The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1823-07-30
Disreiianp.
HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
From the Rhode-Islsnd American.
.7.v.NU.3L REPORT


Historical Society, in pUr susnee Of the re-
QUESTION contained IN the fifth article of tho
! Constitution OF 'sid Society, beg leave, re-
specifoiIy, TO Report
That the preliminary steps, considered ne
/ cesssty TO secure to the Institution thai de-
gee Of public support which . successful
pursuit OF the objects Of It's creation demands,
have been taken BY tho Board, with well
grounded prospec, Of ultimate success.
AZ sR early period, subsequent 10 tho or.
| gsn'satioD Of the Society, tho co.ope ration Of
many citizens, distinguished for their general
and historical knowledge, in different psrts Of
the State, was solicited by tho Board, for tho
p' p'omo,ion Of The plans and pursuits devised
by the terms OF The Charter oi fncor pors alton :
Add the Board have now the pleasure Of rs-
porting, that such cooperation was promised,
10y tho persons, thus applied TO, with Q resdi-
ness end freedom, truly suspicious 10 the
cause in which We arc Engaged.
To give TO the exertions OF individuals tho
greatest suainsbie efficiency, il was thought
eSpedIent, during our fret rsiions, 10
introt TO the management OF committees,
made Up from this Board end from tho Soci-
ely ct large, some particular end importspc
b'anches Of inquiry, which, in the opinion Of
the Board, could bes, be pursued whom sepe-
ta,ely pursued: Commi,tees have, ihere efore.
been sppointed--some for pur poses merely
temporary, sod requiring only present suen-
lion and indusuy--othcrs Tor purposes re-
outing tine and perseverance,. Tho lsbors
assigned to the former have slresdy been sd-
vsnced 10 o measurable success, which 10 at,
tested by tho collections nov deposited ia tho
Cabinets Of the Society, end will DO detailed
in tho reports OF the Csbine, Keepers. Those
OF The latter, requiring patient investigation
and considerable limo, are, nevertheless, In
progress, and will DO carried to the point Of
maturity, as time and tho peculiar circum-
stances under which they mus, be followed.
will permit.
What has thus been done, however, 10 AZ
most nothing, compared With whs, rsmaine
10 10 done. We have Ararcely began tho
great work which has been sssigoed us. Our
by which IL shall attain tho objects committed
10 is charge, have scarcely received the firse
rude fashion Of their authors. and remsn tn
be digeMsd and tried, amended shd improved.
as time and experience may hereafter sug-
gest. Nor could II have beeh expected ,hse
more would have been done that individu.
OILS, subjected a. ere tho members OF this So
cie,y aud Board Of Trustees, 10 eli .hs ordi-
nay doues Of lille, could devote their wholo
dine or any considerable portion Of IL, cxcIu.
sively, to any study or pursuit, however plea.
ssnt and attractive It might be, not immedi-
steiy connected with tho issk Of supplying
wants Of the passing moment. Nor, wero
such sn exclusive devotion allowed them,
would an exclusive application to the busi.
ness Of tho Society, especially in tho incipi.
ent stages OF Ns existence, be found, eithcr so
agreeable or useful 90 might be, by some,
supposed. Resoricd to % o relaxation from
.he severcr dutie, Of life, tho pursuits OF tho
Society must siwsys be found pltasursb,e q.
doptcd o. business, they would soon be como
stale and insipid, IL not iosoGersbly tedious.
When our plans OF operation shall haso been
moro fully d'geNed and approved by expert
ence, tbe's will, Undoubtedly, be found smplo
scope tor The spirit of research and inyostivs~
iion; sod We can proceed in our Iabors, in
the foil assurance of rnsklng them, not mere.
~ entertaining 10 ourselves, but interesting
and instructive TO our successors.
An ample heid is before us. "Tbe ,opo.
grsphy, antiquities, aud natural, civil, and &c.
elssisstesi history OF the siste," small % ara
comparison With those Of o,her states. sro
highly worthy Of our suention, and frsugh,
with the means OF instruction, whether in
moral or in physical science. II was here.
that, 10 modern times, the experiment wss
made on tho fes'ibii,y Of leaving III matters
OF q religious concern, whether Of faith or
worship, TO be determined by the conscience
Of each individual, without ,be interference
OF tho msgistsie; that msn, con,ented with
the liberty OF enjoying hi, own faith, consents
ed TO reloquiih Tho sulhori,y OF imposing il
on his neignbor u IVES hsre, in iine, ihs, 70.
bgion 6rs ceased 10 be considered o state en-.
glne, and ibsf no man would become minis.
ter Of religion with tho view of advancing.
thereby, his worldly plans Of svsrice or smbi.
lion. Were our histo'y, ss to all other mat.
tets, blank Of unin,e'esting events, this ex.
perimen, Oh religion. would, sIone, be ,uifi.
eien, to give IL dgony in the eyes Of usnk,od.
IL vss reserved ior the founders and isw.giv.
srs OF this liuie community; severed o. they
we're from tho society Of o,her polished and