1848. Insurrectionary movements at Rome in consequence of the pope's refusal to declare war against Austria.
1854. Great flood in the Connecticut valley; the water was 29½ feet above low water mark, and 2½ feet higher than during the great flood of 1801. Hundreds of persons were driven from their dwellings and drowned.
1855. The French under Gen. Pelissier carried the Russian works at Sebastopol, in front of the central bastion, and held them against vigorous sorties, taking eight small mortars, and 200 prisoners.
1855. An extraordinary eruption of mount Vesuvius commenced, which in ten days had advanced ten miles from its original source.
1856. Ogden Hoffman, a distinguished member of the New York bar, died, aged 62. He served as a midshipman in the last war with Great Britain, after which he studied law, and took the front rank in his profession, and showed an eminent fitness for the public offices which he filled.
1856. George James Guthrie, an eminent British surgeon, died in London, aged 71. He published several valuable works on surgery.
MAY 2.
373. Athanasius, patriarch of Alexandria, died. His parents were pagans; he became a Christian, and distinguished himself by his learning, and the zeal with which he opposed the Arian heresy.
1450. The duke of Suffolk, prime minister to Henry VI of England, beheaded in a boat at Calais. During his ministry England lost most of her possessions in France. Yet his murder was resented by the formidable rebellion of Jack Cade.
1487. Lambert Simnel, an impostor, crowned at Dublin, by the title of Edward VI.