1757. John Joseph Vade, an excellent French poet, died. His youth was spent in dissipation, for which he made some amends in the brief space allowed him by his impaired constitution.
1761. Samuel Richardson, an English printer, died; known as the author of a series of moral romances, among which Pamela and Sir Charles Grandison are the most noted. The former suggested to Fielding his famous Tom Jones.
1776. Declaration of American independence adopted by congress. It was 39 times before that body previous to its adoption. It may be added that this event took place 264 years after the discovery of America by Columbus, 160 from the first effectual settlement of Virginia, and 150 from the settlement of Plymouth.
1777. Boonesborough attacked by 200 Indians, who killed and wounded 2 of the pioneer's men. All the settlements were attacked at the same time.
1778. Francesco Manoel, the most celebrated lyric poet of modern Portuguese literature, escaped the inquisition by disarming the officer sent to arrest him, and fled to Paris. He became obnoxious to the holy office by some expressions concerning toleration and monks, in his translation of Moliere's Tartuffe.
1780. British admiral Geary captured 12 French merchantmen from Port-au-Prince.
1781. Williamsburg, Va., evacuated by the British under Cornwallis.
1789. Gosen Van Schaick, a brigadier general in the United States continental army, died at Albany.
1790. Action between the Swedish and Russian fleets, in which the former under the king, Charles XII, were defeated with great loss.
1793. Action off the capes of Virginia, between the French privateer, Citizen Genet, and two armed English vessels with a convoy. The convoy was captured and the two vessels much damaged. The Genet had 30 men, not one of whom was wounded by the enemy.