1749 The interest of the British funds reduced to three per cent. British herring incorporated. fishery 1751 Antiquarian society, at London, incorpora ted. 1752 The New Style introduced into Great Britain; 1758 The British museum erected at Montague 1757 Identity of electric fire and lightning disco- 1759 General Wolfe is killed in the battle of Qne- 1763 The definitive treaty of peace between Great America; also the islands of Grenada, St. 1764 The parliament granted £10,000 to Mr. Harrison, for his discovery of the longitude, by his time-piece. 1765 His Majesty's royal charter passed for incorporating the society of artists. An act passed annexing the sovereignty of the island of Man to the crown of Great Britain. 1766 A great spot passed the sun's centre. Gibraltar almost destroyed by a storm. 1767 An act passed for liberty to build the New Town of Edinburgh. 1768 Academy of painting established in London. The Turks imprison the Russian ambassador, and declare war against that Empire. 1769 Electricity of the Aurora Borealis discovered by Wideburgh, at Jena. 1771 Dr. Solander and Mr. Banks, in his Majesty's ship, the Endeavour, Lieut. Cook, return from a voyage round the world, having made several important discoveries in the South Seas. Solway moss overflows, 1772. Twelve hundred and forty people killed in the island of Java, by an electrified cloud. A revolution in Denmark. The Emperor of Germany, Empress of Russia, and King of Prussia, strip the King of Poland of great part of his dominions, which they divide among themselves, in violation of the most solemn treaties. 1773 Captain Phipps is sent to explore the North Pole: but having made eighty-one degrees, is in danger of being locked up by the ice, and his attempt to discover a passage in that quarter proves fruitless. The war between the Russians and Turks proves disgraceful to the latter, who lose the islands. in the Archipelago, and by sea are every where unsuccessful. 1774 Peace is proclaimed between the Russians and Turks. The British parliament having passed an act, laying a duty of three pence per pound, upon all teas imported into America; the colonists, considering this as a grievance, deny the right of the British parliament to tax them. 1775 April 19th. The first action happens in America between the King's troops and the Provincials at Lexington. May 20th, Articles of confederation and perpetual union between the American provinces. June 17th, A bloody action at Bunker's Hill, between the royal troops and the Americans. 1776 The Congress declare the American colonies free and independent states, July 4th. The Americans driven from Long-Island, New tep York, in August, with great slaughter; and the city of New York is afterwards taken possession of by the King's troops, Decem. 25th. General Washington takes 900 of the Hessians prisoners at Trenton. 1777 General Howe takes possession of Philadelphia. Lieut.-General Burgoyne is obliged to surrender his army to the Generals Gates and Arnold, October 17th. 1778 A treaty of alliance concluded at Paris between the French King and the thirteen united American colonies, in which their independence is acknowledged by the court of France, February 6th. The Earl of Carlisle, William Eden, Esq. and George Johnstone, Esq. arrive at Philadelphia, the beginning of June, as commissioners for restoring peace between Great Britain anp America. Philadelphia evacuated by the King's troops, June 18th. The Congress refuse to treat with the British commissioners. Dominica taken by the French, Sept. 7th. Pondicherry surrenders to the arms of Great Britain, October 17th. St. Lucia taken from the French, Dec. 28th. 1779 St. Vincent taken by the French. Grenada taken by the French, July 3d. 1780 Torture in courts of justice abolished in France. The Inquisition abolished in the Duke of Modena's dominions. Three actions between Admiral Rodney and the Count de Guichen, in the West Indies, in the months of April and May; but none of them decisive. Charlestown, South Carolina, surrenders to Sir Henry Clinton, May 4th. Pensacola, and the whole province of West Florida, surrender to the arms of the King of Spain, May 9th. Five English East-Indiamen, and fifty English merchant ships bound for the West Indies, taken by the combined fleets of France and Spain, August 8th. Earl Cornwallis obtains a signal victory over General Gates, near Camden, in South Carolina, in which above 1000 American prisoners are taken, Aug. 16th. Major Andre, Adjutant general to the British army, hanged as a spy at Tappan, in the province of New York, Oct. 2d. 1781 The Dutch island of St. Eustatia taken by Admiral Rodney and General Vaughan, February 3d. Retaken by the French, November 27th. A bloody engagement fought between an English squadron under the command of Admiral Parker, and a Dutch squadron under the command of Admiral Zoutman, off the Dogger Bank, August 5th. Earl Cornwallis, with a considerable British army, surrendered prisoners of war to the American and French troops, under the command of Gen. Washington and Count Rochambeau, at York town, in Virginia, Oct. 19th. 1782 Trincomale, on the island of Ceylon, taken by Admiral Hughes, Jan. 11th. Minorca surrendered to the arms of the King of Spain, Feb. 5th. The island of St. Chris topher taken by the French, Feb. 12th. The island of Nevis, in the West Indies, taken by the French, Feb. 14th. Montserrat taken by the French, Feb. 22d. The resolution of the House of Commons relating to John Wilkes, Esq. and the Middlesex election, passed Feb. 17th, 1769; rescinded May 3d. The French took and destroyed the forts and settlements in Hudson's Bay, Aug. 24th. Provisional articles of peace, signed at Paris, between the British and American commissioners, by which the Thirteen United American colonies are acknowledged by his Britannic Majesty to be free, sovereign, and independent states, Nov. 30th. 1788 The fire balloon invented by M. Montgolfier, R 1 |
