I have processed thousands of pages of German Baptist Brethren newspapers of the 1880s. While at times they may discuss items of interest outside of church news, this is seldom with most of the articles being either religious in nature or concerning congregations. While the reading is interesting from a secular standpoint it often leaves one pondering what else was going on in the world. At present, as I previously stated, I am processing a newspaper volume of the German Reformed church from the mid-1840s. I am extracting the marriages and obituaries for publication. Yes, it also contains religious material, but at this early date (1846) it also contains many, many articles of interest to us, readers of over a 150 years later. Following is approximately a column and a half of this six column newspapers. Cordially, Wayne Webb Curious Information.-Steamboats.-In the last four numbers, the progress of steamboats, both in this country and Europe, has been reviewed, showing conclusively the advance of mechanical knowledge in both countries. This is a subject always interesting; but there is one page in history, which, though short, is dark and gloomy. To this page we now turn, in a short notice, of the accidents that have occurred to steamboats, since their introduction in this country. The first steamboat accident in this country happened in 1818 to the Washington, on the Ohio river. According to a letter to Congress by the Secretary of the Treasury, written in 1838, the whole number of steam engines of every kind that were them in use in the United States, was 3010; of that number 800 were in steamboats, 350 in locomotives, and 1860 in manufactories of different kinds. The number of accidents to steam engines up to that time, causing loss of life was 261, of which number, 230 were in steamboats. The greatest loss of life by steamboat accident was by the collision, and sinking of the Monmouth in 1837 on the Mississippi; the number of lives lost was 300. The greatest loss of life by the explosion of a steamboat was in 1838, in the case of the Oronoke on the same; the number of lives lost was 139. The boilers of the steamboat Moselle blew up at Cincinnati, Ohio, destroying 120 persons. The greatest loss of life, by snagging, was in the case of the steamboat St. Louis on the Mississippi in 1834, when there were 13 lives lost. The greatest loss of life by shipwreck, was in the case of the Home in 1837, on the coast of N. Carolina, when 100 persons were lost. The greatest loss of life, by the burning of a steamboat up to that time, was in the case of the Ben Sherhord on the Mississippi, in 1837. [Note from Wayne: Should have been Ben Sherrod.] The number of steamboats lost up to 1823 was 23.-During the year 1837 no less than 80 steamboats were lost on the Western waters. During the ten years, from 1830 to 1840, eighty steam boats were lost by explosion, in the United States, by which means 780 persons were killed outright, and 296 wounded badly, of which number 254 died from the injuries received. On the 14th of June, 1837, the steamboat Pulaski was destroyed by the explosion of one of her boilers while on the passage from Charleston to Baltimore, and 132 persons perished. About the same time a similar accident occurred to the steamer Washington on Lake Erie, by which 40 lives were lost. One hundred and seventy lives were lost, by the destruction of the Lexington in 1840. The particulars of this sad disaster are familiar to every New Yorker, and therefore it would be worse than useless to repeat them. The burning of the "Erie" on Lake Erie in August, 1841, sent to their untimely graves 175 persons-and it is but a short time since our sympathies were aroused by the destruction of the ill-fated Swallow. Accidents to steamboats are alarmingly frequent and scarce a newspaper reaches us from the South or West, but chronicles the destruction of one or more. As these accidents in nine cases out of ten happen through gross carelessness, the persons responsible should be punished as the sacrifice of human life requires. This method I think, would soon put a stop to them.-N. Y. Evening Gaz. The lands in the turpentine region of North Carolina have rapidly increased in value within a short time; and the profitableness of labor there has led to very heavy investments. A gentleman who recently sold his turpentine at Wilmington for $1,900, remarked that that sum was the produce of the labor of four hands. There are now in constant operation at Wilmington twelve distilleries with thirty stills, Three more distilleries with seven stills are in course of construction. It is calculated that when the whole fifteen are in operation they will use 1,500 barrels of turpentine daily, and turn out 200 barrels of spirits besides the rosin and pitch,-A large number of distilleries in the neighboring counties send all their products to Wilmington for sale and shipment. With this flourishing section of country, it gives us, pleasure to add, Baltimore has now established a regular packet-line of communication.-Balt. Am. Importance of Insects to Commerce.