36' TOURING QUEBEC AND THE _MARITIMES

the British Royal Family, Edward, Duke of Kent, father of Queen Victoria.

The first grist mill in St. John-was built soon after the Loyalists arrived, and was run by wind power. It was behind Trinity Church.

When the War of 1812 broke out, American privateers infested the coasts, and several vessels of this character were outfitted by St. John citizens in the hope of making gains at sea. Defensive measures were undertaken, a Mar- tello Tower being builton Lancaster Heights, Fort Fred- erick repaired and strengthened, and batteries erected on Partridge Island and other prominent points. The con- ' clusion of the war brought from the Southern States seVeral hundred black slaves, who had sought refuge on British war vessels. They were settled on Loch Lomond, where their descendants are still to be found.

In January, 1837, a great fire caused much destruction of property, one hundred and fifteen houses and nearly all the business part of the city being burned.

- In 1838 the first penny paper ever published in the British Empire was started as a tri-weekly by George E. Fenety, being named “The Saint John News.” It con- tinued until recent times.

In 1839 another destructive fire occurred, by which nearly 3,000 people were made homeless. A special session of Legislature was called and an Act was passed for the better prevention of fires in St. John. In spite of this effort, other fires followed, a most devastating one occur- ring in November 1841.

In 1877, the city was swept by one of the most disas- trous fires of modern times, 2,700 families and 13,000 people being rendered homeless. The property loss was estim- ated at $27,000,000, on which insurance was held for only $7,000,000- The city was rebuilt, but it was many years