1759. Paul Francis Velli, a French Jesuit, died; author of a valuable history of France.
1780. John Fielding, one of the police justices of London, died at Bromton. Though blind from his youth he was a vigorous writer, and an efficient magistrate.
1784. Cæsar Cassini de Thury, an eminent French astronomer, died. He had acquired much knowledge on the science at the age of 10. He published a map of France in 182 sheets, which has served as a model for all subsequent works of the kind. This family had been at the head of the Royal observatory at Paris 113 years.
1785. A Mr. Sadler ascended at Oxford, England, in a balloon of his own construction. He was the first Englishman who undertook an ærial voyage.
1796. A quantity of rope was brought into the office of the secretary of state at London as the first specimen of the labor of convicts at Botany bay. It was two inches thick.
1797. On this day the majority of the French directory overthrew the opposite party; sixty-five deputies were condemned to deportation as guilty of a conspiracy for the restoration of the monarchy. The councils renewed their oaths of hatred against royalty on this occasion.
1800. Cayuga bridge over the lake finished.
1802. Garnerin, a French æronaut, made a descent of about 8,000 feet in his parachute. This was not so successful as a former experiment, the parachute not opening for some time after being cut from the balloon.
1804. Great hurricane in the West Indies; 274 vessels lost.
1805. Peter Francis Andrew Mechain, a French astronomer, died. He was a practical man, and accomplished much useful labor.