The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1831-11-09
From the .Ne,c Bedford Ga-ett,.

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From the .Ne'r Bedford Gazette
t BLOCK lsLAsn. We know of no place OF the |
civilized globe OF like celebrity, of which SO lit |
Tie Is known as This Island To vast portion |
4 OF the community, the is associated Will,
ideas OF barbarity more characteristic Of the |
8 savages Of Africa, than beings who make anv
claims TO be considered civilized. No particu. |
lar account of it is given in any work now ex-
tant, and the only description we ever saw, ex- |
cept anonymous, will be found in Morse's &c. |
ography, comprised in the following brief par
agraph A." Twenty -one miles s. s. W. of New
port, lies Black Island the inhabitants of which
are famous for making good butter and
eheeseE"
Prepossessed with the idea of finding the in
habitants of Block Island extensively engaq.
ed in the "naking ofgood butter and cheese"
we embraced the opportunity afforded last sum-
mer by steam boat from Rhode Island TO
make an excursion to this celebrated spot We
soon detected error in Professor Morse's
calcuaton-for instead of twenty-one miles il
was nearly thlrty-but the distance was of very
| little consequence as it enabled us to enjoy the
delightful breeze so desirable in the warm
days of July. On nearing the shore we were
boarded from several boats belonging to the in
habtants, who welcomed US in a manner which
seemed to make favorable impression. The
steamer anchored short distance from the
shore, and the passengers embarked in the
boats for the land, where numbers were assem-
bled. Instead of meeting set of miserable
ragged beings contemplated, we were
struck with the neatness and simplicity oftheir
attire The main body Of the party formed
procession and marched through the principal
streets, being Joined by large number of the
inhabitants who appeared delighted with their
visitors.
The east part of the island, on which we
landed, is occupied principally by fishermen,
who, however, carry on farming conformity with
their former avocation, and the land generally
: is highly cultivated Some of il is held at 500
t per acre-and sheep pasture is stated to be
worth $50 per acre. The general aspect of the
land is very unfavoTable; it is literally hill and
dale. The greatest elevation is /" Pilot Hill,"
stated to be $50 feet above the level of the sea-
and commands view in clear day to dis
lance Of about so miles The neck, or west
end is the richest part of the Island, containing
about 1000 acres, and is inhabited by farmers
The population of the whole island according
to the last census, is 1900; there are 200 hous,
+ es, principally of one story
Many Of the inhabitants are wealthy, and
one, we were informed, who when he was
t married possessed only cod line, was proprie-
tor Of several neat farms, two three boats,
and employed seven al! the year round, al
SIS per month and found.
The women of the Island are as hosptable as
, any that ever came to our notice. The houses
l are neatly though plainly furnished, and every
thing apparently conducted with admirable pre-
cision.
2 With regard to their authorities and laws, we
oou!u oo'a'': out nj 'ot 10 pr
aI'."s "pIiIo' as, t@. .'-" .,-o;
lug, u"u on oun s'd.g ,haG, H. pp,ha,
monn anr' ~nnd hs he nnn;sbnds we we're an.
i 80 -" n So L, - ,aIo
s~e,'a; I ma; INC I Ine no"n %"o"' nc onniJ
f mus -, M IT., M wv PPo'g IL; 60
no' .i nen ne Suss e9a sV ,e 81 ,h LaS
.rtn tho :, - g WbvGtben
, I'D p,vo 70 ,,ntcb an onnortrnitv IN steal
no,1o,hir, ~ r,aLa i, m Tbsra IL bo.vevar
g J1s,;oa an ,ba Island bn, be is seldom, an
ooind 70 .a ,ho inhahi,an.s de,os,;nr ,bc
pan,es IF law and ;,s,ice nrsfer scttling ,beir
''' d;sn,,.as :, "a manner bef,ro mon,;oned
o. IF a., norty asked an inbobitont how
-, doo,ors ,bbaro ,yero ON The IsIand-aA Az
n.y. vs. wa ,,,nt hc renlied aona"-h,,yy
49, n,;ni>,ors3. mprv &C we want
How MANY lawversp AS many as we
,',nt roat ali
W. Witnessed many little cronns Of females
r.roobnIo,;nTr tho sboras one Of whom zach.
Iected for The ,,rrGose of dsnIa vino his tact NJ
+ ouizzng Afirr some conversation which
ssv;pcoG thot sbo uos mot disnosed n tole b,s
raillerv ui,bont retaining he inouired-t Shonld
yor mo, I;i,a 10 ,oto providenca il ;s n beau.
;ifnl nlaca al have been there often y renl;ed
She and IiLe,yiso N Nav Work g What !"
EXCLAIMED he in annarent establishment. {. been
r. Nav York--nrap tell ms ,ybat Won saw nret.
f ~ ;, Were VIM ever there ," manfred she"-
No" Then Won must no and see for YOUR.
self" nBut have been there several times 4"
f e In that case, renlied she 6 Won know as well
t ,s can tell Won.
. The ;nh,hitants rorciblv reminded ms of the
f anecdo,o of the I,ondon merchant. who AT HI.
y honse was famed for his hospitality. but con.
}, s,dcred the closest cnrmndoeon in the city
vhi,s, in bic co,,ntirr rooro So With than
thew wonld receive nnthiny in return for refresh
!. ments nrov;ded in their houses but Tho ann
nersons CHARGED 70 axtortion. for boatinr m
d partv between The steamer and The shore.
S The whole. The inhabitants ore one Of tn
A ., .ne 49,; ~ 50 80" V"u VI .n