The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1824-08-19
Al0isreItanp.
OLDEX TIMES.

Notwithstanding the many interesting facts
connected with the early history oi Rhode.Is-
land, il 10 involved 10 greater obscuTity thsn
ths, of any other State 10 tho Union. Ii 10 al
together trsditionafy, end lew vssiges arc TO
be found except in the remnants OF broken
fIes Of newspapers, and tho recollec,ions OF
men Of advanced age, who were parlicipa,ors
or spectators OF tho events OF that period, or
cf those who sill retain the stories OF their
fathers.
Rhode. Island hiss no historian, and az the
old among Us arc rapidly passing awsy and
leaving no historical recolie ctions behind lhem,
il 10 probable, most Of the materials tor tho
foundation Of On interesting history OF this
State, will soon be lost 10 posieriy. It's uus,
We have an Historical Society, but their exer'
lions, when 90 little aided a. they hitherto
have been, by the few literary and scientific
men there arc in the State, can effect but III.
tic. The fact 10, tbere is scarcely any lite.
rary leisure smong us, snd perhaps, even Q
less disposition TO encourage literary efforts.
Nearly every attempt OF tho kind has resulted
in . ssd arresrsge against the protector, and
even tho only standing iiters,ure we have a.
mong Us, If literature II may be called We
mean %, newspapers, barely rewards the labor
bestowed, by scanty piuaace that scarcely
makes the tguo ends (those important mathema-
ticisi line, in the science of economy meet al
the end Of the year.
( There is not State In the Union whose
c,izens combine moro energy and en,e'prize
in their pursuits, than do the c,tizens OF Rhode
Island, and yet tho p'oudssi memenIos Of her
struggles in the cause Of religious freedom,
which advanced tho edition oi her carly Get.
tlsrs SO much beyond that Of all the world bs.
aide and her s,ili greater sacrifices and devo-
tion 10 the contes, for civil liberty, arc suffered
10 pass away, and tho fact alone ,emsns to DC
handed down to posterity, without any OF those
Interesting de,sils from which true esifna-
tion Of the difficulties our fathers had TO con.
tend with, and their energy end perseverance,
in overcoming those difficulties, Can DO form.
ed.
Even the little that has been recorded Of Us
we owe TO the ciize0s OF othe' States, ana
our Greene himself has not and has not had
single historian here--whiIe abroad no has
found :wo or three voluminous biographies
The sketch Of some OF our most Comment
men, and Of the former medical literature ol
Rhode l,laod, giSen In our pspot OF the 6
inst. we owo to tho pen OF . CITIZEN OF MassA
ehuseus, and probably most Of the interesting
fscs there recorded arc entirely now TO oil
but ve,y few Of our citizens.
The Biog'aphers OF the Signors Of the De.
clsralion OF independence, have not been able
10 Hsther any materials for tho life OF tho ven
cradle Hopkins. and owing TO ou' neglect to
preserve the memorials of that firm sssettei
of the rights II his country, his name nus,
rcmsio blank among tho records of his dis
iirguished compatro,s.
IT,. A
psttiots, has bu, just departed from among
US and yet who has preserved the iondmers
bic teco'lections and anecdotes Of he Revolu
tion with which the memory OF the venerable
Ellery was so richly stoted! He was y living
history Of the events OF tina, period, and no
man, It is said, could so n,nutely relate every
incident connected wnh tho execution OF ,ha,
variance deed Of the rights Of man. On be.
ing shown the fac sin,ie Of the signatures of
tho signers Of the Declar alton, and also T,um.
huIl's painting on that subject, there was no
stroke OF the pom, position OF the writer, m
expression OF countenance, or location OF an
individual, iha, did no, appear Cnlnutcly ismil.
lar to him. And ys, how soon will all this be
forgotten by the lew who enjoyed tho priv.
lege VI free intercourse with hIm
Mr.. Elfery, though ve'y communicative
and Instructive in conversation, was not 10 the
hsbit Of writing, and We believe, has not lsf .
vea;ige Of his mind or memory even IN tho
columns OF newspaper.
There are o,hes men among Us, tho par.
ticipators In many eventiul decide Of our revo
luton, and whose iecollections, it properly
preserved, would hereafter form some Of tho
most Interesting portions OF the his,o OF this
State; aud yer they are rapidly passing away
end themselves and their recolleclions will be
alike unknown TO future generations. True,
the memories Of some will live as vigorous -
the g,een old age, which now marks them as
race OF men whose physical energies render
cd them superior TO the eneova,ing Influences,
that with the present generation bring On old
sse N the period which did but define the
prime Of their manhood; but IL will DO ,heir
private virtues which will be cherished by
their private friends, aud their connection
with tho history Of the county will be forgot.
ten.