1839
Charlotte Brontë declines marriage
^top^
Charlotte Brontë, 23, writes to the
Reverend Henry Nussey, declining marriage. She tells him that he would
find her "romantic and eccentric" and not practical enough to be a
clergyman's wife. Rather than marry, Brontë would struggle as a teacher
and governess to help support her brother Branwell's literary aspirations.
In the end, Branwell's excesses destroyed him; his sisters, though,
all became literary figures.
Charlotte was born on 21 April 1816,
one of six siblings born to an Anglican clergyman. When she was five,
the family moved to the remote village of Hawthorne on the moors of
Yorkshire. The gloomy parsonage produced some of the best-known novels
in English literature. Brontë's mother died in 1821, and Charlotte
and her older sisters were sent to the Cown Bridge School, a cheap
boarding school for daughters of the clergy. However, her two sisters
fell ill and died, and Charlotte was brought home, where she and her
remaining siblings, Branwell, Emily, and Anne (born on 17 January
1820), invented and wrote about elaborate fantasy worlds to amuse
themselves.
Shortly after declining the proposal
of Reverend Nussey, Charlotte went to Brussels with her sister Emily
to study languages and school administration. Returning to the parsonage
at Hawthorne, the sisters attempted to set up their own school, but
no pupils registered. Meanwhile, their adored brother Branwell was
becoming a heavy drinker and opium user. When Emily got him a job
teaching with her at a wealthy manor, he lost both their positions
after a tryst with the mother of the house. He eventually died after
accidentally setting his bed on fire.
In 1846, Charlotte ran across some
poems that Emily had written, which led to the revelation that all
three sisters were closet poets. The sisters published their own book,
Poems
by Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell. Only two copies sold, but
publishers became interested in the sisters' work. Charlotte, under
the nom de plum Currer Bell, published Jane
Eyre in 1847. Emily's Wuthering
Heights and Anne's Agnes
Grey were published later that year. Sadly, all three of
Charlotte's siblings died within the next two years. Left alone, Charlotte
cared for her ill father and married his curate, Arthur Bell Nicholls,
just a year after she published Villette,
a novel inspired by a failed romance she had in Brussels years before.
Charlotte died during a pregnancy shortly after the marriage.
BRONTE ONLINE:
Poems by Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell,
Poems by Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell (by all three) |
| Emily online: (five different sites):
Wuthering Heights
Wuthering Heights
Wuthering Heights
Wuthering Heights
Wuthering Heights (zipped PDF) |
Charlotte Brontë online:: (different
sites)
Jane Eyre
Jane Eyre
Jane Eyre
Jane Eyre (zipped PDF)
The Professor
The Professor
The Professor (zipped PDF)
Shirley
Shirley
Villette |
Anne Brontë online: (different sites)
Agnes Grey
Agnes Grey
Selected Works and Commentary.
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall |
1845 Congress appropriates $30'000 to ship camels to western
US.
1821 James
Monroe is first US President inaugurated (for his second term) on March
5th, because 4th was Sunday (his Inaugural
Address).
1795 Treaty of Basel-Prussia ends war with France
1783 Un terremoto destruye parte de la ciudad de Messina
y ocasiona graves daños en Calabria.
1774 John Hancock's Boston
Massacre Oration.
1766
Ulloa takes possession of Louisiana Territory from French.
^top^
A brilliant Spanish scientist and explorer, Antonio de Ulloa's political
talents prove far less impressive when he tries to take control
of the formerly French territory of Louisiana. Ulloa faced a difficult
situation in Louisiana. Encompassing most of the western half of
the Mississippi Valley as far north as the present-day state of
Montana, Louisiana Territory was originally claimed and settled
by the French. In 1763, the French transferred the territory to
Spain under the terms of the Treaty of Paris, as a reward for having
been an ally in the French war with England. The French colonists
of Louisiana, however, had not agreed to the treaty. Many were determined
to frustrate any attempt by the Spanish to assert control over their
home.
