Part 72

1854. The steamer Arctic, captain Luce, when about 50 miles distant from cape Race, came in collision with the French screw steamer Vesta, in a dense fog, by which her bows were stove in, and she filled and sunk in about five hours. The Arctic had 410 persons on board, including the crew, of which 22 passengers and 65 of the crew were saved, and 212 passengers and 110 of the crew were lost; of the 61 women and 19 children on board, not one was saved. The conduct of the crew is said to have been selfish, mutinous and dastardly.

1855. JOHN ADAMSON died at New-Castle-upon-Tyne, aged 68; an English author of a work upon the life and writings of Camoens, and devoted to literary and scientific pursuits, and to antiquarian research.

SEPTEMBER 28.

490 B. C. Battle of Marathon is said to have occurred at the full of the moon on this Julian day. (See Aug. 6.)

351. Battle of Murza, on the Drave, in which the emperor Constantius defeated Magnentius in a most desperate conflict.

855. LOTHAIRE I, emperor of Germany, died. He seized the person of his father, and confined him in a monastery, and waged a bloody war with his brother, during which 100,000 men fell in a single battle.

1014. Nearly the whole of Flanders was immersed by a storm.

1066. WILLIAM OF NORMANDY (_the Conqueror_) arrived at the coast of England, on his memorable invasion.

1197. HENRY VI, emperor of Germany, died. He had the meanness to detain Richard of England, who had been shipwrecked on the coast of Dalmatia. With the large sum of money obtained for the ransom of his illustrious captive he made war against Sicily, and plundered and desolated the country.

1396. Battle of Nicopolis; the Turks under Bajazet achieved a famous victory over the king of Hungary. The greater part of an army of 100,000 confederate Christians were slain, or driven into the Danube, and Sigismund, escaping by the river and the Black sea, returned after a long circuit to his exhausted kingdom. A _rout_ preserved Europe.

1567. JOHN STAININGER died at Braunau, in Austria; he was remarkable for the length of his beard, which reached to the ground.

1582. GEORGE BUCHANAN, a learned Scottish historian, has his death placed on this day by several authorities. (See Feb. 28.)

1616. JOSHUA SYLVESTER, an English poet, died.

1667. JAMES GOLIUS, an eminent Dutch orientalist, died. He traveled into several countries, and published some learned works.

1670. The London royal exchange, having been rebuilt, was opened.

1687. The Venetians under Morosini bombarded Athens, when a bomb fired the powder magazine kept by the Turks in the Parthenon. This noble building, which had stood nearly 2000 years, and was then nearly perfect, was by this calamity reduced to a ruin, and with it perished the ever memorable remains of the genius of Phidias. In attempting to remove the chariot of victory, which stood on the west pediment of the Parthenon, it fell and was dashed to pieces. Though the ancient edifices of the Greeks suffered much from the Turks, the siege of Morosini did infinitely more damage to the Parthenon than it had sustained during the 2000 years of its existence. A fine basso relievo, supposed to belong to the frieze of the building, has lately been discovered.

1708. The French defeated near Wynnendale, yet by means of 2000 horsemen each with a bag of powder behind him, contrived to throw supplies into Lisle.

1728. HENRY BROWN obtained a patent from the English government for an improvement in the manufacture of cannon.

1742. HUGH BOULTER, primate of Ireland, died, leaving behind him an enviable reputation. During the great scarcity of 1741 in Ireland, 2500 persons were daily supported at his expense.

1742. JOHN BAPTIST MASSILLON, a famous French ecclesiastic, died. His name has almost become proverbial as a powerful master of eloquence. (18th?)

1763. JOHN BYROM, an English poet, died. He was also famous as the inventor of a system of short hand writing.

1768. The commissioners of the customs having solicited the presence of a regular force in Boston, two British regiments, escorted by seven armed vessels, arrived from Halifax and took up quarters in the town.

1776. CADWALLADER COLDEN, lieutenant-governor of New York under the British dynasty, died, aged 88. He was a Scottish physician; his publications were numerous in botany, medicine, history and philosophy.

1777. General WAYNE, with a detachment of 1500 men, on the left wing of the British army, was surprised and defeated with a loss of about 300.

1778. A regiment of American cavalry stationed at Tappan on the Hudson river, was surprised while sleeping, by the British under general Gray, who rushed upon them with their bayonets, and giving them no quarter, 67 were killed, wounded and taken.

1779. The famed Houghton collection of pictures (lord Walpole's) was purchased by the empress of Russia, and shipped for Petersburg.

