The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-01-14
RIER'S ADDRES SS.
TO THE PATRONS OF THE
II n Il e-I a nd X p u b C q II.

In verse that tells various tale,
And rambles wide DER hill and dale.
But little do mean to mix
My tiny rhyme with politics.
NV muse is but country maid,
And politics is not her trade;
She is not fond of scolding loud,
And mingles little with the crowd;
But far aloof,'tis her delight
To stand upon some towering height,
And cast her eyes the prospect DER,
And look behind, and look before
Just so upon this point of time,
She ventures now TO build the rhyme;
And gazes back DER ages past
Then gIances DER the future vast
And Newport's changes thus reviews,
Giving a tale of various hues.
For, good old town, thou hast beheld
Full many change since days of eld
But good or bad, thy new-year's glco
Did take its colour still from thee
And Various times called up, will tell
What chance with thee this day befel.
Let US run back each rolling year,
Till town and fortress disappear
Till forests spread DER hill and dale.
Waving their branches to the gale.
NeWpOr! thy site was trodden then
BY savage beasts and savage men!
The sun rose silent DER thy scene,
Thy forest waved one sea of green;
The buck, with antlers branching wide,
The rafting boscage prest aside;
The squirrel sprang from tree to tree
The woods all rung with melody
Twas on such morn as this, ween,
That Coddington first saw thy scene,
And Oh thy SUBMITS verdant crown
Began to hew the forest down,
Aud from the IumhprnU trunks to rcnr
The first rude mansion founded here.
A hardy race soon gathered were,
OF brawny limb and visagc fair
Beneath their hands the forests fell
Soon harvests waved o'cr hill and dell
Thy damsels then were fair and bright
Bound not with stays and corscts tight,
They tript along the fowery lawn
The rivals of the bounding fawn
And on their checks, in healths repose
We'd lily white, with crimson rose.
Their joyous eyes and glances blithe,
To many dying swain gave life;
Their smile did to his bosom seem
As to the fields the morning beam,
When earth swIms in its sea of love,
And not cloud burs heaven above,
And over steep and down and lawn
Natures wild music halls the dawn.
Such were the fathers of our place,
And such the mothers of our race,
And Newport, such, in very truth,
Vast thou in thine Arcadian youth,
When meath thine oaks prmeval shade,
Thy swain first learned to WOO the maid,
And thy coy maiden heard his tale,
And wondered what the youth might all.
But we must pass-roIl on, We years
Till the rude hamlet disappears,
o,,J J,lo al
Spreads thy far pcopled wealthy town;
And thou, amid thy fairy scene
Vast hailed New-England's virgin queen.
Then all thy waves were spotted DER
With bellying sail, and flashing oar;
At times did naval thundcrs break
Meath Briton's cross, on Brton's deck
And, looming DER the deep, sublime,
Thy ships looked in from distant cline.
Thy dock, one swamp of masts dispIay'd--
Thy quays were throng'd with busy trade
The busting crowds did come and go
The drays were moving to and fro
Oer Earring streets-whist burst the shout
OF merry sailor heaving out
The burthen from the decp-ribbed bark
All and the sons of Afric dark,
Forgetful of their freedom fled,
Did on thy quay rude measures tread
For joy of land though clank and chime
of iron fetter mark d the time
OF music sad; for bars and chains
To sadness turn the mcrriest strains.
Old Newport's streets were thronging then
With Haunting bellies and Iordy men
There chivalry and fashion sat,
With powdered wig and sharpen'd hat
Or silver buckles in his shoes
With ancles tight in silkcn hose
And bucksl<ins short, and coat of lace,
Did beau beside his lady pace
His lady fair with stays was bound
Her hoop was of an ample round
Ter flowing robe, with broad flowers gay,
a moving garden did display
nd well it might and not belle
he paradise it hid from eye.
Such was thy state ere iron war
lid with rude hand thy splendors mar
hen in thy streets in stern array
ne soldiers held their New Years dav;
1r in thy dwellings, long and loud,
Vas heard the wassal of the crowd
Rude Wallace in thy harbor lay
Ills thunders awed the neighb'ring bay
he merchant shunn'd his wonted home,
70 more his sails did ocean roam
ong thy lines the batteries frowned-