This impulse to resist
only strengthened when the Spanish failed to immediately dispatch
a new governor for the territory, leaving the administration in
the hands of the acting French Governor Philippe Aubry. After a
three-year lag, the Spanish crown finally sent one of its most distinguished
scientists and explorers, Antonio de Ulloa, to govern the territory.
Arriving in New Orleans on
this day in 1766, Ulloa faced widespread antagonism to his rule.
Before coming to Louisiana, Ulloa had led a brilliantly successfully
exploration of Peru, which he publicized in the widely read book
A Voyage to South America. Ulloa had also gained fame among European
scientists by founding an astronomical observatory and a mineralogical
laboratory. However, Ulloa's scientific accomplishments did not
impress the French inhabitants of Louisiana.
For all his scientific brilliance, Ulloa proved a timid and ineffective
governor. When the French troops of Louisiana refused to recognize
his authority, Ulloa did not even attempt to stage a public ceremony
marking the formal transfer of power to the Spanish crown. Instead,
he decided to execute his orders through Aubry, the acting French
governor, preserving the appearance of continued French rule. Possessed
of a personality that dangerously combined shyness with arrogance,
Ulloa was completely unsuited for the delicate diplomatic task of
bringing the people of Louisiana under Spanish control.
Ulloa's attempts to force the French colonists to use the handful
of Spanish-dominated ports in the territory further alienated his
subjects, as did his refusal to honor old French promissory notes
held by many of the colonists. In 1768, the French political leaders
revolted, forcing Ulloa to flee to Havana, Cuba. Although subsequent
Spanish officials were better able to control the French residents,
Spanish control over Louisiana continued to remain tenuous. In 1800,
Spain finally abandoned its claim to the territory and handed it
back to the French. Three years later, Napoleon Bonaparte sold it
to the United States in the Louisiana Purchase. Unlike their Spanish
predecessors, the Americans eventually succeeded in winning the
loyalty of the Louisianians. |
1669
(23 February Julian) Pepys, on 36th birthday, kisses a Queen.
^top^
[from his Diary]
1669 February 23rd.
Up: and to the Office, where all the morning, and then home, and put
a mouthfull of victuals in my mouth; and by a hackney-coach followed
my wife and the girls, who are gone by eleven o'clock, thinking to
have seen a new play at the Duke of York's house. But I do find them
staying at my tailor's, the play not being to-day, and therefore I
now took them to Westminster Abbey, and there did show them all the
tombs very finely, having one with us alone, there being other company
this day to see the tombs, it being Shrove Tuesday; and here we did
see, by particular favour, the body of Queen Katherine of Valois;
and I had the upper part of her body in my hands, and I did kiss her
mouth, reflecting upon it that I did kiss a Queen, and that this was
my birth-day, thirty-six years old, that I did first kiss a Queen.
But here this man, who seems to understand well, tells me that the
saying is not true that says she was never buried, for she was buried;
only, when Henry the Seventh built his chapel, it was taken up and
laid in this wooden coffin; but I did there see that, in it, the body
was buried in a leaden one, which remains under the body to this day.
Thence to the Duke of York's playhouse, and there, finding the play
begun, we homeward to the Glass-House, and there shewed my cozens
the making of glass, and had several things made with great content;
and, among others, I had one or two singing- glasses made, which make
an echo to the voice, the first that ever I saw; but so thin, that
the very breath broke one or two of them. So home, and thence to Mr.
Batelier's, where we supped, and had a good supper, and here was Mr.
Gumbleton; and after supper some fiddles, and so to dance; but my
eyes were so out of order, that I had little pleasure this night at
all, though I was glad to see the rest merry, and so about midnight
home and to bed. |
1668
(23 February Julian) Pepys does not note his 35th birthday.