1780. Americans under general Marion attacked a party of tories at Black Mingo; several were killed and others taken.

1789. THOMAS DAY, an eminent English writer and eloquent speaker, killed by a fall from his horse.

1791. The French ships Recherche and L'Esperance under admiral D'Entrecasteaux and Hunon Kermadoc, sailed from Brest in search of La Perouse. The expedition was extremely unfortunate, both commanders dying on the voyage, and the ships and crews were seized by the Dutch governor at Java.

1795. The British under general Stuart took Jaffnapatam in the East Indies.

1803. RALPH GRIFFITHS, an English writer, died; known in the republic of letters as the projector of the _Monthly Review_, begun 1749, and which became so popular as to procure him a comfortable independence, upon which he retired.

1839. WILLIAM DUNLAP, a portrait and historical painter, died at New York, aged 74. He also wrote several valuable historical works, besides biographies and dramas.

1842. Captain ENOCH PREBLE, a skillful seaman and eminent philanthropist, died at Portland, Me.

1843. SHOBAL L. VAI CLEVENGER, an American sculptor of high reputation, died at sea, aged 31.

1848. EDWARD R. TYLER, editor of the _New Englander_, died in New Haven, Ct., aged 48. He was for many years engaged with ability and usefulness as a congregational minister at Middletown and at Colebrook.

1850. The North Star, which was sent out from England in 1849, arrived at Spithead on her return. She was imprisoned in the ice from Oct. 1, 1849 to Aug. 1, 1850.

1852. WILLIAM FINDEN, a celebrated English engraver, died at London of heart disease, aged 66.

1853. A deputation from the protestant alliance waited upon lord Clarendon to state the case of Miss Cunningham, arrested at Lucca for distributing an Italian version of the _Bible_ and _Pilgrim's Progress_, and to urge the government to procure her immediate liberation.

1853. The ship Annie Jane, from Liverpool, was driven on the Barra island, one of the Hebrides, and of 450 passengers 348 were drowned.

1854. The United States sloop of war Albany, James T. Gerry, commander, sailed from Aspinwall and was never more heard of.

1854. GEORGE FIELD, an English philosopher, died, aged 77; well known for his success in the application of science to the arts.

SEPTEMBER 29.

1066. WILLIAM (_the Conqueror_) landed in England, at Pevensey, in Sussex, and made the conquest of the country, and revolutionized its institutions.

1399. RICHARD II resigned his right to the crown, publicly acknowledging his incapacity to reign.

1494. COLUMBUS met with his brother Bartholomew at the town of Isabella in the West Indies, after a separation of fourteen years, during which the latter had paid an unsuccessful visit to the court of England.

1513. Fall of Tournay, in Belgium, which closed the campaign of the English under Henry VIII.

1526. Rome taken by the partisans of cardinal Calonna, when the palace of the Vatican, the church of St. Peter, and the pope's ministers and servants were plundered.

1560. GUSTAVUS VASA, king of Sweden, died. He recovered the kingdom from the Danish yoke, and established the protestant religion in his country.

1564. The earl of LEICESTER was ennobled, on which occasion it is said coaches were first brought to London.

1604. The act of king JAMES against _witches_ went into operation.

1622. CONRAD VORSTIUS died; a learned German protestant divine and polemical writer, who succeeded Arminius in the divinity chair at Leyden.

1720. The great _South sea bubble_, a scheme for paying off the national debt of England, burst and involved an incredible number of people in utter ruin. The capital of the company was about $168,000,000.

1759. Volcano of Jorullo, in Mexico, by which a mountain was thrown up in a single night to the height of 1224 feet in the midst of a large plain. The volcano is surrounded by numerous conical hills, from which smoke is continually issuing.

1760. The astronomer MASKELYNE was sent by the English government to St. Helena, and Mr. MASON to Bencoolen, to observe the transit of Venus on the 6th June, 1761. Three astronomers were sent from France for a like purpose.

1764. Battle between the Irish White boys and English troops near Kilkenny. Several killed on both sides.

1772. JOHN BENJAMIN MICHAELIS, one of the minor German poets, died in his 25th year.

1778. American frigate Raleigh, after gallantly engaging two British men of war some time, ran on shore, and was captured.

1791. The national assembly of France dissolved itself.

1793. FRANCIS ROZIER, an eminent French agriculturist, killed by a bomb at Lyons, which fell on his bed, while he was asleep. He published a work on agriculture in 10 volumes quarto.

