1856. Henry Ware Wales, an American linguist, died at Paris, aged 37, bequeathing a large and valuable library to Harvard college.
1857. Douglas Jerrold, an English dramatist and journalist, died, aged 54. He was an extraordinary genius, and contributed to almost every department of literature.
JUNE 9.
587 B. C. On the 9th Thammug, an especial fast of the Jews was observed for the taking of Jerusalem under Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, on that day.
597. Columba, the founder of the famous monastry of Iona, or Icolmkill, in the Scottish Hebrides, died. This island was in that age the luminary of the Caledonian regions.
911. Leo VI (the philosopher), emperor of the east, died. He was a politic monarch, the patron of men of letters, and an excellent author himself.
1075. Henry IV defeated the Saxons at Thuringia.
1099. The siege of Jerusalem opened by the first crusaders. Godfrey of Bouillon erected his standard on the first swell of mount Calvary; to the left as far as St. Stephen's gate the line of attack was continued by Tancred and the two Roberts, and count Raymond established his head quarters from the citadel to the fort of mount Sion.
1496. Columbus returned to Spain from his second voyage.
1536. Dr. Heylin says: On this day the clergy of London agreed upon the form of a petition to king Henry, for permission to the people to read the Bible.