^top^
[from his Diary]
1668 February 23rd (Lord's day).
Up, and, being desired by a messenger from Sir G. Carteret, I by water
over to Southwarke, and so walked to the Falkon, on the Bank-side,
and there got another boat, and so to Westminster, where I would have
gone into the Swan; but the door was locked; and the girl could not
let me in, and so to Wilkinson's in King Street, and there wiped my
shoes, and so to Court, where sermon not yet done I met with Brisband;
and he tells me, first, that our business of tickets did come to debate
yesterday, it seems, after I was gone away, and was voted a miscarriage
in general. He tells me in general that there is great looking after
places, upon a presumption of a great many vacancies; and he did shew
me a fellow at Court, a brother of my Lord Fanshaw's, a witty but
rascally fellow, without a penny in his purse, that was asking him
what places there were in the Navy fit for him, and Brisband tells
me, in mirth, he told him the Clerke of the Acts, and I wish he had
it, so I were well and quietly rid of it; for I am weary of this kind
of trouble, having, I think, enough whereon to support myself. By
and by, chapel done, I met with Sir W. Coventry, and he and I walked
awhile together in the Matted Gallery; and there he told me all the
proceedings yesterday: that the matter is found, in general, a miscarriage,
but no persons named; and so there is no great matter to our prejudice
yet, till, if ever, they come to particular persons. He told me Birch
was very industrious to do what he could, and did, like a friend;
but they were resolved to find the thing, in general, a miscarriage;
and says, that when we shall think fit to desire its being heard,
as to our own defence, it will be granted. He tells me how he hath,
with advantage, cleared himself in what concerns himself therein,
by his servant Robson, which I am glad of. He tells me that there
is a letter sent by conspiracy to some of the House, which he hath
seen, about the matter of selling of places, which he do believe he
shall be called upon to-morrow for: and thinks himself well prepared
to defend himself in it; and then neither he, nor his friends for
him, are afeard of anything to his prejudice. Thence by coach, with
Brisband, to Sir G. Carteret's, in Lincoln's Inn Fields, and there
dined: a good dinner and good company; and after dinner he and I alone,
discoursing of my Lord Sandwich's matters; who hath, in the first
business before the House, been very kindly used beyond expectation,
the matter being laid by, till his coming home and old Mr. Vaughan
did speak for my Lord, which I am mighty glad of. The business of
the prizes is the worst that can be said, and therein I do fear something
may lie hard upon him; but, against this, we must prepare the best
we can for his defence. Thence with G. Carteret to White Hall, where
I, finding a meeting of the Committee of the Council for the Navy,
his Royal Highness there, and Sir W. Pen, and, some of the Brethren
of the Trinity House to attend, I did go in with them; and it was
to be informed of the practice heretofore, for all foreign nations,
at enmity one with another, to forbear any acts of hostility to one
another, in the presence of any of the King of England's ships, of
which several instances were given: and it is referred to their further
enquiry, in order to the giving instructions accordingly to our ships
now, during the war between Spain and France. Would to God we were
in the same condition as heretofore, to challenge and maintain this
our dominion! Thence with W. Pen homeward, and quite through to Mile
End, for a little ayre; the days being now pretty long, but the ways
mighty dirty, and here we drank at the Rose, the old house, and so
back again, talking of the Parliament and our trouble with them and
what passed yesterday. Going back again, Sir R. Brookes overtook us
coming to town; who hath played the jacke with us all, and is a fellow
that I must trust no more, he quoting me for all he hath said in this
business of tickets; though I have told him nothing that either is
not true, or I afeard to own. But here talking, he did discourse in
this stile: "We,"--and "We" all along,--"
will not give any money, be the pretence never so great, nay, though
the enemy was in the River of Thames again, till we know what is become
of the last money given;" and I do believe he do speak the mind
of his fellows, and so let them, if the King will suffer it. He gone,
we home, and there I to read, and my belly being full of my dinner
to-day, I anon to bed, and there, as I have for many days, slept not
an hour quietly, but full of dreams of our defence to the Parliament
and giving an account of our doings. This evening, my wife did with
great pleasure shew me her stock of jewells, encreased by the ring
she hath made lately as my Valentine's gift this year, a Turky stone'
set with diamonds: and, with this and what she had, she reckons that
she hath above £150 worth of jewells, of one kind or other;
and I am glad of it, for it is fit the wretch should have something
to content herself with. |
1667
(23 February Julian) Pepys, on 34th birthday, works at the office
till midnight. ^top^
[from his Diary]
