French critic, died.

1751. Thomas Shaw, an English divine and antiquary, died; a writer on Barbary and the Levant.

1758. Kustrin, the capital of the new march of Brandenburg, bombarded by the Russians, and reduced to a heap of ruins.

1758. Pierre Bouguer, a celebrated French mathematician, died. He was employed to measure a degree of the meridian in Peru, a difficult task, which he accomplished with great fidelity.

1760. Lacy Ryan died; an English dramatic writer, but more eminent as an actor.

1764. Iwan, son of prince Anthony Ulric, of Russia, massacred in prison by his keepers. He was grandson of Peter the Great, and had been kept in prison almost from his birth.

1769. Birthday of Napoleon Bonaparte, at Ajaccio, in the island of Corsica.

1771. Birthday of sir Walter Scott, at Edinburgh.

1780. American general Sumpter attacked and carried a redoubt on the Wateree, and intercepted a convoy from fort Ninety-six, with 40 wagons loaded with stores, and took 100 prisoners.

1782. Briant's Station, near Lexington, Ky., attacked by 500 Indians and Canadians, who were repulsed, and retreated on the third day, having lost 30 killed.

1786. Thomas Trywhitt, an English antiquary and critic, died; author of several learned works, and one of the many commentators on Shakspeare.

1793. Levée en masse was proposed in the French assembly which proved the foundation of the famous but tyrannical conscription act of Napoleon.

1794. French convention ordered the French and American flags to be united and hung up together in the hall of their sitting. James Monroe was received as minister from the United States.

1799. The French under Massena defeated the Austrians and Russians under the archduke Charles, at Richterswyl, Etzel and Schwindelezzi, in Switzerland. Lecourbe forced the famous pass of the Devil's bridge, took possession of St. Gothard, and seized on the Valois.

1801. Charles Louis l'Heritier de Brutelle, a French botanist, assassinated. He published Stirpes Novæ, a splendid book, and was engaged in preparing a work on English plants.

1802. Bonaparte invested with the sole power of nominating his successor and of appointing two subordinate consuls, and nominating a large number of additional senators, &c.

1812. British general Brock summoned the city of Detroit to surrender, occupied by general Hull.

1812. Battle of fort Chicago; the garrison, consisting of 54 regulars and 12 militia, was attacked by the Indians and after a resolute resistance of some hours, in which 26 of the regulars, all the militia, 2 women and 12 children, were killed, they surrendered on the promise of protection. The survivors, however, 25 men and 11 women, were brutally massacred.

1814. Assault on fort Erie by the British under colonel Drummond, who were repulsed with great loss. The attack commenced at 2 o'clock in the morning, and it was a part of the British orders that no quarters should be given. The action was desperate and bloody; the British lost by official report, 57 killed, 309 wounded, 539 missing—by another account they lost 222 killed, 174 badly wounded, and 186 prisoners, besides 200 killed at Snake Hill. Colonel Drummond was killed; acting up to his barbarous order, when a wounded American officer asked quarter, he shot him with a pistol, whereupon a soldier leveled his piece and shot Drummond in the breast. Total American loss, 93—killed 26, wounded 92, missing 11.

1815. John Meerman, a celebrated Dutch author, died. Under Bonaparte he was made director of the fine arts and minister of public instruction, and became a count of the empire and senator. His library sold in 1824 for 131,000 florins.

1816. Great fire at Constantinople; 1200 houses and 3000 shops and magazines destroyed.

1844. William Leet Stone, a New York editor, died, aged 52. He published memoirs of Brant, and of Red Jacket, and some other works, and edited for a long time the New York Commercial Advertiser. He was also superintendent of common schools in that city.

1849. Riot at Montreal; house of L. H. Lafontaine, head of the Canadian ministry, was assailed by a mob. Fire arms were discharged from the building, by which one person was killed, and the rest driven back.

1851. A violent and destructive tornado occurred at St. Louis, Missouri.

1853. A conspiracy discovered in Rome; 146 persons arrested.

1854. Stephen Simpson, died at Philadelphia. He was at one period of his life an editor, and gained considerable celebrity as a political writer, especially against the United States bank, over the signature of Brutus, in Duane's Aurora.

AUGUST 16.

1191. The Saracen hostages, 2500 in number, put to the sword beneath the walls of Acre, by order of Richard, with the sanction of his confederates. The galls of the murdered infidels were converted into Christian medicines.

1380. John of Gaunt erected a court of minstrels at Tutbury, England, with legal jurisdiction over the men in that profession in five counties. It consisted of a king and four other officers, who had sovereign authority upon this day.

1424. Battle of Verneuil, in France; the French and Scotch under Buchan, constable of France, defeated by the English. The Scottish auxiliaries were nearly annihilated.

1494. Ferdinand and Isabella addressed letters of approbation to their high admiral of the Indian seas, Columbus, from Segovia, wishing "to know all the seasons of the year, such as they take place there in each month separately: some wish to know if there are two summers and two winters in the same year."

1513. Battle of the Spurs, in France, between the French, and the English under Henry VIII, at Guingette. It received its title from the flight of the French gendarmerie, and the pursuit of the English, in which the contest was one of speed.

1519. Cortez set out from his colony of Villarica on his expedition to Mexico, with 415 Spanish infantry, 16 horses, 200 Indians to transport his artillery and baggage, and some native troops, among which were 40 nobles, whom he took as auxiliaries in war, and hostages of the Totonecas.

1604. Hubertus Gifanius, a Dutch critic and civilian, died at Prague. He wrote notes and commentaries on Homer, Aristotle, Lucretius, and other authors, and was a noted professor of philosophy.

1654. Onondaga salt springs discovered.

1677. The second ship from England arrived at West Jersey, bringing 230 passengers, most of whom were quakers, some of good estates in England.

1681. Nikon, a celebrated person in the annals of Russia, died. He was the sixth patriarch in the Russian church.

1705. Battle between the French and Imperialists at Cassino in Italy. Both claimed the victory and sang a Te Deum.

1718. Action off Sicily, between the British and Spanish squadrons, in which the latter were defeated, and several large vessels taken or destroyed.

1721. No. 1 of the New England Courant was issued. James Franklin, brother to Benjamin, was the publisher. It lived only about six years.

1730. Lawrence Echard, an English historian and divine, died. His works were creditable performances.

1733. Matthew Tindal, a celebrated English polemical writer, died.

1738. Joseph Miller, better known as Joe Miller, died. He was an English comedian, and the compiler of a popular jest book.

1777. Battle of Bennington; general Stark with about 1600 New Hampshire militia, attacked and defeated a detachment of 1500 British regulars and 100 Indians, sent out by Burgoyne, under the command of the Hessian generals, Baum and Breyman, to take a magazine at Bennington. British loss 226 killed, and 33 officers and 700 privates prisoners; they lost four cannon, with all their baggage, wagons and horses. Americans lost less than 100 killed and wounded.

1780. Battle of Camden; the Americans under general Gates totally defeated by the British under Cornwallis. Baron De Kalb received 11 wounds in this engagement, which proved mortal.

1792. First theatre opened in Boston. It was called the New Exhibition Room; the statute of the state prohibiting dramatic performances, they advertised to represent the moral lecture of Douglas! One evening, about two months after, as sir Peter, and lady Teazle were representing their parts of the moral lecture of School for Scandal, the sheriff made his first appearance on that stage, and arrested them by virtue of a peace warrant.

1800. Samuel Barrington died; a distinguished admiral in the British navy.

1806. Action between the French ship Veteran, under Jerome Bonaparte, and 6 British vessels of the Quebec fleet, homeward bound, which were captured.

1812. Detroit surrendered by general Hull to the British under general Brock, without firing a gun from the fort or consulting an officer. The American force amounted to 1100 men. The British took about 40 cannon, 2500 stand of arms, 400 rounds 24lb. shot fixed, 40 barrels powder, 100,000 musket cartridges made, and 15 days' provisions.

1814. The United States fleet, employed in the expedition to Mackinaw having failed in its object, colonel Croghan re-embarked his troops.

1824. Charles Thomson, died, aged 94. He was the first secretary of congress, in which office he continued 15 years. The Indians called him The man of truth. He translated the Septuagint in 4 vols. 8vo.

1825. The northern sea discovered by captain Franklin, who traced the Mackenzie river to its source.

1844. Turhand Kirtland, aged 89, died at Poland, Ohio. He was one of the pioneers of the Northern Ohio, then called New Connecticut.

1848. An immense conflagration at Constantinople consumed about 2500 shops and 500 houses.

1848. A serious insurrection took place at Ceylon against the British authorities, which was subdued by strong measures.

1851. George McClure, a general in the war of 1812, died at Elgin, Illinois, aged 80. He resided a long time at Bath, Steuben county, N. Y., was many years member of assembly from that county, and at different times judge, surrogate and sheriff.

1851. Stephen Olin, an eloquent Methodist divine, died at Middletown, where he was president of the University, aged 54. He held the presidency of Macon college also, in 1833; and is known as an author.

1851. The division of the forces of Lopez under colonel Crittenden having been driven to the coast, where they embarked in open boats, were captured and shot at Havana.

1854. The Russians blew up the fortifications at Hangho, in sight of the allied fleets; the evacuation of the Principalities by them was continued.

1854. The allied fleets in the Baltic accomplished the final conquest of the Bomarsund forts, situated on the largest of the Aland islands, accompanied by the capture of 2000 Russians.

1855. Battle of Tchernaya; the Russians under Gortschakoff attacked with great force the lines of the allies, and drove in the outposts, defended by the Sardinians; but after a severe contest were driven back with great loss; 4000 supposed to have been killed, and 2200 left prisoners and wounded. Loss of the allies 1200, of whom 200 were Sardinians.

1856. Henry Colburn, an eminent London publisher, died. He brought out the works of Bulwer, D'Israeli, Hook, Maryatt and James, and originated several very popular magazines.

AUGUST 17.

1408. John Gower, an early English poet, died. He was a member of the bar, and a severe contemner of the vices of the age.

1483. Edward V of England, and his brother the duke of York, smothered in prison by order of the duke of Gloucester, their guardian.

