1846. The first legislature of Texas under the U. S. met at Austin. Gen. Henderson was elected the first governor.
1849. Newton M. Curtiss, author of a number of popular novels, died at Charlton, N. Y., aged 34.
1854. Elliott Cresson, president of the Pennsylvania colonization society, died, leaving $127,000 to charitable institutions.
1854. The most violent snow storm that had occurred since 1831, commenced at Washington, and extended over the Middle and New England states.
1855. Joseph Hume, the English statesman died, aged 78. He was a member of the house of commons 37 years.
FEBRUARY 21.
1340. The king of England assumed the title of the king of France, quartering his arms with the motto, "Dieu et mon Droit."
1513. Giuliano Della Rovera, (pope Julius II,) died. He was originally a fisherman. He built St. Peter's at Rome, to procure means for which he ordered the sale of indulgences, which was one of the immediate causes of the reformation; so that it may be said without paradox, that St. Peter's is the great monument of protestantism. He is considered one of the most immoral of the popes, though a generous patron of the polite arts.
1595. Robert Southwell, called sometimes the English Jesuit, died. He was esteemed no inferior poet in his day.
1633. Order of the privy council to stay several ships in the Thames, ready to sail for New England with passengers and provisions. The jealousy of the government was early directed towards the infant colony of Massachusetts. It was observed by one of the kings, that the wheat of the population was sifting across the Atlantic. These orders were ineffectual, for great numbers continued to emigrate, and scarce a vessel arrived in the colony that was not crowded with passengers.