1667 February 23rd.
This day I am, by the blessing of God, 34 years old, in very good
health and mind's content, and in condition of estate much beyond
whatever my friends could expect of a child of theirs, this day 34
years. The Lord's name be praised! and may I be ever thankful for
it. Up betimes to the office, in order to my letter to the Duke of
York to-morrow, and then the office met and spent the greatest part
about this letter. At noon home to dinner, and then to the office
again very close at it all the day till midnight, making an end and
writing fair this great letter and other things to my full content,
it abundantly providing for the vindication of this office, whatever
the success be of our wants of money. This evening Sir W. Batten come
to me to the office on purpose, out of spleen (of which he is full
to Carcasse !), to tell me that he is now informed of many double
tickets now found of Carcasses making which quite overthrows him.
It is strange to see how, though I do believe this fellow to be a
rogue, and could be contented to have him removed, yet to see him
persecuted by Sir W. Batten, who is as bad himself, and that with
so much rancour, I am almost the fellow's friend. But this good I
shall have from it, that the differences between Sir W. Batten and
my Lord Bruncker will do me no hurt. |
1666
(23 February Julian) Pepys spends most of his 33rd birthday at the
office. ^top^
[from his Diary]
1666 February 23rd.
Up betimes, and out of doors by 6 of the clock, and walked (W. Howe
with me) to my Lord Sandwich's, who did lie the last night at his
house in Lincoln's Inne Fields. It being fine walking in the morning,
and the streets full of people again. There I staid, and the house
full of people come to take leave of my Lord, who this day goes out
of towne upon his embassy towards Spayne. And I was glad to find Sir
W. Coventry to come, though I know it is only a piece of courtshipp.
I had much discourse with my Lord, he telling me how fully he leaves
the King his friend and the large discourse he had with him the other
day, and how he desired to have the business of the prizes examined
before he went, and that he yielded to it, and it is done as far as
it concerns himself to the full, and the Lords Commissioners for prizes
did reprehend all the informers in what related to his Lordship, which
I am glad of in many respects. But we could not make an end of discourse,
so I promised to waite upon [him] on Sunday at Cranborne, and took
leave and away hence to Mr. Hales's with Mr. Hill and two of the Houblons,
who come thither to speak with me, and saw my wife's picture, which
pleases me well, but Mr. Hill's picture never a whit so well as it
did before it was finished, which troubled me, and I begin to doubt
the picture of my Lady Peters my wife takes her posture from, and
which is an excellent picture, is not of his making, it is so master-like.
I set them down at the 'Change and I home to the office, and at noon
dined at home and to the office again. Anon comes Mrs. Knipp to see
my wife, who is gone out, so I fain to entertain her, and took her
out by coach to look my wife at Mrs. Pierce's and Unthanke's, but
find her not. So back again, and then my wife comes home, having been
buying of things, and at home I spent all the night talking with this
baggage, and teaching her my song of "Beauty retire," which
she sings and makes go most rarely, and a very fine song it seems
to be. She also entertained me with repeating many of her own and
others' parts of the play-house, which she do most excellently; and
tells me the whole practices of the play-house and players, and is
in every respect most excellent company. So I supped, and was merry
at home all the evening, and the rather it being my birthday, 33 years,
for which God be praised that I am in so good a condition of healthe
and estate, and every thing else as I am, beyond expectation, in all.
So she to Mrs. Turner's to lie, and we to bed. Mightily pleased to
find myself in condition to have these people come about me and to
be able to entertain them, and have the pleasure of their qualities,
than which no man can have more in the world. |
1665
(23 February Julian) Pepys, on 32nd birthday, learns of a terrible
English defeat. ^top^
[from his Diary]
1665 February 23rd.
This day, by the blessing of Almighty God, I have lived thirty-two
years in the world, and am in the best degree of health at this minute
that I have been almost in my life time, and at this time in the best
condition of estate that ever I was in-the Lord make me thankfull.
