The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1836-11-16
MEMOIR OF RWODE-ISLAND
1879.

between England and Spain, seemed 20
threaten a sudden revolt TO hostilites, a
privateer was fitted at Newport in August
by Godfrey Malbone, John Brown and Geo.
Wanton, to whom the Colony lent the prin-
cipal part of her armament from the public
stores, to be returned in " one months time"
&c. This was probably the first commence.
mcnt Of privateering by Godfrey Malbone,
who afterwards became so largely, and so
successfully engaged in that pursuit. The
Government of the colony must have had
authority from England to commence hos
tlities against Spain as early as August,
for the Assembly then authorised the Gov.
to grant commissions to private men of
war against Spain and the subjects thereof"
The Assembly, however, at the August
session took no measures for putting the colo
NY in "A state of defence, nor even at the
October session, although war was openly
declared between the two nations in Octo-
berthe news of which could not however,
have arrived here until af'cr the Assembly
had adjourned-but at the February session
The assembly were seriously TO work in pro-
viding for putting the Colony in state of
defence. Forty eight soldiers were ordered
to be enlisted, or impressed, for Fort George
which was to be repaired and furnished
with suitable ammunition without delay.
Twenty men to be impressed and enlisted
by the field officers, on the main to be sent
and stationed there for the defence of the
Island, in addition to the local military
and that SIX great guns, on the Island, be
mourted, and fitted for service, and also
provided with ammunition &c. Watch-hous-
es were ordered to be bull-one at castle
hill-aud n warehouse at BrcntOn's point
and another watch-house at Sachuesr
point-one at jamestown, one at Point Ju-
dith, one at watch-hill & one at Portsmouth,
The houses TO be eight feet square, and
each town in which located, were required
10 keep good and sufficient watch there
Beacons were ordered to he placed, say,
one on Block Island, one at Point Judith,
one at Beaver Tail, one at Newport and
one at Portsmouth to be kept at the charge
of those towns in which located. John
Cranston was chosen Captain of Fort
George.
Colony SIoop.
&c ,o, ,,,ro a. ~ tone re-
ordered to be forthwith built, to protect the
sea coast.
This Guard-a- Coaster was always called
the Country Sioop, although her name was
the Tartar, she had officers aud a small
number Of men constantly attached to her
when in port and when she took cruise
volunteers were enlisted, for one expedition
only, to make up n compliment Of 100 men.
The young men in Newport were very
free to volunteer on such occasions, so that
imprcssment was seldom rcsorted to.
The militia were reorganized, and the
whole colony putt upon war system. John
Cranston was appointed Captain, and Ma
thaniel Potter Lieutenant of the country
sloop. Tartar. She went out on her frs
cruise in June, or July, and brought in q
French schooner, which was condemned by
the Vice Admiralty Court, for illicit trade
The lower battery at Fort George wa:
enlarged and 10 additional guns mounted
there. Ten field pieces mounted on carria.
ges were procured to I've kept in Newport
and brick powder house not exceeding u
feet diameter was built in Newport.
100000 in bills Of credit was ordered by
the Assembly to he issued TO supply the
public Treasury, against which act two
members of the upper house from Ne~port
and five delegates entered their protest
which was recorded. On the receipt o
some communication from the Government
in England. the character Of this issue o
bills was varied from those before author
lied. Those bills were to be equal To gold a
= $500 the ounce, and such portion as wa
loausd 10 individuals was to be payable !
tbt same Kind Of bills, only, or in silver
SO the ounce, or gold at ej-O-O-makIn
n decided distinction between this Ban
money, and those then already in circuli
ton. THE bills nf the old tenor were
sass four fnr one Of the new tenor. y