Glass 
 
 Book 
 
 COi'YRii.HT DtJ'OSIT 
 
^euxpoft lUgstPated 
 
 and 
 
 Oictionatty of fievapopt. 
 
 C. E. HAMMETT, JR., 
 
 Publisher, 
 
 202 Thames Stree , 
 
 Newport, R. I. 
 
•^.>. 
 
COPY R IGHTI831 . 
 
Copyright, 1891, 
 
 BY 
 
 CHARl-ES E. HAMMETT. JR. 
 
CHAPTER I. 
 
 EARLY HISTOKY OF NEWPORT. 
 
 IN 1638, Governor Coddington, having associated 
 himself with seventeen others, purchased Aquid- 
 iieck — " Isle of Peace " — of the Indian sachems, in 
 his own name as agent. The company immediately 
 took possession of the island, and settled on its north- 
 ern extremity, where tliey proposed establishmg a 
 colony. A town was regularly laid out, and called 
 Pocasset — now known as Portsmouth. The colony 
 prospered, and during the following summer search 
 was made for a more favorable location, which resulted 
 in the selection of the south-western extremity of the 
 island, now known as Newport. The t'oUowing 
 spring a part of the colony moved to the new site, 
 laid out ihe principal streets, and commenced the 
 erection of houses. At a subsequent date, the island, 
 by order of the General Court, was called the " Isle 
 of Rhodes," or Rhode Island, on account of its great 
 resemblance to the beautiful Isle of Rhodes in the 
 Mediterranean. 
 
2 NEWPORT ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 Newport is beautifully situated on a hill sloping 
 gently to the harbor on the west. It is laid out with 
 some degree of regularity ; the principal streets run- 
 ning north and south, and crossed at right angles. 
 The ancient part of the city is compact ; that of recent 
 date is open and tastefully arranged. The inner har- 
 bor is formed by the Town on the east, the Neck on 
 the south, terminating in Breiiton's Point ; Goat Island 
 on the west, with an opening to the north and also 
 to the south-west. The outer harbor comprises that 
 portion of Narragansett Bay lying between Rhode 
 Island on the east and the island of Conanicut on the 
 west, opening to the ocean on the south, and to the 
 north running into Providence River. The entrance 
 to the harbor is two miles in width, twenty-nine fath- 
 oms in depth, and in only one instance has it been 
 closed by ice since the first settlement. 
 
 On the breaking out of the Revolution, great num- 
 bers of the inhabitants lei't the Island ; and during tho 
 summer and fall of 1776, Newport remained in a dis- 
 tressed condition, without commerce, without defense, 
 except a few guns at Brenton's Point, and with a 
 prostration of business of all kinds. The British fleet 
 arrived, and the troops took possession of the town, 
 and remained three years. During their stay New- 
 port was under martial law. Before leaving, they 
 destroyed four hundred and eighty buildings of various 
 classes, burned the lighthouse at Beaver Tail, cut 
 down all the ornamental and fruit trees, broke up 
 nearly all the wharves, and the places of public wor- 
 ship, with two exceptions, were used as riding schools 
 and stables. The State House they turned into a 
 
NEWPORT ILLUSTRATED. d 
 
 hospital. The church bells, with one exception — a 
 present from Queen Anne — the machinery from the 
 distilleries, and the Town Records, were carried off 
 to New York ; and when at length they evacuated 
 the place, the wells were filled up, and as much prop- 
 erty as possible destroyed, by order of the British 
 commander. 
 
 The British army quartered on the town numbered 
 8,000 English and Hessians. They encamped in 
 summer, but in winter forced themselves into the 
 houses of the inhabitants. 
 
 From 1778 to the time that the island was evacu- 
 ated, contributions were constantly made by States, 
 towns, parishes, religious societies, companies and 
 individuals, for the benefit of the sufferers at Newport. 
 The State granted one hundred and sixty cords of 
 wood, then worth twenty silver dollars a cord, and 
 jC1,000 to the poor. Old houses were torn down and 
 one ship broken up, for fuel. So great was the de- 
 mand for food, that corn brought four silver dollars a 
 bushel, and half that sum was demanded for the same 
 quantity of potatoes. 
 
