1788. The last lit de justice in France, assembled at Versailles, by Louis XVI, to enforce upon the parliament of Paris the
adoption of the obnoxious taxes proposed by Calonne.
1796. Battle of Roveredo; the French under Bonaparte defeated the Austrians under Wurmzer, after an action of 16 hours, and entered Trent. Austrian loss 6,000 men.
1796. James Pettit Andrews died; author of several English histories and other works of merit.
1799. Marie Eliezer Block, an able German naturalist, died. He was of obscure parentage, and self-taught. Besides other valuable works on natural history and medicine, he published a History of Fishes, 6 vols. folio, colored plates.
1806. Francis II, emperor of Germany and king of Rome, resigned his titles and annexed his possessions in Germany to the Austrian empire. The millenium of the empire, founded by Charlemagne, fell upon the holiday of Christmas, 1800.
1815. Commodore Decatur arrived with his fleet off Tripoli.
1817. Pierre Samuel Dupont de Nemours, a French statesman, died. He was distinguished for his knowledge and talents, as well as his excellent character and principles. On the return of Bonaparte from Elba he came to America, where he died.
1818. David Ferguson, a Scottish soldier, died at Dunkirk, aged 124, very much respected and beloved.
1824. Battle of Junin, in Peru; the royalists defeated by the united Peruvian and Colombian forces, under Bolivar. The combatants fought hand to hand, with lance and sabre, those engaged being cavalry only.