Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1855-08-09

The first visit Gensr,l Washington
made to Newport, wass n March 1881.
He left his Head Quarters at New Windsor,
on Friday March I'd, and arrived on Thurs.
day the 9th. He was then forty mine years
OF age, having been born on Tuesday, Feb.
ruary 22nd. l732. His object in visiting
Newport, was to hold communication in
person with the French Commanders,
General Rochambeau and M. Destoueh-
es, on subjects relating to the campaign
against the enemy, then in Virginia, which
could not bs safely entrusted to writing.
lie passed from the Narrsgansctt shore by
Conanicut Ferry. and landed from his barge
at the head of Long Wharf, then sbou,
eighty-thres feet less in length than it 10
now. The French aeet lay in the rear Of
Fort George on Goat Island. and gave him
full salute. The French army was drawn
up in order on the wharf, extending long
distance towards the Capitol. Washington,
bling Marshal Of France, for without that
title he could not have commanded the
French army, was clad on the occasion
with the insignia of his office, and having
Count de Rochambeau on his left, unbun.
neted he walked through the long lines Of
the French which were opened on the right
and on the left, followed by Fr'nch mobiles,
commanders, and sub.officers, and was es-
corted fret to the State House, and thence
to The lodgings Of Rochanbeau, the present
residence Of the Vernons, on tho corner Of
Clarke and Mary streets, at which place he
received the Committee of the citizens,
and to their address returned q reply char.
acteristic equally of his teider sympathies
and practical good sense. 1t was in honor
of that visit, that the name OF The street on
the Point, then called Main Street,
street of great business, and the residence
of many highly respectable families. was
changed, and has since been known by the
name Of Washington street.
Washington street was early laid out, and
extends from what 10 now known by the
name of +" Fort Greene" southwark to the
Long.Wharf At point distant from Thames
street, thirteen hundred and seventy feet
west. II is for,y-two feet wide, and there
were built from its western shore under the
State grant to the Town of its waters in
l707, no less than fifteen wharves, some OF
which Were extended several hundred feet
into lie channel VI lNarragahse,, Bay
The western line was laid out into house
lots each fihy feet wide, having sections
divided by thirty feet streets every one Of
which ran from the east to the water OH
the ives each section containing four house
lots. These lots were called water lots
and we're sold to their origi nal purchasers,
and to every owner who applied, liberty
was granted Of extending his lot westward,
provided he did not interfere with any orig
inal grants or private purchases. And to
no other than to the owners Of those water
lots, was the liberty of extension ever
granted, nor even to them, only on the ex-
press condition that they should not cut off
The head waters of any other lots which
were not owned by them so that they coulo
not have Tree and direct communication
with Narragansett Bay. This division Of
Easton's Point, so styled, has ever been
strickly adhered to and maintained unto this
daY. ---