 During the stay of the British there were always 
 vessels of war in attendance, numbering, at times, as 
 many as seventy men-of-war and transports ; and 
 when the French fleet, under Count D'Estaing, ap- 
 peared off" the coast, the British destroyed many ships 
 to prevent their falling into the hands of the French. 
 The Lark, Orpheus, Juno, Ceberius, Kingfisher, Grand 
 Turk and others were burned, two galleys were blown 
 up, the Flora sunk, and fifteen large transports scat- 
 tered and sunk in the outer harbor ; while the Falcon 
 
* NEWPORT ILLUSTRATED 
 
 sloop-of-war and thirty armed vessels were sunk in 
 the inner harbor. 
 
 The British evacuated in 1779. At that time the 
 population of the Town was reduced from 12,000 to 
 4,000. After the troops left, the Town was used lot 
 cartels between New York and the New England 
 States. Many of the inhabitants returned, but it was 
 generally the poorer class, which oidy increased the 
 distress. Efforts were shortly made to restore the 
 commerce, and a few privateers were sent out, which 
 brought in many prizes ; but owing to the exposed 
 situation of the place, and the long period it had been 
 in the possession of the British, other towns, witli 
 fewer natural advantages, took the lead in commercial 
 enterprise. 
 
 We have no statistics to which we can refer for 
 facts connected with the commerce of Newport ; the 
 Town having been literally sacked by the British, and 
 all the valuable documents destroyed or carried oil'. 
 But there is yet data extant that must be taken as 
 evidence of her early commercial relations, and the 
 high position of her merchants, until they were ruined 
 or scattered by the war. Probably on no spot in the 
 colonies was there concentrated more individual opu- 
 lence, learning and science, than in Newport. In 
 architectural taste and costly structures, she was 
 unsurpassed ; and was styled the emporium of fashion, 
 refinement and taste. Her seamen were bold and 
 hardy, and first carried the whaling business as far as 
 the Falkland Islands. Her manufactures were highly 
 esteemed throughout the country and the West Indies, 
 and the remains of her extensive distilleries are still 
 
X E W P O R T I L L U S T R A T i; n . O 
 
 Visible in various parts of the Town. Of these distil- 
 leries there were upwards of thirty, erected at great 
 expense. To supply them with molasses, a fleet of 
 vessels was constantly employed between Newport 
 and the West Indies ; and at this time the seamen ol 
 the port numbered twenty-two hundred. 
 
 The following facts in regard to the trade of New- 
 port in her palmy days, 1764, are set forth in a protest 
 against the Sugar Act. 
 
 " Of the foreign vessels, one hundred and fifty are annually 
 employed in the West India trade, which import iuti) this 
 colony about fourteen thousand hogsheads of molassf-s, \\ hereof 
 a quantity, not less than twenty-five Viundred hogsheads, is 
 from English islands. It is this quantity of molasses which 
 serves as an engine in the hands of the merchant to efiect the 
 great purpose of paying for British manufactures ; for a part 
 of it is exported to the Massachusetts Bay, to New York and 
 Pennsylvania, to pay for British goods, for provisions, and 
 many articles which compose our West India cargoes ; and 
 part to other colonies, southward of these last mentioned, for 
 such commodities as serve for a remittance immediately to 
 Europe, such as rice, naval stores, &c., or siuh as are necessary 
 to enable us to carry on our commerce. The remainder, (be- 
 sides what is consumed by the inhabitants,) is distilled into 
 rum, and exported to Africa." 
 
