The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-10-15

OF the assembly at atout $3.50 in the .norn-
ing.
No suitaole buildings being in exist
ence. the Assembly met in public inns
or nj the houses OF prominent persons.
In May, 1915, the Assent bly, met in New
port at the house OF Captain Morris. This
was undoubtedly Captain Richard Morris,
VINO was often the bearer of important
letters between tue Assembly OF Con-
necticut and OF Rhode Island. In 1876 1t
was voted that the assembly ''set in time
of election in the kitchen of Henry
Palmer's house at Newport"
In May, 1880, the colony purchased
bell "to be used, and for giving notice,
or signifying the several times or sit
tings OF the Assembly and courts OF trial
or general councils"
This bell was purchased for three
pounds, ten shilings, OF Freelove Arnold,
daughter of Governor Benedict Arnold.
Earlier than this the Assembly had been
called together by the beat Of drum. In
16Ty-i6s2 the usual place of meeting in
Newport was at the house OF Robert
Lewis. In August, 1853, a meeting OF the
Assembly was held in Narrsagnsett at
the house OF Captain John Jones.
AT different times during the latter part
of the seventeenth century, the Assem-
bly, met at the house of w,liam Msyes,
innkeeper of Newport; of John Davis,
Newport; OF Colonel John Low, Warwick;
OF John Wnipple, Providence. In 1870
the meeting place was at the house of
the widow Drake in East Greenwich in
1854 at the house of Thomas Potter in
Newport.
In the last year Thomas Potter was
allowed 500 pounds for the use of his
house for holding the general elections
and for tho meetings OF the Assembly
and the court.
Che first colony house was erected at
Newport about 1890. 1t was built of
wood and occupied the site of the present
State House at Newport. 1t was used by
the General Assembly ana also by the
Town Council of Newport. In l694-5 the
Rev. Nathaniel Clspp OF Dorchester occu-
pied the colony house for religious meet
.ngs. 1t caused considerable dissatisfac-
tion and resulted in the passage of reso-
,Iution by the General bly, on July
2, 1896: "Whereas, Several and most of
the inha bitants, freemen OF this colony,
are dissatisfied that the colony house is
improved to other uses than what IL was
thereof by this Assembly, and to settle
the house for the use 1t was boilt, do
hereby order and declare that the said
colony horss in Newport shall not be
improved for any other use than judicial
and military affairs; and not for any
ecclesiastical use or uses Of that nature"
a portion of the first colony house about
1873 or 1879 was moved to Prison street
In Newport, where it still stands, occu-
pied as ters7ment house. Another por-
tion was removed to Broad street, now
Bro dwsy, in Newport, and has since
been entirely demolished.
AT meeting of the General Assent bly,
held in Warwick, 1889, it was enacted
''tbat colony house be built and made
of brick at Newport, where the old one
now stands, consisting OF SO feet in length,
and 40 in breadth, and 80 stud; the
length whereof TO stand near or quite
north aud south" Peter Bours, Esbon
Sanford, George .Goulding and George
wanton were appointed a building COM
mittee.. They were directed to "dispose
of the old colony house at public vendue
to the highest bidder, for the use of said
colony
Richard Munday was employed to furn-
ism the design as well as all details, and
the work was placed in his hands. I'm
der his direction tho body OF tbs build
ing was built Of brick, but the quoins.
sills and other prominent details were of
stone.
The exact position of this building. as
10 the points OF the compass, excited con-
siderable attention. The first provision
placed its greatest length north and
south. At a meeting OF the assem- bly,,
held In Newport, the first Wednesday of
May, 1889, II was "votcd and resolved,
that that part OF the act for building
new colony bouuss, which directs the
iengt b thereof, to be north and south, be
repealed; and that the length of said
house be put east and west.' This
change in the original arrangements was
not permitted to stand. II appears that
at the meeting of the ASSN bly,, held in
Portsmouth, on the 10th OF July, 1873,
"upon the petition of sundry of the in
habitants of the town Of Newport, setting
forth that the new colony house to bo
built would look more commodious,
ETC., II the length thereof should be set
north and south, and praying that the
present situation might be altered; IT is
thereupon voted and ordered, that the
late act passed for setting the length of
the colony house east and west, he re-
pealed. and that tho length thereof, be
built north and south, and that a cellar
be made under the same"
Following custom that prevails in
many old buildings in England, upon
the keystones OF the arches over the lower
windows In front OF the colon house,
are different initials, rs follows:: w.
f., J. b.. 1. H.. ID. e., /. w, /. L. At