The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1837-05-10
MEMOIR OF RHODE-ISLAS ID.
1855.
Doctor William Hunter.

in March, by the Assembly, Physician and
Surgeon General to the Rhode Island troops.
He was native of Scotland and had been,
for some time previous, a resident Physlc-
ian in Newport. lie was father 10 the
Honorable William Hunter the present
Representative of the United States, as
Charge d'Afiair. to the Empire Of Brazil.
Doctor Hunter married the daughter of
Col. Godfrey Malbone of Newport. We
here transcrbe the vote of the Assembly,
appointing Doctor Hunter, entire, viz:
"The General Assembly do vote and re-
solve, aud it is voted and resolved, that
William Hunter who went ard ofliciated
as Physician and Surgeon to the troops of
this Colony, during the last campaign, shall
be paid his wages at and after the rate Of
ten pounds lawful money per month, in bills
of credit of this colony pursuant to agree
ment; that for the ensCing campaign his
pay shall be one hundred and eighty pounds
old tenor per month that chest of Med
icine not exceeding the price or cost of
eight hundred pounds old tenor, shall be
procured for him according to his own d.
rections, that in case the SAID William Hun
ter should loose, or by any accident he de-
prived of the medicine chest, he shall have
liberty and credit with some proper person,
to be pitched upon for that purpose, to sup
ply himself with what shall be found nee
essary for the remaining part of the cam
paign that Mr.. Hunter shall have the same
allowance made for him by the colony for
Chirurgical instruments, this campaign, as
he had the last that the colony shall and
will furnish all stores necessary for the ac-
commodation of the sick, who shall be tend
ed and taken care of by sufficient num-
Der Of men, suitable for nurses, to be seec-
ted out of The companies; this Assembly
not approving that women should be en-
ployed for that service that if any contin-
gent charges should accrue to the Doctor
by travelling, transporting or otherwise, it
shall be paid him by the colonies comms-
sary. And lastly. he shall have marquis
or tent provided for him"
Doctor Hunter was cousin to The celebra-
ted William and John Hunter, eminent an
atomsts and surgeons of London. He de-
delivered, in Newport, as tradition affirnls,
the first public lectures on anatomy ever
delivered in America.
The Treasurer was ordered to receive
and pay out Spanish dollars at six shillngs
each. Bill, of the old tenor were sealed at
G5-I0-00 to the dollar.
The record states in a petition 70 Lord
Lowden) that the Colony contained in 1865,
S,262 men able 10 bear arms, about 1900 of
whom were out in privateers which num-
Der had rather diminished than increased,
owing to the loss of lives in the continued
wars.
The colony notwithstanding furnished
regiment of 1000 men for the Canada ex-
pedlton besides providing for the defence
of her maratime frontier. Thus it appears
that nearly, or quite, one third Of the entire
number of men able to bear arms were ac-
tually employed in the war; and when it
is considled that the male population were
enrolled from l6 years old to 60, we can
out express an astonishment at the prodig-
'Ious effort made by our ancestors in sus-
tanning the cause of the country.
An act passed for repairing and enlarg.
ing fort George.
Governor Greene died either ia February,
or March, and on the 18th day of March
the Assembly, in Grand Committee, ap-
pointed Stephen Hopkins to fill the vacan-
cy for the remainder OF the political year.
The Assembly met at Newport on Tues
day the 2nd Of May, aud on the next day
were chosen.
STEPHEN HOPKINS, Governor.
JOHN GARDNER, Dep. Governor.
Assistdnts.
James Heneyman, Nicholas Eas;on,
Elisha Brown, Gideon Comstock,
William Richmond, Joseph Broune!l,
Joseph Edmouds, Jonathan Randall,
Daniel Coggeshall, Jeffery Watson.
Thomas Ward, Secretary.
AHgustus johnson, Attorney.
Iho"a' Riehaydson, Treasurer.