1793. The French convention decreed the incorporation with the French republic of all the Austrian possessions on the west side of the Rhine.

1809. CHARLES FRANCIS DUPUIS, a French philosopher, died; having filled several important professorships and civil offices. He published a work on the origin of all modes of religious worship, in 3 volumes quarto.

1813. The Americans under general HARRISON took possession of Sandwich and Detroit.

1825. DANIEL SHAYS, noted for the part he took in the celebrated rebellion of 1786, which bears his name, died at Sparta, aged 64. He had been an officer in the revolutionary army, and enjoyed a pension.

1827. Captains PARRY and FRANKLIN reached the admiralty, from the arctic and overland American expeditions. The latitude made by Parry was 82¾ degrees.

1833. FERDINAND VII, king of Spain, died, and was buried with great pomp in the Escurial. His reign was a period of disaster to Spain, during which she sank rapidly into insignificance as a European kingdom. He received a superior education, but was a superstitious and weak minded man, the victim or the tool of artful ministers or bigoted priests. His first wife, an accomplished woman, was poisoned in 1806, the second died 1808; the third 1829; the fourth by whom alone he had issue, outlived him. It was during his reign that the inquisition was re-established and six years afterwards permanently abolished. In his latter years he seemed to take little or no interest in public affairs, but continued to reign, nominally, goaded on one side by the liberals, and on the other by the absolutists, or apostolical party as they called themselves, who were for ruling by terror.

1840. JOHN MARSHALL, author of various works on manufactures, commerce and statistics, died at London, aged 58.

1843. RICHARD HARLAN, a noted writer on natural history, died of apoplexy at New Orleans. His parents were among the first quaker families that emigrated from England.

1848. GEORGE F. RUXTON, a British officer, died at St. Louis, Mo., aged 38 (Allen says 88). He wrote the series in _Blackwood's Magazine_ on life in the far west, and also a book of adventures in Mexico and the Rocky mountains.

1854. Marshal DE SAINT ARNAUD, a commander of the French forces in the Crimea, died at Balaclava, aged 53. He served in Algeria, and conducted an expedition against the Kabyles; also executed the _coup d'état_ for Louis Napoleon. He is represented as a man of deep religious impressions, was courted by the clergy, and had been much engaged in building chapels.

1855. The Russians, 35,000 strong, attacked Kars, gained possession of the redoubt four times, and were four times driven back, and at length retreated, leaving 4,000 dead in the trenches and around the city. Loss of the garrison about 800.

SEPTEMBER 30.

610 B. C. A total eclipse of the sun, foretold by the skill of Thales, which determined the battle between the Lydians and Medes.

480 B. C. The Carthagenians were overthrown at Gelo by Himera.

480 B. C. The great victory of Themistocles over the Persians at Salamis, is also placed upon this day by some authorities. (See Aug. 20.)

61 B. C. The great and unrivaled triumph of Pompey, which continued two days, for having concluded a war of 30 years, in which he had vanquished, slain and captured 2,183,000 men; sunk or taken 846 ships; reduced under the empire 1538 towers and fortresses, and subdued all the countries between the Mœotian lake and the Red sea. The golden vine of Aristobulus, king of the Jews, a little chapel of pearl consecrated to the Muses, surmounted by a sun-dial, and twenty kings and princes, with a string of barbaric gods, were among the trophies which preceded the car of the conqueror.

420. JEROME, one of the fathers of the Christian church, died. He was famous for his eloquence, his virtue and his extensive learning.

788. ABDURRAHMAN I, founder of the dynasty of Beni Umeggah in Spain, died, aged 62. On the defeat of his house in the east, he subdued Spain and founded a dynasty which continued 300 years.

1139. A revolt from king Stephen in favor of the empress Maud, daughter of Henry I, of England.

1283. DAVID, brother of Llewellyn of Wales, executed by Edward as a traitor. This opened the way for the title of prince of Wales to the princes of England.

1291. RODOLPH I, emperor of Germany, died. He added Austria, Styria and Carniola to his dominions by conquest.

1400. OWEN GLENDOWER erected his standard as prince of Wales.

1435. ISABELLA of Bavaria, queen of France, died. She was a licentious and intriguing woman, who preferred the interests of England to the prosperity of her own country.

1517. LUTHER maintained his ninety-five propositions at Wittemberg.

1572. Pope PIUS V died. He issued the famous bull, absolving the subjects of queen Elizabeth from their allegiance, but the lioness of England heeded not such bellowings.