Up, and to the office, where busy all the morning. At noon to the
'Change, where I hear the most horrid and astonishing newes that ever
was yet told in my memory, that De Ruyter with his fleete in Guinny
hath proceeded to the taking of whatever we have, forts, goods, ships,
and men, and tied our men back to back, and thrown them all into the
sea, even women and children also. This a Swede or Hamburgher is come
into the River and tells that he saw the thing done. But, Lord! to
see the consternation all our merchants are in is observable, and
with what fury and revenge they discourse of it. But I fear it will
like other things in a few days cool among us. But that which I fear
most is the reason why he that was so kind to our men at first should
afterward, having let them go, be so cruel when he went further. What
I fear is that there he was informed (which he was not before) of
some of Holmes's dealings with his countrymen, and so was moved to
this fury. God grant it be not so! But a more dishonourable thing
was never suffered by Englishmen, nor a more barbarous done by man,
as this by them to us. Home to dinner, and then to the office, where
we sat all the afternoon, and then at night to take my finall leave
of Mrs. Bland, who sets out to-morrow for Tangier, and then I back
to my office till past 12, and so home to supper and to bed.
—
Note: England would declare war on Holland only later in 1665, though
the two nations fleet had been fighting a series of bitter battles
since 1664, in their competition for trade in the East and West Indies,
the Mediterranean, the African coasts, and the eastern seaboard of
North America. (On 27 August 1664, the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam
surrendered to the English, who renamed it New York).
Admiral Michiel Adriaanzoon de Ruyter
(24 March 1607 – 29 April 1679) is regarded as one of the greatest
seamen of his age. His brilliant naval victories in the Second and
Third Anglo-Dutch Wars enabled the United Provinces to maintain a
balance of power with England. He first went to sea at age 9, and
by 1635 he was a merchant captain. After a distinguished career in
both merchant and naval service he was promoted to lieutenant admiral
two years before the battle of the Medway. In the Second Anglo-Dutch
War (1665-1667) his greatest victories were the Four Days Battle (07
Jun – 10 Jun 1666) and the Medway
Raid (14 June 1667) which accelerated the negotiations that led
to the Peace of Breda (31 July 1667).. Even greater overall were his
achievements in the Third Anglo-Dutch War (1672-1674). By his victories
over Anglo-French fleets off Solebay (1672), Ostend (1673), and Kijkduin
(1673), he prevented an invasion of the Dutch Republic. After having
been mortally wounded off Sicily, during hostilities against the French
in the Mediterranean, he died in Syracuse. [photo
of de Ruyter's head sculpted by Verhulst]
[De
Zeven Provinciën, his flagship for the last half of
the Second and for the entire Third Anglo-Dutch Wars, painted by James
C. Bender, after Willem Van de Velde Sr.(next)].[engraving after Willem
vd. Velde: Krijgsraad
voor den 4daagschen zeeslag aan boord y/h Admiraalschip van M.A.de
Ruyter “de Zeven Provinciën” 10 Juni 1666] |
1664
(23 February Julian) Pepys, on 31st birthday, congratulates himself.
^top^
[from his Diary]
1669 February 23rd.
Up, it being Shrove Tuesday, and at the office sat all the morning,
at noon to the 'Change and there met with Sir W. Rider, and of a sudden
knowing what I had at home, brought him and Mr. Cutler and Mr. Cooke,
clerk to Mr. Secretary Morrice, a sober and pleasant man, and one
that I knew heretofore, when he was my Lord 's secretary at Dunkirke.
I made much of them and had a pretty dinner for a sudden. We talked
very pleasantly, and they many good discourses of their travels abroad.