 Dr. Waterhouse, in an article published in 1824, 
 entitled " Medical Literature of Rhode Island," says 
 of Newport, " It was the chosen resort of the rich and 
 philosophic, from nearly all quarters of the world.' 
 He then adds : 
 
 "There were more complete chemical laboratories in Ehode 
 Islam I, than were to be found anywhere in Massachusetts prior 
 to fifteen years ago. If it be asked, what were they doing in 
 Philadelphia at this timel we answer, nothing, if we except 
 Franklin's exhibition of electricity. There was then no con- 
 siderable library, public or private except one owned by Wil- 
 liam Logan, Esq., another wealthy and generous patron of 
 literature araoug the Quakers — the Abraham Redwood of Penn- 
 
O NEWPORT ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 sylvania Is it asked, what were they doing in the medical 
 and philosophical line in Boston at this time ! Pelting Dr. 
 Boylston with stones as he passed the streets in the day, and break- 
 ing hts irindows at night, for introducing inoculation for small pox. 
 What were they doing at Cambridge between i 72 1 and 1 754 1 — 
 ask your grandfathers — and what were they doing in Rhode 
 Island ] Reading the best collection of books to be found in 
 Aew England, (Cambridge only excepted,) which gave to 
 Newport a literary cast of character which it sustained until 
 the Revolution ; that is, till their distinguished men were 
 scattered." 
 
 Up to the war of 1812, Newport dragged slowly 
 along ; her commerce gradually improved, and her 
 merchants, in a measure, regained lost ground. Of 
 later years, the Island has become the resort of thou- 
 sands durmg the summer, and it once more presents 
 a gay and animated appearance. Hundreds of beau- 
 tiful buildmgs have been erected during the past few 
 years ; the taxable property has increased to thirty 
 million of dollars ; and it is now esteemed a favor to 
 obtain a fine site for a house at so much a foot, where 
 a few seasons ago the same money would have pur- 
 chased acres of the most desirable land. Some of 
 the changes that have been effected in the appearance 
 of Newport, we shall point out in the following pages. 
 
 1 
 
I 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 CITY HALL WASHINTTON SQUARE. COM. PERRY S HOUSE. 
 
 ZION CHURCH. CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH. — DR. STILES. 
 
 NEWPORT ARTILLERY. 
 
 AT the head of Long Wharf and facing the Parade, 
 stands the City Hall, a brick building of good 
 proportions and dating back to 1763. It was erected 
 as a public market and granary, and by the older 
 inhabitant, is still called the " Granary." For a 
 number of years the upper story was used as a 
 Theatre ; subsequently it was renovated and con- 
 verted intoo, public hall, now known as the City Hall 
 
8 NEWPORT I L L U S T B A T E B 
 
 Tiic lower story is used for the oflSces of the City 
 Clerk and Clerk of Probate. 
 
 On the south side of Washington Square, a few 
 doors from Thames Street, stands the liouse where 
 Commodore Perry resided after the battle of Lake 
 Erie. It is a large square building, erected before 
 the Revolution by a Mr. Levy, a Jew, and contains a 
 wide hall, fine large rooms, and is elaborately finished 
 within. A view of it is given at the head of this 
 chapter. The house is at present owned and occu- 
 pied by Mr Gladding. 
 
 Oliver Hazard Perry, son of Chris. Raymond Perry, 
 was born in Narragansett, Aug. 23d, 1785, and when 
 thirteen years of age he entered the service as mid- 
 shipman, on board the sloop-of-war General Greene, 
 commanded at that time by his father, but his warrant 
 was not dated until the following year. On the break- 
 ing out of the Tripolitan war, he was ordered to join 
 the Adams, commanded by Capt. Campbell, with 
 whom he continued until Commodore Preble was 
 superseded by Commodore Morris, when he returned 
 in the frigate New York to the United States. It 
 was during this cruise that he was promoted to an 
 acting lieutenancy. In 1804 he joined the squadron 
 at Malta, where he remained until the conclusion of 
 the peace with Tripoli, when Com. Rogers shifted 
 his flag from the Constitution to the Essex, and took 
 Perry with him to the United States in the capacity 
 of second lieutenant. During the Embargo he was 
 employed in building seventeen gunboats at New- 
 port, Rhode Islfind, and in 1810 he superseded Capt. 
 Jones in the command of the United States schooner 
 
NEWPORT ILLUSTRATED. 9 
 
 Revenge, attached to the squadron of Com. Rogers, 
 lying at New London. The schooner was lost on 
 Watch Hill Reef; a court of inquiry investigated all 
 (he facts of the case, by whom the conduct of the 
 rom«ianding otiicer was highly applauded. In 1811 
 Capt. Perry married Miss Mason, daughter of the 
 late Dr. Mascn, of Newport. On the breaking out of 
 the late war with Great Britain, he was ordered to 
 take command of the United States flotilla lying at 
 Newport; and in February, 1813, he was appointed, 
 with rank of master commander, to the command of 
 the United States naval force on Lake Erie. 
 