1502. Columbus sent his brother Bartholomew on shore at Orejas, and took possession of South America in the name of Ferdinand and Isabella.

1544. St. Dizier surrendered to the emperor Charles V, after a noble defence made by the French governor.

1590. The governor of the colony of Roanoke returned from England, whither he had been for supplies (see August 27), and found the settlement deserted, the houses taken down, and the word Croatoan written upon the trees. He was compelled to return without finding the place of their removal.

1657. Robert Blake died; one of the most intrepid and successful admirals that have adorned the British navy.

1673. Regnier de Graaf died in France, where he acquired great celebrity as a physician and a writer; aged 32.

1679. Jonas Moore, an English mathematician, died; noted in the reigns of Charles I and II for his labor and enterprise in the cause of science.

1682. A comet made its appearance before the people of New England, with a tail of the very respectable length of 15 degrees; which that goodly folk did not see the last of till the 15th September.

1714. George I arrived in England to succeed on the throne.

1720. Anne le Fevre Dacier, a French lady of great learning, died. She translated the principal Greek and Latin poets into her native language, and was noted for her many virtues. (6th by some authors.)

1748. Jonathan Baxter performed the singular feat of crossing the Thames at Blackfriars in a butcher's tray in 1h. 10m., paddling with his hands.

1755. George Jeffreys, an English dramatic and miscellaneous writer, died.

1758. Richard Houseman, a laborer of Knaresborough, was committed to York castle on suspicion of having murdered Daniel Clark.

1765. Timothy Cutler, an Episcopal clergyman, died at Boston, aged 82; formerly president of Yale college.

1779. The independence of the United States declared at New Orleans by beat of drum.

1785. Jonathan Trumbull, governor of Connecticut, died. He bore a conspicuous part in public affairs during a period of 50 years; and retired at the close of the revolution.

1786. Frederick II (the Great) of Prussia, died. He distinguished himself as a warrior, and a man of letters, and was one of the most celebrated characters of his day.

1796. The Dutch fleet under admiral Lucas surrendered to the British at the cape of Good Hope.

1807. British army invested Copenhagen; at the same time the Danish gun boats attacked the British with grape and round shot.

1808. Battle of Roleia, in Portugal, between the French, 6,000, under Laborde, and a much superior force of British under Wellesley. The French were compelled to retreat with the loss of 1,500; British loss 500.

1809. Matthew Boulton, an English engineer, died. He erected an extensive establishment at Soho, and expended £47,000 in the course of experiments on the steam engine, before Watt perfected the construction and occasioned any return of profit.

1812. First day's battle of Smolianovo, on the Dwina; the Russians under count Witgenstein defeated the French under Oudinot, with great carnage. Oudinot was dangerously wounded, and St. Cyr took the command.

1812. Battle of Smolensko, on the Boristhenes. Upwards of 100,000 men were engaged, and the conflict was long and bloody. The French under Bonaparte and his best generals maintained their ground; the Russians retreated in the night, after having fired the city. The French are supposed to have lost about 13,000, and the Russians about half the number.

1813. Battle near lake George, between the United States troops under Gen. P. B. Porter and a body of British and Indians; the latter were defeated.

1818. James Constantine Perier, an able French machinist, died. He was the greatest manufacturer of machinery in France, having at one time no less than 93 establishments. Notwithstanding this weight of business, he found time for literary pursuits, and was an author.

1830. La Fayette created marshal of France.

1832. Jean St. Martin, an eminent French orientalist, died at Paris of cholera. He was principal editor of the Journal Asiatic, and particularly distinguished for his knowledge of the languages of western Asia.

1836. M. de Rayneval, an eminent French diplomatist, died. He was employed in important missions under Bonaparte, and after the restoration had a still more distinguished career in diplomacy.

1838. Lorenzo da Ponte died in New York, aged 89. He was an Italian by birth, but long a resident of the city of New York; distinguished for his attainments, particularly in Italian literature and art, and author of various publications, among which are some celebrated operas.

1840 Mordecai Moor, died at Clinton, Me., aged 104.

1848. Disastrous fire at Albany; several hundred buildings burned, and one million of property destroyed.

1849. Henry Colman, many years Unitarian minister at Salem, Mass., died in London. He had for some time devoted himself to agricultural inquiries, and published several volumes on the agriculture of foreign countries.

1850. Ashtabula county court house, Ohio, with all papers and records, destroyed by fire.

1852. Pompeo Litta, an Italian author, died at an advanced age. He began in 1819, a costly illustrated work on the genealogies of the principal Italian families, existing and extinct.

1853. A difficulty occurred at the Chincha islands between the Peruvian commandant and the American shipmasters in port.

1857. A block of pure chrystalline ice weighing 25 lbs. was discovered in a meadow near Cricklewood, England. On the day previous a destructive hail storm passed over the spot. Mezray, in his history of France mentions a block of ice that fell of the weight of 100 lbs., during a thunder and hail storm in the year 1510.

AUGUST 18.

332 B. C. Gaza, in Palestine, entered by Alexander the Great, and 10,000 of her inhabitants put to the sword. This was during the Isthmian games, and shortly after the fall of Tyre, which was taken in the month Hecatombæon.

328. Helena, empress of Rome, died, aged 80. She was the mother of Constantine, and distinguished for her zeal in the cause of the Christian religion.

852. Abdurrahman II, sultan of Cordova, died, aged 65. He was the patron of learning and scholars, though constantly engaged in war.

1187. Geoffrey, son to Henry II, killed in a tournament at Paris.

1348. A three-fold scourge, which during this year visited the continent of Europe, first appeared in England upon this day; earthquakes, deluges of rain, and a vast ephemeral pestilence, traveling the belt of Asia from Cathay to Delta; over Greece to Italy, beyond the Alps into France, reached London in November.

1510. Edmund Dudley, an English statesman, executed for treason; known as an instrument of Henry VII in the arbitrary acts of extortion practiced during the latter years of his reign.

1510. Richard Empson, another characteristic of the same stamp, perished at the same time.

1559. Paul IV (John Peter Caraffi), pope, died. He ascended the throne at the age of 80, and conducted himself with so much haughtiness and indiscretion that his death was unlamented.

1587. The first English child born in America, at Roanoke, Virginia. She was the grand-daughter of the governor, and was baptized on the following sabbath, by the name of Virginia.

1609. The Half Moon having pursued a course south and west for ten days, arrived at the entrance of Chesapeake bay, where the first effectual attempt to plant an English colony had been commenced only two years before. (See Aug. 28.)

1642. Guido Reni, the celebrated Italian painter, died. His skill as an artist attracted great attention, and he was loaded with honors and wealth. His pictures are valuable, and adorn the collections of the great.

1655. Cromwell, as protector, adopted the We, in answering a petition. Instead of the capital W, he had at first written the more familiar I; then a small w, which was finally erased with his finger for the royal character.

1670. Dryden created laureate by royal patent.

1707. William Cavendish died; first duke of Devonshire, an able English statesman, who was active in procuring the invasion of England by William III.

1746. William, earl of Kilmarnock, and Arthur Balmerino, beheaded in London, as traitors for levying war against George II, in behalf of the pretender.

1659. Action between the British fleet, admiral Boscawen, and the French fleet, M. de la Clue, off the coast of Barbary. The French were defeated, and on the following day, five of their largest ships were taken or destroyed.

1765. Francis I, of Germany, died. He commanded the Austrian armies in Hungary against the Turks, and his reign of 20 years' duration was distinguished by many memorable events.

1780. British under Tarleton attacked Sumpter on the Wateree, and killed, captured or dispersed the whole of his party, and retook 300 British prisoners.

1780. Battle of Musgrove's mills; 500 British and tories defeated by the Americans under colonel Williams, and 120 killed or wounded.

1783. John Dunning, lord Ashburton, died; noted for his extensive practice as a lawyer in London. He defended Wilkes and opposed the American war.

1783. Benjamin Kennicott died; an English prelate, well known in the learned world for his elaborate edition of the Hebrew Bible and other valuable works.

1798. General Humbert landed at Killala, Ireland, with 700 French; a few days afterwards they were all captured.

1803. James Beattie died; a Scottish poet and miscellaneous writer, and professor of moral philosophy and logic.

1807. The Danish gun boats renewed their attacks upon the British army before Copenhagen, but were finally driven back into the harbor.

1810. Charles Peter Clarel de Flurieu, a French hydrographer, died. He was also a statesman under Louis XVI and Napoleon.

1812. Second day's battle of Smolianovo. The French under St. Cyr defeated with great slaughter. The battle continued 12 hours. The French lost 2,500 killed and wounded, and 3,000 taken prisoners. Russian loss 1,000 hors du combat in both engagements.

1813. Battle of St. Antonio; the Spanish royalists under Aredonda defeated the Mexican patriots.

1814. British admiral, Cochrane, addressed a letter from on board the Tonnant, in the Patuxent, to the American government, declaring his determination to destroy and lay waste such towns and districts upon the American coast as might be found assailable, though contrary to the usages of civilized warfare.

1829. David Baird, of Aberdeen, a distinguished British general, who led the storming party at the capture of Seringapatam, died.

1834. A tremendous eruption of Vesuvius, which continued several days, and destroyed about 1,500 houses.

1838. The first United States exploring expedition sailed, under Com. Wilkes.

1838. Battle of Morella, in Spain; the queen's troops defeated by the Carlists with the loss of 2,000 men; the victors left in possession of Lower Aragon.

1840. Timothy Flint, a noted missionary in the Mississippi valley, died, aged 60. He published an account of that region in two works, which are interesting and valuable.

1851. Ebenezer Young, a Connecticut civilian, died at West Killingly, aged 67. He was often in public life, especially in the legislature of his native state, and in congress.

1853. John Taliafero, librarian of the treasury department at Washington, died, aged 85. He had also been a member of congress fourteen years.

1855. Jabez D. Hammond, an eminent New York lawyer, died, aged 77. He filled several important offices, and wrote a Political History of New York, and some other works.

