The Times and the Report

The prophet said when the Lord's scourge passed over, it "should be a vexation only to understand the report" and since the fire commenced laying waste the hopes of man in our country, we could not help reflecting that it vexed some to hear the report. While men oppress their fellow men, there seems to be an invisible hand, that scatters calamity, ruin, vexation, and death; and human ingenuity fails to prevent its continuation.

In Pittsburgh and vicinity, less than two months have witnessed four fires, and in all parts of the United States, the devouring element has taxed the wealth of the people heavily-and dreadfully. None, among the cities and towns of our country, however, have felt the severity of the flames like Quebec in Canada.

The Quebec Gazette gives the following carefully prepared statement of the number of houses destroyed by the fire of May 28th.

Lower Town............. 140

St. John suburbs.... .... 58

St. Roch suburbs.... . 1,432

Total....... .. 1,630

The number of out-houses, stores, &c., not included in the above statement, may be safely estimated at two thousand.

The following insurances, only, have been effected;

Canada............ ...L50,000

Quebec............. ...40,000

Montreal (about).... ..10,000

Phoenix............. . 2,835

Not even one tenth of the loss sustained.

About five thousand persons were yesterday fed, and L2,000 have been distributed this day-say pecuniary relief to four thousand persons.

The later Quebec papers contain the following:-

One assertion we may safely make, that the amount of property lost is not so far magnified, and the sacrifice of human life is underrated.-The total loss has been computed with the utmost nicety possible, and found to be between one million and one million and a half of pounds! or, in dollars, $4,000,000 to $6,000,000! The loss of life cannot be estimated.

We hear of many private interments of the remains found by supposed relatives, and it is asserted that about forty victims of the conflagration have so far been inhumed, and that many, very many, will never be discovered.-This statement we fully credit, from our own observations, as the first sufferers fled towards town, and, from the irregular and distant outbreaks of the fire from its origin, they could not have retraced their way, and must have perished encompassed by the flames which, from moment to moment, narrowed the limits of apparent safety around them.

Had such fires occurred in cold weather, common sense would lead us to suppose that they originated by over heat, carelessness or some other ordinary circumstance, but in almost every case, while the start is accidental, the wind, in its fury, has acted as if there was a purpose, that fanned the flame. These circumstances, connected with the sacred words of Jesus and the prophets, compel some to read, witness, or fear what is transpiring, not only in this nation, but among the nations. How forcibly are the words of Joseph Smith, in his "Views of the powers and policy of government," brought to mind upon witnessing the scenes around us!-He said, "No man can doubt for a moment, but the glory of American liberty is on the wane; and that calamity and confusion will sooner or later destroy the peace of the people."

Ah! here it is!-the prophet told it;-and though men had power to take the life of the man, they have not the power to stay the fulfilment [fulfillment] of his words. They cannot stop the calamity and confusion that must sooner or later destroy the peace of the people!" God, who never errs, pours out his wrath, and who shall be able to abide his indignation?

There is but one way to escape the wrath of God, and that is by repentance. If the people of these United States, who have suffered the innocent blood of the prophets to be shed in their midst with impunity, will arise and put on sackcloth like the inhabitants of Nineveh, and do works meet for repentance, peradventure, the "red hot wrath" with which (Joseph said) God would purify this nation, may be turned away. We have given the hint, and our garments are clean from the blood of all men.

If the Saints will be justified in the presence of God, and pass unscorched through the fire of the last days, they must sanctify themselves by the revelations of God, and bide their time. The axe is laid at the root of the trees and every tree that bringeth forth not good fruit, will be hewn down and cast into the fire. The world, in former days, was purified by water; in the last days it will be purified by fire, for even the elements shall melt with fervent heat.

Be ye ready.