the Loyalists, and was
then applied only to that part of the city south of Union street, on
the east side of the harbor. The name was never very acceptable to the
citizens. Governor Parr admitted that it originated "in female
vanity;" from which observation we may assume that the name was
suggested by Madame Parr. The name of Parr was soon discarded, and the
time-honored name, which goes back to the days of de Monts and
Champlain was restored at the incorporation of the city on the 18th of
May, 1785.

The names of the vessels of the Spring fleet and of their respective
masters, so far as they have been preserved, are as follows:--"Union,"
Consett Wilson, master; "Camel," Wm. Tinker, master; "Cyrus," James
Turner, master; "Sovereign," Wm. Stewart, master; "Aurora," Capt.
Jackson; "Hope," Capt. Peacock; "Otter," Capt. Burns; "Emmett," Capt.
Reed; "Spring," Capt. Cadish; "Ann," Capt. Clark; "Bridgewater," Capt.
Adnet; "Favorite," Capt. Ellis; "Commerce," Capt. Strong; "Lord
Townsend," Capt. Hogg; "Sally," Capt. Bell; and five others,
"Spencer," "Thames," "William," "Britain" and "King George," the names
of whose masters are unknown.

The Loyalists who came to St. John in the first fleet numbered
about 3,000. They were mostly natives of Rhode Island, Connecticut,
New York and New Jersey, who had been driven from their homes and
forced to seek refuge within the British lines at New York, or on
Long Island. There was a scarcity of ships, and the number of those
desirous of emigrating to Nova Scotia proved much larger than had been
anticipated. It became evident that the vessels must make repeated
trips. The following paragraph from an old newspaper is interesting
in this connection:--

New London, Conn., April 25, 1783. We hear that the Loyalists
destined for Nova Scotia from New York are to depart in two
Divisions; the first, consisting of about 3,000 men, women and
children, are nearly ready to sail; the second to sail as soon as
the vessels return which carry the first."

This paragraph accords with what subsequently took place. The first
fleet sailed from Sandy Hook, on the 26th April, arriving at St. John
about the 11th of May; and the second fleet sailed from Sandy Hook on
the 16th June, arriving at St. John on the 28th of the same month. The
most authentic account of the voyage of the first fleet is to be found
in the narrative of Walter Bates,[139] who was a passenger on board
the "Union." We learn fr