The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-01-03
MEMOIR OF RHoDE-IsLAND.


The General Assembly met nt Newport
on the first Wednesday in May,-l77l, when
the following gentlemen we're elected.
JOSEPH WANTON. Gov.
DARIUS SESSIONS, Dep. Gov.
Assistants.
Nicholas Easton, Thomas Wickes,
Samuel Dyre, Jonathan Randall,
Samuel Drown, John Congdon,
David Harris, Joseph Haszard,
Weston Hickes, William Richmond.
Henry Ward, Secretary.
Henry Merchant, Atty Genr'l.
Joseph Clarke. Gen. Treasurer.
The Deputies from Newport were
Thomas Crans,on, John Wanton, George
Hasznrd, Joseph Wanton, Jr., William
Read, and Thomas Freebody.
1t was in contemplation to quarter a reg
iment Of British troops in r. Island, by the
following Resolve ofthe Assembly in May,
viz:
tis voted and resolved that the consid-
Grafton Of the letter from General Gage, to
hishonor the Governor, requesting that quar-
ters &c. may be provided for his Mnjesty's
64th Regiment, in this Colony, be referred
for the present. That the said Regiment
shall arrive before the next senson. and le-
quire any supplies from the Colony, his
Honor the Governor. be and he is hereby
requested to call the General Assembly. if
he shall 6nd it necessary"
The same is noticed in the Providence
Gazette of May I, 177l. viz.
"His Honor the Governor, we are told,
has laid before the Assembly letter. from
General Gage, advising that the 64,h Reg
inent is to be quartered in this Colony, and
desiring provision may be made nccording-
ly for its reception"
January 18th, l77l, large fire took
place between the wharves now Devins' and
Clarke's, (,hen TaylorsD an account of
which, as then published, is as follows, viz !:
NEWPORT, January 81.
At nine o'clock, last Friday evening, this
town was alarmed with the cry of fire /;
which broke out in a cooper's shop on Tay-
lor's wharf, and the wind being pretty fresh
at west, seemed to threaten destruction to
every house in its range across the southern
part of the town the roofs of two or three
houses in Thnmes-strect took fire from the
large flakes which fell on them, but happily
were soon extinguished |; and the wind
proyiden,ially shifting to the norlhward, the
devastation was confined to the wharf where
the fire first began, and one next southard !;
where one dwelling-house. one large sugar
house, with about two thousand dollars in
sugar, were entirely consumed, with two
cooper's shops, one joiner's shop. and five
or six other stores and small buildings; the
tide happened to be well up, SO that water
was easily had in plenty, otherwise the ru-
in must, have been much greater; several
persons were considerably hurt. by endeav-
oring to pull down one or two buildings,
but no lives lost; the town was kept alarm
ed by the ringing of bells. &c. the greater
part of the night, and one engine was obIig-
ed to be kept playing all the next day, be-
fore the FIRE could be entirely exiinguished.
The whole loss sustained by all the suf-
ferers, who are numerou., is very consider
able"
A tax was ordered in August, 10 which
Newpor, was to paw fls70-ls-l0, South
Kiues,own EilI6-i2-2, Providence f7l3-
go. Warwick f70-4-6, Smitb6eld f5s4-
4-2, Nor,h-Kingstown f566-7-l0, and
Portsmouth E554.6-S.
The revolutionary movemens', IN the
Colonies, this yesr were but few, especially
10 Rhode-Island.
The Vessels of War which were st"sion-
Cd a, Newport. or who frequently visited
that port we're
The Ary,huss. Csp. Hammond ofs6''gun'
Lizard, - 2s
Mercury, Cap. Keller. "a
Ross. James Wallace, 20
Swan. Capt Aseough, 20
Hind On