1848. Gen. Folque, a veteran officer, died at Lisbon, Portugal, aged 102.
1853. The drawbridge of the New York and New Haven rail road having been carelessly left open at Norwalk, the cars were thrown into the water; forty-five persons were killed, and many severely injured.
1856. An accident occurred on the Panama rail road, recently put in operation, by which 43 persons were killed, and 60 wounded.
1856. William Hamilton, a distinguished Scottish metaphysician, died at Edinburgh, where he was professor of logic and metaphysics, and became more widely known by his volume of Essays.
MAY 7.
431 B. C. The war which wasted the Athenians for 27 years, commonly called the Peloponnesian war, began May 7th.
399 B. C. Socrates, the greatest of the ancient philosophers, died. He was put to death by the Athenians on a charge of atheism, and corrupting the youth.
973. Otho (the great), emperor of Germany, died. He was an active and valiant prince, who made himself respected by the powers of Europe.
1253. Rubruquius (or Ruysbroeck) landed at Soldaia, on the Black sea, on his way to discover a Christian people, who were said to inhabit the centre of Tartary. On this embassy he explored that country, and though unsuccessful in the object of his mission, he brought back a fund of curious information, which after the lapse of centuries is still about the best picture we possess of Tartar life. But few have been among them in their native wilds since then, and those who have, like Marco Polo, John Bell and Timkowsky, confirm most of his details.
1402. Battle of Nisbeth, between the English and Scottish forces, in which 10,000 of the latter were slain.