After dinner they gone, I to my office, where doing many businesses
very late, but to my good content to see how I grow in estimation
every day more and more, and have things given more oftener than I
used to have formerly, as to have a case of very pretty knives with
agate shafts by Mrs. Russell. So home and to bed. This day, by the
blessing of God, I have lived thirty-one years in the world; and,
by the grace of God, I find myself not only in good health in every
thing, and particularly as to the stone, but only pain upon taking
cold, and also in a fair way of coming to a better esteem and estate
in the world, than ever I expected. But I pray God give me a heart
to fear a fall, and to prepare for it! |
1663
(23 February Julian) Pepys, on 30th birthday, fears arrest.
^top^
[from his Diary]
1663 February 23rd.
Up by times; and not daring to go by land, did (Griffin going along
with me for fear), slip to White Hall by water; where to Mr. Coventry,
and, as we used to do, to the Duke; the other of my fellows being
come. But we said nothing of our business, the Duke being sent for
to the King, that he could not stay to speak with us. This morning
came my Lord Windsor to kiss the Duke's hand, being returned from
Jamaica. He tells the Duke, that from such a degree of latitude going
thither he begun to be sick, and was never well till his coming so
far back again, and then presently begun to be well. He told the Duke
of their taking the fort of St. Jago, upon Cuba, by his men; but,
upon the whole, I believe that he did matters like a young lord, and
was weary of being upon service out of his own country, where he might
have pleasure. For methought it was a shame to see him this very afternoon,
being the first day of his coming to town, to be at a playhouse. Thence
to my Lord Sandwich, who though he has been abroad again two or three
days is falling ill again, and is let blood this morning, though I
hope it is only a great cold that he has got. It was a great trouble
to me (and I had great apprehensions of it) that my Lord desired me
to go to Westminster Hall, to the Parliament- house door, about business;
and to Sir Wm. Wheeler, which I told him I would do, but durst not
go for fear of being taken by these rogues; but was forced to go to
White Hall and take boat, and so land below the Tower at the Iron-gate;
and so the back way over Little Tower Hill; and with my cloak over
my face, took one of the watermen along with me, and staid behind
a wall in the New-buildings behind our garden, while he went to see
whether any body stood within the Merchants' Gate, under which we
pass to go into our garden, and there standing but a little dirty
boy before the gate, did make me quake and sweat to think he might
be a Trepan. But there was nobody, and so I got safe into the garden,
and coming to open my office door, something behind it fell in the
opening, which made me start. So that God knows in what a sad condition
I should be in if I were truly in the condition that many a poor man
is for debt: and therefore ought to bless God that I have no such
reall reason, and to endeavour to keep myself, by my good deportment
and good husbandry, out of any such condition. At home I found Mr.
Creed with my wife, and so he dined with us, I finding by a note that
Mr. Clerke in my absence hath left here, that I am free; and that
he hath stopped all matters in Court; I was very glad of it, and immediately
had a light thought of taking pleasure to rejoice my heart, and so
resolved to take my wife to a play at Court to-night, and the rather
because it is my birthday, being this day thirty years old, for which
let me praise God. While my wife dressed herself, Creed and I walked
out to see what play was acted to-day, and we find it "The Slighted
Mayde." But, Lord! to see that though I did know myself to be
out of danger, yet I durst not go through the street, but round by
the garden into Tower Street. By and by took coach, and to the Duke's
house, where we saw it well acted, though the play hath little good
in it, being most pleased to see the little girl dance in boy's apparel,
she having very fine legs, only bends in the hams, as I perceive all
women do. The play being done, we took coach and to Court, and there
got good places, and saw "The Wilde Gallant," (*2) performed
by the King's house, but it was ill acted, and the play so poor a
thing as I never saw in my life almost, and so little answering the
name, that from beginning to end, I could not, nor can at this time,
tell certainly which was the Wild Gallant. The King did not seem pleased
at all, all the whole play, nor any body else, though Mr. Clerke whom
we met here did commend it to us. My Lady Castlemaine was all worth
seeing tonight, and little Steward.--[Mrs. Stuart]-- Mrs. Wells do
appear at Court again, and looks well; so that, it may be, the late
report of laying the dropped child to her was not true. It being done,
we got a coach and got well home about 12 at night. Now as my mind
was but very ill satisfied with these two plays themselves, so was
I in the midst of them sad to think of the spending so much money
and venturing upon the breach of my vow, which I found myself sorry
for, I bless God, though my nature would well be contented to follow
the pleasure still. But I did make payment of my forfeiture presently,
though I hope to save it back again by forbearing two plays at Court
for this one at the Theatre, or else to forbear that to the Theatre
which I am to have at Easter. But it being my birthday and my day
of liberty regained to me, and lastly, the last play that is likely
to be acted at Court before Easter, because of the Lent coming in,
I was the easier content to fling away so much money. So to bed. This
day I was told that my Lady Castlemaine hath all the King's Christmas
presents, made him by the peers, given to her, which is a most abominable
thing; and that at the great ball she was much richer in jewells than
the Queen and Duchess put both together.
