The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-04-04

To the Honorable the General Assem-
bly, of the Colony of Rhode Island
&c, noO sitting at South Kingston
IN the County of Kings County DC,
on the last Wednesday Of Oct I775.
The memorial of the Town Council of
Newport sheweth: That the increasing dis
tress and difficulty in which the inhabitants
of said Town are involved through the OBJ
struction that is given to their receiving
those supplies that are necessary for their
daily subsistence, fills your memorialists
with the dsepes, anxiety and concern: they
therefore deem it a duty which they owe to
their constituents to lay before your honors
the present ruinous state Of this once flour
ishing capital of the Colony. The justifia-
bic procedure of the inh abitants in removing
the stock from the Island TO prevent their
being taken and carried to Boston, together
with the arrival of the forces under the COM
mand of General Hopkins, induced Capt.
Wallace of his Majesty's Ship Rose to pre-
vent the Ferry Boats, Fish Boats, and
Wood Vessels from coming to the Town
with their usual supplies of provisions and
fuel for the use of the inhabitants, bv means
whereof together with the great stagnation
of trade, they are now exposed to all the
dreadful consequences which must evontu-
ally arise through the wart of the common
necessaries of life. That your memorial
lists in order if possible to avert the inpend-
ing evils with which their constituents are
threatened, appointed a committee to con-
fer with Capt. Wallace respecting the inter-
ruption he had given TO the boats passing
to and from this Island, who reported that
he had promised and engaged on the re.
moval of the armed force now on the Is
land, to permit the Ferry Boats, Wood Yes.
sells and Market Boats for supplying the in
habitants to pass without molestation, and
that he would not take any more stock off
this Island. Ia consideration whereof he
expected to receive from the Town unmo-
Tested his usual supplies of fresh Beef, Beer
&C., for necessary use of his Ships; he al
so further engaged, that in case he should
be under the disagreeable necessity hereaf-
ter, through any breach Of these overtures,
not to fire upon the Town without giving
the inhabitants sufficient warning, although
he had positive instructions (which he pro-
duced to the Committee) to burn and de-
stroy every Town where an armed force
may appear.
That your memorialists in consequences
of this report preferred n memorial to Gov
ernor Cook and others, Committee ap-
pointed at the last session Of the Assembly
TO transact the business Of the Colony du-
ring their recess, representing the state Of
the Town, and praying such relief in the
premises rs might free the inhsbifsnts from
their fears and auxieiies.
The memorial was received ny his honor
at Cambridge and by him laid before COM
mi,,se Of the Continental Congress then SIT
ting there, who unanimously gave their o
pinion that the inhabitants Of Newport
should supply the ships Of war with Beer
and fresh provisions as usual, provided they
complied with the terms he had offered, and
that the troops should be removed on, Of
Town bat slill remain on the Island. Up