CHRONICLE OF EVENTS. 1847. Aug. 27. — The King of Sardinia protests against Austrian intervention among the independent States of Italy. Aug. 31. The steamer Great Britain arrives in Liverpool, having been floated out of Dundrum Bay. Sept. 1. The Grand Duke of Tuscany has created a Council of State with new powers. Sept. 1.-The Duke of Lucca, after a disturbance in the city, promises his people a civic guard, and the other reforms now advancing in Tuscany. Sept. 2. The Duke of Lucca retires to Massa, and revokes his proclamation of yesterday. He is followed by a deputation entreating him to return. It is proposed to sequestrate his property. On the 3d he returns and grants the demands of his people. Sept. 2. Agitation at Leghorn. The Grand Duke of Tuscany, at the request of a deputation of the Livornese, consents to the immediate enrolment of a national militia. Sept. 2. A simultaneous outbreak at Messina and Reggio. It is suppressed, and twenty-five young men engaged in the Messina riot are shot. Sept. 5. — A grand reform banquet takes place in Strasburg. - Sept. 7. By a note to General Santa Anna of the 6th September, General Scott notified him that the armistice concluded between the American and Mexican armies, August 24th, would be at an end, unless satisfactory apologies were given for infractions thereof by twelve o'clock, meridian, of this day. The note of Santa Anna of the same date, in reply, though not received by General Scott until the 7th, being unsatisfactory, hostilities were recommenced. Sept. 8. A reception of the Archbishop at Milan ends in a patriotic demonstration. The tumult is renewed on the 9th, and the city is put under military occupation. Sept. 8. The Americans under General Worth at early dawn assaulted the Mexican fortifications on El Molino del Rey, defended by over 14,000 men under General Santa Anna in person, and by heavy batteries, and after a severe struggle of two hours, carried them. The total loss of the Mexicans, in wounded and prisoners, was 3,000, that of the Americans, 787; 58 officers and 729 rank and file. - Sept. 12-14. Early on the morning of the 12th, a heavy bombardment and cannonade were commenced by the Americans upon Chapultepec,- a natural and isolated mound of great elevation, strongly fortified at its base, on its acclivities and heights, and defended by a numerous garrison, and continued until nightfall. On the morning of the 13th, the firing was renewed until 8 o'clock, when the assault was made from the west and southeast sides by troops commanded by Generals Pillow and Quitman, over intervening and formidable obstacles, under the hottest fire of cannon and musketry, and the hill was triumphantly carried. The enemy retreated hastily to the city, pressed closely by Generals Quitman and Worth, the latter by the San Cosme aqueduct, and the former along that of Belen. These two lines of attack were strongly supported by detachments sent by order of General Scott. General Quitman, having captured an intervening battery of two guns, carried the Belen gate, and steadily maintained his position within the walls of the city and under the guns of the citadel. General Worth, likewise, with consummate skill, carried the opposing batteries, and took possession of the San Cosme Garita within the city. Preparations were made during the night for a renewal of the attack, but at 4 o'clock on the morning of the 14th a deputation of the ayuntamento informed General Scott that the government and army had fled the city, and demanded terms of capitulation. The city being virtually in the possession of the Americans, the demand was refused, and at seven o'clock that morning the American flag was floating from the palace. During the day and night the Americans were fired upon in the streets and from houses, but this was soon stopped by the vigorous measures of General Scott. During the three days the loss of the Americans was, killed, 130, including 10 officers; wounded, 703, including 68 officers; missing, 29 rank and file; total, 862. The loss of the Mexicans was far greater, and their army was almost completely demoralized. Sept. 12. Coletti, the Prime Minister of Greece, dies. Sept. 13 to Oct. 12th. — Colonel Childs, with 400 men, and 1,800 sick in the hospitals, was besieged for 28 days at Puebla. By unremitting vigilance, and by the untiring personal efforts of every officer and man, though in the heart of a hostile city and surrounded by overwhelming numbers, the attacks were repulsed and the siege raised. The loss of the Americans was, killed, 18 rank and file; wounded, 3 officers, and 47 rank and file; total, 68. Sept. 15. The Duke of Lucca again leaves his capital, having appointed a regency. Sept. 17. A contribution of $ 150,000, payable in four weekly instalments, was imposed by General Scott upon the city of Mexico, in consideration of the protection given by the American army to the public property of the city and state. Sept. 22.