New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-07-14
NEW PUBLICATIONS

*
Mr.. Arnold has performed an excellent service
to the study of American history, in the compost
lion Of the elaborate work, Of which the concluding
volume is now published. He has engaged in the
accomplishment of his cOngenial task with o cor
dial fellow-feeling with the worthless whom he
commentaries, a spirit of local pride in their char
aeter and achievements though apparently unbi-
ased by the partially of favoritism, and con-
scieutious desire to discover the truth by minute
and accurate investigation. With no love OF rhet-
crical display his style is graceful and vigorous
lacid in statement, ample in Illustration compact
in arrangement, and well-suited to the gravity oil
historical narrative. The period embraced IN the
work reaches from the settlement of Rhode Island
in the year 1886 to the adoption OF the Federal Con-
stitution in 1870, the present volume commencing
with the death OF Lord Bellemont in l7ol.
The name of Bishop Berkeley is intimately asso-
eiated with the domestic annals of Rhode Island,
and is duly noticed by the author in the following
passage:
The arrival of George Berkeley Dean Of Derry, and
yf,ervyard Bishop of Coyne, joyful event in the
history of Newport and important in its results 10 the
other colonies corps of literary men and artists &C
coropanied him, among whom was Smibert, to whose
art From the collection Of pictures That he brougn
Copley first drew his inspiration and West was taught
70 breathe his spirit upon the undying canvas. Inc
benevolent design Of Berkely 10 found college IN tne
Bcrmudas was abandoned from necessity, but his hb-
eral benefsctions TO Harvard and Yale still exist as
proofs Of his zeal in the OF classical learning 10
combat the progress of materalism and subver the
Epcursn theories of Hobbies Berkeley had become the
champion Of the imnateral System OF philosophy, ana
argued the non-exsenee Of matter or rather s ente
snRiecton to the ideal. The purity Of his character
A. NJ, md tho obi
opponents In a single line Pope has accorded
ITO Berkeley, every vrtueunder Heaven"
The arrival of such could not fan to be attended
with good results He purchased farm m Middle
Town about three miles from Newport, and called 1t
residence of the early Arohbshops OF England
Whitehall name which ii still retains, and was soon
admitted freeman Of the colony Here ne resided lor
more than two years, and wrote MS Alclphr0n or
Minnie Philosopher an ingenious defense OF the Chris
tan religion Soon after bis arrival, he formed So
eety for the purpose of discussing philosophical ques
tons and OF collecting books Ihis was the orlgn OF
the Redwood Library organized some yearslat One
Of the members Of this society was Edward Scott the
grand uncle of Sir Walter Scott, who, for nearly
twenty years. had been master of the Grammar S;hool
ST Newport the fret classical school established IN
Rhode leland. Berkeleys Theory OF Vision is the first
satisfactory account we have OF the phenomena OF
right; his Alcpbron was printed in Newport by James
Franklin: bnt the most enduring monument OF ms ge-
Mus is the ode " On the Prospect of the Arts and
Science in America" of which the concluding ftanza
"will live immortal as the verse Of Gray
Westward the course Of empire TAX, its way;
TIL four first acts already past,
Times uobest offspring is the last
Rhode Island was in no respect behind her sister
colonies in the patriotic zeal which inspired resist
ance TO the British rule, or in active preparations
for the Revolutionary conflict. month or two
previous TO the battle of Lexington the work Of en-
lstment was rapidly going on, orders for arms
from Providence were incessant, tea was every
where prescribed, large quantity of the forbidden
luxury was publicly burnt in the market square of
Providence, & general muster Of the militia was
held and military enthusiasm was universal. The
effect of the batte OF Lexington in Rhode Island
was electric The intelligence reached Providence
the same night Expresses were sent off to the
ether towns and to Connecticut. The military as
,emblcd, and the next day thousand men were
on their march from Providence to the scene OF
strife An army OF observation. to consist of If
teen hundred men, was voted to be raised at once.
Subsequently, The soil OF Rhode Island became an
important seat of war, and on the 18th of august,
IT'S, the sceuc of a memorable conflict, of which
we have the following vivid description:
So great was the scarcity of provisions at this time,
that there hundreds of people IN Providence with
cut bread the means q ooalnlng II, and corn was
cent 70 lq1nC flour on account OF tue enbargo until the
pressing wants OF the population required 1t TO be re-
aealed Great dissatisfaction perVaded The camp,
and desertons became frequent. Hall OF the New
ampshIe volunteers, writes one OF their officers, had
ALREADY gone and tue could not be induced to re-
MAN. The siege had meanwhile been pressed with
vipor and the enemy HAD abandoned all their out
works exec u one. II Sullivan intention IA storm
the works, but tire army by the withdrawal OF lhe
volunteers was found to be reduced 20 only ty Jour
hundred men Ii was therefore determined in council
10 f, back upon the fortified hills at the north, and
there await the return OF the French fleet, to hasten
which LAFAYETTE proceeded 70 Boston. Nearly three
thousand volunteers supposng that nothing would DC
done til the return Of the French, had leit wlImn
twenty -four bous aud others were still leaving Inc
retreat commenced in the evening, and by two o'clock
that night the army enc2mped on Butts lH, the r9nt
wing on the road, and the leit on the east roao,
with COY erng parties on each flank Col. Livingstone
hoit corps stationed the east road, ana another
Ilder Col. Iaurens, Col tleny and Mslor laiooI Oh
Abe west road each three miles in front OF the camp,
and in their rear the picket OF The army under
Col. Wade,
Early the next morning the British forces marched
out In TWO columns by the two roads, aud at seven
o'eioek the attack commenced. The American light
corpe were supported hy the picket 4 series Of &C.
we're skirnishes ensued and regiment sent 10 re-
enforce each of the two corps With orders for them to
retire upon the main body, when they dd IN eEceuenI
order. One account attributes N h2Jor TALBOT the
CONNIE pcenent of the action the west road. Az
s4les more crcumsaDiia states that the irst despe-
rate stand VAS made at cross road connecting the two
main roads near the Gibbs place abont five and bait
,,iJe, from Newport where a middle road, parallel 10
the two and very the east road extends north
ward from The cross road. broad HELD, ncOsed by
stone walls occupies the space between the east ana
middle roads and is bounded on the sOutn by the gross
road Hero the twenty second British regiment, Cot
Campbell, which had advanced by tbe east road, d.
yded and One-half of ii formed 10 tho len INTO The