1849: Jan. 2 -- The house of representatives, on the 22nd ballot elects Gwyn PAGE, of Louisville, speaker; The Whig vote previously had been divided between George ROBERTSON, 32 votes, and Willis G. HUGHES, 24 votes -- the friends of neither yielding their preference, until the withdrawal of Judge ROBERTSON on the 21st ballot, when they united on Mr. PAGE. Jan. 3 -- Gen. Thos. METCALFE elected U. S. senator until March 4, 1949; he now holds the office by appointment of the governor; he received 88 votes, Col. Lazarus W. POWELL 38. Jan. 14 -- Very heavy rains for 48 hours, in northern Ky.; the Ohio river rises 20 feet in 24 hours; and the Licking is 2 feet higher than ever known; many mills washed off and much damage done. Jan 24 -- Earthquakes at Hickman, Ky.; very sensibly felt for some seconds, and the rumbling sound distinctly heard for nearly a minute. Feb. 3 -- The Ky. house of representatives, by ayes 93, nay 0, adopt the following: "Resolved, That we, the representatives of the people of Kentucky, are opposed to abolition or emancipation of slavery in any form or shape whatever, except as now provided for by the constitution and laws of the state." Feb. 9 -- Second boat-load of coal ever brought down the Licking river, reaches Lower Blue Licks, and the coal, 900 bushels, is wagoned to Paris. Feb. 12 -- Emancipation meeting at Maysville, and next day, one at Louisville; the beginning of a very earnest and exciting canvass for delegates to the convention to amend the constitution, the gradual emancipation of slaves forming one of the leading topics of public, private and newspaper discussions. Feb. 24 -- Law of 1833 amended, so as no longer to prohibit persons from purchasing and bringing into the state slaves for their own use. Feb. 27 -- An act requires all claims against the estates of deceased persons to be purged of usury. March 20 -- A great storm in central Ky., extending through nelson, Shelby, Mercer, Woodford, Jessamine, Fayette, and other counties; in Nelson, accompanied with loss of life and limb, and there and in Shelby with a serious destruction of property; at Shelbyville, partially or entirely unroofing, or throwing down the walls of, Masonic hall, colored Baptist church, rope walk, mechanics' shops, dwellings, stables, carriage houses, and other buildings. April 5 -- In the circuit court of Fulton county, Col. J. LEIGH, arraigned for accepting a challenge to fight a duel, is found guilty, and fined $150. April 25 -- State Emancipation convention, at Frankfort, recommends that these two points be insisted on in the new constitution, and that candidates be run in every county favorable to these or similar provisions: 1. The absolute prohibition of the importation of any more slaves into Ky.; 2. The complete power to enforce and perfect, under the new constitution, whenever the people desire it, a system of gradual prospective emancipation of slaves. May 31 -- During this month, deaths from cholera at Maysville 19, elsewhere in Mason county 26; in Augusta 2, in Versailles 1, in Georgetown 2, in Burlington, Boone county, 1, in the lunatic asylum at Lexington 14. June 15 -- Fatal rencontre at a public speaking at Foxtown, Madison county, between Capt. Cassius M. CLAY, on one side, and Cyrus TURNER, a representative in the legislature from that county last winter, and others, in which CLAY was dangerously stabbed by some unknown party, and TURNER fatally stabbed by CLAY, dying in 34 hours. Large emigration, during last three months, from Ky. to California, in search of rich placers of gold; trip across the plains made in 85 to 100 days from Independence, Missouri. June 30 -- Deaths by cholera, during this month at Maysville and vicinity 34, at Lexington 21, at the Eastern lunatic asylum near Lexington 33, at Louisville 60, and a few at Bowling Green and other points; at Cincinnati, Ohio, 1098. July 31 -- During this month, 112 deaths by cholera occurred at Maysville, 11 in Harlow YANCEY'S family in Mason county; 217 at Lexington, 36 in Fayette county, 59 at Paris, 141 at Louisville, 16 at Richmond, 14 at Paducah, about 40 at Covington, and 1859 in Cincinnati. Sept. 28 -- The woods all through northern and central Ky. swarming with squirrels, who ravage the cornfields and most of the forest. A similar visitation occurred in 1833, just after the cholera disappeared. Oct. 2 -- News just received from Hungary of the hanging, by the Austrian tyrant, Gen. HAYNAU, of the bishop of Etlau and 60 Hungarian ministers of the gospel, who were charges with praying for the success of their country's cause. Dec. 31 -- Gov. Crittenden's message shows the debt of the state, on Nov. 1, 1849, $4,497,652; which could be reduced at any time $1,270,000, bu the sale of the stock in the Ky. banks owned by the state. $112,329 of the state debt had been paid off since Jan., 1848. Besides the above, the state pays interest at 5% on the school fund bonds of $1,158,268 and at 6% on $67,500 more. The annual common school fund for 1850 is estimated at $150,000.