The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1837-03-08
MEMOIR OF RHODE-IsLAND.

day were shosen.
WIN. GREENE, Governor.
JOHN GARDNER, Dep. Gov.
Assistants.
John Tillinghast, Nicholas Easton.
Nicholas Cooke, Jabez Brown,
Stephen Brownel Robert Lawton,
Jeremiah Lippitt, William Richmond,
Daniel Coggeshall Jeffery Watson.
Thomas Ward, Secretary.
Daniel Updiks, Attorney.
Thomas Richardson, Treasurer.
The Deputies from the town of Newport
were, Edward Scott, Thomas Cranston,
Peter Bours, Job Bennett, James Sheffield
and William Read.
The restless spirit of intrigue and deceit
which constantly actuated the French court,
allowed the colonies but short intervals Of
peace, they and their Indian allies were
constantly encroachng or the territories Of
the English colonies. In the East they in
vaded Nova Scotia, and Arcadia which had
been ceded to England, and reused the in
habitants of the latter, who were all French,
to hostlities against the English. To the
Northward they erected forts within the En-
gllsl lines, and although no open war ex-
listed between the two nations, hostiIities
actually commenced in America. The
Virglnians were driven from their new set
tlement on the Ohio River, and elsewhere,
on their western frontier, and their merchants
killed and plundcred, and the French were
erecting forts from the Lakes across to the
Mississippi, all which alarmed the English
nation for the fate of the colonies. The
colonies undertook to form something like
a general Government (under the Kings
authority to concentrate their military
strength and apportion to each colony its
due share of the public burthens, for which
purpose convention was recommended to
meet at Albany, which meeting took place
on the I4th day of June 1854, and consist
ed of the Governors and principle gentle
men of her colonies. Those from Rhode
Island were, Stephen Hopkins, Esq. and
MaTtin lOWatu, JG. Ills convention pro-
posed that council should be organized of
members chosen by the colonial assemblies,
which, with Gown General, to be appoint
ed by the crown, should have power to make
General Laws, and raise money from all the
colonies for the common defence. This
proposal was strenuously opposed by the
colony Of Connecticut, and was but indif-
ferently received by some others, it also
raised the jealousy of the King, and in the
end wholly failed. The English ministry
proposed different plan of general organi-
cation for The colonies, subjecting them to
tho liability of being taxed by the British
parliament, which plan was not acceptable
to the colonies so that neither plan was
adopted.
Fellowship Club incorporated.
The Fellowship Club in Newport was in
corporated this year, in June, and consisted
of such as were, or had been commanders
of vessels. The object of which society
was for mutual assistance, and more espec-
tally to relieve their brethren when reduced
to poverty. The name was afterwards
changed to that of the Marine Society,
which still exists. 1t has accumulated a
handsome fund, the income Of which is ap-
piled to the relief of INDECENT members OF
the Society, and widows and children OF
such as have deceased.
The former Lighthouse, on Beaver
Tail, having been destroyed by fire, the As
sembly ordered new one to be erected of
stone, or brick, as soon a. might be, and
provided the funds for defraying the ex.
penses of building the same. The present
house appears to have been completed the
following year 1855.
In October tax was assessed on the
several towns, in which
Newport paid G700O-0-O
South Kingston 3Oi5-O-O
Providence 2ijO-O-O
North Kingston I977-0-0
In an attempt, this year, Of Col. Wash.
ington with 400 Virginia troops under hi:
command, to drive the French intruder
from the Ohio. they were attacked by 9Ot