—
* Note 1: fairly good comedy by Robert Stapylton, first acted in 1663.
— * Note 2: deservedly unsuccessful 1662 prose comedy by John
Dryden, possibly its first showing (which was in 1663). |
1662
(23 February Julian) Pepys, on 29th birthday, stays home with a cold.
^top^
[from his Diary]
1662 February 23rd. (Lord's day).
My cold being increased, I staid at home all day, pleasing myself
with my dining-room, now graced with pictures, and reading of Dr.
Fuller's "Worthys." So I spent the day, and at night comes
Sir W. Pen and supped and talked with me. This day by God's mercy
I am 29 years of age, and in very good health, and like to live and
get an estate; and if I have a heart to be contented, I think I may
reckon myself as happy a man as any is in the world, for which God
be praised. So to prayers and to bed.. |
1661
(23 February Julian) Pepys, on 28th birthday, hears gossip.
^top^
[from hisDiary
] 1661 February 23rd.
This my birthday, 28 years. This morning Sir W. Batten, Pen, and I
did some business, and then I by water to Whitehall, having met Mr.
Hartlibb by the way at Alderman Backwell's. So he did give me a glass
of Rhenish wine at the Steeleyard, and so to Whitehall by water. He
continues of the same bold impertinent humour that he was always of
and will ever be. He told me how my Lord Chancellor had lately got
the Duke of York and Duchess, and her woman, my Lord Ossory's and
a Doctor, to make oath before most of the judges of the kingdom, concerning
all the circumstances of their marriage. And in fine, it is confessed
that they were not fully married till about a month or two before
she was brought to bed; but that they were contracted long before,
and time enough for the child to be legitimate (*1). But I do not
hear that it was put to the judges to determine whether it was so
or no. To my Lord and there spoke to him about his opinion of the
Light, the sea-mark that Captain Murford is about, and do offer me
an eighth part to concern myself with it, and my Lord do give me some
encouragement in it, and I shall go on. I dined herewith Mr. Shepley
and Howe. After dinner to Whitehall Chappell with Mr. Child, and there
did hear Captain Cooke and his boy make a trial of an Anthem against
tomorrow, which was brave musique. Then by water to Whitefriars to
the Play-house, and there saw “The
Changeling,” (*2) the first time it hath been acted these
twenty years, and it takes exceedingly. Besides, I see the gallants
do begin to be tyred with the vanity and pride of the theatre actors
who are indeed grown very proud and rich. Then by link home, and there
to my book awhile and to bed. I met to-day with Mr. Townsend, who
tells me that the old man is yet alive in whose place in the Wardrobe
he hopes to get my father, which I do resolve to put for. I also met
with the Comptroller, who told me how it was easy for us all, the
principal officers, and proper for us, to labour to get into the next
Parliament; and would have me to ask the Duke's letter, but I shall
not endeavour it because it will spend much money, though I am sure
I could well obtain it. This is now 28 years that I am born. And blessed
be God, in a state of full content, and great hopes to be a happy
man in all respects, both to myself and friends.
—
* Note 1: The Duke of York's marriage took place on 03 September 1660.