1855. Thomas Metcalfe, an American officer of the war of 1812, died in Kentucky, aged 75. He also filled various civil offices with ability, under the state and general government.

1855. The queen, Victoria, and prince Albert, left Osborne at day break to visit Louis Napoleon; arrived at Boulogne, 96 miles, in 4¼ hours, and reached Paris the same evening.

1855. Abbot Lawrence, a noted Boston merchant, died, aged 63. He was a liberal and public spirited citizen, and endowed the Lawrence scientific school at Cambridge with $100,000.

AUGUST 19.

335 B. C. The city of Thebes demolished by Alexander, during the mysteries.

14 (A. U. C. 766). Octavius Cæsar Augustus, the great and virtuous emperor of Rome, died at Nola. This day is also the anniversary of his first exaltation to the consular dignity.

1493. Frederick III, of Germany, died. He was fifty-eight years emperor of Austria, and fifty-three emperor of Germany, during which time he was constantly embroiled in troubles, and suffered many humiliations and indignities from the neighboring princes, who took advantage of his imbecility. During his reign the Turks took Constantinople, and the art of printing was discovered.

1579. Louis de Clermont Bussy d'Amboise assassinated; a French nobleman distinguished for his bravery and his crimes.

1601. William Lambarde, an eminent lawyer and antiquary, died at Westcombe, in England. His collection and translation of the Saxon laws was among the first of his works.

1617. Sir Walter Raleigh sailed from Cork on his last voyage, with fourteen vessels.

1646. Ragland castle, in Montgomeryshire, England, surrendered to the parliament forces. This was one of the last fortresses that held out for Charles.

1648. Ibrahim, son of Achmet, sultan of Turkey, assassinated.

1662. Blaise Pascal, a French divine, died; noted for his mathematical abilities. His works are published in 5 vols.

1680. John Eudes, the founder of the sect of Eudists, died at Caen, in France.

1692. Five persons executed at Salem, Mass., for witchcraft.

1699. George Burroughs, a New England minister, hung for witchcraft. He was a man of unblemished character, and fell a victim to one of the most astounding delusions that ever disgraced the name of religion.

1702. Action near Santa Martha, in South America, between the British fleet, admiral Benbow, and the French squadron, Du Casse. The cowardice of the English lost them the battle.

1708. The British under sir John Leake and major general Stanhope took Minorca, which was retained by the government.

1744. John Baptist Silva, a distinguished French physician, died at Paris.

1763. Under cover of a severe hail storm and an unusual darkness in the neighborhood of London, the populace attempted the rescue of a criminal to be executed, but though they detained the execution till eight in the evening, they were unsuccessful.

1772. Gustavus, king of Sweden, effected a revolution, which totally overturned the Swedish constitution of government, without any bloodshed. It was a masterly stroke of policy, that placed him in the attitude of absolute master over the laws.

1772. Revolution in Poland; the prerogatives of the crown, lost more than half a century before, were restored.

1777. Nicholas Herkimer, a brave officer, wounded at the battle of Oriskany, died at his house near Little Falls, New York.

1782. Battle near the Blue Licks, between the Kentucky pioneers, 176 in number, under colonel Boone, and 500 Indians. The Indians were defeated with the loss of 71; Boone's loss 63 killed, 7 taken.

1782. British man-of-war, Royal George, 100 guns, sunk off Spithead. Admiral Kempenfeldt, with 400 seamen and 200 women, perished. The wreck was visited by means of a diving bell in 1817, and found to be a mass of shapeless timber.

1792. The grand army of the allies entered France.

1807. The Danish gun boats again attacked the British before Copenhagen. The latter gained some advantages.

1811. The French under Macdonald captured Figueras, in Spain, after a desperate resistance by its famished defenders.

1812. Action between United States frigate Constitution, captain Hull, and British frigate Guerriere, 49 guns, captain Dacres. The Guerriere was sunk in 30 minutes, with the loss of 15 killed, 61 wounded, 24 missing. Constitution lost 7 killed, 7 wounded.

1812. Battle near Gedeonovo, in Russia, between the French, 90,000 and the Russians, stated at 40,000. The French drew off at night with the loss of 600 killed, 2,500 wounded. The Russians admitted the loss of 1,000 killed, 3,000 wounded. Not a prisoner was taken.

1814. Gustavus Maurice, count of Armfelt, a distinguished Swede, whose chief misfortune was that of being in advance of his age, died at Czarshoesels.

1814. Benjamin Thompson, count Rumford, died. From the humble station of a yankee schoolmaster he rose by his talents to distinction and wealth. His inventions and discoveries will perpetuate his name.

1823. Robert Bloomfield, an English poet, died. He learned the trade of a shoemaker, but was constrained to write poetry by nature. The one sustained his body while the other was perpetuating his memory.

1825. Juan Diaz (or John Martin), a Spanish partisan officer, executed; distinguished for his conduct during the French invasions.

1826. Paul Allen, an American poet, historian and editor of considerable merit, died at Baltimore, aged 51.

1838. The United States exploring expedition, consisting of 6 vessels, sailed from Hampton roads.

1839. Aaron Ogden, an officer during the revolution, died at Jersey City, aged 83. He was governor of New Jersey in 1812; was also senator of the United States, and practiced law with reputation.

1851. "The great aggregate meeting" of Roman catholics from all parts of Great Britain, was held at Dublin for the inauguration of the catholic defence association.

1852. A destructive tornado, accompanied with hail, passed over an extensive district in Hancock county, Me. Utter devastation followed its track, which was a fourth of a mile wide, and 40 miles long.

1853. George Cockburn, who ordered the destruction of the public property at Washington, on the capture of the city by the English, died at the age of 82.

1854. Grisi and Mario, the two most renowned artistes of the old world, arrived at New York.

AUGUST 20.

480 B. C. Battle of Salamis, in Greece, and defeat of the Persians under Xerxes. This great achievement occurred on that day of the mysteries devoted to the solemnities of Bacchus.

332 B. C. Tyre taken by Alexander, which with the subsequent conquest of Gaza, gave to him Egypt.

984. John XIV, pope, died. He was imprisoned in the castle of St. Angelo, by Boniface VIII, where he died, either of poison or grief.

1153. St. Bernard, of Clairvaux, died, and was cannonized on this day. He was an extraordinary character, who obtained great influence over the ecclesiastical affairs of Europe, by the mere force of personal character, without any adventitious advantages, and is styled the last of the fathers.

1485. The earl of Richmond, afterwards Henry VII, halted with his army at Atherstone, two nights previous to the decisive battle of Bosworth field. The troops encamped in a meadow to the north of the church, which now bears the name of the Royal meadow. During the night, Henry held a conference in the town with the two Stanleys, when the measures were agreed upon which resulted in the defeat and death of Richard III.

1513. Norham castle taken by the Scots; its ruins yet remain about eight miles west from Berwick.

1580. Jerome Osorio, an able Portuguese divine and author, died.

1639. Martin Opitius, an elegant German poet, died of the plague at Dantzic.

1648. Edward Herbert died; an eminent English statesman, and writer on history, philosophy and criticism.

1648. Battle of Lens; the French under Conde defeated the Spaniards and imperialists, under the archduke Leopold, of whom 3000 were killed, and general Beck and 5000 taken prisoners.

1660. John Lugo died; a Spanish Jesuit, professor of theology at Rome. He introduced Jesuit's bark into France, was created cardinal, and wrote 7 vols. folio.

1677. Peter Petit died; a learned Frenchman, celebrated for his mathematical and philosophical writings. (Penny Cyc. says 1667; other authorities 1687.)

1680. William Bedloe, the famous witness in the Titus Oates plot, died, charging the queen and the duke of York with being concerned in the plot, except the assassination of the king.

1694. William Penn was reinstated in his province of Pennsylvania, which had been taken from him and annexed to New York.

1701. Charles Sedley, an English poet, died. He flourished at the court of Charles II. (1703?)

1704. Battle of Narva; the town taken by assault by Peter the Great, who on the occasion killed several of his soldiers with his own sword, for disobedience in committing excesses upon the inhabitants. He had been defeated here four years previous by Charles XII.

1724. Louis I, king of Spain, died of small pox; in consequence his father, the abdicated monarch, resumed the throne.

1746. Fort Massachusetts, situated in the town of Adams, surrendered to the French and Indians. It was garrisoned with 22 men under captain Hawks, when attacked by 900 French and Indians. The little band kept the horde at bay while their ammunition lasted, and then capitulated on promise of protection—to be humanely treated, and none delivered to the Indians. In violation of the terms, Vaudreuil delivered one half to the irritated savages. Hawks lost but one man in the siege; while the loss of the enemy was afterwards ascertained to have been 47.

1756. Thomas Winslow, a native of Ireland, died, aged 146.

1760. James M'Donald, died at Cork, Ireland, aged 117, and 7 feet 6 inches in stature.

1768. Joseph Spence, an eminent English poet and critic, drowned in a canal in his garden.

1783. John Demeste died; chaplain and chief surgeon in the army of the prince of Liege, and known as the author of Letters on Chymistry.

1785. John Baptist Pigalle, a eminent sculptor, died at Paris.

1794. Battle of Miami, in Ohio, between the United States troops under general Wayne, and the British and Indians; the latter were defeated and driven out of the United States. The most hostile tribes were the Wyandots, Delawares, Shawnees and Miamis. The number of Indians engaged in this battle was 2000; that of our troops did not amount to 900.

1799. Surinam surrendered to the British under admiral Seymour.

1801. The French garrison at fort Mirabou, at Alexandria, Egypt, surrendered to the British under general Coote.

1815. Richard Alzop, an American poet, died at Middletown, Ct., aged 56.

1829. Adrianople captured by 28,000 Russians under general Diebitsch. The garrison of the city, amounting to 100,000 regular troops, laid down their arms immediately on the approach of the Russians, abandoning all their artillery, camp equipage, and munitions of war.

1840. Michael Walsh died, aged 77; author of the Mercantile Arithmetic, formerly in extensive use in this country. He was a native of Ireland, and settled in America in early life.

