The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1828-04-03
From the Boston Patriot

From the Boston Patriot
There is no spot, Of its size, on earth
containing so much wealth, enterprise, in
dustry, comfort and morality as Rhode. Is
land
To this NAV be added-that Rhode Is
land, small as il is, has been as fruitful in
eminent men as any state in the Union, be
i ever so large. AS early rs 1893. it was
the residence of that truly eminent and
widely celebrated divine and philosopher,
Dean Berkley afterwards Bishop of Cloyne.
Ii is said that he wrote his minute phiioso-
pher while there. The first anatomical
and surgical lectures ever delivered in A.
merica, (about l760) were given at New
port, by DR.. William Hunter A year o.
two after, lectures on electricity, with the
Franklinan experiments, were given b.
Solomon Southwick, the father Of the rcn-
tleman of the same name in Albany. From
about 1856, there was more general htera.
ture in Newport. and through the Island,
ban perhaps any other part Of America,
owing 10 very well selected public library
tiycn BY Abraham Redwood. ESQ. very
oppulent and generous person belonging
TO the Society Of Friends. lie gave fire
hundred pounds sterling for the books in
London. These we're selected BY the CO.
ioHy agent with great judgment, and some
we're added bv private donations. Presi.
dent Styles was ITS librarian, between
twenty and thirty wears. After q British y,
army took possession nf the Island, this
valuable selection Of books was GesrG'ed
of great portion of tho English Classics.
histories, voyages and travels. and whalev-. !.
or came under the mead Of entertaining
books. The library IS still respectable.
Among military ren, Rhode island gave
~ the nation General Greene and Commo-
dore Perry, The once very beautiful seem
cry which embellished the Island and it's
character for healthfulncss, drew 10 il ovc-
ry sumner, numbers of oppulent invaids.
w1;h not few men Of property. who son Q ne
pleasure and agreeable residence. II was
tho permanent residence Of. many men Of
independent fortunes past the meridian oc
llic, from lferent parts Of Europe and
tom me West India Islands who chose
that spot IN which To spend their davs. j
This accoun's for re large nnmber Of To-
rles. or gentlemen w'o wished for no al
teruton in government and the babitusl
order Of things.
Besides very handsom country seats.
that Island contained som gardens ,hat-
lnerited in some measure the,amc ofbotnn-
icni gardens. having green. hose and hot.
honses, with curious foreign plaas Those
belon ing tom Maibone Redwood aNBow,er.
wore the most q stiN~uished.-Te most
elegant and costly o, ollng housesn the
'Nelye cGonics, was the country set Of
~ Malbonc, which uas accidentally b~ot
before the revolution. The beautiful sp*
no,r 'ougs 20 the Ncstor Of N. Bedford
+ Be ,ho revolution, Rhode Island and
| It's ca ~. Newport, was the most agGeea
bic spot IN 'he Atlantic shores. 1t ENJOY
cd very considerable commerce. Tho
most lucrative. if not the most moral. wa
/ the trade TO Africa. Newport was then
/ lively. grnteel and literary town from th(
I causes already mentioned. and Providence
was comparatively small Rut after tn
/ British took po5s' ,sipn Of II, the town d
Providence rose rapidly on the ruins OF tn
cnpital TheEr'.sh destroyed upwards
| 0CN buildings ~ all descriptions. principa
! " for fuel and what was equally to be 10
mentod,I # not mere, they destroyed, throug
| necessity all the beautiful woods and Of
namen,sl trees on that fine Island. Dui
| ing these caamities, Providence Bristo
/ Warren, Gnd several to.,rsgu the Nerrd
/ rsrset shoe ,ac5"ascd IN -lzc and conse
querce ,es,.r- 'hc I.'an1 Ike n old ba
tered shield. te' m against the cnelr
/ lfthe general government 90 any tn n
/ 10 recover il 20 sr5 condition lfe US 70,
mer consequence. they nught in cratitut
, % do II for whore IS the spot ~ he Un
ted States tha, has ffered so much
Newport on Rhode Island
While We are disposed to eulrrize T
/ Island there is orc thing we have alway
regretted. nnd that is its pena col
! Their prisons were in point Of health an
gropr'ety far behind those IN other s'stes
and the severity Of their pnnshmen's
more rigorous than n most other ofthe c
lonies and states. Their wbippings nj
carts tail fell little short OF the Russis
knout. and their car groupings andibran
/ ings have continued after other ststas hi
ameliora,ed their punshments for theft q
forgery. Whether they have seen hs
| mako any alterations in these respects,
are unable to say /; but from the morals 1
I friendly cost Of tie inhabitants, We shou
hope that they would not remain behi
Msssse ebusst,s in mitigating the sever
Of their penal code.