Literary cadet, and Saturday evening bulletin. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1826-1827, 1826-11-04

DOMESTIC cIMpRovEMEsrs.-It renders US. as
natives Of the State in which we have the honor to'
reside satisfaction as heartfelt as 1t is sincere, to
wi,nes. the improvements which are making in
this community and the rapid strides we are taking
towards a rank among the most populous and
wealthy town. and cities in the Union.
Although but Il few years beyond the period OF
majority, we can well remember, when our
population did not exceed eight thousand and when
large tracts Of land, now bearing splendid edlces,
were covered with water, or were nothing but
mere morasses, which il was not then believed the
industry Of man. could render tenaoe, or even ca
pable of sustaining an inconsiderabIe building
Where elegant estates are now located, we once
spored in the waters and INDUCED in all the plea
sure. Of mlsummer's BATH and truans from school,
snsled for fish, AMI hunted with bow and arrow,
the kilieer and the covey. But these days have
passed, and il is in vain that we cast our eyes
around us. to catch glmmering OF those delight
full spots, where we whiled away the hours OF ju-
venile innocence, and participated in the pleasures
Of iniante life.
The spirit Of Improvement has been abroad its
advocates and its patrons have been unremtting in
their aio..; and they have succeeded IN establish
Ing estates, where il was once thought The hand OF
industry could never succeed in unfolding its ener-
gies or in displaying the extent ofits resources.
Whoever is acquainted with the history Of Prov
iLenee will look back with asonishment, fifteen
years. TO those days. when, groanins beneath The rod
of CONNER cial restrictions, were, comparatively,
sinking into nothingness ifhe contrasts our present
ailuent and prosperous condition, with our then
unhappy and deterioratins situation. 1t was then
that our shipping lay useless at our wharves; cur
streets were almost deserted and we had nothing
but gloomy, melancholy prospect before us
Our population was then rapidly decreasing; the
indictments to industry and manly perseverance,
were extinct; no longer did we hope for prosperi-
ty-for, then mainly depended on our Com
nerce for an existence, and as our commercial re-
latious were cut off, what had we to expect, but
the decline Of empire and the fall Of greatness" "
Happily, however, by the wisdom of some, and the
accidental discoveries Of Others we were, at length,
taught that people who depend on foreigners for
support, can never flourish and having been
taught TIN. by deur-boughi experience,the Home"
or Domestic Policy. was established, which h's re-
suited in its own happy success, and the establish
ment of complete system o9 American lndepen-
dence. No longer do we complain of the oppress-
ions of the times no longer do we behold Popu-
Ia e. dissatisfied and discontented, vending thoir
way to western regions to gain, from the culture OF
an heretofore unbroken soil, the means Of sustain
ins, what Lord Chatham once very happily called,
state of dependence, nominal existence" On the
contrary, we find vast nccessions made to our num-
bers, by actual emigration; and in truth, our town
has been looked up TO, as place, where industry
and prudence could not fail to thrive, anil where
the necessitous and ndigeY might find the means
Of gaming certain and honorable livelihood, whilst
il was refused to them in their native abiding pa
ces.
When we look around us, and behold the vast
improvements, which have been made in Provi-
dence, the last ten fifteen years, the mind almost
staggers to believe and credulny is put to the test.
No place in the Union is in more prosperous con.
diton and we bid fair 20 arrive TO n seat Of emf
nence, that our ancestors, in their most enthusas-
tic moments Of prediction, could not have antcipa-
tel, and which, if they were permitted to burst the
cerements of the sepulchre, and VISIT they could
not believe.
For the accomplishment of such state Of prospe-
rity, we are not indeb to the wisdom o. the Ma
tional Government only, but TO the forecast, perse
verauce, and manly enterprise ofindvluais, whose
names should be rendered dear TO the people, and
10 whom VIC would allule, with the greatest defe-
renee, deliCacy, and respect; for would not
fatter or play the part Of the sytophantic caterer
for human vanity.
The man that will, for moment wander around
the west and south-wosters sections Of the town,
viii behold the many living monuments which
are erected to perpeuatc the perseverance and in
dustry Of the gentlemen 10 whom we would thus
allude he will behold. where lofty hills once
reared their heads, and where II seemed nature had
decreed the limits OF The town should cease, level
plans, and structures, which in point of correct
ness of architecture, and elegant workmanship. are
not often excelled and, where, once, the soil might
have been purchased for nominal price, lands
thrown into the market, which, when sold, realize
to the vender value no, surpassed by those which
were never encountered, and for which nature has
done every thing. Such will ever be the result of
industry aud perseverance, and those wbo c,,rv II,