Let me say at the outset that the prepatration of this work was undertaken with a very evenly-balanced mixture of diidence and condence. Had the great re of October.1571. resulted only in the destruction of buildilngs. we would look, almost in vain. for traces of it to-day. The black and desolate track which marked the wake of that cnlaiuitnus and awful conagration is hidden benmith a New Chicago; the memory of our people is l)ecoming dimmed and confused regarding its course and bouml:uy, and the lIll1I r.l0l1S, almost ll11l Cl1l0ll Srecovery of the city from this terrible blow has reconciled our citizens to the event. dread- ful as it was, and heartrending as were the inc.i:lr:nt:s which surrounded it. The buildings destroyed have been replaced by others more substantial, more beautiful. The fortunes lust have been recovered in so many cases that the exceptions are not remarked. The conglomerate Illnss of melted iron, Sll lti0l I.(l granite, pulverized brick, p-mwlereml glass and smouldering nu-rchandise. which covered like a hideous pail the once beautiful district, on the Incmorahle morning of Oct.10. in the hands of Providence fertilized the soil, and prepared it for the golden harvests which were to follow. But the re destroyed many things which can never be replaced.