Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-08-08
From the Providence journal.
FROM the Providence journal.
Annual Report
OF The BOARD OF TRUSTEES or THE
II. ISLAND HISTORICAL LsOCIETYj
SUBMITTED AT THE MEETING HELD JULr 10,
1899.

SUBMITTED Ar THE MEETING HELD JULY l9,
1889.
The Constitution of the Rhode Island
Historical Society, requires the Board
of Trustees to "make, annually, "A writ
ten Report Of their doings and Of the
general concerns of the Society," In
discharging this duty, on the present oe-
casion, the Board fnd, in the actual
condition and in the opening prospects
Of the Society, ample cause Tor con-
graduation. Although, during the past
year, our researches may have been less
various, animated and successful, than
in some preceding years, yet, 1t is be-
lieved, the purpose for which we arc as
socated, that of "procuIing and prcser-
wing whatever relates to the topographyj
Antiquities, and natural, civil, and eccfe-
siaslcal history Of The State" has been
steadily carried forward. This remark
is fully sustained by the Report of our
Librarian and Cabinet Keeper " hich
exhibits, in detail, the additions which
have been made to the Library and
Cabinet, during the past year. These
additions have been unusually numerous.
Some OF them will furnish valuable ma
tetals for the future historian Of tls
State and some Of them deserve 10 be
rescued from oblivion, and 10 repose up
on our shelves, destined, perchance, to
kindIe into rapture the enthusiasm OF
some dcyout antiquary, when he comes,
with reverent hand TO brush the dust al
centuries from these fragments of the
mighty past.
Our interesting and valuable foreign
correspondence has not been neglected,
during tho year which has just closed. -
From the Royal Academy Of Northern
Antquarics at Copenhagen, and from
the Royal Academy of Sciences at LIS
bon, we continue TO receive the r'ost
fiat,ering proofs Of sympathy and favor.
Several volumes Of their transactions en-
rich our Library. They are precious
monuments Of genius and learning, dedi-
Gated for the purpose of enlarging the
boundaries Of historical knowledge.
Having at command no pecun'ary
mean which could be appropriated I"
defray the expenses Of publication, your
Board have not attempted, during the
past year, to publish another volume OF
collections. TO the collection rather than
TO the publication Of historical materials
the attention of the Society must, ior the
present continue 10 be directed. When
more ample funds shall bo placed at
their disposal, your board will not be
slow to embark in any enterprise which
IN ,..,A NIyI
the historian, and quicken generous
zeal in behalf Of the objects for which
this Society was established
This society has now been in opera
ton, nineteen years. During that time,
it has published four volumes OF Col
lectons. The first contains "A key to
the Language of America written 10y
Roger Williams, aud published in Lon
don, in l643 The second volume coni
tains "Simpicity's Defence against Sew
en- Headed Policy" by Samuel Gorton,
one Of the first settlers Of Warwick, and
the founder of tho sect Of Gortop'sts, or
! Gortoneans. rhe work was orig'nuliy
published in London, in '643. AS re-
published, it contains Notes and Appen-
I dices, explanatory Of the text; which
were furnished by the Hon. William u.
! Staples, and which are highly credi'able
to his impartiaiiy, accuracy, and dir
Cence. The third volume contains "the
early History Of NaTsgansett," by Eli
sha X. Potter, Esq. This is minute
and faithful history Of an interesting por-
ton Of our State, prepared with great
labor, and furnishing important conirlbu-
lions to the general history Of New Fog
land The fourth volume confirms Cal
lenders Century Sermon" preached IN
Newport, at the close Of the hrst cen
tury after the settlement Of the Island ol
Rhode Island by the English. This
Justly celebrated work had been long ot,t
of print. Its historical value has been
materially enhanced by the labors ot
its Editor, the Rev. Professor Elton, Of
Brown University, who has prehxcd to
i, Life of Calender, and illustrated the
tex, by various Annotations.
The Board have INDUCED in this re-
trospect, not only for the purpose OF re-
calling 60 memory the good service which
the editors Of these volumes have rem
dered to this Society and to the State
. but in the hope Of attracting TO the TOPICS
of Rhode Island history, larger share
Of the publ favor. In this connex,on.
il may be proper to add iha, an historical
>. sketch of this Society, PrepaIcd az INC
reoncs. Of this Board, by the Hon WIN.
r. Staples, was published under ITS
sanction, 10 tho American Quarterly
Register for May, 1899. This Sketch,
with such additions as time may renser
necessary, will, it is hoped, hereafter
lind a place in the Collections ol sh's
Society.
/ In January, 1888, your Board aP-
poin.cd a Committee to mako all neccs-
sary arrangements for Course Of Popu-
lar Lectures, to DO delivered under the
nuspices, and for the benefit OF the So-
ciety, during the last winter. THIS
Committee cndeavored, but without sue
/ cess, to execute the intentions OF the
Board. The contemplated Course oi
/ Lectures was reluctantly abandoned.
4 In December last, n Comm uee oi
this Board was appointed TO inquire o'
the Executors OF the late Moses Brown
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