five o'clock in the morning, he started out of his fleep, and ftruck his wife with his elbow (by accident) when fhe cried out, You have killed me: He replied, I am dead myself, and never spoke after. 1751 M. de Villiers drives away the English Ohio Company from the Banks of that River. 1752 The French continue their encroachments, and strengthen the fort of Crown-Point. New-Stile commenced in Ireland, Wednesday September 2d, next day was counted the 14th. 1753 The Jews naturalized by Parliament, but foon repealed. The British Museum founded. Colonel Washington fets out on his remarkable journey to Lake Erie, October 14th. 1754 The Dey of Algiers affaffinated by a foldier, December 11th. M. de Contrecoeur deftroys Logg's-Town in April, and obliges Captain Trent to abandon Fort Monongahela, fituated on the forks of that River, May zoth. May 24th, Washington defeats a detachment of Contrecoeur's, commanded by Tunonville. June 12th, Contrecoeur takes poffeffion of the outlines of a fort planned by the English, and when finifhed, calls it Fort du Quefne. June 20th, The forts Beau-fejour and Bay Verte reduced. July 3d, Villiers obliges Washington to capitulate in Fort Neceflity. 1755 June roth, The Alcide and Lys French fhips of war taken by Admiral Boscawen, which may be justly deemed the commencement of hoftilities in Europe. July July 9th, General Braddock's army defeated and himself killed near Fort du Quefne. September 7th, General Dieskau attacks General Johnfon in his camp near Lake George, and is defeated and taken prisoner. A great earthquake at Lisbon, Saturday the Ift. of November. 1756 May 18th, Great Britain declared War againft France. May 20th, An engagement between the Admirals Byng and Galliffioniere, off Minorca. June 26th, Calcutta taken by the Nabob, and the garrifon truft into the black-hole, where 123 perfons perished in a miferable manner for want of air. June 29th, Fort St. Philip in Minorca commanded by General Blakeney, furrendered to the French under the command of Marshal Richlieu. Auguft 14th, Fort Ofwego taken by the French. Hanoverian Troops arrived in England. Auguft 29th, Saxony invaded by the King of Pruffia. December ift, His first action with Count Brown at Lowofitz. 1757 Damien attempted to affaffinate the French King, the 5th of January, in the following manner: On the above day, the King went from Trianon to Versailles, to vifit Madame Victorie; about fix in the evening, as his Majefty was juft ftepping into his coach to return to Trianon, a man who had concealed himfelf between the hind wheels, rushed forward with his hat on, made his way to the King's perfon, thro' the guards (one of whom he even 1757 even fhoved against the Dauphin) and ftruck his Majefty on the right fide, of which the King only complained by faying, That man has given me a violent blow, he must be either mad or drunk. But having perceived that his hand, which he clapped to his fide, was bloody, he faid, I am wounded, feize that fellow, but don't kill him. His Majefty was immediately carried to his apartment. The wound (which from the very first was not thought dangerous) was given with a sharp-pointed knife, which glanced upwards between the fourth and fifth rib, and was not of any confiderable depth. The villain who committed this attempt was a native of Arras: The weapon he made use of was found upon him, and proved to be a common clafp knife with two blades: at firft it was feared it may be poisoned, but he affured the contrary, and the experiments that were made with it on feveral animals, made good his affertion; however the wound was fo flight, that his Majefty recovered in a few days, and was able to attend in council. For this crime, Damien was tried and convicted, and on Monday the 28th of March, 1757, he was executed in the following manner. Towards three o'clock in the evening, notice was given to the Commiffaries, that every thing was ready for the execution; upon which they inftantly repaired to the TownHall, preceded according to cuftom, by the Officers and Archers of the Lieutenant of the Short Robe. Several days before, there had been prepared, at the common place of execution, called the Greve, a space of one hundred feet fquare, furrounded with pallifades, and 1757 and having no entrance open, but in one corner, for the admiflion of the Criminal, and for communication with the Town-hall: this fpace was guarded on the infide by the Lieutenant of the Short Robe (whofe function on thefe occafions anfwers to that of the Sheriff in England) and his company, and on the outfide by the foldiers of the Foot-Watch: the horfe patrol was pofted in the Square of Veaux, the avenues of the Greve were lined at proper distances by detachments of the French guards, as alfo the way from the Hall of Juftice to the Church of Notre-Dame: there were alfo Corps de Guards ftationed at all the quarters and principal ftreet ends of the town. In short, all the neceffary precautions were taken to fecure the public order and tranquility. The Criminal being arrived at the Church of Notre-Dame, he acquitted himself of the ceremony of the Amende Honorable, in the form prescribed by his fentence, with an air of contrition and repentance: he was accompanied by two Divines, who did not quit him till his laft breath. Being come to the Greve, he defired to speak with the Commiffaries, who gave orders for him to be brought up to them in the Town-hall, which he accordingly was: all the declaration he made to them, was no more than to ask pardon of the Arch-bishop, for the injurious expreffions he had ufed concerning him, to declare that his wife and daughter were innocent, and to recommend them to the charity of the Commiffaries; and in fine, he declared that in his crime there was neither plot or accomplice. Both the Commiffaries and Divines united M 1757 united in exhortations to him, to avail himself of these last moments for discovering all he knew, but he perfifted in averring that he had nothing more to declare. It is also to be obferved, that during this time, the Divines had feveral times prefented a crucifix to him, which he refpe&tfully kiffed. The Commiffaries feeing there was nothing more to be expected from the Criminal's declarations, ordered him to be led back to the Greve. He waited there fome confiderable time, because the executioner had not been careful enough to have every thing ready, for which he was afterwards punished by commitment, for several days to the dungeon. When Damiens was ftripped, it was obferved, that he furveyed and confidered all his body and limbs with attention, and that he looked round with firmnefs on the vaft concourse of spectators. Towards five o'clock he was placed on the fcaffold, which had been erected in the middle of the inclosed Area, and was raised about three feet and a half from the ground; the length from eight to nine feet, and of about the fame breadth. The Criminal was inftantly tied, and afterwards faftened by iron gyves, which confined him under the arms, and above the thighs the firft torment he underwent, was that of having his hand burnt in a flame of brimftone, the pain of which made him fend forth fuch a terrible cry as might be heard a great way off; a moment afterwards he raised his head, and looked for fome time, earneftly at his hand, without renewing his cries, and without expreffing any paffion, or breaking out into any imprecation: to this firft tor : ment |