 For a truthful and eloquent account of the Battle 
 of Lake Erie, the reader is referred to an oration de- 
 livered at the celebration of the fortieth anniversary 
 of the Tenth of September, by Hon. Geo. H. Cal- 
 vert. 
 
 In 1819 Com. Perry was dispatched with the sloop- 
 of-war John Adams and schooner Nonsuch, on a mis- 
 sion to Angostura, the seat of the Insurgent Govern- 
 ment on the Main. While on his way in the Non- 
 such from the mouth of the Orinoco, to join the John 
 Adams at Trinidad, he was taken with the yellow 
 fever, and expired before he n^ached the latter vessel. 
 He was buried at Trinidad with funeral honors, and 
 in 1826 the remains were brought to Newport in the 
 sloop-of-war Lexington, and landed at Overing's 
 wharf, Nov. 27th. The following Monday, Dec. 4th, 
 they were interred with honors due to his rank and 
 services. Since then the State has erected a hand- 
 some monument to the memory of the departed hero. 
 It stands on the west side of the Island Cemetery, 
 
10 NEWPORT ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 and is composed of a shaft of granite on a square 
 pedestal that rises from a grassy mound. On the four 
 sides of the pedestal there are appropriate inscrip- 
 tions, and at the base rest the remains of Commodore 
 Perry and three of his children. 
 
 We enter Clarke Street for a moment to examine 
 the Central Baptist Church. The building was 
 erected by the Second Congregational Society in 
 the year 1 735, and at the time the British took pos- 
 session of the Island, it was under the pastoral 
 charge of Rev. Dr. Stiles, afterward President of 
 Yale College. 
 
 The next building south of the Central Baptist 
 Church, is the Armory of the Nev port Artillery — a 
 distinguished corps that dates from 1 74 1 . This ancient 
 company has always been sustained by the citizens 
 of Newport, and its ranks have been filled by father 
 and son for generations. The Newport Artillery is 
 the body guard of the Governor of the State. 
 
CHAPTER III, 
 
 ROCHAMBEAU S HEADQUAUTEES. 
 
 VERNON MANSION HOUSE. — HON. WM. VERNON. — LANDING OF WASHING- 
 TON AND RECEPTION BY ROCHAMBEAU. — FLLUMINATION 
 OF THE TOWN. 
 
 At the corner of Mary and Clarke Streets stands a 
 venerable building, still in the most perfect order, ar.d 
 promising to resist the stormy winters of anothei 
 century. Like many others of the class in the city, 
 it is framed of oak, based on a heavy foundation, and 
 elaborately finished within and without. The style, 
 of which it is a fair specimen, was very generally 
 adopted at the period when Newport ranked second 
 only to Boston in commercial prosperity. 
 
12 NEWPORT ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 The house before us is known as the Vernon Fam- 
 ily Mansion, and was owned and occupied by the' late 
 lion. William Vernon, whose public services require 
 something, more than a passing notice. 
 
 In the aiin.ils of Rhode Island there are names of 
 greater note tlian that of William Vernon ; but of all 
 who entered heart and soul into the cause of Freedom, 
 and were most prominent in that fearful struggle for 
 Independence, not one is more deserving of the high- 
 est honors. Had Mr. Vernon taken up arms in the 
 common defense, his name would have foimd a dis- 
 tinguished place on the page of history ; but his store 
 of knowledge was of infinitely more value to the 
 country than personal prowess. His labors were of 
 the Council ; and as President of the Eastern Navy 
 Board, at Boston, his energies were directed to the 
 formation of a Ni.vy that should battle with the enemy 
 on the ocean — a gigantic undertakmg for that day, 
 and one that, by the brilliancy of its success, entitles 
 the members of the Board to lasting gratitude. 
 
