Reminisces of Saint John - The impression on the minds of many of the loyalists after their arrival and a brief inspection of Saint John was that the Lower Cove would be the best part of it for business purposes and many of their number selected lots in that locality, among whom were Dr. SMITH, father of Thomas M. SMITH, Esq.; John CLARKE, who officiated as Clerk of Old Trinity, made his home in that quarter and resided there till the day of his death which took place a few years ago. General ARNOLD erected a large store near the S.E. corner of Charlotte and Britain streets, filled with a valuable stock of goods and it with all its contents was destroyed by fire. It is said to have been well insured. The General was not well appreciated by the Loyalists. They could not have approved of the course he had pursued during the war. His wife was styled the 'fair American', being considered by the ladies one of the most beautiful women in America. General Arnold also built the house which now stands on the corner of King and Cross streets opposite Hendrick's corner, occupied by Messrs. A. & T. Gilmour and others. The late Stephen HUMBERT also erected a house at the Lower Cove, but finding that business was destined to centre at Upper Cove and the Market Slip was the grand centre, he removed the building and placed it on the lot in Prince William St., a part of which was recently purchased by Messrs. Ennis & Garden. In 1795 that house was burned. In the excitement of the moment, the babe who had been put to sleep in his cradle was for a few moments forgotten. Such was the rapid progress of the flames that, had it not been for the determined courage of the late Christopher SMILER, father of the late proprietor of the 'Temperance Telegraph', who at great personal risk forced his way to where the child lay asleep and brought him out in safety, it is highly probable that we of the present day should not have the pleasure of the acquaintance of John HUMBERT, Esq. The lot subsequently passed into the hands of the grandfather of the present Samuel GARDNER. Mr. Smiler was a man of short stature, but the strongest of his size that the province has ever produced. He once carried on his shoulders from Market Slip, up King St., across King Square, past the gaol and so on to his residence near the back shore, a bundle of hay weighing a quarter of a ton. (see original)