1652. A great eclipse of the sun in England. The almanacs of the day did not let so favorable an opportunity escape for exercising their power over the ignorant, and accordingly their prognostics created such a terror among the inhabitants "and so exceedingly alarmed the whole nation," says Evelyn, "that hardly any one would work, nor stir out of their houses. So ridiculously were they abused by ignorant and knavish star-gazers." 1659. JOHN CLEVELAND, an English poet, died. He was contemporary with Milton, and preferred before him by critics of the day, but has now sunk into oblivion. 1676. MICHAEL ADRIAN DE RUYTER, the famous Dutch admiral, died. He began his military career at the age of 11, and continued in the service nearly 60 years. 1685. LUC D'ACHERI, a French ecclesiastic, died. He displayed great learning as an antiquary and an author. 1688. FREDERICK WILLIAM, elector of Brandenburg, died. Posterity awards to him the character of a brave, generous and patriotic prince, who devoted his attention to the commerce and general welfare of his people. 1735. The Turks defeated by the Persians under Thomas Kouli Khan, 60,000 slain. 1740. CHARLES DREW, executed at St. Edmundsburg, in Suffolk, for the murder of his father. 1740. The English parliament prorogued. It was at this parliament that the famous acts against horse racing and deceitful gaming were passed. 1743. CHARLES IRENÆUS CASTEL DE SAINT-PIERRE, a French ecclesiastic, died; distinguished as a politician, a man of letters, and an author. 1746. CURTIS BARNET, a British commodore, died. 1758. Action off fort St. Davids, East Indies, between the British under admiral Pococke, and the French fleet under count d'Ache. British loss, 29 killed, 89 wounded; French loss, 600 killed and wounded, and one of their vessels sunk. 1762. The book of Cornelius Nepos in Latin was issued from the Russian press, being the first in that language ever printed in Russia. 1779. JOHN ASH, an English dissenting minister, died. His _Complete English Dictionary_, until the appearance of Mr. Todd's octavo edition of Johnson's, was the best compendium of words that could be referred to. 1783. BERNARD DE TANUCCI died; professor of jurisprudence in the university of Pisa, and prime minister of Naples, an office which he sustained with dignity, ability and integrity, for 50 years, when he resigned. 1788. Election of representatives from New York to consider the federal constitution held. 1793. A French privateer with her prize, the Spanish ship San Jago, was captured by the English. Cargo valued at £1,500,000. 1805. The constitution of the Batavian republic changed for the third time; the state was divided into 8 departments, and a legislative body of 19 members, with a pensionary (Schimmelpenninck), chosen for the term of five years, who administered the executive power.