The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1837-11-22
the glory of her Island in greo, measure

the glory of her Island in grea, measure
departed.
Rhole-lsland which is about fifteen
miles long, and from three to six broad,
has, from It's salubrity, variety, temperature,
and surprising beauty, been considered,
during the past contrary, as the Bath Of A
mericd, and resorted to accordingly, either
for the summer season, or as permanen,
residence of opuencc and literary leisure.
Hence we may account for her numerous
fine country seats, and for her two distinct
ranks of people, her aris,ocracy, and her
West-Indian and African traders; her sta
,ionary men, and her men of navigation.
Among her Divines, distinguished for
learning, may be mentioned the Rev. John
Calender, who has given the best history
Of the colony-and the Rev. DIR. Ezra
Stiles, who was for n number of years pas
tor of Congregational Church, and libra
rian of the Redwood Library, aud who
died President of Yale College.-When he
died, he left not more learned mau in A
merica.
The Rev. Arthur Brown, who was Pres
dent Of Trinity College, Dublin, aud Vicar
General of K----[the writer does not cx-
actly remember the name of the district
was born, and received his school ednca-
tion Mt Newport--a very learned and dis
tinguishcd man, even ia the metropolis of
Ireland. The Rev. DR.. Hopkins founder
of the Hopkinsidn Sect, lived and died at
Rhode-Island. His admirers and oppo-
nents can Judge Of him 10y his writings; as
a man he was venerable for his goodness,
and respectable as a metaphyscian.
Newport was never wanting in good clas-
sical schools. The Episcopal Church and
the Quakers, who were very numerous, took
particular care Of education, especially the
first. Newport was the only place in New
England where the Hebrew language was
publickly read and chanted, two or three
times week, by perhaps three hundred OF
tho descendants Of Abraham. II is not
therefore extraordinary, that nII these facts
aud circumstances gave literary cast to
the major part Of the inhabitants of New.
port, and made them as distinguished, sew
enty years ago, in the North American col
onies, as Geneva was two hundred years
past, in Italy aud Switzerland.
If we turn from literature to the military
department we shall find that The nert man
to Washington-General Greene, was of
Rhode Island; and nobody will contradict
the assertion, that she has given to the age
IFS first painter of the human head. (Stew-
art.)
Recurring to the higher branches Of the
mechanical arts, we need only mention the
name of Joseph Brown, Esq. Of Providence,
who constructed, from written description,
the first steam engine for evacu a,iug mines
of their water I'm Herculean task at that
time, when he had none able to help him.
IL we are not mistaken, the casting and
boring of large cannon, was performed at
the same establishment, near Providence,
many years before il was attempted in any
other part Of America.
The first garden in Ncw-EDgland, that
had any pretensions to the name Of botani-
cal garden, was reared by Mr.. Redwood,
tho gentleman who founded the library.
Ia architectural taste and costly structure
Newport stood pre-eminent. No dwelling
house in America was equal TO one belong
Ing to Mr.. Malbone, within mile or two Of
the town. Where is there structure now,
in New England that surpasses the Red
wood Library, We have only to lament
its perishable material. II you say that 1t
was copied from an Alhenlan temple still
there is some credit due to them in seec-
ting, 10 years seo, and relIshing, so chaste
specimen Of Grecinn taste.
! But-we may say OF Rbode-lsland IN
the language Of Goldsmith,
These were thy charms; but all these charms have
fed
The sad question is-how came they to
fee The tale is too long and dismal to be
particular. Suffice it to shy TINT before the
Revolution, Newport was large and -four
ishing town; that when it became an En-
gsh garrison, the people Of wealth and
consequence quilted IT, and the town Of
Providence rose on its ruins. Since then,
that once beautiful spot resembles an old
battered shield, long held up against the
common enemy.-The town Of Providence
has now become so opulent, and got so far
the start Of Newport, as to he able always
70 keep il. Its College or University, from
very small beginnings, has attained re-
spectacle standing, anG is in a fair way Of
becoming eminent: and 1t may not be a.
miss 10 remark here, that the first lectures