1628. FULK GREVILLE, lord Brooke, assassinated; a literary character of considerable celebrity in the reigns of Elizabeth and James I.

1630. ISAAC JOHNSON, one of the principal founders of the city of Boston, died. He was the first magistrate who died in the colony, and was buried on his own lot. The first burying place in Boston was laid out around his grave. The spot is now built upon, being bounded by Tremont, Cornhill, Court and School streets.

1632. THOMAS ALLEN died; an Englishman, eminent for his knowledge of mathematics and philosophy.

1659. JUAN DE PALAFOX, an illustrious Spanish ecclesiastic, died. He was appointed bishop of Los Angelos in America, where he displayed an admirable character.

1662. A rencontre between the French and Spanish ambassadors, at which many were killed. The contest was precedency.

1682. Colonel THOMAS DONGAN preferred by the duke of York to the government of his province of New York in America.

1707. JOHN REINHOLD DE PALKUL, a Livonian gentleman, who resented the oppression his country suffered from the Swedes, was basely broken on the wheel, by order of Charles XII.

1719. BERNARD RENAU D'ELISAGARAY, a French mathematician, died. He obtained a pension for his improvements in the construction of ships.

1747. THOMAS HALL died, aged 6 years; four feet six inches high, and weighing upwards of seven stone. He died as if of extreme old age.

1761. JOHN DOLLOND died; an eminent English optician and inventor of the achromatic telescope.

1770. GEORGE WHITEFIELD, one of the founders of the sect of the methodists, died at Newburyport, Mass., aged 55. He visited America seven times, and preached in all parts of the Atlantic states with great power and success.

1775. British ship Rose, captain Wallace, cannonaded Stonington. The town was considerably injured, 2 persons killed and a loaded schooner and two sloops carried off.

1779. Colonel JOHN WHITE, with 6 volunteers and his servant, captured a company of 141 British, posted on the Ogeeche river, and brought them safe to an American post 25 miles distant. He also took 5 vessels, one of 12 and another of 10 guns. The exploit was effected by kindling large fires round the post, and making such other parade as demonstrated a large encampment.

1781. Yorktown invested by the American and French armies under Washington and Rochambeau, assisted by the French fleet under count d'Estaing.

1789. Nova Castella and several villages in Italy destroyed by an earthquake.

1790. General HARMER with 320 regulars and 1133 militia, defeated the Indians at Miami village, in Ohio, but with the loss of 141 killed and 31 wounded. The loss of the Indians was estimated at about 100 killed and 300 wigwams burnt. They also destroyed 20,000 barrels of corn, and a great quantity of other provisions.

1793. A furious riot occurred at Bristol, England, on the erection of a new toll gate on the bridge. Several persons were killed and wounded by the military. But the tumults were allayed by the Bristoleans' agreeing to raise the money some other way than by toll.

1795. GEORGE BUTT, an English prelate and poet, died.

1797. The state road having been completed, the first stage started from fort Schuyler (Utica) and arrived at Geneva in the afternoon of the third day, with four passengers.

1811. THOMAS PERCY, a learned English prelate, died. Besides his _Reliques of Ancient English Poetry_, a valuable work, he published translations from the Chinese, Icelandic and Hebrew languages.

1824. WILLIAM WINDHAM SADLER, an English æronaut, killed by a fall from his balloon. The accident occurred by the car being driven against the chimney in the descent. He was a skillful chemist and engineer, cut off at the early age of 28.

1826. JOSEPH PETER PICOT CLORIVIERE, director of the monastery in Georgetown, D. C., died. He was a royalist of France, and the reputed inventor of the infernal machine for which he had to leave his country.

1826. A magazine of powder near Ostend, containing 1,300 barrels, or about 60 tons, exploded, damaging many houses by the concussion, and destroyed several lives.

1830. Independence of the South American republics acknowledged by France.

1849. SILAS JENISON, for several years governor of Vermont, died at Shoreham, an esteemed and valuable citizen.

1849. Mrs. MAURY died in Virginia; an artist, linguist and authoress, known in the United States by her _Statesmen of America_.

1849. ROBERT GOLDSBOROUGH, for many years president of the medical and chirurgical society of Maryland, died at Centreville.

OCTOBER.

OCTOBER 1.

2016 B. C. The call of Abraham is placed by Eusebius upon this day, A. M. 1921. The Cæsarian era used by the Syrians, commenced from the same Julian day, first of their month Tisri, B. C. 48.

