Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1855-08-16


Cove frequently at lall tides passed over it.
at the narrows, now called The Causcway.
The town demonstrated with the owners
Of the lots in that section, but upon what
grounds have not learned After more
than once threatening to disposscss them OF
their lots for refusing TO repair the street,
but in vain, an arrangement was made by
which the stone, then lying on the adjacent
wharyes and which had been used as foun-
dation materials for buildings that formerly
were erected thereon, was used to con.
struct the walls Of the present street and
which have been rclaid BY tho town aud
firmly capped.
The first lot South on the street adjoin-
ing Ar. Iolt's premises, is the Collins
Wharf estate, measuring on Washington
street one hundred and ten feet. The map
OF Newport, constructed and published ac-
cording to Act, April Oath, l776 by J. F.
Des Barres Esq, and also another map,
surveyed by Charles Blaskowitz, and en-
graved and published by William Faden,
Charring Cross, Sept lst l777, both give
to this wharf western ,extension OF four
hundred feet.
Henry Collins, Esq, who formed a gal
lery OF paintings, and whom the venerable
DIR. Warehouse styled the Lorenzi de Me.
dici of Rhode Island, was a distinguished
merchant Of this town in l740. He was
an accomplished and liberal gentleman, and
is the person named first in the deed of the
Long Wharf. He was the owner Of the
wharf bearing his name prior to the grant
of the former. At what time the ancient
wharves on Washington street were con-
structed has not been ascertained, but re-
fcrenCes to them occur near that period
when the General Assembly at its May
Session, 1907 ,ceeded the public waters to
the several towns in which they existed,
and gave them entire jurisdiction over them.
Mr. Collins did an extensive business upon
his wharf, and was the main protector of
the Long. Wharf. When Abraham Red
wood, all opulent and worthy Friend, gave
to the Literary Society in this city in l747,
f50O sterling to be invested in books,
Henry Collins presented 10 that Society the
lot of land, upon which the building Of the
r ,dwood Library and Atheneum was
erected in I74S; a beautiful specimen Of
the architecture o: the Doric order,planned
by Peter Harrington Esq, the architect oil
h, present City Hall. The Association OF
The Library was Incorporated in Angusi,l7.
Al, and The Library and it's premises, are
at this time most faithfully cared for by lis
ygilant and accommodating Librarian, Au-
gus,us Bush, Esq. Henry Collins ais
the purchaser of that Brig, from the Bay
of Honduras, loaded with mahogony, in
1860, that was driven upon Eas,on's Beach
with her sails all set, on board of which no
living creature was found, save dog, al.
though the table was prepared for meal,
aud meat was boiling in kettle over the
fire. As the long boat of that vessel was
missing, it was at the time supposed that
the crew, hearing the sound OF the breakers,
aud fearing that they were in imminent
danger, had recourse to their boat, which
was probably lost amid the waves, and thus
they persisted, as they were never hear
from. The vessel was li.hlened of her
cargo and brought to this wharf, and after
being fitted for another voyage, Mr.. c.,
changed her name, and called her the Beach
bird. In the revolution of the country, as
it has been affirmed, the British cut her
down and converted her into an armed gal
ley.
Gov. John Collins who was governor OF
the State 1869, succeeded TO the owner
ship Of this wharf 1t is probable that
there existed some relationship between
these two gentlemen. Mr.. Thomas
Hawnsby, native of this city, eighty.nine
years old on Friday, August Sd inst,
gentleman long distinguished for his great
integrity and remarkable strong and accu-
rate memory, says, that he has seen vessels
lying at Collins wharf three in depth its
entire length, which he said was very long.
He also says that there were several build.
ings erected on the north side of it, which
were used for almost every department, then
connected with commerce, such as shops
for ship carpenters, backsmiths, coopers,
riggers, sail makers,t t&c. Also that there
was standing thereon when he was boy
ten years old, a large newly erected build
ing, the end of which was on the street, and
which the British soldiers when in possess
ion of the town removed to Quaker-field,
and placed it opposite to the Second Baptist
Westinghouse on Farewell street, and
occupied it as an Office building, and for
other purposes connected with the forage
of that field. They also used as forage
field, 4" Bannis,er's ten acre lo,," part OF
which now forms the beautiful Touro
Park, near the centre of which stands
that Relic +" of the seventeenth century in
Rhode Island, the well proportioned ami
symmetrical masonry Of which, some mod.
erns would assign to the Mortimer Of the
eleventh and twelfth century, but which the
accurate historian can class no where but
in the day of Benedict Arnold, il. real con-
structor and original proprietor; and record