Complex sentence: Also in 1851, he was appointed Reporter of Decisions, and began drafting his reports, but after his drafts were destroyed in a city fire on May 4,1851, he resigned from the position.
Split into simpler sentences: Also in 1851, he was appointed Reporter of Decisions, and began drafting his reports. But after his drafts were destroyed in a city fire on May 4,1851, he resigned from the position.