The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1817-12-03
NEWPORT.
WEDNESDAY, DAMsxR 3, lsI

WEDNESDAY, O/EMBxR 3, 1917
|, is not little curious to observe tho
pains taken by some of our Boston neigh
bors, 10 depreciate or overlook the impor-
tanee Of the harbor of Newport as il is .un-
iversaIiy sdmit,ed by practical men to be tho
most commodious, safest, and easiest Of &C.
cess, OF any one in the United States. We
are led to these remarks. by observing piece
IN the Boston .Censinsi, of last week, "a pa
per whichlsys claim TO a large share of M-
Joh6'ihfy wherein tho writer sssefts, that
dutine the months Of February and March
last, al the har60rs from Psssandsneddy 30
fhe Chesafeuke, eGcehs Porfspsoush and New
London svere closed Uifh ice" Now this 10
very far from being the fact, and we are not
little surprised that the wrirer or editor,
should NOT have known il. We do not ex.
actly remernber the situation of Portsmouth,
and New London harbors at that time. Thas
OF the former might have been open, owing
to very rapid current, but il is believed the
offing was vety much obs,iucted. As it res
aects our own harbor il was not for moment
eiosed, excepting The inner basin, betwten
Fort Wclcou and ,hetown, aud that only for
very lew days, while the great hs' boz wee
free on9 uno6snaesrd; SO that many vessels
SS'~pb'b6 ~ oiuNiSot P'oACos uStWSNHk ava
maquoddy and The Chesapeake, put into this
ha'bor, being unable 10 find any other TO
which they could gain access--at least so tho
mas,c's OF such vessels declared al the time.
To what shall we aseribe this copduc, Of
the boston folks, unless il be that they are
jealous of tie importer, advantages we pos
sess, for the establish ment Of Grand Naval
Depot !--But il this is the obisc,, ii will a.
yal he n n hiory .--Tha pre.idspe hoo
our bai DO, lit has been seen and examined
by some OF our most distinguished Naval
commanders, ns well as out most expe,ie
ced nautioial men--who have univc rsally pro-
nounced in its favor, and there is little doubt,
maugre the infEsnce of our powerful neigh
bors, that it will ultimately be adopted tor
that important purpose.
The following is rehu6hshed froh our fafier
' Of the 26th Of February last:
On Sunday, last, arrived in this port, the
brig Frcdnck, Nsth. c. Mayo, master, which
let, Boston, Jan, 10, bound 20 Ale xsndris,
Having experienced very severe weather
and a series of gales, could not enter the
Capcs of Virginia, on account of the ice, nor
did he dare venture any other harbor this
side Of Carolina, for the same resscs, which
Feb. is, saw brig Ws,erloo, Of Sacd, with.
on, Q soul on board. She was In bIlas,, g.
bout feet water in the hsd, and her main.
mast and tho head Of her fore- mast gone.
The arrival of this vessel into our hsi bor
at.tbis 'inclement season. after every eSors
proved atortive 10 enter the Chesapeake, on
account of the ice, With tho circumstance OF
her no, being able to take shelter in any other
has shnr ShtS a. A. # CsroIsv Eor he
same reason, presents 20 view volume Of
upanswerable arguments in favor Of Newport
harbor, which must efford satisfactory de-.
mons' to every unprejudieed mind Of
its supf ,ority over every other POT, 10 the
United States, for its easy access in the win
ter, on account Of the prevailing north west
wind being favourable TO enter il without tho
ieas, difficulty, and,the depth Of water Is suf-
hcient for the largest ship that ever Aoa,ed.
As government appears to have adopted
measures relative to the nations possessing
the incaicuiablc benefits resulting from such
advantages, which our harbor unquestionabiy
possesses, we have no hesitation in sta,ing
our belief, tbst the period 10 rapidly approach
ing, when the prediction Of Admiral Lord
the British navy during the revolutionary
VIII oc Scttncus ~ tuot utues WuSu NV
British had possession Of this island, thar
greas nautical commander surveyed, with in.
defatigabie industy, our batbor and bay; when
he had completed this services gentlemsp
inquired Of him what he,hought of Dor si,ua-
tion for the accommodation Of ships Of war.
He answered, with peculiar emphasis, "L
have been IN various psrts Of the xorid, and
never saw situation on ell accounts eqosi
..
whole British navy, in safety, having excel
lent snehorage-aod il the rebels succeed IN
gaining their independence, this place viii
ultimately be the Spit Heed of America, Tor
the accommodation of their navy. II Is IN.
6oitely superior to the Spit Head Of Oia
England J"
We close our remarks by sdding another
fect. In the recent severe weather, when
~ al IL m