1719. An extraordinary meteor seen from all parts of Great Britain about 8 o'clock in the evening. Its light exceeded that of the sun at noon-day. It exploded over the sea near the coast of Britany, at an altitude it is supposed of about 30 miles. It broke like a skyrocket into sparks of red fire, and was succeeded by a tremendous report. 1736. NICHOLAS HAWKSMOOR, died; an English architect of fame, pupil of Sir C. Wren. 1755. A cluster of houses in the village of Bergemoletto, near Piedmont, Italy, was overwhelmed by two vast bodies of snow that fell from the neighboring mountain. Three women, the only occupants of the houses at the time of the catastrophy, were dug out alive seven days after. 1759. NICHOLAS VERDIER, a French anatomist, died. His character as an author and a man, are entitled to respect. 1781. CORNWALLIS retreated from Guilford court house, where he had defeated Greene on the 15th; leaving at the quaker meeting house all the wounded Americans he had taken, and about 70 wounded British officers. 1786. HUGH PELLISER, an English admiral, died. He was at the storming of Quebec; and at the battle of Ushant, 1778, on which occasion a dispute between him and admiral Keppel saved the French fleet from destruction. 1788. FRANCIS JOSEPH DESBILLONS, a French Jesuit, died. He devoted many years to study, and at the abolition of his order published his _Fables_, and some other works, and left in manuscript a history of the Latin tongue. 1796. STEPHEN STORACE, an English music composer, died. His productions are confined to the drama, and are remarkable for their spirit. 1797. Gradisca, a strong town in Austria, capitulated to the French under Bernadotte and Serrurier; 3,000 prisoners, 60 cannon and 8 standards fell into the hands of the French. 1801. NOVALIS, (the literary name assumed by Frederick Von Hardenberg,) died. He belonged to the religious society of Hernhutters. 1808. CHARLES IV, abdicated the throne of Spain in favor of his son Ferdinand VII. 1809. GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS IV, the deposed king of Sweden, signed a formal deed of abdication. He assumed the title of count Gottorp. 1812. Constitution of the Cortez signed and proclaimed in Spain. 1814. SIMON SNYDER, governor of Pennsylvania, rejected the bill establishing 40 banks. It however became a law, two-thirds of the legislature having agreed to it. 1814. Rheims, in France, taken by the Russians. 1842. First newspaper at Flushing, Long Island. 1853. Nankin taken by the rebels; the Tartar garrison of 20,000 men massacred, except 100, who effected an escape. 1853. Battle of Donabew, Burmah; the British under Gen. Cheape defeated Mea Toon. 1855. An explosion took place in the Midlothian coal pits in Virginia; of fifty persons in the pits 35 were killed and 10 wounded beyond recovery. MARCH 20. 268. PUBLIUS GALLIENUS, emperor of Rome, assassinated at Milan.