1816. A spot on the sun visible with the naked eye at Philadelphia. It was seen for several days. 1840. GEORGE BRUMMELL, the celebrated _Beau Brummell_, died at Caen, in France, aged 62. He was the associate of George IV when prince of Wales, and was for a long time at the head of fashion and manners in England. He passed the latter part of his life in poverty, and towards the close of it, was confined in a madhouse. 1843. JACOB RIDGWAY, a wealthy mechanic, died at Philadelphia. He was in early life a shipcarpenter, and subsequently American consul at Antwerp. His property was estimated at $6,000,000. He was noted for liberality to mechanics and tenants. 1854. The first rail road opened in Brazil, the emperor and empress being present at the inauguration. 1854. JAMES MONTGOMERY, the poet and journalist, of Sheffield, died, aged 82. 1855. HENRY ROWLEY BISHOP, a noted English music composer, died, aged 68. He was the most distinguished representative of the English school of composition, and was knighted in 1842. 1857. W. B. BUCHANAN, an American poet, died, aged 63. He was long a correspondent of the _National Intelligencer_ and other papers, residing in Virginia. MAY. MAY 1. 305. DIOCLETIAN, the Roman emperor, abdicated the throne in the presence of the soldiery and a multitude of people, at Nicomedia, in the 21st year of his reign. When afterwards solicited by a friend to resume the purple, he calmly replied, that if he could show the _cabbages_ which he had planted at Salona with his own hands, he should no longer be urged to relinquish the enjoyment of happiness for the pursuit of power. 475. HENGHIST, the Saxon, caused 300 English noblemen to be murdered. 1119. HENRY I of England obtained a great victory over the Normans at Brenville. 1291. All the Italian merchants in the realm of France, called money lenders, seized by order of Philip the fair, for their ransoms. 1308. ALBERT I, emperor of Germany, assassinated by his nephew, John, duke of Swabia. The Swiss were led by his oppressions to assert their liberty. 1515. HENRY VIII and queen attended by nobles went a maying and were entertained by the noted forester Robin Hood. 1517. A riot among the London apprentices, against foreign artisans, which resulted in the death and mutilation of many of the latter, principally Frenchmen. It commenced at 9 o'clock in the evening, and continued till 3 in the morning. The exertions of the city authorities, who had notice of the meditated riot, were unable to prevent or quell it. The next morning, several hundred youths, from 13 years upwards, were arrested, and ten gallows, constructed to move from street to street, prepared for their execution. The ring leaders were drawn, hanged and quartered; when an order came from the king to suspend the execution, and the remainder were pardoned. 1557. England made her first commercial treaty with Russia.