The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-05-01

uN.pftt0s
The memorial of the Inhabitants of the
Town ofNewport hereby sheweth, that from
( their local aud defenceless situation, they
are exposed TO insults and destruction from
the Ships of War that now are, and for n
long time have been, stationed in the har-
Dor of Newport; that the General Assem-
bly, of this Colony well knowing that it
would be impossible, under our then cir
cumstances, to maintain their fort, the only
place of defeEce against any of the Ships
of War which might attempt to take pos
session thereof, and that the cannon if re-
moved to "A place of safety might be service
able TO the American cause, sometime in
December last advised .he same to be re-
moved into other parts of the Colony, and
thereby this Town is deprived of the ap-
pearance of defence Oh the side next the
harbor; that availing themselves of our I'M
potency the said Ships of War have with
unparalleled wantonness and cruelty inter-
rupted our ferry boats, provision boats, and
wood boats, in their passage to and from
stripped some Of them Of their tackle and
apparel have seized upon our vessels FROM
the West Indies and the united Colonies,
even in our harbor, and sent them to Bos-
ton to supply the ministerial troops there, &
ia October last a plan was laid to rob this
and the other Islands Of their stock, and
Transports were sent hther in order to car
ry it to the same place, and for the same
purpose that the Deputy Governor and
by the General Assembly of this Colony to
transact the business of the Colony during
their recess, to defeat these Intentions or
dered body of forces to this Island which
effectunIly prevented the design upon tho
Islands-that exasperated by this disap-
pointment Captain Wallace, with the fleet
under his command, sailed to the town of
Bristol, and TO terrify the inhabitants into a
compliance wiih his demand OF stock, can
nonaded, and bombarded the Town with
unrelenting fury, but happily his kind eff
forts were attended with but little damage,
and extorted but few sheep from the in-
habltants-from thence, his malice unsatia-
ted, he proceeded to aud cannomaded both
sides of Bristol Ferry, and, pursuant to his
orders the largest ship under his command
cannonaded the Ferry at jamestown; in
this alarming situation, the communica
/ between the Town and the Western part Of
( the Colony, from whence we receive the
greater part of our supplies, being cut off,
the towns around US having been recently
/ cannonaded and bombarded, and expecting 9
in our turn to be next attacked: proposals
were sent to the Town by said Wallace,
purporting that he would permit the ferry
bouts, market boats, and wood vessels, to
| pass unmoesied, provided his ships were
supplied with fresh Beef, Beer, &C.; the
/ Town Council 10 this pressing exgency
addressed a memorial TO the committee of
safety, setting forth the proposals and the
distressed state of the town, and expressing
their hopes that the committee would point
out some method that might enable the in
habiiants to procure common necessafies OF
of life, and to secure to their wives and
children a peaceful asylum for the ap.
preaching winter, and appointed IA commit
tee to wait npon and lay the same before
the committee of safety in Providence, aud
in case the Deputy Governor should be al
Cambridge to proceed ihitber and present
the memorial to him: pursuant TO their ap-
poin,ment they repaired to Providence, and
the then Deputy Governor being at Cam
bridge they waited upon him there, and
presented the memorial, who, as it contain
ed matter of groat importance, laid the
same before a committee Of the Honorable
+ Continental Congress and took their advice
thereon, aud they unanimously gave their
opinion that the Ships Of War should be
supplied os aforesaid, provided Wallace
complied with the terms he had offered,
and afterwards in consequence Of a memo
rial presented by the Town Council the
General Assembly assented thereto, and the
truce was accordingly entered into between
the Town and Captain Wallsce, on the l4ih
day Of November last, aud permission was
! granted BY him to the ferry boats to pass