The Every Day Book of History and Chronology. Joel Munsell
for neglecting a promise he had made to his brother to accept of no office from court.
1776. Gen. Schuyler disarmed the Highlanders at Johnstown, N. Y., and took six hostages.
1777. Gen. Dickinson, with 400 militia and 50 Pennsylvania riflemen, defeated a British foraging party, took 9 prisoners, 100 horses, 40 wagons and a number of cattle.
1779. Benedict Arnold condemned to be reprimanded by the commander-in-chief, for misdemeanor at Philadelphia.
1779. David Garrick, the actor, died. He formed a new era in the English stage, a reform both in the conduct and license of the drama, which was honorable to the genius that had the power to effect it.
1781. A revolt of 160 of the Jersey line at Morristown. It was suppressed and two of the ringleaders executed.
1783. The Independence of the United States acknowledged by Great Britain.
1788. George Joachim Zollikofer, a Swiss divine, died. He was born 1730, and became one of the most eminent preachers of the last century. His sermons have been published in 15 vols.
1788. Australia first colonized, nearly three centuries after the discovery of the Ladrones by Magellan, which constitute a part of it. Governor Philip arrived with a number of convicts from England, and established a colony at Port Jackson in preference to Botany Bay.
1790. John Howard, the philanthropist, died at Cherson in Russia, aged 63. He had taken up his residence at this settlement on the Baltic sea; a malignant fever prevailing there, he was prompted by humanity to visit a patient laboring under the contagion, when he received the infection, and died in consequence.
1790. Lafayette, in the assembly of the states general supported the motion for the abolition of titles of nobility, from which period he renounced his own, and never afterwards resumed it.
1795. The French under Pichegru entered Amsterdam, and Geertruidenberg capitulated to Gen. Bonneau.
1795. A great fire occurred at Bergen in Norway, when 60 houses and a great many stores were burnt.
1796. Pichegru attacked Kaiserslautern, but was repulsed with the loss of 2000 men and several cannon. Austrian loss about 700 killed and wounded.
1798. The frigate Crescent sailed from Portsmouth, N. H., as a present from the United States to the dey of Algiers; she also carried out presents to the amount of $300,000.
1800. Thomas Mifflin, an officer of the revolution, died. He was a member of the first congress, and for many years governor of Pennsylvania.
1813. Christopher Martin Wieland, a German author of great repute, died aged 80. He was the father of 14 children, and 42 quarto volumes of books by the sale of which last he was enabled to purchase an estate. He was knighted by Alexander of Russia, and by Napoleon.
1817. The weather had been so moderate that up to this time no ice had been seen on the Delaware at Philadelphia.
1817. James Anthony, of Hanover co., Va., died, aged 104.
1823. The British government received advice that a Bengalee newspaper had been issued, edited by a learned Hindoo. Its title was Sungband Cowmuddy, or the Moon of Intelligence.
1835. The city of Mocha taken by the Egyptians under Achmet Pacha; by which the whole of Arabia was rendered subject to Mehemet Ali, pacha of Egypt.
1836. Xavier Saubert, the celebrated fire-king, being engaged in making some experiments in chemistry, with phosphoric ether, it exploded and scattered his body into a thousand pieces.
1836. Treaty of peace and commerce signed between the United States and the republic of Venezuela.
1839. The army of the confederation of Bolivia and Peru, commanded by Santa Cruz in person, was entirely defeated and destroyed, at Yungay, with a loss of 2,600 killed and 3,400 prisoners. Santa Cruz immediately resigned his office.
1843. A report fully approving of the conduct of Com. McKenzie and his officers on board the United States brig of war Somers, was brought in by the court appointed for that purpose.
1848. Christian VIII, king of Denmark, died in the 62d year of his age and 9th of his reign. A constitution was offered the same day by his successor.
1854. A tornado in Ohio half a mile in width demolished every thing it encountered, and almost entirely destroyed the town of Brandon.
This day in the calendar of Hesiod, is most propitious for the birth of men.
JANUARY 21.
988. Adalbero, archbishop of Rheims, died. He assisted in placing Hugh Capet on the throne of France.
1582. Ferdinand Alvarez de Toledo, duke of Alva, a Spanish general and minister of state, died, aged 74. It is said of him that during nearly sixty years of warfare against different enemies, he never lost a battle, and was never taken by surprise. He was undoubtedly the ablest general of his age; had a proud mien, a noble aspect and a strong frame; slept little, labored and wrote much. But pride, severity and cruelty tarnished his renown, so that he became odious even to his own countrymen.
1609. Joseph Justus Scaliger died, aged 69. His education commenced early, and he was one of the most indefatigable students through a long life, that was ever known. So entirely immersed was he in his studies, that he passed whole days in his chamber without eating or drinking, and paid very little attention to the common affairs of life. He may be called the founder of the science of chronology.
1647. The plague broke out at Edinburgh. A writer of the time says, that the last plague they had raged so violently that the fortieth person lived not of those who dwelt there four years before, but that it was peopled with new faces.
1666. Shah Jehan, a Mogul emperor, died, aged 74. He was the son and successor of Jehangir, but did not inherit much of the talent and spirit of that powerful ruler. During a severe illness the government was usurped by his son, and on his recovery he was removed from Delhi to Agra, where he died, probably by poison.
1692. King William and his court issued a proclamation against vice and profaneness.
1702. The affirmation allowed by Queen Anne to the quakers in England, extended to those of Pennsylvania.
1707. Aurungzebe, (ornament of the throne,) died; the last powerful and energetic sovereign that ruled over the Mogul empire of Hindostan. From his 20th year, military duties devolved upon him; he raised a body of troops, and obtained the government of the Deccan. He invited his old friends the fakirs, or religious mendicants, to a feast, and compelled them to put on new and decent clothing. The gold and silver pieces which he found on burning their old garments, was of great service to him in prosecuting the war against his elder brother for the sovereignty. He stirred up dissensions among his brothers, by which they were put out of his way, shut up his father in his harem, and in 1659 ascended the throne. Notwithstanding his cruelty he governed with much wisdom, and consulted the welfare of his people. Two of his sons endeavoring to form a party in their own favor, he caused to be put to death by slow poison. In the midst of his activity he died at Ahmednagar, and with his death terminated the brilliant epoch of the Moguls.
1721. Francis Pagi died, author of a chronological history of the popes.
1733. Bernard de Mandeville, an English author, died. He was born at Dort in Holland, and went to England to practice medicine. Meeting with poor encouragement, he turned author; but his topics, though professedly intended for the promotion of the public morals, introduced him to the notice of the grand jury. His pen procured the means of subsistence, but acquired