Anne Hyde was contracted to the Duke at Breda on 24 November 1659.
(Julian dates).
— * Note 2: 1622 tragedy by Thomas Middleton [April 1570 –
04 July 1627] with William Rowley [1585-1642] who wrote the subplot
and helped with the plan of the whole. |
1660
(23 February Julian) Pepys's 27th birthday, no celebration.
^top^
[from his Diary]
1660 February 23rd.
Thursday, my birthday, now twenty-seven years. A pretty fair morning,
I rose and after writing a while in my study I went forth. To my office,
where I told Mr. Hawly of my thoughts to go out of town to-morrow.
Hither Mr. Fuller comes to me and my Uncle Thomas too, thence I took
them to drink, and so put off my uncle. So with Mr. Fuller home to
my house, where he dined with me, and he told my wife and me a great
many stories of his adversities, since these troubles, in being forced
to travel in the Catholic countries, &c. He shewed me his bills,
but I had not money to pay him. We parted, and I to Whitehall, where
I was to see my horse which Mr. Garthwayt lends me to-morrow. So home,
where Mr. Pierce comes to me about appointing time and place where
and when to meet tomorrow. So to Westminster Hall, where, after the
House rose, I met with Mr. Crew, who told me that my Lord was chosen
by 73 voices, to be one of the Council of State. Mr. Pierpoint had
the most, 101, and himself the next, too. He brought me in the coach
home. He and Mr. Anslow being in it. I back to the Hall, and at Mrs.
Michell's shop staid talking a great while with her and my Chaplain,
Mr. Mumford, and drank a pot or two of ale on a wager that Mr. Prin
is not of the Council. Home and wrote to my Lord the news of the choice
of the Council by the post, and so to bed. |
1621
First alcohol temperance law in America
^top^
In a proclamation signed by Governor
Sir Francis Wyatt and thirty-two members of the Virginia colonial
legislature, Virginia prohibits public intoxication under penalty
of fine. Virginia, the first American colony to pass a temperance
law, is later joined by other colonies in taking measures to prohibit
the use of alcohol. The movement for prohibition gained ground in
the early nineteenth century, when Americans concerned about the adverse
effects of drinking began forming temperance societies. By the late
nineteenth century, several states and dozens of cities had enacted
prohibition laws, and temperance groups had become a powerful political
force, campaigning on the state level and calling for total national
abstinence. On 18 December 1917, the Eighteenth Amendment, also known
as the Prohibition Amendment, was passed by Congress and took effect
on 16 January 1919, following state ratification. During the 1920s,
despite an often-vigorous effort by law-enforcement agencies, the
federal government failed to prevent the large-scale distribution
of alcoholic beverages, and organized crime flourished in America.
In 1933, the Twenty-first Amendment to the Constitution was passed
and ratified, repealing prohibition. |
1616 Nicolaus Copernicus' De Revolutionibus
placed on Catholic Index of Forbidden Books. Nikolaj Kopernick was born
in 1473 in Torún, Poland. He became a mathematician
and astronomer who authored the Copernican theory: the sun is the center
of our universe -- Le moine astronome
Nicolas Copernic, né à Thorn (Pologne), après avoir étudié
à Cracovie (Pologne), puis à Bologne et à Padoue (Italie), rentre en Pologne
et rédige en 1530 , son fameux "traité sur les révolutions des orbes célestes".
1329 Juana II y su marido Felipe de Evreux son coronados
reyes de Navarra.
1179 The
Third Lateran Council (11th ecumenical council) opens in Rome under
Alexander III. It is attended by 302 bishops who enact measures against
the Waldenses and Albigensians. Lateran III also mandates that popes are
to be elected by two-thirds vote from the assembled cardinals.
|
1946
Winston Churchill's “Iron Curtain” speech
^top^
2002
First Lieutenant Pinchas Cohen, 23 [< photo],
of Jerusalem, late in the night, during an Israeli incursion near the southern
Gaza town of Khan Yunis. 
1953
