1676. Attack on Medfield, Mass., by a party of about 300 Indians. The loss of Lancaster, a short time previous, had put the neighboring towns on their guard, and Medfield had obtained a small garrison of soldiers for greater security, although within 22 miles of Boston. The Indians during the night had secreted themselves, according to custom, under the fences and behind trees about the villages, so that the people were shot down as they came out of their doors and their houses immediately set on fire. The soldiers being lodged in different parts of the town, could not get together until about 50 buildings were on fire. Some were killed as they attempted to pass to their neighbors for shelter, and in some instances, the husband flying with one child and the wife with another, one of them fell into the hands of the savages or was killed, while the other escaped. Two or three discharges of a field piece put the whole horde to flight, who as they passed the river fired the bridge to prevent pursuit. Loss 18 killed, and many wounded and carried away for torture. (Holmes says Feb. 21.) 1684. Birthday of HANDEL, the music composer, at Halle. 1684. Boundary line between New York and Connecticut partially run. 1716. The earls of DERWENTWATER and KENMUIR beheaded on Tower hill, for treason in favoring the cause of the Pretender. 1721. JOHN SHEFFIELD, duke of Buckingham, died; a celebrated general, critic and poet. 1724. A great storm attended with an uncommon tide, was experienced in New England. The tide in some places rose ten feet higher than it was ever known before, and rendered many of the streets of Boston navigable. 1740. Providential delivery from death of a society of monks at Palermo. 1752. ISAAC WOOD, an English painter, died. His principal pieces are in oil and black lead upon vellum. 1758. Battle of Hoya in Westphalia, between the allies and French. 1762. Tremendous hurricane and fall of snow in England. Nearly 50 persons perished in the fields, and several whales were driven on the Essex and Kentish coasts. 1766. STANISLAUS, the last duke of Lorrain and Bar, as an independent Duchy, died in consequence of burns from his robes de chambre having accidentally caught fire. 1777. WILLIAM DODD, an English divine, convicted of forgery, and sentenced to be hanged. 1777. JOSEPH, king of Portugal, died. He was of the house of Braganza, ascended the throne in 1750; his reign was turbulent and unfortunate. 1781. EDWARD CAPELL died; known as the editor of an edition of Shakspeare in 10 vols., and 4 large quarto vols. of "Notes and various readings of Shakspeare." 1785. CHARLES BONAPARTE, father of Napoleon, died, leaving his family in straightened circumstances. 1797. Resumption of hostilities in Italy between the French and Austrians. 1799. GEORGE CHRISTOPHER LICHTENBERG, a famous German writer, died. His commentary on Hogarth is said of itself to immortalize his fame.