The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1826-04-27


My request ofyou, sir, is, that, to repair tn
injustice which you have done---I am sur
without intending ito the Rhode ISLAM,
coal,-You insert in your paper "A meditation
on Rhode Island coal" from the last New
York Review. Whatever your readers ma
think Of Rhode Island coal, or any other au
thracitc, | am sure they will not doubt ia,
brilancy Of Bryant's pen. NAgRiGAssrr.
MEDIT.q7TOT O. .vRIfO DE-iSLiND CC.4L
Decolor, obscurus, wills non lie repaxam
Cesariem rcgum, non candida virgins orna
'Colla nee insigni splondct per cingula morbu
Sed nova 81 ngri vdeas mircula saxi,
Tune sepcrat puchros cultus, ct quicquid Eo
Indus literibus rubra scfutatnr in dga.
CLAUpIAS
I sat bo,idc the glowing CRATE, fresh hcaped
With Newport coal, and Us tho flame grew
The many colorcd famc-=and played ant
leapd,
thought ofrainbows and the northern light
Moore's lalla Rookh, the Treasury Report,
And other brilliant matters of the sort.
And last I thought Of that fair isle which sent
e The mineral fuel. On summer day
I saw il once, with heat and travel spent,
And scratched by dwarf oaks in the hollow
way!
Now dragged through SAND, now jotsd over
A rugged road through rugged Tivcrton.
And hotter grew tho air, and follower grew,
Tho deep worn path and horror-struck,
thought,
Where will this drcary passage lead me to- -
This long, dull road, 80 narrow, deep and
ho2
looked 10 see il dive in earth outright,
lookcd---but saw u far more welcome sight.
Like son mist upon the evening shore,
Al once u lovely isle before me lay;
Smooth, and with tender vcrdurc covered DER
As il Just risen from it's calm inland bay;
Sopod each way gently to the grassy edge,
And the small waves that dalled with the
scdgo
The barley was inst fcapcd--ss heavy shoaves
Lay on the stubbe icld--thc tall maize stood
Dark in its summer growth, and SHOOK its
And bright the sunlight played on the young
wood;
For fifty years ago, the old men say,
The British hewed their ancient. groves away
saw where fountains freshened tho green
land,
And where the pleasant road, from door to
door,
With rows Of chcrry trees on either hand,
Went wandering all that fertile region o'cr--
Rogucs Island once-but when the rogucs
were dead,
Rhode Island was the namo it took instead
Beautiful island then it only seemed
A lovely stfonger--it has grown friend.
lgazod on its smooth slopes, but never dream.
How soon that brigh, bcnofccnt isc would
The treasures of its womb across the sea,
To warm a poet room and boil his tea.
Dark anthracite. that rcd,lcncst on nv hearth.
Thou in those island mines ddst slumber
long,
But now thou art come forth 10 move the earth
And put to shame the man that rears thto
wrong;
Thou shalt be Goals Of fire to those that hate
thee;
And warm the ships of all that undorratc thee
Yea, they did wrong thee foully-they who
Knocked
Thy honest face, and said thou woulds, not
burn;
Ofhcving thee TO chimncy-,cccs talked,
And grew proiano-aud sworo, liz bitter
scom,
That men nligla 10 thy inner caves retire,
And there unsingcd, abidc the day Of fire
Yet is thy greatness nigh pause to state,
That too have seen greatness i
Shook hands with Adams --stared at Iaiay.
otto,
When balehcad in the hot noon of July,
Iic wsnld not let the umbrella be held ocr
him,
For which three cheers burst fiom the mob
before him.
And have secn--not many months ago
An eastern governor, in chapeau bras
And military coat, n glorious show.
Ride forth 10 visit the reviews. and ah,
How on he smiled and bowed 10 Joimthani
How many hands were shook and votes were
Won,
Twas a great governor-thou too shalt he
Great in Thy turn-and wide shall spread
thy fame
And swifily--farthes, Maine shall hear ofthee
And cold Ncw.Brunswiek gladden. at thy
name,
Aud. family through its slce,s. tho weeping isle
That sends the Boston fofks their cos shall