The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-10-10
RHODE -IsLAND REPUBLICAN.
MEMOIR or RHODE-IsLAND.


The General Assembly met at South
Kingstown, on the last Monday in October,
by law, which happened to be the day after
the British evacuated the Island.
An act was passed restoring to the towns
of Newport, Portsmouth, Middletown and
jamestown, their corporate powers; and
appointing the times for their Town Meet
ing in each, for the purpose of reorganiz'ng
their town governments, and appointing
Representatives to the General Assembly,
in all but Newport-the members of which
had been regularly elected under special
law-but the other towns had neglected to
do so. This Assembly also appointed a
committee to have the ferries between New
port and Narrsgansett re.established as soon
as possible.
The " act for confscatiug the estates of
persons who had joined the enemy" was
passed at the said October session.
The freemcn of The town of Newport
convened at the Friend, Meeting House
or the Sd day Of November, in pursuance
of the late act of Assembly. They then ap-
pointed the officers for the town for the re-
mander of the term, or until the following
June. The Town Meetings continued to
be held at the Friends Meetng House for
some time-and afterwards ut the Jews
Synagogue.
The town met again on the Oath Deem
ber by order of the General Assembly, 10
order "a tax to be assessed on the inhabi-
tants of the town of 60Oi, being that towns
proportion of tax ordered by the Coniinen-
tai Congress.
The state having granted for the poor of
Newport 100 cords of woOd-a committee
was appointed to receive and distribute tho
same.
The winter of l770-'o0, proved one of
the coolest tln, had ever been experienced
since the settlement of tho country by Eu
ropeans.
The late Capt. John Cahoone, represen-
ted this winter, to the writer, as follows =
A short time after the British evacuated
Newport the weather set in very cold, and
continued so for about six weeks, without
intermission-thc wind varying no more,
during the whole time, than from N. w. to
w. s. W., generally to the norlhward of west
in the night, and little to the southward of
west during the first part of the day. The
Bay froze over down to the Dumplins, firm
ice, and such was the strength and duration
of the ice, in the bay, that regular beaten
ways, or roads, were made from Newport
to Providence, Bristol, Greenwich, Wick
ford, aud S. Kingston, over the frozen Bay
and the intercourse between the town and
country was carried on by teams and other
land conveyances, the same us if the town
had not been situated on all Island.
Capt. Cahoone further said, ,h,, after one
very still cold night, he, with several others,
went or the high land in the neck, the next
morning, where they found the ocean, glaz-
ed with ice as far as the eye could see. The
snow was not deep, but level, aud lay on the
ground during the whole time. Wood sold
at Newport for 20 silver dollars the cord,
Corn at dollars, and Potatoes at 2 dol
lars the bushel
The latter part Of the year 1879, COM
mittee was appointed by the town 10 exam
Inc the premises Of individuals and report
what fuel could be found in the town, that
portion might be taken for the use of the
poor, the same to be refunded out Of the
wood granted by the General Assembly as
soon as sufficient quantity was received
by the town.
George Rooms house aud store on the
Point, (he having ard, and being declared
an enemy to the country was ordered to be
taken down; and also ship belonging to
Joseph Wantou, Jr., (also an enemy to the
country was ordered to be cut up and dis
,rburcd to the poor for fuel. Many old
buildings were converted into fuel by their
owners; aud in many instances a portion
pf the household furniture was applied to
the same use.
Perhaps few instances have occurred
where large community were put to more
shifts than tho e the people Of Newport
during I've W,....f after the e,ne.n,ion. The