The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-02-29

hangs over it, that one wandering up from
the shore through the tangled wilderness
of It's once famous grounds, and first COM
ing in right Of the house in the dim light
caused by the dense shade, can almost inn
agne himself in some enchanted country
and would hardly be surprised if the ghost
OF old Samuel Elan himself should appear
in the doorway.
Not very far from Vancluse is small
cottage which tradition says was once a
favorite haunt of Capt. kidd's. Mint
water brook flows by this cottage and the
worthy captain is said to have preferred
this water above all other for use on his
vessel. If geese were as plentiful along is
banks then as they are now, Kidd and his
sailors must have had appetites as per-
verted as their character.
In the town of Middletown, u little to
the east of Newport, is Whitehall, the old
residence of Bishop Berkeley. Though of
fair size it has no pretensiOns to architect
ural beauty and IL stands, more over on
low ground and commands no view what
ever Even the ocean, though close by,
cannot be seen from it. Ii was a theory
of the bishops that one wearies of land
scape if it is always before him, and he
preferred TO walk out and view the sea
rather than TO look at IL from his window.
Nevertheless he was fond of watching it,
and certain rock near the shore on
which he was accustomed TO sit is pointed
imagination, so he tells us, he could see
from this rock the navies of all Europe
riding at anchor in the cove formed by
Sachnest Point but this picture fell as far
short of being realized as his plan for a
university on Rhode Island to which
students would flock from all parts of the
world
In Newport the "Gov Collins place."
now better known as the Bull place is
worthy OF mention. il is very old, though
in excellent repair, and is said to have
been used to quarter British troops in
during the Revolution. The Vernon
house on Clarke street was the head
quarters of many of the officers Gen.
Prescott, however, after his capture by
Boston and subsequent exchange. had his
headquarters at a large gnmbrelroofed
house. still in good repair, which stands
at the corner Of Pelham aud Spring streets.
There were few sidewalks in Newport in
those DAYS. and the General appropriated
the doorsieps of bis neighbors with which
TO construct u sidewalk from his head
quarters TO Thames street In the fortune
of war, however, there came u day in
which the agvrieved inhabitants did not
hesitate TO reclaim their doorsteps, and
their long pent-up feelings found relief in
bestowing with impunity on the General
whatever epithets their judgment might
dictate or their fancy suggest.
ANY account of the historic houses Of
Newport would be incomplete without
mention of the Malbone Garden House.
but the old house which stood there was
long since replaced by the stone mansion
i'm which Henry Bedlow now lives and
there is now little about the place To re-
mind one of the olden times. The artiii-
cial ponds of Malbone's time cnlled respect
ively THE fish pond" aud The bathing
pond" still remain, and about the ouly
traces Of the garden as IL formerly eX-
isted.
On Washington square. near the Court
House is a still handsome colonial man.
sion which was built by Capt. Gilbert