HIS LIFE AND WORK 



The Federal bankrupt law of 1842 had broken 

 the deadlock, and the Legislature had passed 

 several "Hard Times" measures for the relief 

 of debtors. To such an extent had the little 

 community recovered its confidence that it 

 opened a new theatre, welcomed its first circus, 

 founded a law-school, launched a new daily 

 paper called the Tribune, and organized a 

 regiment for the Mexican War. 



There were two Chicago events in this year 

 which must have deeply impressed Cyrus Mc- 

 Cormick. The first Tvas the arrival of a horde 

 of hunger-driven immigrants from Ireland. The 

 famine of 1846, which had caused 210,000 

 deaths in that unfortunate island, was driving 

 the survivors to America; and the people of 

 Chicago showed the warmest sympathy towards 

 these gaunt, sad-faced newcomers. Even in 

 the depth of her own depression, Chicago called 

 a special meeting to consider what could be 

 done to alleviate the suffering of the Irish, and 

 gave several thousand dollars for their relief. 



The second event was the holding of the great 

 "River and Harbor Convention" in Chicago. 



[71] 



