1698. Treaty between England, France and Holland, for the partition of Spain.
1698. William Molyneux, an eminent Irish mathematician, died. He was ardently devoted to science, founded the philosophical society of Ireland, and invented a telescope dial.
1702. Battle of Vigo; the British admiral Rooke attacked the French fleet and Spanish batteries. The French destroyed 8 ships, and the British burnt 6 galleons richly laden with goods and plate, valued at 14,000,000 pieces of eight; they also razed the fortifications, and brought off 10 ships of war and 11 galleons, with 7,000,000 pieces of eight.
1705. William Amontons, an eminent French mechanic, died. He suggested some improvements in barometers and thermometers, and invented a method of communicating intelligence, which has since been adopted under the name of telegraph.
1709. Mons taken by the allies.
1727. Edward Colston, an English philanthropist, died. He acquired wealth by commerce with Spain, with which he endowed numerous charitable institutions.
1736. Great storm on the river Ganges; 300,000 lives are supposed to have been lost.
1750. John Baptist Joseph Languet died; the celebrated vicar of St. Sulpice at Paris, who refused all preferments, and devoted the revenues which he collected to the institution and support of judiciously planned charitable establishments.
1752. Thomas Stackhouse, a learned, pious but necessituous divine, died.
1776. The Americans under general Arnold attacked on lake Champlain by the British under captain Pringle. Arnold lost two gondolas taken and one blown up, and was forced to retreat, owing to the inferiority of his force.