Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-09-03
n RHODE ISLAND 1JLL.sGE
THOMAS 3. GAY.
wt22dO56
August 8

In one Of the thrifty villages in the Western part
of the State of Rhode ISfaui, which was probably
settled more than one hundred years go, by the har-
dy johnnycake and Indian pudding sous of nature,
is situated fourishiug banking institution, which
was Some five or six years aEo incorporated with
capital of fifty thousand dollars. This village
which is built in rough, rocky and sterile, township
now consists of one public house, stories high,
the keeper of which is the Hon. Constant Trusfy
who is also President of the Bank and Justice of the
Peace. In of r bar is located the strong
vault i'll which all the precious of the bank
are closely locked. There, at all hours of the day
stands either the Cashier the publics humble SER
want, the Landlord, President NC. ever ready at a
moments warming, to discount their eighbor notes
or TO ill bumper of sling, glass of pure New
England Rum, or real County Gin. In addition to
this tavern and banking house. three humble dwell
ngs, grocery store blacksmtis and a cooper s
shop all that compose this village. No meeting
house with its lofty spne pointing the heavens,
has been erected-and seldom, if ever, is seen
among them individual clothed in the bile garb
of divny, to point out to these humble villagers the
only straight and narrow path which will lead them
to the relms of everlasting bliss. In one of the
dwellings lives Squire Jennings, who for the last
fifteen twenty years has held the office of Town
Clerk, and who has had the honor to- frequently re-
present this town in the General Assembly. In
another resides the Grocer, who is also Selectman
Constable, Collector of Taxes, and Hogreeve. The
third is occupied by the Blacksmith ind the Cooper
These are all cutivators rather runners of the
SOIL for lillage among them is in low state {; not
farm in their society produces the one half which
it might be made TO do with proper attention. In
the Blacksmith's shop the working Of the bellows
and the sound of the hammer is but seldom heard,
aud schooner still is the ratlery clattery music ofte
setting of hoop some musty cider cask or dry
pork barrel sounding III the of the inha bans.
We have been thus particularin describing the vii
lage show how several of the banks in Rhode Isl
and are located.
Our hero the tavern-kceper, Justice of the Peace
President of the Bank, &c is in his person rough a.
ordinary, grossin his manners and to appearance,
second back woodsman. Gieat must be the imag
nation of a stranger to ever suppose him to be the
dignitary which he really is, aud much less so.
to believe him capable of being accomplished
rogue. But it so happened while on one of his OK
cursons in running ON bank tn bank, I'm imitation
of New York Bankers,) carrying home their paper
and receiving other funds that of the shoes on
his horse worked loose-he accordingly stopped at
BlacksmthS shop in Connecticut to have il set,
which was promptly done, and to- pay the Knight of
the hammer for his services, he took from his fob
small note the Bank Of which ne is President, but
which had only been signed by the Cashier The
Blacksmith received it, and after examining it for
some time, The looked up with apparently much wis
dom, and pronounced the bill spurious, il had not
the signature of the President. An said President
Trusty, " if that is all that is wanting | can soon
sign it," The Blacksmith accordingly handed him
pen, which Inc put his signature. And to further
excite the suspicious of this of Vulcan he care
fully took from the folds of his garments large roll
of those bills and said here is three thousand dol
lars, which can soon sign and have ready for ma X
ct" This sufficient confirm the blacksmith
IN the opinion that his customer was notorious coun
erleier ; q what to do he knew but no time was
tobe lost-the counterfeer had already mounted his
gig drove off with great apdy in the direction for
this place The blacksmith ran from oeighbor to neigh
Dor, & after summoning balf d, zen true e. trusty
friends they met in council, ~ hearing the mornen-
fous tale, they one all instantly pledged themselves
to pursue the chase, and to take if possible their cu
prit; and thus after speeding their way fifteen or
twenty miles like hounds in persuit of fox, bound
ing the turf, leaving volume Of dust, rolling
high in the air, and far in their they reached
this city betweentbIee and four O'Clock in the after
noon, few moments after the pursued bad left.
When they alighted, they made known their bust
ness, and described very minutely their supposed
counterfeiter; but it so happened that the gentle
man to whom they addressed themselves, recognized
in their description, his old friend the real President
Of one ef the Rhode Island Banks. He however.