ocrat, was chosen Speaker, receiving 54 out of
88 votes. In the Senate, Mr. Muhlenberg, Democrat, was elected. The
Message of Governor Johnston states that the Commonwealth was never in a
more prosperous condition. The amount of the public debt is $40,114,236,
having been reduced over $700,000 during the last three years, without
retarding any of the interests, or useful plans of the State.

Henry Clay, in a letter dated Dec. 17, and addressed to the General
Assembly of Kentucky, resigns his seat in the Senate of the United States,
the resignation to take effect from the first Monday in September, 1852,
He states that he accepted the office only to aid in settling those
questions which threatened to disturb the peace of the country; and that
object having been accomplished, he wishes to enable the present Assembly
to choose his successor. In the Kentucky Legislature, Archibald Dixon,
(Whig) was elected Senator, on the 30th of December, to fill the vacancy
thus created.

The Library of Congress, kept in the Capitol at Washington, was nearly
destroyed by fire on the 24th December. About 35,000 volumes were burned,
20,000 being saved. A great number of very valuable paintings, medals, &c.
&c., were also destroyed. The cost of the library has not been far from
$200,000.

Hon. JOEL R. POINSETT, long known as a prominent public man in the United
States, died at his residence in Statesburg, S.C., December 12, aged 73.
He was born in South Carolina, educated under the late President Dwight at
Greenfield, Conn., and then sent abroad where he spent five years in study
and travel. Returning home he studied law, but soon repaired again to
Europe, where he visited Russia, and became a special favorite with the
Emperor Alexander, who constantly asked him questions about the
institutions of the United States, and who once said to him, "If I were
not an Emperor, I would be a Republican." In 1808, he was sent by
President Madison on public business to South America. On his return,
during the war, he was taken prisoner. In 1821 he was elected to Congress
from the Charleston district. In 1822 he was sent to Mexico by President
Monroe, to obtain information concerning the government under Iturbide, in
which he was very successful. He was subsequently appointed Minister to
Mexico, by Mr. Adams, and remained there until 1829. Returning home he
served in the State Senate and in 1836 entered President Van Buren's
cabinet as Secretary of War.