1841. Dreadful explosion at Syracuse; 26 lives destroyed.

1847. The Mexican works at Contreras near the city of Mexico were carried by general Smith's command. Falling back on Cherubusco a severe battle was fought and the Mexicans completely routed. Many were slain on both sides.

1849. Major Emory, in the United States service, gave information that a river forty feet wide and more than waist deep, with good drinkable water, broke forth from the desert about this time, between the river Gila and the mountains.

1852. The steam boat Atlantic came in collision on lake Erie with the propeller Ogdensburgh, and sunk in half an hour. Of 500 passengers, 250 were lost.

1854. Frederick William Joseph von Schelling, one of the most prominent among the philosophers of modern Germany, died in Switzerland, aged 79.

AUGUST 21.

638. Antioch in Syria taken by the Saracens.

1130. Abdulmumen, ibn Ali, elected sultan of eastern Africa by the following stratagem. Having trained a parrot and a lion, he assembled the chiefs in his tent, and urged upon them the necessity of naming a successor to their rising empire. In the midst of their deliberations the parrot perched himself upon one of the poles of the tent, and pronounced distinctly "Victory and power be the lot of the khalif Abdulmumen, commander of the faithful." The lion then made his way through the terrified assembly, licked his hand, and lay down at his feet. Deeply impressed with this wonder, and the manifest interference of heaven, the simple Almohades unanimously proclaimed him sultan.

1553. John Dudley, duke of Northumberland, beheaded. He acquired almost unbounded authority after the death of Henry VIII, and by the abortive attempt to place lady Jane Grey on the throne, lost his own life and brought about the ruin of all concerned in the scheme.

1560. The great solar eclipse, which first turned the attention of Tycho Brahe, at the age of 14, to the science of astronomy.

1561. Mary (the Myrtle of the South), arrived in Scotland, after an absence of thirteen years in France. It was on her passage that she composed that simple and touching chanson, beginning, "Adieu, plaisant pays de France."

1621. A cargo of marriageable ladies consisting of one widow and eleven maids, consigned at London to the colony in Virginia, to be sold for tobacco, at the rate of 120 lbs. of the best leaf for each.

1682. William Penn, to prevent any future claim, obtained a release from James, duke of York, of all his right to Pennsylvania.

1703. Thomas Tryon died. He was the son of a tiler and plasterer at Bibury, England, and became a shepherd. At the age of 13 he learned to read, and at 14 he gave one of several sheep he had obtained, to be taught the art of writing. Afterwards, selling his stock, for three pounds, he went to London and apprenticed himself to a hat maker, where he spent the day in learning his trade, and most of the night in reading. He commenced business, and acquired a considerable fortune. He rejected animal food, lived in "temperance, cleanliness and innocency," and died at the age of 69.

1708. Haverhill burnt. A force of about 400 French and Indians made an irruption from Canada, and shaping their course to the Merrimack, fell upon the town in the morning, plundered and burnt the houses, killed about 40 persons, and captured many more. The enemy were pursued, and many of them killed, among whom was a brother of the French leader, Rouville. Among the captives was the clergyman; his two daughters 6 and 8 years old, were preserved by the servant, who concealed them under tubs in the cellar, which the Indians did not disturb.

1726. Great destroying earthquake at Palermo, in Sicily.

1762. Mary Wortley Montague, an English lady of great literary reputation, died. She introduced the practice of inoculation for small pox into England.

1770. A leaden equestrian statue of George III was erected in the Bowling Green, New York, near fort George, by Wilton, a celebrated statuary of the day. It being the birth day of the king's father, prince Frederick.

1775. The continental army under Gen. Montgomery arrived at Ticonderoga.

1780. French king abolished the application of torture to extort confession.

1791. The American army under Gen. Wilkinson arrived at the Rapids on the Ohio, returning from an expedition against the Ouiattanons, having destroyed their principal town, and a Kickapoo village, made many prisoners, and cut down 430 acres of corn. The army sallied from fort Washington, and made a march of 450 miles. Only 2 men were lost.

1792. Lafayette abandoned the French army, of which he was commander in chief, and with his three friends surrendered to the Austrians. They met with a long imprisonment.

1805. Brest fleet attacked in Camaret bay, by the British under Cornwallis, who with an inferior force compelled them to retire into the inner harbor.

1808. Battle of Vimiera, in Portugal. The French army, 12,000, under Junot and Kellerman, made a desperate assault on the English and Portuguese, 20,000, under Wellesley. The French were defeated.

1810. Revolution in Santa Fe, South America.

1818. The renowned Warren Hastings died.

1821. Francis Hargrave, an eminent English law writer, died. His State Trials comprise 11 vols. folio. His library was purchased by parliament at about $40,000.

1823. Marco Bozzaris, the Leonidas of modern Greece, killed. He was a native of Souli, in the mountains of Epirus, and on the breaking out of the revolution headed a battalion of Suliotes. The pasha of Schodra advancing with a numerous force of Albanians to attack Missolunghi, Bozzaris with a handful of devoted followers attacked the camp by night, and fell.

1831. Insurrection of the negroes in Virginia, and massacre of the white population.

1835. John McCulloch, distinguished for his geological writings and other works of merit, died in consequence of being thrown from his carriage.

1846. The water in lake Ontario had fallen since the first of December, 1845, 28 inches, and was lower than ever known before. Gulf island, which had been submerged seven years before, again appeared above water, and many rocks and sandbars never before known made their appearance.

1848. A hurricane devastated the islands of Antigua, St. Kitts, Nevis, and St. Thomas.

1849. A national convention of inventors met at Baltimore; Horace H. Day, of New York, president.

1850. Daniel P. Parker, a Boston merchant, died, aged 60. He gave close attention to the construction of merchant vessels, and had in his service many ships of superior model and sailing qualities.

1851. A prisoner under sentence of death at Sacramento, California, was reprieved by the governor; but was hung, notwithstanding, by some of the disaffected citizens.

1851. New Orleans riot, growing out of the Cuban expedition. The office of La Patria, the Spanish paper, was destroyed, as well as the cigar shops kept by Spaniards; and the Spanish consul was obliged to ask protection, and was placed in the city prison for safety.

1856. The famous Charter oak at Hartford, Conn., was blown down in a storm.

1857. A hurricane passed over the town of Woodland, Wisconsin, and destroyed every house in the place.

AUGUST 22.

1138. Battle of North Allerton, in England, and defeat of the Irish under king David.

1280. Nicholas III, pope, died. His reign is noted for a missionary expedition to Tartary.

1357. Isabella, queen of England, died in prison, where she had been confined 28 years.

1485. Battle of Bosworth field, in which the forces of Richard III were defeated and himself killed. The forces of Richard exceeded 16,000, while those of Richmond did not amount to 5,000. The battle lasted little more than two hours, and was determined by the defection of Stanley. He is the only English king since the conquest who fell in battle, and the second who fought in his crown.

1540. Burial of William Budæus, a learned French critic and commentator; styled by Erasmus Portentum Galliæ (the prodigy of France).

1567. Capt. Gourges sailed from Bourdeaux to dislodge the Spaniards in Florida. (See May 3, 1568.)

1567. Murray proclaimed regent of Scotland.

1572. Thomas Percy, earl of Northumberland, beheaded at York.

1613. Dominique Baudius died; advocate of the parliament of Paris, and author of some Latin poems.

1615. Arthur Agard, a learned English antiquary, died.

1642. Charles I of England erected the royal standard at Nottingham. It was supposed equivalent to a declaration of hostilities.

1650. Eusebius Andrews, an English barrister, and colonel in the army of Charles I, beheaded by Cromwell.

1651. Christopher Love was beheaded at Tower hill. His offence was a desire to restore monarchy, that presbyterianism might succeed.

1711. An expedition from New England against Quebec, frustrated by the loss of a number of transports among the rocks, at midnight, about 9 miles up Canada river. About 1000 men perished.

1711. Lewis Francis de Boufflers, a distinguished French military character, died. He was opposed to prince Eugene, and celebrated for his defence of Lisle.

1739. James Vaniere died; a French Jesuit and famous Latin poet.

1752. William Whiston, an eminent English divine, died. He was also a mathematician, and succeeded sir Isaac Newton as professor of mathematics at Cambridge.

1766. Philip Carteret sailed from England in the sloop-of-war Swallow, on his voyage round the world, in company with captain Wallis in the Dolphin. They parted company April 10, 1767; the latter returned in 1768, the former March 20, 1769.

1773. George Lyttleton, an elegant English poet, historian and miscellaneous writer, died.

1776. The British troops, 24,000, under lord and sir William Howe, landed on Long island, between Gravesend and Utrecht.

1777. The siege of fort Stanwix raised by St. Leger, who retreated in great confusion, losing his tents, most of his artillery and stores.

1777. An unsuccessful attempt was made by general Sullivan and colonel Ogden on Staten island. The latter took 130 privates and some officers, burnt a magazine of hay and 7 vessels, and destroyed some stores, &c. The general deviated from his original plan, whence his enterprise was not so completely successful.

1778. Count d'Estaing sailed from Newport for Boston, which compelled general Sullivan to raise the siege of Newport and fall back; 2 or 3,000 volunteers having left him in consequence.

1779. General Williamson and colonel Pickens entered the Indian country, and burned about 50,000 bushels of corn in eight of their towns.

1779. Charles Clerke, the English circumnavigator, died of consumption off Kamschatka, and was buried at Paratounca. He had but a short time previous succeeded captain Cook in the command of the expedition.

1792. Longroy, in France, captured by Clairfait, with 3,500 troops and 71 cannon.

1795. French convention adopted a new constitution, by which a council of 500 was established, and a council of ancients consisting of 250.

1798. The French under general Humbert landed in Ireland and took possession of Killala. (18th.)

1808. Armistice signed by the French general Junot and sir Arthur Wellesley, by which the French agreed to evacuate Portugal.

1814. The inhabitants of Nantucket declared themselves neutral, under the protection of England. Same day 27 sail of square rigged British vessels arrived at Benedict; commodore Barney, in conformity to his orders blew up his flotilla and retreated to Nottingham. The British landed and marched to Marlborough.

