Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-08-08

II DcDtldik, hnu 'ne HOst niuStItOus VI Nv
ing sculptors. II appears from genoa
logical table affixed to the Antiquities
Americanae,' that he is lneally descend
ed from Thorfnson, the first European
child born in America. The birth OF
this offspring Of one Of the Anti'Colum-
ban dlscoverers Of our continent is al
legged to have taken place in the year
1908 and, as is conlectured, within the
boundaries Of this State.
Thorwaldscn is resident OF Rome,
and he has acknowledged, under his own
signature, and in the most courteous
manner, the tribute Of respect which your
Board, in behalf of this Society, offered
to his acceptance. No apology can be
necessary for embodying in this Report
the following extract from his letter to
our Secretary:
81 take the liberty Of requesting you,
as Secretary and chief organ, to express
to the Society my sincere thanks and
gratitude, and TO assure il that feel the
obligation more deeply from my always
having been the enthusiastic admireI
and advocate of the wonderful people tc
which it belongs, and that my warmes
prayers will be offered up TO Divine
Providence for long continuance O
those invaluable institutions, and of thai
national character which, with the bles'
sings Of peace, prosperity, and union
cannot fail TO ensure To your country, as
heretofore, the respect, applause, and
II admiration Of the world"
\ Your Board announce to the Society
with sincere regret, the removal from
| the State of Rhode Island Of their Jealous
and indelaligablc Secretary, Thomas IL
Webb, NJ. d. For nine successive
years, DIR. Webb has recorded the pro-
ceedings, and conducted the correspond
ence of the Society. lie has moreover
labored, and not always without success
to niuse into his associates some portion
of that zeal which has always animated
his own efforts A his connexion with
us is about to be dissolved, your Board
cannot withhold their grateful ac-
knowledgemcnts Of the exemplary fdeli-
Ity with which he has done his duty.
With a sentiment Of deeper sorrow,
| your Board now advert to the loss which
the Society has sustained, during the
past year, by the death Of Stephen Gould, 4,
Esq and of the Hon. Samuel Eddy
The venerable Stephen Gould will be
long and gratefully remembered, as one
of the most active and efficient Of our
associates, and, for many years, the
Keeper Of the Cabinet for the Southern
District. Judge Eddy was, for three
years, one of our Vice Presidents, and
ill sickness quclled his ardor, few men
were more earnest in the desire that the
character of Rhode Island should be
vindicated from unjust reproach, and
that her civil and ecclesiastical policy,
through all the stages of her progress,
should be exhibited to the world by an
historian, who, neither through prejudice
nor misnformation, would misrepresent
them.
Your Board rejoice to recognize, in
every section Of our Union, manifesto
tons of increasing interest in those stu
dies and researches which relate to the
history Of our country. An Historical
Society, with which your Board will lose
no time in commencing correspondence
has Just been established, under the mos
favorable auspices, in the State Of Geor-
gia. Similar Societies are multiplying
not only in the old, but in the new States;
and, amid the bitter strife Of our domes
tic politics, it is refreshing to behold po-
litical champions of every denomination
cordially cooperating in efforts to ex-
tend the serene triumphs ofhistoricaltruth.
II In conclusion, your Board would re-
member, and they would exhor their
associates likewise to remember, their
privileges and their duties. Tha history
of Rhode Island, rich in incident, and
full of instruction, is yet to be written.-
/ If written with mpartiality and in spirit
Of comprehensive wisdom, neither we
nor our children would have cause to
blush at the record. Our fathers lived
not in vain. in the conflicts Of the
American Revolution, they contended
manlully, in the council and in the field,
for the great principles of popular rights.
To them belongs the merit of the first
public suggestion OF the General Con-
gress which assembled in INA and TO
them, likewise, belongs the credit OF
making the first movement in behalf OF
our national system Of naval defence -
Not to enumerate other unquestioned
titles TO our grateful recollection, they
bequeathed to Us, in the spot which we
now inhabit, goodly heritage; and,
let it never be forgotten, they also be-
queathed to US, and they first proclaimed d
to the world The true principles Of ofreigious
freedom Let US not slight the noble
inheritance. Let us at least strive, in
this our day and generation, to collec,
every memorial of these foreiather.
which time may have spared. Having
rescued these memorials from oblivion
let US place them as far as may be prac.
ticable, beyond the reach OF accident
In this work, let us labor increasingly
till it be accomplished. Give the future
historian Of our State no cause to re-
proach us for having left him naught bu
arid chronicles Of events ; but let hin
find, among the fruits of our humber
tolls, materials, not only for faithful mar
ra,ive, but for a philosophical exposition
Of the conduct, and principles, and insti-
tutiOns Of our ancestors.