Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1849-08-30


this Island the seat Of his institution Ate.
waiting patiently for two years TO receive the
promised appropriation, he was finally obliged
TO return, and to abandon his benevolent
scheme. No. far from the house he oc uped,
are the hanging rocks, gigantic masses which
overlook the sea, and in one of the clefs or
alcoves Of which he con posed his " Minute
Philosopher " In my recent visit to the
house, The worthy farmer who is its present
owner told me that he had great diff ulty in
keeping the old mansion in repair tha, he had
had serious thoughts OF teaing it dowr. but
that gentleman came there one day, furri-
n1, who said that the man that tore down that
house ough, to be hung, upon which he drew,
back to reconsider the case. Berkeley, on
his departure, presented to Yale College the
house, and farm consisting Of one hundred
acres, together with Library Of a thousand
volumes: The organ Of Trinity Church, still
in use, is also his gift
Tho English had possession of the island
three years, from The commencement of thet
Revolutionary war TO the autumn Of 1910.
During this time they cut and consumed all
the namen,al and forest trees, with many Of
the valuable orchards and, contrary 10 the
usages Of civilized nations, they carried away
the town records.
Newport, at this period, was the chosen
resort OF the opulent and educated ond in
colonial importance, second only to Boston.
Many Of its inhabitants were from the aIisto-
cratic families Of England, and il was regard
ed as the centre Of fashion, refinement and ].
taste. In the summer Of 1880, the French
feet and an army Of six thousand men arrived
a, Newport, under the command of Admiral
de Ternay and Conn, de Rochambeau, and ,
vivid are The pictures which remain in tho
inagiua.ions of The daughters and grand
daughters Of the beauties of that day, Of the
dinners, balls and fetes in honor of our gay
and gallant allies: The admiral died soon af:
ter his arrival in Newport, and his remains
still repose in Trinity church-y yard, beneath
in letters of gold, which was sent over by his
unfortunate king.
On the northwest 81 e Of tire island stands
the house which was occupied as the head
quarters Of the English commander, General
Prescott. The halbor was filled with the
encmy's ships, and the island with their troops
bat Col. Barton, Of Providence, formed the =,
bold resolution ofcar,orirg the general. A
dark nigh, was chosen for the enterprise and
with a few volunteers the gallant Colonel en-
baTled in small boat, and with muffled oars ,
they noselessly made their way to the shore
They reached the generals house, silencet
the sen'in"ls at the door, surprised the gen.
eral in his bed, and giving him only time TO
rot on his small clothes, without shoes, coat
or chapeau, they assisted him very rapidly
through the rye fields that lay between them
and the water and while the drowsyosenti-
nels Of the English feet cried " Ais well :"
they passed uuder their bows and safely re
gained tho opposite shore. The general, tsk-
en- thus inglorously, fingered in confinement
until he was exchanged for prisoner Of eqaal
rank
Newport has been tho birthplace and resi-
dencc Of mary distinguished mon. General
Greene resided here for many years th his
family, ard the 'iAnsion he occupied is still
pointed out The gallant Perry was born
and educated here, and monument erected
by the State marks The place Of his repose.-
The eminent DIR. Stiles, afterwards Presden,
Of Yale College, was Tor many years pastor
of the Congregational Church in Newport
as was also the venerable Dr. Hopkins, the
founder Of the Hopkinsian scci. The Rev.
Arthur Brown, afterwards President ofTrin.
ity College, Dublin, was born and educated
here. The amen,cd Dr.. Claiming wa. also
a native of this island Flo thus describes
the inf enco Of its scenery, in his own chas-
tened and earnest eheucnce
In this town J pursued my theological
studies. had no professor to guide me, but
| had two noble places Of s,udy-one was yoh-
der beautiful! edi6ce now frequentcd as a pub
lie library, the other was the beach, the roar
OF which has so often mingled with tho wor-
ship Of this pace-my daily resort dear to
me In the sunshine, still more attractive in the
storm. Seldom do | visit it now without
thinking of tho work which there, in The sight
of that beauty, in the sound OF those waves,
was carried on in my soul. No spot on earth
has helped to form me SO much as that beach.
There lifted up my voice in prayer amid the
tempest there, softened by beauty, poured
out my soul in thanksgiving and contri,e
confessions There, in reverential sympathy
with the mighty power around me, became
conscious of the power within. There, .,rug-
Cling thoughts and motives broke forth, as if
moved to uttcrancc by Natures eloquence Of
winds and waves. There be- an a happiness
surprising all worldly pleasures, all gifts of
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