1584. Amidas and Barlow, two experienced commodores sent out by sir Walter Raleigh for the purpose of discovering and taking possession of the American continent north of Florida, arrived at the coast on this day. Sailing along the shore 120 miles, they entered the mouth of a river and took formal possession of the country for the queen of England, delivering it over to the use of sir Walter. (See [June 10, 1584].)
1623. William Bird, a celebrated English musical composer, died, aged 80. His music outlived his history, few particulars of his life being known.
1653. The parliament, commonly called Barebone's, from a zealot of that name who was one of the 120 members, assembled at Whitehall, and Cromwell delegated to them their chairs for fifteen months.
1663. Charles II of England, reviewed his 4000 guards, then the whole regular force of the kingdom, yet deemed dangerous to liberty. The king and his brother imputed the misfortune of their father, Charles I, to the want of a regular army.
1669. Anthony Escoba de Mendoza, a Spanish Jesuit, died. He was for many years a popular preacher, and bequeathed to posterity 40 vols. folio of his own writings.
1670. George, duke of Albemarle, captain-general of his majesty's forces, died at the cockpit. Possibly some lessons of ferocity might be learned there.
1671. Meric Casaubon, a Swiss literateur and critic, died in London. Considerable offers were made him by Cromwell to write the history of the civil war, which he refused.
1744. Thirty-two wagons, variously decorated, loaded with the treasure brought home by Anson, guarded by his seamen, passed St. James's in London to the Tower.
1749. Joseph Vanaken, a celebrated Dutch painter, died.
1754. The commissioners of the American colonies met at Albany for the purpose of holding a conference with the Indians, (see [June 19],) proposed a plan for the union of the colonies, which was agreed to this day, exactly 22 years before the declaration of independence. Its fate was singular. It was rejected in America because it was supposed to put too much power into the hands of the king; and it was rejected in England, because it was supposed to give too much power to the assemblies of the colonies.