The Natural History of Selborne

The Battle of Les Saintes, diagram by Pinpin

• 1793: April 12, 1793 – The Nightingale was heard this harsh evening near James Knight’s ponds.  This bird of passage,  I observe, comes as early in cold cutting springs, as mild ones!
• 1792: April 12, 1792 – Thermometer at Fyfield 72! in the shade.
• 1791: April 12, 1791 – Mountain snow-drops blow. Black thorns blossom. Hannah White walks up to the alcove before breakfast.
• 1788: April 12, 1788 – Mowed the grass of the fairey-ring on the grass-plot.  Sent Mr White of Newton some male cucumber-blossoms in a box, to set some fruit in bloom in his frames.  Fritillaria blows.
• 1783: April 12, 1783 – Wheat mends.  Barley-grounds work well.  My grass-walks begin to be mown.  Grass-lamb six pence pr pound: veal 5d: fresh butter 9 1/2 d.
• 1782: April 12, 1782 – A person thought he heard a black-cap.  On this day Sr George Rodney in the W. Indies obtained a great victory over Admiral de Grasse, whom he took in the Ville de Paris.  He also captured four more French ships of the line, & sunk one.  On the 19th Admiral Hood, who was detatched with his division in pursuit of the flying enemy, took two more line of battle ships, & two frigates in the passage of Mono, between Porto Rico, & Domingo.
• 1778: April 12, 1778 – Like Midsummer!
• 1776: April 12, 1776 – Oaks are felled; the bark runs.
• 1774: April 12, 1774 – Nightingale sings.  Three swallows appear.  Several bank-martins about the verge of the forest.
• 1772: April 12, 1772 – The cuckow is heard in the forest of Bere.  Grass grows apace.  The great black & white Gull, larus maximus ex albo & nigro seu caeruleo nigricante varius Raii, was shot lately near Chawton:  Larus marinus Linn: The head & part of the neck of this bird is dotted with black small spots.
• 1770: April 12, 1770 – Rooks have young. Snow melts away very fast. Peaches & nectarines are in full bloom. Apricot bloom seems to be cut off. Barley begins to be sown.

Notes:
More on the Battle of the Saintes here.