1741. Peter Burman the elder died. He was professor of history and eloquence at the university of Leyden, and published editions of many of the Latin classics.
1744. France declared war against England.
1750. The first No. of the Rambler, by Dr. Johnson, appeared.
1750. Frederick, prince of Wales, and father of George III, died suddenly in his 45th year. He died in the arms of his violin player, who was playing for his amusement.
1767. Firmin Abauzit, a learned French writer, died. He became distinguished for his superior progress in every branch of polite learning, but particularly in mathematics and natural history; and was consulted in difficult questions by the most learned men of the age.
1775. Daniel Boone, employed, in forming a settlement in the then wilderness of Kentucky, was attacked by the Indians, near where Boonsborough now stands, and two of his men killed and two wounded.
1780. Action between the French fleet, admiral Piquet, and 3 British ships, off Monte Christie. The action continued till the next day, when the French suffered so much that they were compelled to lie by and repair.
1792. The French government adopted
the instrument since known as the guillotine; it had been in use in various countries several centuries before.
1793. William Murray, lord Mansfield, died. He was eminent as a lawyer, and dignified as a judge; as an elegant scholar, of highly cultivated and vigorous intellect, he shone in the constellation of great men which arose in the reign of queen Anne; in eloquence and beauty of diction he outrivaled his predecessors, and has not been excelled by any successor in the high office he held.