1818. Warren Hastings, an English statesman and scholar, died. He was employed in the service of the East India company, and by oppression and injustice raised the revenue of the company from three to five millions pounds.

1826. A barge belonging to Beechey's expedition reached longitude 156° 21´ west. Here they were embedded in ice some days, and were about to abandon the bark, and return on foot 120 miles, to the ship, when it was fortunately extricated, and made sail to rejoin the ship.

1828. Franz Joseph Gall, founder of the science of phrenology, died at Paris, aged 71. His works are voluminous; his style is characterized as vivid and powerful; his description as accurate and striking: and he may be looked upon as one of the most remarkable men of his age.

1848. The rail road train made the transit from Springfield to Hartford, 26 miles, in 33 minutes.

1849. The fortress of Moultan was destroyed by a freshet, "remaining an island of mud in an expanse of waters."

1849. A convention called the Peace congress, opened its sittings at Paris.

1849. Venice capitulated to marshal Radetsky.

1850. Nathaniel Berry died at Gardiner, Me., aged 94; a member of Washington's life guard.

1851. The American yacht America, at the regatta at Cowes, England, won the "cup of all nations."

1852. Æneas Munson, the oldest graduate of Yale college, died at New Haven, aged 89. He was an assistant surgeon in the war of the revolution, afterwards became a merchant, and for a long period was president successively of several banks.

1853. Pietro Bachi, a Sicilian exile, died at Boston, aged 66. Being implicated in Murat's attempt to reascend the throne in 1815, he was banished, and arrived in America in 1825. He was highly accomplished in ancient and modern languages, and became an instructor of Italian in Harvard college.

AUGUST 23.

634. Abdallah Atik Ben Abi Kohafah, better known as Abu Bekr, died. He was the first caliph or successor of Mohammed in the government of the faithful. He enlarged the empire, and caused the precepts of the prophet to be collected in a volume, called Al Koran, which is the sacred and classical book of the Mohammedans.

1305. William Wallace, "the peerless knight of Ellerslie," at the age of about 35, executed on Tower hill, and his head set up on London bridge, to the public gaze.

1350. Philip de Valois, king of France, died. His crown was disputed by Edward VIII of England, which gave rise to a disastrous war.

1400. Edinburgh, the Scottish capital, burnt by the armies of Henry IV of England.

1481. Thomas Littleton died; a celebrated English judge in the time of Edward IV, and author of a treatise on tenures or titles, by which all estates were anciently held in England.

1500. Don Francisco de Bobadilla arrived at St. Domingo, a royal commissioner to inquire into the conduct of Columbus.

1532. William Warham, bishop of Canterbury, died; some time chancellor of England, from which office he was removed to make room for Wolsey.

1622. The Certain News of the Present Week is the title of a small quarto of 18 pages published this day in London, supposed to be the first weekly newspaper in England.

1628. George Villiers, duke of Buckingham, a noted English statesman, assassinated, at the age of 36.

1630. The first court of assistants held at Charlestown, Mass. They determined that ministers should be settled, houses built and salaries raised for them at the public expense. They settled the price of mechanical labor; carpenters, joiners, bricklayers, sawyers and thatchers, should take no more than 2s. a day, under a penalty of 10s. to giver and taker. At this court Edward Palmer was sentenced for extortion, in charging 2l. 13s. 4d. for the wood work of Boston stocks, to sit in them one hour and pay a fine of five pounds.

1642. John George Wirsungus, an Italian anatomist, assassinated. He was professor of anatomy at Padua, where he discovered and explained the pancreatic duct.

1679. William Owtram died; an eminent English preacher and scholar in the reign of Charles II.

1686. Buda, the capital of Hungary, after being in possession of the Turks for 145 years, was taken by the imperialists.

1693. The first printing executed in New York, was a proclamation of governor Fletcher bearing this date.

1719. Henry Clements, an eminent bookseller in London, died. His death was memorable on account of the occasion it furnished for the publication of his funeral sermon, entitled the Christian's Support under the Loss of Friends.

1720. James Vergier, a French poet, assassinated at Paris. He possessed great talents; but dissipation and licentiousness were unfortunately his distinguishing characteristics.

1723. Increase Mather died; a New England clergyman during the witchcraft delusion, which he labored to mitigate. It is said that he usually spent 16 hours a day in study; the number of his publications was 85, the number of his years 84. (His tomb stone says Aug. 27.)

1727. Hosier, the English admiral, died off Porto Bello. He had been sent out the year previous with 7 ships of war to intercept the Spanish galleons. On his arrival the galleons unloaded their treasure, and to prevent them from sailing the fleet lay off that pestilential coast until both the ships and their crews were desolated. Glover, author of a little poem called Admiral Hosier's Ghost, represents the number of dead at 3,000.

1756. Foundation stone of Columbia college laid at New York.

1782. Henry Lewis du Hamel died at Paris; eminent for his knowledge of mechanics, agriculture and commerce.

1782. Cape River fort surprised and carried by assault by the British captain Campbell with 150 negroes. He lost but 2 killed; Spanish loss 65 killed, 9 taken, mostly wounded.

1789. Silas Deane, minister of the United States to France in 1776, died in England in extreme poverty.

1793. Massacre of the French in St. Domingo.

1793. The British took Pondicherry from the French.

1795. French convention decreed that all assemblies known by the name of clubs or popular societies in France, should be suppressed immediately, their places of meeting shut up, and the keys delivered to the secretary of the town house.

1795. William Bradford died at Philadelphia, aged 39; some time attorney general of the United States, and known as an author and poet.

1804. Tripoli bombarded the third time by the American commodore Preble, from 2 P. M., until daylight the next morning, without much effect.

1806. Charles Augustin de Coulomb, a French engineer, died. He is noted for his brilliant experiments and discoveries in electricity and magnetism.

1813. Battle of Gross-Beeren, near Berlin in Prussia; the French under Oudinot, about 80,000, defeated with considerable loss.

1813. Alexander Wilson, the naturalist, died at Philadelphia; author of the American Ornithology, 7 vols. 4to, a work of great accuracy and comprehensiveness.

1818. First steamer from Buffalo to Detroit.

1820. Oliver Hazard Perry, a distinguished American naval officer, died at Trinidad of yellow fever, on the anniversary of his birth day, which was the 23d August, 1785. His victory on lake Erie over a British force superior in men and guns to his own, has given his name a permanent place in the history of his country.

1826. Koller, an Austrian general, died. He accompanied Napoleon, where he had to protect him against the rabble infuriated by priests and ultras, which was done by an exchange of garments. He left a valuable collection of antiques.

1835. Isaac Pococke died; one of the most successful dramatic writers of his day.

1835. Massacre at Para in Brazil by the Indians. The attack commenced on the 14th. The United States consul barely escaped with his life. It is supposed that the slaughter must have been immense, and a more complete sack of any city probably never took place.

1850. Charles Dyer, a midshipman in the United States navy, was drowned at Pensacola, in nobly attempting to save the crew of a vessel in distress. Alexander Hale, assistant engineer in the service and a graduate of Yale college, lost his life also in the same cause.

1855. Henry Lawson, an English astronomer, died at Bath, aged 81.

AUGUST 24.

79. First eruption on record of Vesuvius, which overwhelmed the towns of Herculaneum and Pompeii, and destroyed the martyr of nature. The younger Pliny, the nephew of that greater man, has described the terrific catastrophe in two letters to Tacitus.

93. Cneius Julius Agricola, a celebrated Roman general, died. He was governor in Great Britain, and by doubling the northern point of Scotland, first discovered it to be an island. (Sept. 1st?)

410. Alaric, at the head of the Goths, entered Rome at midnight, and gave up the town to be pillaged for six days, but with orders to his soldiers to be sparing of blood, to respect the honor of the women, and not to burn the buildings dedicated to religion. A part of the city was burnt, and many ancient works of art destroyed. The treasures of the city collected from all parts of the world fell a prey to the barbarians, and the once proud mistress of the world experienced a severe retribution for the sufferings which her heroes had caused to so many cities, countries and nations.

1227. Gengis-Khan, a renowned Mogul prince, died. He suddenly rose from the lowest fortunes, and in the space of 28 years subdued the greater part of Asia.

1344. Battle of Cressy, which gained Edward, the black prince, immortal honor. Here was slain the blind king of the Bohemians, the ornaments on whose sword were adopted as the coat of arms of the princes of Wales, Ich Dien, with three ostrich feathers.

1481. Alphonso V, of Portugal, died of plague. He was a great patron of learning, and conquered several places belonging to the Moors.

1525. Francis I, king of France, entered Madrid a prisoner to the emperor Charles V.

1572. Massacre of St. Bartholomews, which commenced in the city of Paris, and was continued throughout the kingdom during thirty days. The number of protestants who were butchered in this bloody affair, is estimated at 30,000, and by others at 70,000.

1572. Gaspard de Coligny, admiral of France, fell at the massacre of St. Bartholomews. He was distinguished for valor in battle, for strict discipline, and for his conquests over the Spaniards; and was feared by the court as the powerful leader of the Calvinist party.

1581. An assemblage of divines deputed by the states of Carniola, Styria and Carinthia, met at Laybach, to examine and revise the translation of the Vandalie Bible.

1605. The Turks having overrun the Persian provinces along the Caspian sea, their army of 100,000 was met by 66,000 Persians under schah Abbas, and completely overthrown.

1634. Abbasah, pasha of Erzerum, executed. He was the untiring enemy of the Janisaries, who succeeded in awakening the suspicions of the sultan Murad IV.

1653. An act passed by the parliament of the commonwealth of England permitting marriages to be solemnized by justices of the peace.

1662. The English act of uniformity in religion took effect; about 2,000 ministers were ejected from their benefices, without any provision for themselves or their families. Soon after they were banished five miles distant from every corporation in England. Several ultimately died in prison, for exercising their ministry in private, contrary to law; but a considerable number of them found an asylum in New England.

1682. The duke of York conveyed to William Penn all his right to the three lower counties on the Delaware river, now state of Delaware.