-M. Guizot is appointed President of the Council in France. Sept. 26. The valuable library of the Royal Society of Icelandic Literature in Copenhagen was destroyed by fire. The loss is peculiarly unfortunate, as the library contained more than two thousand unpublished MSS., and a numerous collection of single copies of ancient Icelandic works. Sept. 27. The new asteroid, Iris, discovered by Mr. J. R. Hind, of London, Aug. 13, 1847, was first seen at the National Observatory, Washington. Oct 1. A violent tornado unroofed the steam factory in Portsmouth, N. H. The weight of the roof removed was not less than 70,000 pounds. One portion of the roof fell within 100 feet of the factory, and another within 200 feet. The rafters coming down endwise were buried four feet in the earth. A third section was carried 300 feet, and struck a brick barn in the second story, unroofed it, and demolished that story. This section, weighing 30,000 pounds, did not sink more than 50 feet in moving the 300 feet. Oct. 1. A telescopic comet was discovered by a lady of Nantucket, Mass., in the constellation Cepheus. Oct. 2. The Pope issues a decree instituting a Senate of 100, 64 of whom are to be proprietors, 32 lawyers, merchants, &c., and 4 to represent the ecclesiastical body. Oct. 5.-The first election of officers in Liberia, under the new constitution, was held, and Governor Roberts was chosen the first President of the Republic, and Nathaniel Branden, Vice-President. The motto of the republic is, "The love of liberty brought us here." Oct. 9. By order of the King of Sweden, the Governor of the Island of St. Bartholomew published the decree, "That all bondage and slavery shall for ever henceforth cease to exist in the Island and its dependencies." A fair and just compensation had been made to masters for those slaves that were duly reported and presented. Oct. 9. The city of Huamantla was captured by General Joseph Lane with a detachment of regulars, and a body of Mexicans commanded by Santa Anna was defeated. American loss, 13 killed and 11 wounded; Mexican loss, about 150. Oct. 10. The extensive mills at Richmond, Va., known as the "Gallego Flouring Mills," and other-warehouses and buildings, were destroyed by fire. The whole loss is estimated at $ 168,000. Oct. 10. The Duchy of Lucca passes to the Grand Duke of Tuscany by sale, he paying the Duke of Lucca an annuity of about $215,000, until the Duke succeeds to the Duchy of Parma, on the death of Maria Louisa, the present Duchess, at which time Lucca was to be ceded to Tuscany, according to the last settlement of the Italian States. Oct. 11. A destructive freshet on the Juniata River, Pa. Bridges were carried away, houses were washed from their foundations, and great damage was done to the public works. The freshet was felt about two weeks later in Ohio. Oct. 15.- The powder-house at Nashville, Tenn., was struck by lightning and blown up. Many lives were lost, and 100 houses were destroyed or injured. There were between six and seven hundred kegs of powder in the building. Oct. 16. - The session of the Helvetic Diet is opened. Oct. 17. The Bavarian Chamber of Representatives recommends freedom of the press and of correspondence, by an almost unanimous vote. Oct. 19. The corner-stone of a monument to the memory of George Washington was laid in New York, with appropriate ceremonies, under the auspices and direction of the Washington Monument Association of the city of New York, on the anniversary of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis to Washington at Yorktown in 1781. Oct. 19. A unanimous vote abolishing lotteries is passed by the Chamber of Deputies in Bavaria. It is announced that the new code will be ready for the session of 1849, and will provide for public trials and oral examination of witnesses. Oct. 20. The port of Guayamas was bombarded and captured by the American frigate Congress and sloop-of-war Portsmouth. Over 500 shot and shells were thrown into the town. One English resident was killed, and some houses were burned. Oct. 23. Great commercial distress has prevailed in England during the last month. Oct. 24. A reform dinner at Chartres, at which the objects of these meetings are declared to be, recommencer ce que l'on a manqué en juillet 1830." Oct. 25. In consequence of the money-pressure, the British ministry recommends to the Bank of England to enlarge their discounts and advances, charging interest not less than 8 per cent. per annum. The Bank acts accordingly. Nov. 4.