PREFACE.
The fortunate withdrawal of the manuscript of the History of St. Louis and Missouri from the Missouri Republican office but a few hours before its sudden and total destruction by fire, and the more fortunate preservation of the author's Autobiography through such a general conflagration, have left it in his power still to expose their contents to the literary world and place them beyond future danger of destruction. Moreover, the advanced age of the author admonishes him to secure his present labors by publishing what he has already finished, and to wait for the rebuilding of the Missouri Republican office for completing the later history of the city and the State.
The author hopes this course will be approved by his friends and the public, and, therefore, he adopts it.
Very respectfully,