1683. John Owen, an English non-conformist divine, died, aged 63. He preached the first sermon before parliament after the execution of Charles I, was promoted to high places under Cromwell, which he lost at the restoration, by the influence of the presbyterian party. His works, which are of a high Calvinistic character, amount to 7 vols. folio, 20 quarto and 30 octavo. (See Oct. 15, 1651.)

1702. Sixth action between the British fleet, admiral Benbow, and the French under Du Casse. The brave English admiral had his leg carried off by a chain shot, and received two other wounds.

1756. Eighty Acadians arrived in New York from Georgia.

1777. General Washington marched his troops through Philadelphia for the Chesapeake.

1781. The allied French and American army under Washington and Rochambeau crossed the Hudson river and marched for Philadelphia.

1782. Jean de la Perouse, a distinguished French seaman and navigator, took fort York, on Hudson's bay, from the English. Here he found a manuscript of Hearne's journey to the Coppermine river, which Hearne received back as his private property on condition of publication.

1793. Marseilles subjected to the French convention, against which it had revolted.

1797. Thomas Chittenden, first governor of Vermont, died, aged 67.

1799. Bonaparte left Egypt.

1803. Gregory Fontana, a Swiss mathematician, died; distinguished as a professor and an author, during a period of thirty years, in Italy.

1811. Swiss cantons recalled their troops from the British service, and voted 6,000 additional men for the French service.

1814. Battle of Bladensburg, and capture of Washington city by the British under general Ross and admiral Cockburn. The capitol, president's house and public offices were burnt in a spirit unworthy of any nation. A dreadful retribution, however, overtook them, by the explosion of a magazine, by which one half their number was either killed or wounded. American loss, 40 killed, 60 wounded.

1829. Reuben Kelsey died at Fairfield, Vt., of voluntary starvation, after a fast of 52 days, during which he took no other nourishment than water.

1833. Adrian Hardy Haworth died of cholera in England: a distinguished botanist, entomologist and ornithologist; author of the Lepidoptera Britannica, and various other works.

1842. Benjamin Wright, a distinguished American civil engineer, died. The great Erie canal afforded him an opportunity for the exercise of his mathematical knowledge.

1844. Great outrages committed in Rensselaer county, New York, by the tenantry on Rensselaerwick.

1845. Samuel Haskell, the oldest episcopal minister of the state of New York, died at New Rochelle.

1848. The American ship Ocean Monarch burnt in the Irish channel, and more than 170 lives lost.

1849. John Pierce, of the Congregational church, Brookline, Mass., died. He was distinguished as a preacher and one of the earliest advocates of total abstinence from intoxicating drinks in the state.

1849. The chamber of representatives of Hayti, acting upon a petition which had been circulated one day, brought in a bill conferring the title and dignity of emperor upon Faustin Soulouque, the president of that government.

1851. James McDowell, a Virginia statesman, died. He was sometime governor of the state, and representative to congress.

1851. A fire in Concord, New Hampshire, destroyed the best part of the business portion of the town.

1851. During devotional exercises at the jail in San Francisco, two prisoners, Samuel Whittaker and Samuel McKenzie, were taken from the jailer by force, and hung by the vigilance committee.

1852. Joseph Vance, an Ohio statesman, died. He served the state in various stations, being governor in 1836.

1857. Thomas Clayton, a Delaware judge, died at Newcastle, aged 76. He was sixteen years in congress and occupied the bench with ability for a long time.

AUGUST 25.

383. Gratianus, emperor of Rome, assassinated at the age of 24. He was a powerful Christian ruler, but of an unfortunate turn of mind to conduct a government.

1170. Strongbow, under king Dermot, carried Dublin by storm.

1270. Louis IX, of France, died. He made two crusades for the recovery of the Holy Land, and died of a contagion off Tunis, in Africa.

1313. Henry VII, emperor of Germany, died. He entered Rome sword in hand, at a time when the country was distracted by the war of the Guelphs and Ghibelines, and was crowned by the pope.

1381. An eruption of Etna, which consumed all the olive yards around Catania.

1482. Margaret, of Anjou, queen of Henry VI, of England, died. She became conspicuous by her heroism in battle for the rescue of her husband, and being taken prisoner was ransomed with 50,000 crowns.

1576. The earl of Essex died in Ireland, suspected to be poisoned by the earl of Leicester, who married his widow.

1585. Sir Richard Grenville, planted the first English colony in America, on the island of Roanoke, consisting of 107 persons. This settlement was begun 17 years after the French had abandoned Florida, on the same coast, but far to the north of the settlements for which France and Spain had contended. The expedition was fitted out by Sir Walter Raleigh, and consisted of 7 ships.

1654. Battle of Arras, in France; the Spaniards under Conti defeated by Turenne.

1675. Battle of Sugarloaf hill, a few miles above Hatfield, on the Connecticut river. The Hadley Indians had betrayed their conspiracy with Philip's party, by fleeing from their dwellings, were pursued by captains Lathrop and Beers, and overtaken at this place, where a skirmish took place, in which 9 or 10 of the English fell, and about 26 Indians.

1725. A Hungarian picture of this date has the following inscription: "John Roven, in the 172d year of his age, and Sarah, his wife, in the 164th year of her age. They have been married 147 years, and both born and died at Stradovia. Their children, two sons and two daughters, yet live; the youngest son is 116 years of age."

1758. Battle of Zorndorf between the Prussians, 30,000, under Frederick the Great, and 50,000 Russians, under Fermor. The Russians were defeated, with the loss of 19,000 killed, and 3,000 taken, and 103 cannon. Prussian loss, 10,000 killed. This was the bloodiest and one of the most remarkable battles of the seven years' war.

1770. Thomas Chatterton, an English poet of astonishing genius, died at the age of 18, by taking poison, to escape hunger and misery.

1776. David Hume, the Scottish historian, died. His History of England is a work of great merit, and has long been the most popular work of the kind.

1782. A large foraging party of British attacked at Combahee, in South Carolina, by the Americans under general Gist and colonel Laurens, who captured a schooner. Laurens was mortally wounded, and died aged 27.

1788. Archbishop Sens, premier of France under Louis XVI, seeing the finances of the state utterly desperate, and fearing for the king and more for himself, retired from the administration, and left the monarch, while bankruptcy and famine threatened the kingdom, to manage as he might, amid the storms which the measures of the minister himself had provoked to the uttermost. He fled to Italy with the greatest expedition, after having sent his resignation to his unfortunate sovereign.

1789. Mary Washington, mother of the illustrious general, died at Fredericksburgh, Va., aged 82.

1796. Lafayette and other prisoners released from the castle of Olmutz, at the requisition of the French government.

1797. John Baptist Louvet de Couvray, a French advocate, died; distinguished as an actor in the revolution, and an author.

1799. John Arnold, eminent for his improvements in the mechanism of timekeepers, died. He was the inventor of the expansion balance and detached escapement, and was the first artist who applied the gold cylindrical spring to the balance of a timepiece.

1800. Elizabeth Montague died; an English lady of considerable literary celebrity.

1803. Tate Wilkinson died; an English comedian and manager, often noticed by the writers of his day.

1804. Fifth attack on Tripoli by the Americans under commodore Preble.

1805. John Skey Eustace, a distinguished officer of the revolution, died, aged 45. In 1794 he went to France, and commanded a division of the French army in Flanders.

1806. John Philip Palm, a Nuremberg bookseller, shot for a publication against Bonaparte.

1807. Edward Preble died; the brave and intrepid commodore of the American fleet, which in 1804 subdued Tripoli.

1808. Action between the British and Swedish squadron under admiral Hood, and the Russian squadron, in which the latter was defeated.

1810. The solemn inauguration of the column to the glory of the grande armée in the place Vendôme, Paris, took place on the 15th.

1812. The French raised the siege of Cadiz, which had long resisted their efforts. Among the artillery abandoned, was a large mortar, which had been employed in throwing shells the immense distance of three miles.

1814. Washington city evacuated by the British under major general Robert Ross and admiral Cockburn.

1819. James Watt, an eminent Scottish natural philosopher, died; celebrated for his improvements in the steam engine.

1822. William Herschel, the English astronomer, died. He discovered the planet Georgium Sidus, which sometimes bears his name.

1830. Insurrection of the Belgians commenced at Brussels. The populace attacked and destroyed several houses belonging to the most obnoxious individuals, and skirmishes followed between the inhabitants and the troops.

1834. Morris Evans died at Raleigh, N. C., aged 105.

1835. Earthquake in Natolia, by which 2,000 houses were destroyed in the city of Kaisarieh.

1836. Christian William Hufeland, an eminent Prussian physician and medical writer, died, aged 75. He was a popular lecturer, distinguished for his profound and extensive learning, and ingenious application of his theory to practice.

1837. The cholera raged at Rome, and was fatal to 300; the greatest number of deaths that occurred in any one day.

1849. The French admiral, de Tromelin, took possession of and dismantled the fortifications at Honolulu, Sandwich islands, the government having refused to comply with the demands of the admiral. He relinquished the possession three days after.

1854. The city of Troy, N. Y., visited by a destructive fire, which consumed more than a hundred houses and manufactories.

AUGUST 26.

331 B. C. Battle of Arbela, the modern Irbil, on the Lycus, between the Macedonians under Alexander, and the Persians under Darius (26th Boedromion). The Persians were defeated and the fate of Darius sealed.

55 B. C. Julius Cæsar made a landing on British ground, at a point eight miles north of Dover.

55. A surprisingly great comet was seen by the inhabitants of China.

1278. Battle of Marchfeld, in Austria, between Ottocar and Rodolph of Hapsburg, in which Ottocar fell. This day laid the foundation of the house of Hapsburg, which is still seated on the throne of Austria.

1346. Battle of Crecy, in France; the English, less than 30,000 under Edward III, defeated the French, 90,000, under Philip VI, who received two wounds, and was one of the last who fled. It is estimated that of the French upwards of 30,000 soldiers, 1,200 knights, 80 bannerets and 9 princes fell in the battle and pursuit.

1595. Antonio, a pretender to the throne of Portugal, died. He was assisted in the struggle for the crown by several of the European powers, but was driven out, and died in exile.

