One of the most admirable instances of prudential forethought we have ever heard of, occurred in Boston a few days since. Three Irishmen were engaged in taking down a wall in Mount Vernon street. The wall fell upon and buried them. A lady from the opposite side of the street rushed out, and calling to those who were rescuing the poor fellows, said, "Bring them in here. Bring them in here. I have been expecting this all day." The men were carried into her house, and, true enough, she had "every thing ready," bandages, lint, laudanum, and all. If this be not an instance of _cool forethought_, we know not what is. * * * * * IT MAY BE SO. It is stated in a Cincinnati paper, that the body of a drowned child has been discovered by means of a loaf of bread in which was deposited a quantity of quicksilver. The loaf was sent afloat in the canal, and after floating some distance, remained stationary, and beneath the spot thus indicated, the child was found. That mercury may have a natural attraction towards a human body, is possible; but the use of the loaf of bread in combination, indicate a superstitious faith rather than real science. * * * * * Several rich lead mines have recently been discovered on the Mississippi River, a few miles above Bellevue. The unusual low state of the river lead to the discovery. * * * * * NEW INVENTIONS. HOWE'S SEWING MACHINE. We have heretofore noticed the extraordinary invention by Mr. Elias Howe, Jr., of Cambridge, Mass.--a machine that sews beautiful and strong seams in cloth as rapid as nine tailors. We are not yet prepared to furnish a full description of this machine, but the following claims, in the words of the patentee, may give some idea of the various parts in combination. This machine was patented September 10th. "I claim the lifting of the thread that passes through the needle eye by the lifting rod, for the purpose of forming a loop of loose thread that is to be subsequently drawn in by the passage of the shuttle; said lifting rod being furnished with a lifting pin, and governed in its motions by the guide pieces and other devices. "I claim the holding of the thread that is given out by the shuttle, so as to prevent its unwinding from the shuttle bobbin, after the shuttle has passed through the loop, said thread being held by means of the lever, or clipping piece. "I claim the manner of arranging and combining the small lever, with the sliding box in combination with the spring piece, for the purpose of tightening the stitch as the needle is retracted. "I claim the holding of the cloth to be sewn, by the use of a baster plate, furnished with points for that purpose, and with holes enabling it to operate as a rack, thereby carrying the cloth forward, and dispensing altogether with the necessity of basting the parts together." * * * * * STEERING APPARATUS.