OCTOBER 23.
439. Carthage, foremost in effeminacy, and second in importance among the western cities, was taken from the Romans and spoliated by Genseric, the Vandal, 585 years after the destruction of her republic by the younger Scipio.
472. Flavius Anicius Olybrius, emperor of the west, died, after a very brief reign.
524. Anicius Manlius Torquatus Severinus Bœthius, a celebrated Roman philosopher, executed. He fell under the displeasure of Theodoric.
1340. Nicolas, of Lyra, a Norman Jew, died. He was converted to Christianity, taught divinity at Paris with great reputation, and wrote commentaries on the Bible and controversies with the Jews.
1389. The first charter to the town of Linlithgow, in Scotland, was given by Robert II. Here yet stands the old palace in which the unfortunate Mary, queen of Scotland, sometime resided.
1526. Date of the bishop of London's charge to his clergy, to destroy the English copy of the New Testament, as ruinous to the souls of their people.
1616. Achille de Harley, president of the parliament of Paris, died. He acquired great respect by the learning, firmness and dignity with which he sustained his office.
1641. Rebellion in Ireland; the catholics under Phelim O'Neil, rose against the protestants, and cruelly massacred men, women and children to the number of 40,000, and by some accounts more than 100,000.
1642. Battle of Edgehill, between the royalists, under Charles I and prince Rupert, and the parliament forces, under the earl of Essex. About 5,000 men fell on the occasion, among whom was general Bertie; the victory was undecided.
1667. The foundation stone of the first pillar in the Royal Exchange, London, laid by the king.
1679. The Meal Tub plot discovered in England.
1706. John Foy Vaillant, a celebrated French physician, medalist and traveler, died.
1707. The first parliament of Great Britain met after the union with Scotland.
1708. The town of Lisle surrendered, and the garrison retired into the castle, except the horse, which were allowed to march away. The allies acknowledged a loss of 12,000 men in taking the town only.
1713. Archibald Pitcairne, an eminent physician and scholar, died at Edinburgh.
1730. Anne Oldfield, a very celebrated English actress, died; and after lying in state in Jerusalem chamber, was buried at Westminster with great pomp.
1764. John Leclair, an eminent French music composer, assassinated at Paris.
1785. William Cochrane, a Scottish painter, died. His pieces acquired great celebrity.
1789. Two robbers seized by the citizens of Paris, and hung on the spot, under pretence that the authorities were too slow and dilatory.
1801. John Gottlieb Naumann, an eminent German music composer, died. He was found in obscurity at the age of 13, and taken to Italy, where he commenced his career. His operas are very numerous.
1814. British ship Bulwark captured American privateer, Harlequin, 10 guns, 115 men.
1825. Pliny Fisk, a zealous American missionary, died at Beyrout, in Syria. Although extremely indigent, he procured a regular education, subsisting two years upon bread and milk, and carrying his corn to mill upon his shoulders. Yet so great was his application, that he enabled himself to preach in Italian, French, modern Greek and Arabic.
1826. Date of James Smithson's will, which ultimately placed in the hands of the United States of America, a large sum for the diffusion of knowledge among men.
1841. George Frederick Beltz, author of several works on antiquities and heraldry, died at Basle.
1844. The steam boat, Lucy Walker, stopping at New Albany, on her route from Louisville to New Orleans, exploded her three boilers at once, killing between 50 and 60 persons, and wounding others.
1848. General Windischgratz, summoned the city of Vienna to surrender.