1635. Lopez Felix de la Vega died; a Spanish divine, poet and a dramatic writer of great fertility of genius. His works form upwards of 70 volumes.

1693. Peter Barriere, a French soldier, who attempted to assassinate Henry IV, of France, broken on the wheel.

1723. Anthony Van Leeuwenhoek, a celebrated Dutch physician, died. He became famous throughout Europe by his experiments and discoveries with the microscope.

1762. Valentia de Alcantara, in Spain, taken by assault by the British, under Gen. Burgoyne.

1765. Riot in Boston occasioned by the stamp act; several private houses destroyed, and among them that of the lieutenant governor Hutchinson, one of the best in the province; his books and papers, which he had been 30 years in gathering, were destroyed, together with his plate, furniture, &c., and £1,000 in money.

1766. Thomas Winslow, an English military officer, died, aged 146.

1775. The Americans opened their entrenchments on Plowed hill, near Boston. The British threw about 300 shells at them.

1775. James Burgh, an ingenious English moral and political writer, died at Islington.

1776. Germain Francis Poullain de St. Foix, a French historical tourist, died. He retired from the army to devote himself to literature, at Paris, and was appointed historiographer.

1777. Francis Fawkes, an English poet, died. He translated several of the Greek poets, and wrote many miscellaneous poems, in a pleasing and elegant style.

1785. George Sackville, an English nobleman, died. He was an officer under Marlborough, and present at several important engagements.

1794. Sluys, in Dutch Flanders, surrendered to the French under Moreau, 22 days after the opening of the trenches. The sudden capture of this fortress, exceedingly strong by nature and art, and defended by the brave general Vanderduyn, so intimidated the remainder of the Dutch and Hanoverian garrisons, that they thought only how to escape the fate of Sluys, and evacuated several fortresses equally strong; besides nearly 30 less important forts, and all Dutch Flanders.

1795. Trincomalee, a Dutch colony in the island of Ceylon, taken by the British under admiral Rainer.

1795. British squadron under Nelson, captured in the bay of Alaeso, 11 French vessels.

1806. Edward Thurlow, an eminent English lawyer, died. He became attorney and solicitor-general to the king, a member of parliament and lord high chancellor of England. He possessed a vigorous and active mind, which added to close application, gave him a high rank among the professional men of his day.

1813. Battle of Katzbach, in Silesia; the French defeated by the Russians and Prussians under Blucher. The day was so rainy that fire arms could not be used, and the battle was fought hand to hand. The French were driven into the river and perished in great numbers.

1813. Battle of Dresden. The citizens beheld a spectacle of an army of 60,000 troops marching through the streets to the field of battle, under Napoleon. An army of 120,000 allies were drawn up around the city.

1813. Theodore Korner, a German poet, killed in battle. Many of his pieces have been set to music, and become national.

1832. Adam Clarke, an eminent English divine, died of cholera, aged 72. He commenced his career as a methodist preacher at the age of 18, and became so popular that few men have ever drawn so large congregations. He was a man of great talents and extensive learning, particularly in the oriental languages and Biblical literature, and author of a well known and learned commentary on the scriptures, and various other publications.

1836. Buffalo and Niagara rail road opened.

1838. Caleb Stark, an officer of the revolutionary war, died. He entered the army at the age of 15, and commenced his career at the battle of Bunker hill as an ensign in his father's regiment. He remained in the army till the close of the war, at which time he was a brigadier-general.

1848. A battle took place at the cape of Good Hope, between the British and Boors. The former were victorious, with the loss of 54 men killed and wounded; the Boors lost 199.

1849. The senate of Hayti, having concurred in the bill of the chamber of representatives, Faustin Soulouque submitted to the wishes of the people, and was crowned emperor of Hayti, under the title of Faustin I.

1849. J. A. Yates, an eloquent divine and learned professor of Union college, died, aged 49.

1850. Louis Philippe, the exiled king of the French, died at Claremont, England, aged 77.

AUGUST 27.

413 B. C. The Athenian army under Nicias lost on account of the general's fright at an eclipse of the moon.

524. Flavius Severinus Bœthius, a celebrated Roman philosopher, died in prison, probably executed by order of Theodoric.

1556. Charles V, emperor of Germany, resigned the government to his brother Ferdinand, and set out for Spain.

1565. William Rastal died; an eminent English judge of the sixteenth century, and author of a work on the statutes of England.

1587. At the urgent solicitation of the colony of Roanoke, Gov. White returned to England for supplies; but of his countrymen whom he left behind nothing was ever afterwards known. Thus, says Holmes, terminated the exertions of Raleigh for colonizing Virginia.

1590. Sixtus V (Felix Peretti), died; distinguished for the energy with which he extirpated the outlaws, and opposed the overgrown power of Spain. He embellished Rome with numerous and useful structures, among which is the present Vatican.

1630. The first church founded at Charlestown and Boston; their pastor was to receive a salary of £40.

1664. Articles of capitulation signed, by which the Dutch colony at New Amsterdam became subjects of England, with the privilege of continuing free denizens; to possess their estates undiminished; to enjoy their ancient customs with regard to inheritance, to their modes of worship and church discipline, and were allowed a free trade to Holland. The doughty governor, Stuyvesant, could not be prevailed upon to ratify it with his signature till two days afterwards.

1683. Thomas Dongan arrived as governor of the province of New York. He was a man of integrity, moderation, and genteel manners, and may be classed among the best of the provincial governors of New York.

1748. James Thomson, an eminent English poet, died; author of the Seasons.

1758. Fort Frontenac surrendered at discretion, to the English and provincials under Col. Bradstreet, after a siege of two days. They found in the fort 60 pieces of cannon, 16 mortars, a large number of small arms, a vast quantity of provisions, military stores and merchandise, together with 9 armed vessels in the harbor.

1770. John Jortin, an eminent divine of the English church, and writer on ecclesiastical history, died, aged 72.

1776. Battle of Flatbush, or Long Island; the Americans surprised by the British and Hessians, and defeated with the loss of about 500 killed and 1,100 taken prisoners; British loss about 70 killed, 350 wounded.

1791. Placidus Fixmilner died; an Austrian ecclesiastic, and writer on astronomy and the canon law.

1793. Adam Philip de Custines, a French nobleman and general, guillotined. He served in the seven years' war and in the American revolutionary war.

1794. Valenciennes, after Lisle the strongest place of the famous northern barrier of France, surrendered to the republicans at the first summons.

1813. Second day's battle of Dresden. The allies were defeated and forced to retreat, with the loss of 30,000. The French had 10,000 wounded; the number of killed not known. Moreau had both legs shot away by a cannon ball.

1816. Algiers bombarded by the British and Dutch fleets, under lord Exmouth. The dey's fleet and defences were utterly destroyed, and he was compelled to submit to a treaty on his enemy's terms.

1825. Lucretia Maria Davidson, an American poetess, died before completing her 17th year. Her pieces amount to 278, of which Amir Khan is the principal; some of them written at the age of 9 years.

1834. George Clymer, inventor and manufacturer of the Columbian printing press, died in London. He was instrumental in improving many other mechanical improvements.

1847. Silas Wright, an eminent American statesman, died at Canton, St. Lawrence county, N. Y., aged 52.

1849. Gabriel H. Ford, an American jurist, died at Morristown, N. J., aged 85. He was one of the most eloquent and efficient lawyers of New Jersey, and held the office of judge of the supreme court twenty-one years. His residence was the head quarters of Washington in 1777.

1850. Benjamin Chambers, died, aged 86. He was a native of Pennsylvania, who entered the revolutionary army at the age of 16, and afterwards settled in Indiana. He held various important civil and military appointments under the early presidents.

1854. The city of Louisville, Ky., was visited by a tornado, which blew down and unroofed a large number of buildings; a church fell upon the congregation while at worship; 25 were killed and 67 seriously injured.

1857. Rufus W. Griswold, a voluminous American author, died, aged 42. He wrote for numerous periodicals, and left several unfinished works.

AUGUST 28.

430. Aurelius Augustinus (or St. Augustin), one of the fathers of the Christian church, died at Hippo, in Africa.

876. Louis I, of Germany, died. He acquired the title of the pious, at the same time rendered himself powerful and formidable to his neighbors.

1443. John V, duke of Britanny, died, and was succeeded by his son Francis.

1595. Drake and Hawkins sailed from England with six of the queen's ships and twenty-one private ships and barks, on an expedition against the Spanish settlements in the West Indies.

1608. Francis Vere, died; an English general, who distinguished himself in the expedition to Holland, 1585.

1609. Hudson, having retreated his steps from Chesapeake bay, discovered another great bay, which has since acquired the name of Delaware. He anchored the Half Moon in eight fathom water, and took possession of the country.

1645. Hugo Grotius, an eminent Dutch philosopher, died. He was a man of great talent and laborious study, and notwithstanding he passed a stormy life, his works are very numerous.

1654. Axel Oxenstiern, a Swedish statesman, died. He was placed at the head of affairs on the death of Gustavus Adolphus, and owed his elevation to his merit and abilities.

1686. Cassini, an Italian astronomer, discovered the satellite of Venus.

1710. Joseph Keble, an English law writer, died. Besides his published works, which were few, he left 100 large folio, and 50 thick quarto volumes in manuscript.

1722. Port Royal in Jamaica, destroyed by a hurricane; 26 ships and many lives lost.

1731. Charles Boyle, earl of Orrery, died, aged 56. He made a figure from the age of 19 up, in literary, military, and almost every other kind of warfare.

1737. John Hutchinson, an English author, died: founder of a well-known philosophical sect, which opposed Newton's doctrine of gravitation. His theories are curious, but no longer in repute.

1754. An irruption of the French and Indians upon Hoosick and Schaghticoke, by which those settlements were broken up, two persons scalped, and the houses fired.

1775. George Faulkner, a celebrated Irish printer, died. He was the first to carry the art to a high degree of perfection in that country, and appears to have been a worthy and useful citizen.

