A. D. 1694 Died John Tillotfon, archbishop of Canter bury, a native of Halifax, and author of 254 fermons. 1697 Sir William Temple, of London, died. He wrote on politics, and polite literature. 1699 The Scots settled a colony at the isthmus of Darien, in America, and called it Caledonia. 1700 Charles XII. of Sweden began his reign. CHAP. LXXIII. MEMORABLE EVENTS OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 1701 THE fociety for the propagation of the gospel in foreign parts was erected. John Dryden, of Northamptonshire, died this year. He was the author of 27 tragedies and comedies, a translation of Virgil, and fatiric poems. 1702 King William died, aged 50, and was fucceeded by queen Anne, daughter to James II. who, with the Emperor and States Ge neral, A.D. neral, renewed the war against France and Spain. 1704 Gibraltar was taken from the Spaniards, by Admiral Rooke. The battle of Blenheim was won by the duke The court of Exchequer was instituted in John Locke, of Somersetshire, died this year. 1705 Died John Ray, of Effex, who wrote on botany, natural philofophy, and divinity. 1706 The treaty of Union betwixt England and Scotland, was figned on the 22d of Júly. 1707 The first British parliament was affembled. George Farquhar, of Londonderry, author of eight comedies, died this year. 1708 Sardinia was erected into a kingdom, and given to the duke of Savoy. 1709 Peter the Great, czar of Muscovy, defeated Charles XII. at Pultowa, who fled to Turkey. 1710 The cathedral church of St. Paul, London, was rebuilt by Sir Chriftopher Wren, in 37 years, A. D. years, at the expence of one million of pounds, by a duty on coals. 1713 The peace of Utrecht was concluded, whereby Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Britain, and Hudson's Bay, in North America, were yielded to Great Britain. Gibraltar and Minorca, in Europe, were also confirmed to the faid crown by this treaty. Ant. Afh. Cooper, earl of Shaftesbury, the celebrated author of the Characteristics, died this year. 1714 Queen Anne died, at the age of 50, and was fucceeded by George I. Gilbert Burnet, a native of Scotland, bishop of Salisbury, died the fame year. He wrote the history of his own times, and of the reformation, an expofition of the thirtynine articles of the church of England, and fermons. Intereft was reduced to five per cent. 1715 The rebellion in Scotland began in September, under the earl of Mar, in favour of the Pretender. The action of Sheriff-muir, and the surrender of Prefton, both happened in November, when the rebels difperfed. Lewis XIV. died, and was fucceeded by his great-grandfon, Lewis XV. 1715 An A.D. 1715 An act paffed for feptennial parliaments. 1718 Died Nicholas Rowe, of Devonshire, author of feven tragedies, and a tranflation of Lucan's Pharfalia. The Northern Lights firft appeared this year. 1719 Lombe's filk-throwing machine, containing 26586 wheels, was erected at Derby. It took up one-eighth of a mile. One waterwheel moved the reft; and in 24 hours it produced 318 millions, 504 thousand, 960 yards of filk thread. The South-Sea fcheme in England began on the 7th of April, was at its height at the end of June, and quite funk about the end of September. Jofeph Addifon, of Wiltshire, the elegant author of the Spectator, Guardian, poems, and political pieces, died this year. About the fame time died the Rev. John Flamstead, of Devonshire, and Dr. John Keill, of Edinburgh, both celebrated for their skill in aftronomy and mathematics. 1721 Died Matthew Prior, of London, who wrote poems, and political pieces. 1724 William Wollafton, of Staffordshire, died. He was the author of the Religion of Nature delineated, a very valuable work. A.D. 1727 King George F. died, in the 68th year of his age, and was fucceeded by his only fon George II. The immortal Sir Ifaac Newton, of Lincolnfhire, died the fame year. His philofophical difcoveries are well known to the learned. Inoculation was first tried on criminals with fuccefs. Ruffia, formerly a dukedom, was now establifhed as an empire. 1729 Died the Rev. Dr. Samuel Clarke, of Norwich, a celebrated divine, and mathema tician. Sir Richard Steel, of Dublin, and William Congreve, of Staffordshire, died about the fame time. The former wrote four comedies, and many papers in the Tatler and Spectator. The latter was the author of the Mourning Bride, and seven other dramatic pieces. 1732 Kouli Khan ufurped the Perfian throne, conquered the Mogul empire, and returned with 231 millions sterling. The fame year, died John Gay, of Exeter, author of poems, fables, and eleven dramatic pieces. 1734 Died |