The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1868-05-02
Correspondence of The Cecil Wing.
Letter from Rhode Island.
BRISTOL, RI, April Dist. 1S6

BRISTOL, HI, April list, 1868.
Dir. EDIToR AS your columns are en-
riched by correspondence from abroad, as
well as from your own vicinity, have thought
an occasional contribution from staid New
England might at least add a spice of variety
to the intellectual pabulum with which you
rcgale your readers.
This letter halls from. one of the original
towns OF this section. 1t was settled but
sixty years from the landing Of the Pilgrims
in 1920 Jabez Rowland, the first Town
Clerk, was son of John Rowland, who
came over in the MayAower. About 1876,
just one hundred years before the Declare
ton Of our National Independence, the
deadly struggle of the English with the Mar
ragansett Indians, under the leadership of
the renowned sachem, Philip of Mount
Hope, was brought to a close by the defeat
and dispersion of the natives and the death
of Philip. The place where he was slain is
but short distance from the town of Bris-
,ol, and the elevation, digniied with the
title Mount Hope, and celebrated as the seat
Of this distinguished chief is in it's imme-
diate vicinity. The lands thus gained by
conquest were appropriated by the colony of
New Plymouth, and that part OF them, now
the site Of Bristol, was sold to four gentle
men, citizens Of Boston, for the sum of
Il1Oo These proprietors devoted them
selves with zeal and liberal views to the
settlement of the town. Among their ear
liest acts, was the securing the services of
an ordained minister and the provision of
educational facilities for the youth of the
community. For DO years the religious inte-
rests OF the people We're cared for by minis
tiers OF the Congregational order in 172O,
however, parish was organized of those
who preferred the services Of the Church of
Eng land, and second house of worship
was erected. Tie third religious organiza-
ton was the Methodist Episcopal Church in
1892; the fourth, the Baptist Church, in
1911 and, subsequently, what is called the
Christian, and the Roman Catholic. There
have also been public societies of the col
ored people and Adventsts.
In l775, the inhabitants were subjected to
severe cannonading by British vessel
which had been refused a contribution of
supplies by the patriotic fathers of the town,
During the war the town was subjected to
many annoyances. and at one time was al
most entirely destroyed by fire.
Situated on tongue Of land, trending
almost due North and South, on the eastern
side of the beautiful Narragansett Bay, on
gently rising ground, Bristol was in its early
history seaport of considerable import,
ance; whalers were here fitted out, and 81
brisk trade carried on with the West Indies
and the coast of Africa, besides flourish
ing coasting trade. Among the aged resi-.
dents now, is the man who has the honor oil
first making the North West passage Its
business now Is mainly manufactures and
agriculture. There arc an extensive sugar
refinery, two cotton mills, barrel factory,
II large establishment for the manufacture ri
rubber goods of almost every variety, and
ship yard, devoted almost exclusively To
the construction of every kind Of pleasure
boats these yachts have great reputation
for speed Farming is mainly carried on in
small lots. The soil is extremely fertile,
and the crops are abundant. Almost fabu
lous quantities OF onions are raised, the
yield being from 100 to 600 bushels per acre,
with crop OF carrots into the bargain 4
friend OF mine reports this year $500 bushels
for his share. This quantity al present
prices, "a per bushel, will pay very WE'LL
side. About a year ago the highest price
offered was 10 cts, and many had 10 hire
persons TO haul their onions out Of their
storehouses and empty them into the bay.
The island Of Ehode Island, lying immc.
dlateiy south Of Bristol, on the southern part
OF which Is the celebrated watering place,
the city OF Newport, is one of the most fer.
Tile portions Of the whole country. Very
large crops OF potatoes are raised here, and
ct the very choicest quality. Oats, corn,
; and barley are raised in considerable guam,
The town is laid out in wide streets, at
right angles, tastciully adorned with shade
trees, among which ~lle elm, horse. chestnut.
and maple predominant The dwellings are
plain, but neat and most convenient. The
Congregational, Protestant Episcopal, Meth.
odist Episcopal, Baptist, and Christian houses
Of worship are credilable; the three first
indeed very costly and elegant structures. -
The people, numbering about 5000, are
orderly, moral, well-to-do and Intelligent
No license to vend, what has been somewhat
emphatcallly, but not too strongly styled,
distilled damnation is granted in Bristol !;
and, as some might malicionsly add, the
"ierce Democratic are nowhere. Sober.
ly, politics are SO considered, that there is
scarcely any interest to be excited in the
elections. r.