1693. A party of about 700 French and Indians fell upon the Mohawk villages near Schenectady, and took about 300 prisoners in the English interest, without doing much other damage. They were pursued by Col. Schuyler with a party from Albany, and several skirmishes ensued. The French escaped by crossing the north branch of the Hudson, on a cake of ice. They lost in this enterprise 80 men killed, and were reduced to great want before they got home.
1696. A plot to assassinate William III of England, was discovered.
1736. Earthquake in New England.
1738. Joseph Mitchell, a Scotch dramatic poet, died.
1740. Clement XII (Laurence Corsini), pope of Rome, died. He was very popular, and corrected many abuses in the church.
1755. Maurice Johnson, a noted English antiquary, died.
1756. Birthday of Aaron Burr, at Newark, N. J. His father was the Rev. William Burr, second president of New Jersey college at Princeton, and his mother a daughter of the celebrated Jonathan Edwards, third president of that institution. His wife is well known.
1777. Great Britain granted letters of marque and reprisal against America.
1778. The French avowed the independence of the United States, by concluding a treaty of defensive alliance with them.
1778. New York acceded to the confederation.