1854 An earthquake at Finana in Spain, crumbling down the Alcazaba, an ancient Moorish castle, prostrating houses and causing chasms in the streets, and loss of lives. JANUARY 14. 1526. Treaty of Madrid between the emperor Charles V, and Francis I of France, by which the latter obtained his liberty. 1604. The episcopal divines and puritans held a conference at Hampton court in the presence of King James. 1611. EDWARD BRUCE, a Scottish statesman, died. He occupied some of the highest offices under the government, and his services were important in establishing the peaceable accession of James to the English throne. 1622. PIETRO SARPI, better known as Father Paul of Venice, died, aged 90. He employed the latter part of his life in writing a history of the council of Trent, in which he has developed the intrigues connected with the transactions of that famous assembly, with a degree of boldness and veracity, which renders the work one of the most interesting and important productions of the class to which it belongs. 1634. Of seven sailors left at Spitzbergen in the fall of 1633, by the Dutch fishermen, for the purpose of wintering there, the first of the number died. The journal which they kept relates that they sought in vain for green herbs, bears and foxes, in that desolate region. In November the scurvy appeared among them. Their journal ended February 26, and they were all found dead on the return of their countrymen in spring. (See April 16.) 1696. MARIE DE RABUTIN SEVIGNE, a French woman of quality, died, aged 70. Her _Letters_ (11 vols. 8vo.) are models of epistolary style, and have been translated into English. 1738. The famous convention of Pardo signed. 1739. The pope issued an edict against the assemblies of freemasons, under penalty of the rack and condemnation to the galleys. 1742. EDMUND HALLEY the astronomer, died, aged 86. He devoted himself to mathematics with great success, and spent much time abroad in astronomical observations and experiments. His astronomical pursuits tended greatly by their results to improve the art of navigation. 1753. GEORGE BERKLEY, bishop of Cloyne in Ireland, died, aged 85. He appeared as an author before his twentieth year. He devoted seven years and a considerable part of his fortune in an effort to establish a college at Bermuda, for the education of Indian preachers, which miscarried. He published several philosophical, mathematical and theological works, and is said to have been acquainted with almost every branch of human knowledge. 1781. French took the island of Nevis. 1783. CERVETTO, an Italian of extraordinary musical genius, died at London, aged 103. He was a member of the orchestra of Drury lane theatre. 1784. Congress ratified the definitive treaty of peace.