The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1833-05-15

tuxet the 18th of February 52 prepared
an answer to the said letter and sent il
by the hands of four Messengers two
chosen out of each Town that SO ifpos.
sible they might fully effect an orderly
meeting, and therefore declared their
resolutions in their said.let.ers, TO meet
with the two Towns of Portsmouth aud
Newport by Commissioners six chosen
out of each Town at the time and place
Of their appointment, and reunite with
the Island, if ihe mind Of the Counsel
Of State was such as more at large APP
peareth in their above said letter, but no
reply could our said commissioners pro-
cure by their said messengers, nor hith-
erto have received any, and at tho re.
turn Of tho said four messengers our
said commissioners assembled at Paw
tuxet aforesaid the 9th Of March 80
where the said messengers made their
report, and declared that they could not
procure the letters and orders for our di-
rection sent from the honored Council
Of State above said nor copy thereof
although they were read before many
people, thereupon our said commission
ers sent to Mr.. Easton in whose hands
the said orders were for them or copy
thereof, and another letter TO both towns
of Portsmouth and Newport, on purpose
by the hands of two messengers intima-
ting unto the said two Towns that Prov
idcnce and Warwick had empowered
them as aforesaid to transact for the
said two towns in all general affairs as
towns were present, and therefore pro-
posed to both the towns upon the Island
that if they were willing to reunite with
us then to choose six commissioners out
of oach town and appoint time and place
where we should meet them to order
according to the counsel Of States di-
rection ns more at large appeareih in
their said letter, but they could not pro-
cure. amy answer from neither Of the said
two towns, and whereas after long
space Of time the town Of Newport sent
unto us certain propositions by the
hand of Benedict Arnold intimating
their desires that we should meet them
at Newport in May next and choose six
commissioners to prepare &c. which
propositions we referred to our said
commissioners TO answer, and our said
commissioners thus answered TINT they
were willing there to meet by commIs-
sioners six chosen out Of each Town TO
reunite and order for the peace of the
whole colony ct cetera in all general
affairs except election provided the said
Town of Nowpsr. would give ten days
notice before hand that SO they would
meet by commissioners as more at large
appeareth in our said commissioners
answer. But forasmuch as neither our
said commissioners nor we the said two
towns have received any answer from
the said Island by way Of reply we
therefore, the said two towns of Provid-
erce and Warwick were necessited to
keep in the posture we were in and pro-
ceeded to election of general officers
according to law extant amongst US the
18th Of May. Yet not withstanding all
our aforesaid endeavors to reunite the
said towns of Portsmouth and Newport,
unto us which is not yet effected, the i'm
habitants of the said two towns have as
we are Informed in the name or by the
authority Of the colony of Providence
Plantations granted aud given unto John
Underhll, Edward Hull, and William
Dyre commission or commissions ten
ding to war which is like for ought we
: see 10 set oil New England on fire for
the event Of war is various and uncer-
tain, and although the honored counsel
{ of States direction 10 us is, videlicit, TO
offend the Dutch as we shall think nec-
cssary; yet we know not for reason or
for what cnuse tho said Inhabitants Of
the Island have given forth tho said
commission. Therefore we are inforced
thus TO declare that if the said Island