1827. JEAN DENIS LANJUINAIS died. He was a staunch defender of liberal principles, and opposed first the arrogant pretensions of the privileged class, although himself one of their number: afterwards he arrayed himself against the intrigues of Mirabeau, the violence of the mountain party, and the usurpations of Bonaparte, in the face of destruction. The object of his wishes was constitutional liberty. He escaped the axe of the revolution, and was even promoted to office by Napoleon. 1834. The city of Leira, in Portugal, taken by Count de Saldanha, and the garrison, of Miguelites about 1500 in number, made prisoners. 1836. CHARLES LEWIS, one of the most eminent book binders in Europe, died. The splendidly bound books in the duke of Sussex's library are of his workmanship. 1842. JOSEPH HOPKINSON died. His speeches in congress on the Seminole war were much admired. He was author of the song, _Hail Columbia_. 1844. The Fontaine Moliere, a monument to the great French dramatist, at Paris, inaugurated. It combines a public fountain with a monument, and stands opposite the house in which Moliere died. 1849. Reporters excluded from an adjourned meeting of a convention of the southern states. JANUARY 16. 1543. An act of the English parliament was passed forbidding women, apprentices, &c., &c., to read the New Testament in English. 1556. CHARLES V of Germany, (Don Carlos I of Spain) resigned the crown of Spain to his son Philip, after a reign of 40 years. Of all his vast possessions he only reserved to himself an annual pension. It was under him that Cortez conquered Mexico. 1580. An act of the English parliament inflicting a penalty of 20 pounds for absenting from church. 1599. EDMUND SPENCER, the English poet, died, aged 46. His first poem, the _Shepherd's Calendar_, appeared in 1576. He went to Ireland as private secretary to the lord lieutenant, and commenced the _Faery Queen_ while in that country. The rebellion took place with such fury that he was obliged to leave the country in so great confusion, that an infant child was left behind, and burnt with his house. The unfortunate poet died soon after his arrival in England, in consequence of these misfortunes. 1643. Parliament of England forbid free commerce, and ordered no wagon or carriage to go to Oxford without a license. 1668. The earl of SHREWSBURY slain in a duel by the duke of Buckingham, who had lived in open adultery with Shrewsbury's wife. It is said that she, in the habit of a page, held Buckingham's horse when he was fighting with her husband. 1706. Articles of union between England and Scotland ratified by the Scottish parliament 110 to 69. 1715. ROBERT NELSON died, an English gentleman of fortune, which he employed in works of benevolence and charity. Few works on devotional subjects were more popular than his. 1748. The bottle conjuror imposed on a great multitude at the Haymarket theatre, by announcing that he would jump into a quart bottle.