- The Federal Diet of Switzerland take their final resolve against the Sonderbund. On the same day the troops of Uri enter the Canton of Tessino, and a skirmish ensues, in which two persons are killed. Nov. 10. By orders from the post-office department of Nov. 5, 1847, as a retaliatory measure upon the course of the British government, and as a measure of self-protection, on and after this day no mail matter destined for any of the British possessions on this continent will be permitted to leave the United States, unless the United States postage thereon is previously fully paid. By orders of the postmaster-generals of Canada and of New Brunswick of the dates respectively of October 25th and October 30th, no unpaid letters or newspapers will be received into the Provinces after November 16th, 1847. Nov. 11. - General Dufour, commanding the forces of the Diet, begins operations against Fribourg. On the 14th, Fribourg surrenders. Nov. 18. The British Parliament meets. - Nov. 19. The steamer Talisman, from Pittsburg to St. Louis, suffered a collision with the steamer Tempest, and over one hundred deck passengers were lost. Five or six cabin passengers are supposed to have jumped overboard and been drowned. -- Nov. 20. The corner-stone of the reservoir, a part of the Boston waterworks, was laid, with appropriate ceremonies. The foundation of the reservoir covers an area of 40,000 feet. Nov. 21. The steamer Phoenix, when within fifteen miles of Sheboygan, upon Lake Michigan, and six miles from shore, was found to be on fire, and before assistance could reach her, nearly two hundred and forty persons perished from the fire or by drowning, mostly emigrant passengers from Holland. Nov. 22-24. - The Swiss federal army reach the neighbourhood of Lucerne. (23.) Col. Liegler's column crosses the River Reuss, and takes the fort of Honan by assault. At the village of Roth, 1 leagues from Lucerne, they are opposed, but are victorious. (24.) General Dufour enters the city without resistance. Nov. 25. The leading members of the French Reform Committee issue a manifesto setting forth its objects. They may be summed up in the intention to procure for all Frenchmen who pay taxes the right to vote. Nov. 25. This day was held as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer in thirteen States of the Union. Nov. 29. At the Presbyterian Mission, Wallah Wallah Valley, Oregon, the missionary, Dr. Whiteman, and thirteen others, were killed by the Cayuse Indians, and sixty-one taken prisoners, and the houses of the missionaries and their neighbours burned. The prisoners were subsequently released by the praiseworthy efforts of Peter Sken Ogden, Esq., chief factor of the Hudson's Bay Company. Upon the receipt of the news at Oregon, troops were raised, and three battles were fought with the Indians on the 8th and 12th of January and 18th of February, in which the Indians were completely routed, and their villages and provisions destroyed. Dec. The boilers of the steamer A. N. Johnson, on her trip from Cincinnati to Wheeling, exploded, and destroyed the boat. Of the 190 persons on board the boat, 110 are known to be saved. Dec.-The Emperor of Austria announces his purpose to increase the army in Venetian Lombardy. Dec.The lectures of M. Michelet at Paris are stopped by the Minister of Public Instruction. Dec. 15. — A demonstration at Naples (said to be peaceable) in favor of Pius IX. and reform, is fired upon by order of government, and a number of persons killed and wounded. This is followed by arrests. Dec. 16.-A convention concerning Ferrara is announced as concluded between the Pope and Austria. The status quo is restored, the question of right not being raised. Dec. 17. - Maria Louisa, Archduchess of Parma, and widow of Napoleon, dies at her capital. Dec. 19.-A motion is passed by the Central Congregation of Lombardy to memorialize the Emperor of Austria on the subject of reform in the LombardoVenetian kingdom. The governor of Milan stated that the viceroy was preparing reforms. Dec. 20.-H. B. M. steamship Avenger was lost near Bizerta, in Africa, and the officers and crew (270), with the exception of a lieutenant and three men, were drowned. Dec. 20.―The British Parliament (the extraordinary session) adjourns to Feb. 3d, having passed the bill for the suppression of crime and outrage in Ireland. Dec. 20-25. —A severe freshet did great injury in the interior of the States of Mississippi and Alabama. The water at Aberdeen, Miss., was seventeen inches higher than it had ever been known before. Damages are estimated at from $30,000 to $50,000. Dec. 21. The magistrates and people of Parma petition their new Duke, Charles Louis of Bourbon, for a redress of grievances, but he replies that he shall make no change. Parma is occupied by Austrian soldiers, who are entering Lombardy in large numbers. Dec. 22.- Abd-el-Kader surrenders to General Lamoricière. Dec. 23.-The Austrian troops evacuate the town of Ferrara, still holding the citadel. Dec. 25.- Finn Magnusen, the Iceland philosopher, dies at Copenhagen, aged 65. Dec. 26. Dudley Ryder, Earl of Harrowby, dies at Sandon Hall, aged 85. Dec. 28. Dr. Hampden is elected Bishop of Hereford, after a violent opposition. Dec. 28. The King of the French opens the session of the Chambers in person, after a serious illness. He promises reduced taxation on salt and postage, bills to facilitate commerce and improve the condition of the working classes; and notices the prevalence of the agitation that "hostile and blind passions foment"; hereby referring to the reform banquets. He was warmly greeted. December 31.- Madame Adelaide, sister of Louis Philippe, dies, aged 71. She leaves a very large fortune. |