-The importance of insects to commerce is scarcely ever treated of, at the present rate; Great Britain does not pay less than a million of dollars annually for the dried carcasses of a tiny insect-the Cochineal. Gum Shellac, another insect product from India, is of scarcely less pecuniary value. A million and a half of human beings derive their sole support from the culture and manufacture of silk, and the silk worn alone creates an annual circulating medium of between one hundred and fifty and two hundred millions of dollars. Half a million of dollars is annually spent in England alone for foreign honey; 10,000 hundred weight of wax is imported into that country each year. Then there are the gall nuts of commerce, used for dyeing, and in the manufacture of ink, &c. The Cantharides, or Spanish fly, is an important insect to the medical practitioner. Laying aside the purposes insects perform in the schemes of nature, they are economically not the insignificant and unimportant creatures which the uninformed mind is but too apt to regard them. Mrs. L. A. Caldwell, of New Orleans, recently purchased a fire engine in Philadelphia, for which she paid $1800, and which, she presented to the Phoenix Company of New Orleans. Letter From Mexico The U. S. brig Somers, Commander Ingraham, arrived at Pensacola on the 28th ult., having sailed from Vera Cruz on the 22d ult. The Pensacola Democrat says, We are indebted to a citizen of this city for the following extract of a letter from an officer on board the Somers, which embraces all the most important items of news.-Balt. Am. On the 19th Mr. Dimond was informed by a letter from Mr Parrot of the U. S. Legation that Mr. Slidell had demanded his passports, having been refused reception as Minister, although the Mexican Cabinet expressed a perfect willingness to treat with a Commissioner on the Texas question. He also wrote that Mr. Slidell would be in Vera Cruz in the course of a week and would immediately take passage therefrom for the U. S. The St. Mary's was in readiness for his accommodation when we left. On the 18th Com. Conner received a letter from Mr. Black, our Consul in Mexico. He appeared to be somewhat exhilerated by the cheering intelligence brought from England by the Cambria, which he had just received. Mr. Slidell would have been received, and throws out a suggestion that our mission may be accepted at the latest moment. Although Mr. Black's location should give him many advantages for forming accurate opinions, I do not think we have much reason for hoping that his hopes will be realized, although most any thing may be expected from the unstable councils of Mexico. Mr. Slidell has certainly demanded his passports at a fortunate moment when the news from England and the state of the country, and more especially the fears our squadron are conspiring to act on the irresolution of Mexico. The people of Vera Cruz are awfully frightened, and are, as will be seen by the newspapers, moving out of the city. The Mexican navy been taken in tow of the steamers to a place of absolute safety, far up one of the neighboring rivers. The people of Vera Cruz wish to see the question between us settled, and having never been very warmly attached to the revolutionary government, threaten a pro-nunciamente, unless their wishes are regarded. Upon the whole I have never seen the sentiment of the people so favorable to us as at present. The discussion of the monarchy question has, I am persuaded, done much for us. Nine tenths of the people of Mexico are ardent Republicans; it is only a few of the high class and aristocracy who support the views of the Royal party. There is an interesting article on this subject in the last papers. The British Minister, writing to the English Commander on the station, says that he cannot persuade these people that England will not co-operate with them against the United States-they have the greatest confidence that England is going to interfere to prevent their being bullied by us; that he has unequivocally intimated that their hopes would not he realized. In the last papers will be found a notice of the flagrant attack by Gen'l Paredes on the freedom of the Press, and the persons of the editors and printers. This is a dangerous proceeding on the part of the President, and must arouse strong resentment and tearful opposition. A large part of the troops under Gen'l Ampudia have mutined. We have received reports from Jalapa that the Northern Provinces are about to recede from the confedercy. Another account says- Gen'l Ampodia's army which had been ordered to the frontier of Texas had revolted and about 1,000 refused to march any further in that direction, and the remainder, about 2,000, not being very desirous to proceed themselves, would not force the others; so they came to a halt. [Note from Wayne: I find this to be an informative article in that it discusses activities, in the first person, leading up to the Mexican War later in the year. Just imagine, we could have, according to this article, gone to war with England once again. Not less than fifteen iron steam vessels are in course of construction in the port of Liverpool. Two, of 700 tons each, were recently launched from the same yard on the same day. The first iron steamer, built in the Mersey in 1829, is said to be still in sound and servicable condition. A Peruvian botanist asserts that the delicate seeds of American plants may he sent to Europe, or to other parts of the world, in the highest stale of preservation, by enveloping them in the kind of raw sugar which retains its humidity. When the seeds are sown it is only necessary to immerse them in lukewarm water which will take off the sugar.