This printed account described the catastrophic fire that destroyed a large part of New Orleans in 1788. The fire broke out about 1:30 P.M. in the center of town. A strong wind quickly spread the flames in all directions. In less than five hours more than 850 buildings had been destroyed. "The next morning," the report continued, "what a spectacle to see: where the day before was a flourishing city, only smoking debris and a pile of ruins remained..., and persons of both sexes and all ages and stations in life wandered about in a silent stupor." The account ended with praise for the Governor and other officials, who gave generous assistance to the people. [Various accounts of the fire appear in Lauro A. de Rojas, "The Great Fire of 1788 in New Orleans," LHQ, XX, 578-589, in which is included a translation of the above report, and in Louisiana Historical Society, Publications, VIII, 59-62.]