325. CONSTANTINE ordered that those criminals hitherto employed by a barbarous custom in the gladiator shows, should be sent to the mines.

829. MICHAEL II (_the Stammerer_), emperor of the East, died. He was of obscure origin, and dragged from prison to the throne on the death of Leo. He compelled the Christians to observe the sabbath and other holy days of the Jewish law.

1240. Dedication of the cathedral church of St. Paul's, at London.

1500. JOHN ALCOCK, a distinguished English prelate, died. His great learning recommended him to preferment, and he was appointed president of Wales and chancellor of England. He founded Jesus college.

1621. By an act of the British parliament, no tobacco was to be imported after this date but from Virginia and the Somer isles, and none to be planted in England. The merchant was to receive no more than eight, and the retailer ten shillings the pound, but they who sold by the pipe might make the most they could!

1664. Articles of capitulation were agreed to between the English under sir Robert Carr, and the Dutch and Swedes, on Delaware bay and river; which completed the subjection of New Netherland to the British crown.

1670. JAQUES DE PAULMIER, an eminent French physician, died. Besides some prose works he wrote poems in several European languages.

1684. Review of the marines at Putney heath, which were first established in England this year.

1684. PETER CORNEILLE, the great French poet, died. His dramas were eminently successful, and his poems are among the sublimest effusions of the French muse.

1728. Mr. PHILIPSE, speaker of the New York assembly, held a treaty with the Six Nations at Albany, and renewed the ancient covenant. He gave them great presents, and engaged them in the defence of Oswego.

1746. Battle of Roucoux, between the allies, who were defeated with the loss of 5,000 men and prince Tingray killed, and the French, whose loss was nearly equal.

1748. Action between the British fleet, admiral Knowles, 7 ships, and the Spanish fleet, under Spinola, 6 ships and a frigate. The latter were defeated with the loss of two ships.

1756. Battle of Lowositz, between the king of Prussia and the Austrians under Braun. Each army sustained a loss of about 2,500.

1761. Schweidnitz, a strong fortress in Silesia taken from the Prussians by a skillful coup-de-main of the Austrians under Laudohn. The governor and about 3,000 men were made prisoners.

1768. British troops landed at Boston from Halifax, and one regiment was quartered at Faneuil hall. (Sept. 30. ?)

1777. ALEXANDER SUMOROKOF, founder of the Russian theatre, died at Moscow. He wrote a number of plays and historical works.

1778. WILLIAM BUTLER made a successful expedition against the Indian towns, and returned to Schoharie on the 16th.

1795. ROBERT BAKEWELL, an eminent English agriculturist and cattle breeder, died. His improvements in the breeds of domestic animals were unprecedented; a single ram selling for nearly $4,000.

1796. JAMES FORDYCE died; a popular and eloquent Scottish preacher, who left behind him several excellent moral and religious works.

1799. JOHN WILLIAM BRUGUIERES, an eminent French botanist and mineralogist, died.

1800. Treaty of St. Ildefonso, by which Spain ceded Louisiana to France.

1802. Ratification of a treaty between Bonaparte and the bey of Tripoli, effected by Col. Sebastiana, who the same day concluded a treaty between the Swedes and the bey, by which the Swedes engaged to pay 150,000 piasters for the captives, and an annuity of 8,000 more.

1807. The first steam boat sailed from New York to Albany. It was 130 feet in length, called the Clermont, and made 5 miles an hour.

1831. BLACKHOOF, a chief of the Shawnee tribe of Indians, died at Wapaghkonnetto, aged 114. He was at the defeats of Braddock, St. Clair, Harmer and Crawford, and probably the last survivor of the former disaster.

1838. The law abolishing imprisonment for debt in England went into operation.

1841. The Chinese island of Chusan recaptured by the British forces under sir H. Gough, with the loss of only 2 killed and 24 wounded.

1842. The war in Afghanistan closed by the capture of Ghuznee and Cabul, and the withdrawal of the British troops.

1847. A telescopic comet was discovered by a lady of Nantucket, Mass., in the constellation Cepheus.

1847. A violent tornado unroofed the steam factory in Portsmouth, N. H.; weight not less than 70,000 pounds. It separated into 3 sections, one falling within 100 feet, another 200, the rafters coming down endways and sinking 4 feet in the earth; the largest section weighing 30,000 pounds, was carried 300 feet.

1848. JAMES BIDDLE, United States commodore, died at Philadelphia, aged 65.