1788. Elizabeth Chudleigh, duchess of Kingston, died at Paris; celebrated for her matrimonial speculations.

1792. Dumourier took his post at the head of 20,000 men, undisciplined and unorganized. Yet with these materials he arrested the progress of 80,000 Prussians and Hessians, and forced them to retreat with the loss of half their army.

1794. Battle of Powassin, between the Prussians and the Poles, in which the former lost their batteries and cannon, after a bloody engagement.

1798. James Wilson died, one of the signers of the declaration of independence. He was eminent for his talents and integrity, and continued in the discharge of some public office till his death.

1804. Margaret, widow of Benedict Arnold, died in London, aged 44. She was the daughter of Edward Shippen, of Philadelphia. It was said of her, that with a superiority and strength of mind seldom equaled, she possessed such polished and fascinating manners, as to convert every acquaintance into a friend.

1811. John Leyden, a distinguished linguist, died on the island of Java, in his 36th year. He was ordained as a minister, but never attained any popularity as a preacher.

1814. Bombardment of fort Erie continued by the British; a shell entered the roof of Gen. Gaines's quarters, and burst at his feet, by which he was so severely wounded as to be obliged to resign the command of the fort.

1816. Treaty signed between Algiers and England, by which Christian slavery was to be abolished, and all slaves, of whatever nation, to be delivered up. The number released was 1,033.

1839. William Smith, an eminent English geologist, died, aged 70. In his employment as a land surveyor and engineer, he turned his attention to the geology of England, and published upwards of 20 geological maps of the counties. He is styled the Father of English Geology.

1839. A grand tournament appointed at Eglintoun castle in Ayrshire, Scotland. The day was very stormy, and the multitude from all parts of Great Britain who had assembled to witness the feats, estimated at 80,000, suffered greatly from the inclemency of the weather, and the impossibility of procuring shelter, food, or vehicles. An immense sum had been expended by the romantic nobleman in getting up the festival, which proved a total failure.

1851. The yacht America beat the iron yacht Titania, on a race of forty miles out and back, and left her eight miles astern.

1854. Maria Christina, queen mother of Spain, left Madrid for Portugal, under escort of a body of government troops, but against the will of the people; she was indebted to the state 71,000,000 reals.

1855. Spencer H. Cone, a Baptist minister, died in New York, aged 70. He was an actor, and on the stage for the last time when the Richmond theatre was burnt. He afterwards edited a newspaper, and finally became one of the most distinguished of the Baptist ministers.

1855. The vessel engaged to lay the submarine cable between cape Ray in Newfoundland and cape North in cape Breton, 55½ miles, began to pay it out. The cable afterwards broke, and a gale coming on, it was found necessary to let it go.

1856. The Dudley observatory was inaugurated at Albany.

AUGUST 29.

30 B. C. Conquest of Alexandria by Augustus; exactly three lustra or fifteen years preceding the great victory of Drusus over the Rhœtians and Vindelici, which concluded the Barbaric war.

30. St. John (the Baptist) beheaded. The decollation of the Baptist determines the birthday of Herod, tetrarch of Galilee, called Antipas, who for his ambition was banished by Caligula to Spain or Lyons, with Herodias, in the year 38.

410. Alaric evacuated Rome and ravaged the provinces of Italy.

284. Era of Diocletian (or the martyrs), commenced, still used by the Copts and Abyssinians. It receives its name from the persecution of the Christians in the reign of Diocletian, and was much used by the Christian writers until the introduction of the Christian era, in the sixth century.

1350. Great naval battle in the English channel, off Winchelsea, between the English under Edward III and the mariners of Biscay. Fourteen Castilian ships were carried triumphantly into port.

1353. Action between the Genoese fleet under Antonio Grimaldi, and the combined Venitian and Catalonian fleets, under Pisani, in which the former suffered so great a defeat that only 17 vessels escaped.

1445. Paul, of Burgos, a learned Jew, died. He was converted to Christianity, and was baptized at the same time with his three sons, who all distinguished themselves.

1527. Battle of Mohatz, between the Turks under Solyman, and the Hungarians under Louis II, in which the latter were defeated with the loss of 20,000 killed. The Turks carried nearly 200,000 persons into captivity.

1583. Stephen Parmenius Budeius, a learned Hungarian, shipwrecked on the coast of Newfoundland. He accompanied sir Humphrey Gilbert's squadron of discovery, for the purpose of recording their discoveries and exploits in Latin. He was on board the Delight, which carried down more than 100 persons with her.

1657. John Lilburne, a famous English enthusiast, died. He was the ringleader of a party called the levelers.

1660. The act of indemnity signed by Charles II, out of which most of those called regicides were excepted.

1692. Col. Benjamin Fletcher arrived at the port of New York, with a commission as governor of the province, which he published the next day.

1708. Haverhill, on the Merrimack, surprised by the French and Indians, who burnt part of the town, killed about 40, and carried away 100 prisoners.

1749. Mathias Bel, died at Presburg; a Hungarian ecclesiastic, ennobled for his literacy.

1750. Letitia Pilkington, a lady of great wit and literary celebrity, died at Dublin.

1764. John Bernard, a distinguished London merchant, died. He represented the city in parliament forty years, and was so highly esteemed by the public that his statue was placed in the Royal Exchange during his life time.

1769. Edmund Hoyle died; author of a celebrated treatise on whist and other games.

1776. Americans retreated from Long Island. Gen. Mifflin commanded the rear guard, with whom Washington remained until the retreat was effected. The army amounted to 9,000.

1778. The rear of the American army under Gen. Sullivan attacked by the British, who were repulsed. British loss 260; American loss 206.

1779. The Indians defeated by Sullivan at Elmira.

1780. James Germain Soufflot, an eminent French architect, died.

1782. British ship Royal George, 108 guns, sunk while careening. Admiral Kempenfelt and about 1,000 persons were lost, of whom 300 were women and children. (This is put down by other authorities on the 19th, and differently stated.)

1799. Pius VI (John Angela Braschi), pope, died. He rendered his name famous by draining the Pontine marshes. Bonaparte entered his state twice, making him a prisoner the second time, and carried him over the Alps to Valentia, where he died of excessive fatigue, aged 82.

1804. Com. Preble's fifth attack on Tripoli. The Constitution fired upwards of 300 rounds, besides grape and canister: sunk a large Tunisian galliot, and silenced two of the batteries and the castle. American loss 3 killed, 1 wounded.

1816. Scheta, the celebrated astronomer of Liliennthal, died.

1833. Great fire at Constantinople, in which a circuit of three miles, said to comprise 12,000 houses and 50,000 inhabitants, was devastated, and many lives lost.

1843. A treaty of peace between Great Britain and China concluded. The Chinese to pay twenty-one millions of dollars, open 5 of their principal ports and cede the island of Hong-Kong to the British.

1849. The fortress of Achulga, the residence of Schamyl, a celebrated Circassian chief, was carried by assault by the Russians, after a siege of four months.

1851. Lopez, who had invaded Cuba with American volunteers, after sixteen days of reverses, and having lost nearly all his followers, was captured in the mountains by the aid of bloodhounds.

1851. A convention of twenty-five delegates assembled in Lewis county, Oregon, and appointed a committee to prepare a memorial to congress, to procure a division of the territory, and the organization of a separate territorial government.

1853. The Austrian minister, M. Hulsemann, addressed a note to the American government, complaining of the conduct of Capt. Ingraham in the Koszta affair.

1854. Petropaulowski, a Russian town, attacked and bombarded by the allied English and French fleet. The town was defended by 1,200 men and 120 guns.

1854. A new asteroid, named Euphrosyne, was discovered at the Washington observatory, by James Ferguson, assistant astronomer.

AUGUST 30.

30 B. C. Cleopatra, queen of Egypt, destroyed herself by the bite of an asp, to save herself from the disgrace of captivity.

526. Theodoric, first king of the Goths in Italy, died. He advanced commerce and the arts, and patronized literature, but committed great acts of cruelty.

1181. Alexander III, pope, died. He was an able pontiff, beloved by his subjects and respected by the world.

1483. Louis XI, of France, died. His ambition led him to the commission of the greatest crimes, by which he acquired the title of the Tiberius of France.

1563. Wolfgang Musculus, a celebrated German divine, died. He adopted the tenets of Luther, and by his eloquence gained over the city of Augsburg.

1566. Solyman II (the Magnificent), sultan of Turkey, died. He prosecuted war with various success in Europe and Asia, and took the island of Rhodes from the knights of Jerusalem.

1645. Treaty of peace between the New England colonies and the Narragansett Indians; by which the latter were to pay the expense of the preparations already made for war, estimated at 2,000 fathoms of wampum; restore to Uncus the prisoners and canoes taken from him; keep perpetual peace with the English and all their allies; and give hostages for the performance of the treaty. Formidable preparations were made for this contest with the heathen savages. They drew up a manifesto, containing such facts as they considered sufficient to justify them in making war against the Narragansetts. It was entitled, "a declaration of former passages and proceedings betwixt the English and the Narrohiggansetts, with their confederates, wherein the grounds and justice of the ensuing warr are opened and cleared." In this document it is affirmed that the English colonies, "both in their treaties and converse with the barbarous natives of this wilderness, have had an awful respect to divine rules." It was determined immediately to raise 300 men; Massachusetts to raise 190, Plymouth 40, Connecticut 40, New Haven 30.

1645. A formal treaty of peace between the Dutch in New Amsterdam, under William Kieft, and the Indians in the vicinity.

1645. Parliament ordered a fast for a blessing on Scotland and sir Thomas Fairfax's army, and a cessation of the plague.

1690. King William forced to raise the siege of Limerick after sustaining great loss.

1717. William Lloyd, an English prelate, died, aged 91. He was a zealous promoter of the revolution, and a voluminous author.

1757. Battle of Norkettin; the Prussians forced the Russian camp and batteries, and killed 2,000 men with an equal loss on their own part.

1785. By the plague which raged at Tripoli, 30,000 persons had died up to this date, of which 3,300 were Jews. The brother of the bey, his two sons, and all the ministers of the bey were dead. All the Christians established in the city as merchants had died.