Dear List: It appears that, as the years go on, Lewis Collins had much more to say in his history volumes. This appears to be a typical year, although some are longer. Let me know if you think this message is too much information at once. I don't want to bog down the list with exceptionally long messages. I can always divide the years in half to send. Diane 1858: Jan. 5: Lazarus W. POWELL elected U.S. senator for six years from March 4, 1859: Powell 80, Garret DAVIS 54, John B. THOMPSON 1. --Kentucky banks each declare semi-annual dividends of 5 per cent. Jan. 26: Circulation of bank notes under $5, other than those issued by Ky. banks, prohibited by the legislature. Jan. 28: Explosion and burning of the steamer Fanny Fern, 16 miles below Covington; 13 killed or drowned. Feb.4: Explosion and burning of the steamer Col. Crossman, opposite New Madrid, Mo.; over 25 lives lost; a number badly frozen. Feb. 9: George W. KOUNS authorized to sue the state, to settle a question of damages - the first act ever passed under the constitutional provision directing: in what manner, and in what courts suits may be brought against the commonwealth: . . . . . . Feb. 13: Act establishing the Normal school, or school for teachers, as part of Transylvania University at Lexington, repealed by a vote of 23 to 12 in the Senate, and 68 to 23 in the house . . . . . Feb.16: Stringent law to prevent the loss of the public books in each county passed and the next day act passed for $3,500 appropriation to construct a fireproof room for the land office records. Feb. 15: Legislature empowers the governor to raise a regiment, to aid in suppressing the rebellion in Utah. Feb. 21: At Washington City, James B. CLAY, of Ky., challenges Gen. Wm. CULLOM of Tn., (the former a member and the latter recently a member of congress) to fight a duel -- because Cullom struck Clay with his open hand, for a playful remark of Clay which Cullom deemed insulting notwithstanding Clay's disavowal of such intention. Feb. 24, after the parties had gone to the dueling ground, Messrs. John J. CRITTENDEN and John C. MASON, of Ky., and Robert TOOMBE, of Ga., succeeded in effecting a settlement of the difficulty, without bloodshed; Gen. Cullom apologizing. March 14: Collision, opposite Raleigh, Ky., about 5 miles above Shawneetown, Ill., between steamboats Great Western and Princess; latter sunk, and 6 lives lost. March 17: Great speech of John J. CRITTENDEN, in the U. S. Senate, in opposition to the admission of Kansas as a State, under the Lecompton constitution. April 9: From the following 21 companies, Gov. Morehead selects by lot 10 to compose the regiment to be tendered to the U. S. war department for service in Utah: 1) Capt. WALES of Louisville, 2) Capt. HANKS of Anderson Co., 3) Capt. BEARD of Lexington, 4) Capt. TRAPNALL of Mercer co., 5) Capt. PIERCE of Trimble co., 6) Capt. McHENRY of Daviess co., 7)Capt. ROGERS of Louisville, 8) Capt. MOORE of Pendleton co., 9) Capt. ADAIR of Union co., 10) Capt. REES of Covington, 11) Capt. DONAN of HART co., 12) Capt. BACON of Franklin co., 13) Capt. DEAR of Shelby co., 14) Capt. LANDRUM of Gallatin co., 15) Capt. MILLER of Christian co., 16) Capt. George W. GIST of Montgomery co., 17) Capt. COWAN of Boyle co., 18) Capt. HOLEMAN of Owen co., 19) Capt. W. M. BOOKER of Washington co., 20) Capt. DANIEL of Owsley co., 21) Capt. FORSYTH of Louisville. Two other companies were reported, but without a roll of officers and men -- one by W. M. FULKERSON, of Breathitt county, and the other by A.L. SAUNDERS, of Carroll county. April 11: Heavy rains all over Ky., and much damage. Heavier rains and greater damage to railroads and along the streams, in the North and Northwest. Numerous crevasses in the levees on the Mississippi, whole plantations in Louisiana and Mississippi under water, and very great suffering. -- Remarkable revivals of religion all over Ky. and the United States. Over 100 join the Methodist church in Perryville, Ky., and 428 accessions to 5 Methodist churches in Louisville; similar accessions in other places and to other denominations. April 24: Fall of snow in Northern Ky., in some places to the depth of one inch. May 17: 157 U. S. troops defeated by 1,000 Indians, near Spokan river, in Oregon; Capt. O.H.P. TAYLOR, of Maysville, Ky., among the killed. May 21: First leaf tobacco fair held in Cincinnati, at Chas. BODMANN's warehouse; premiums for "Mason county: leaf awarded as follows: best 4hhds. -- 1st,$50 to John MURRAY of Bracken co., 2nd, $30 to Wm. HENSON of Bracken co., 3rd, $20 to H. WILSON of Nicholas co., 4th, $10 to John WOODWARD of Mason co. Other winners for various standards: Daniel NORRIS, Asahel WOODWARD, Wm. WOODWARD, and best of sweepstakes of $100 to A. J.. WHIPPS of Germantown. June 15: Third great rise in the Ohio, this season, which in now higher than for several years past; Wabash river higher than at any time since the great flood of 1828; the Mississippi river within 4 1/2 feet of the highest flood mark in 1844; great damage at Cairo, Illinois. July 10: Jos. BEARD, city marshal of Lexington, stabbed in the heart and lung, by one BARKER, whom he had arrested for fighting, and dies instantly. Three hours and a half later, Barker is taken from jail by a large crowd, and hung in the court house yard. Sept. 5: Frightful and mysterious mortality among the hogs in Daviess, Muhlenburg, McLean, and adjacent counties; They die in such numbers as to poison the atmosphere with the stench, and occasion much sickness. Sept. 11: Wm. C. PRENTICE, a young man, son of Geo. D. PRENTICE, editor of the Louisville Journal, explores the "Bottomless Pit" in the Mammoth Cave, 190 feet deep, and carves his name at the bottom -- the first person who ever gazed upon its darkness and horrors. Sept. 21: Shock of earthquake at Line Shore, below Hickman, so severe that a lady, who was about 40 rods from her house when it commenced, fell down four times before she got to her door; it seemed as if her house would tumble down. In the great earthquake of 1811, near the same place, the ground sunk, making a lake 12 miles long and 7 wide. Oct. 13: A brilliant comet, known as the great comet of 1858, has been visible to the naked eye since Aug. 29, and observed through telescopes since June 28. Oct. 18: Louisville conference of the Methodist E. Church South, in session at Hopkinsville, Ky., after an exciting debate, votes in favor of expunging from the General Rules of the church the one forbidding "the buying and selling of men, women, and children, with an intention to enslave them."