1688. Andrew Anderson commenced an auction sale of books, the first of the kind in Scotland.
1722. Adrian Van der Werf, a Dutch portrait painter of great reputation, died. He was held in great esteem, received a pension and the honor of knighthood.
1746. Jacq. Alexander Cæsar Charles, in his lifetime so well known as a natural philosopher, was born at Baujency, in France. He was the first to make use of hydrogen gas instead of heated air in balloons.
1775. Montreal surrendered to the Americans; general Prescott, and several officers with 120 privates were intercepted. Eleven sail of vessels, with all their contents, fell into the hands of the provincials.
1775. British ships Tamarand and Cherokee attacked the United States schooner Defence, off South Carolina. This was the commencement of open hostilities in that state. The Defence sustained but little injury.
1780. Battle of Broad river; a band of American volunteers under Sumpter attacked by the British under major Wemys, who were defeated and Wemys taken.
1783. The crew of the British ship Antelope, wrecked on the Pelew island (see [Aug. 10]), sailed for China in a vessel which they had constructed, taking the king's son, Lee Boo.
1793. Bailly, late mayor of Paris, beheaded. He was a patriot and man of science. The first to take the famous oath never to separate till they had obtained a free constitution.
1799. Meteoric shower observed at Cumana, in South America; thousands of falling stars were seen to succeed each other during four hours.
1805. Robert Holmes, an English divine, died. He was distinguished as a poet and scholar, and for his devotion to Biblical criticism.