 When the blow fell upon the Colonies, and every 
 " Son of Freedom " was called upon to take an active 
 part in repelling the common foe, Mr. Vernon relin- 
 quished all private claims, and at once brought his 
 extensive knowledge of mercantile and marine affairs 
 to the aid of the government ; and to his unflinching 
 devotion to Liberty, personal sacrifices and extraordi- 
 nary exertions, America, under Providence, owes 
 much of her success upon the sea. 
 
 At the close of the war, Mr. Vernon again entered 
 oil a commercial life, and he continued his devotion 
 to it a-lmost to the dav of his death, which event 
 
N E W H O ii r ILLUSTRATED. 13 
 
 occurred at the Mansion House Dec. 22d, 1806, hav- 
 ing nearly closed his 87ih year. 
 
 During the time the British were in possession of 
 the Island, the Vernon house, in common with others, 
 was occupied by troops, and it was only on the evac- 
 uation that it was restored to the rightful owner. 
 When the French fleet arrived, it was made the head- 
 quarters of Count Rochambeau, who here entertained 
 Washington at the time of his first visit to Newport. 
 
 Gen. Washington, on that occasion, was received 
 at the ferry in Ja-mestown, by the Admiral's barge, 
 and conducted on board his ship. Of his landing in 
 Newport there are several accounts — all more or less 
 incorrect. The following was given to us by an eye- 
 witness, who siiU lives to relate the details of an 
 event which was hailed with joy by the inhabitants 
 ot the town 
 
 Washington landed at Barney's Ferry — the corner 
 of the Long Wharf and Washington Street. The 
 French troops formed a close line, three deep on 
 either side, from the ferry house up the Long Wharf 
 and Washington Square to Clarke Street, where it 
 turned at a right angle and continued to Rochambeau's 
 head-quarters. The following night the town was 
 illuminated. At that time the inhabitants were pov- 
 erty stricken, and comparatively few were able to 
 take part in the joyful ceremony ; but that all should 
 share in the honors paid so distinguished a visitor, 
 the Town Council ordered that candles should be 
 purchased, and given to all who were too much dis- 
 tressed, through continued losses, to purchase for 
 themselves ; so that every house should show a light. 
 
14 NEWPORT ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 The procession was led off by thirty boys, bearing 
 candles fixed on staffs, followed by Gen. Washington, 
 Count Rochambeau and the other officers, their aids 
 and the procession of citizens. The night was clear, 
 and there was not a breath to fan the torches. The 
 brilliant procession marched through the principal 
 streets, and then returned to the head-quarters. On 
 reaching the door, Washington wailed on the step 
 until all the officers and their friends had entered the 
 house ; then, turning to the boys who had acted as 
 torch-bearers, he thanked them for their attention. 
 This was glory enough for the young p;jtriots. 
 
 An anecdote is related of Washington at this time. 
 A little boy had heard so much of Washington, that 
 he conceived a strong desire to see him. His father, 
 to gratify his wish, lifted him in his arms and ap- 
 proached an open window, near which Washington 
 stood, whom he pointed out. The child was amazed, 
 and exclaimed aloud : " W hy, father, Gen. Washing- 
 ton is a man !" It reached the ear of the hero, who 
 turned round and said, as he patted the boy on the 
 head : " Yes, my lad, and nothing but a man." 
 
 This anecdote has been repeatedly told, but it has 
 not been properly located until now. 
 
CHAPTER 17. 
 
 CHURCH STREET. RESIDENCE OF REV. JAMES HONVMAN. JAMES 
 
 HONYMAN, ESQ. MRS. COWLEY's ASSEMBLY ROOM. BALL GIV- 
 EN BY THE FRENCH OFFICERS. BALL GIVEN BY THE CITIZENS 
 
 TO WASHINGTON AND ROCHAMBEAU. BALI. GIVEN TO PRESI- 
 DENT WASHINGTON TRINITY CKaRt'H. FUNERAL OF CHEVA- 
 LIER DE TERNAY. 
 
 The house making the south corner of Church and 
 ThaiUL's Streets, now owne I by T. Mumford Sea- 
 bury, was owned and occupied by Rev. James Ilouy- 
 man, who was rector of Trinity Church so early as 
 1704. He was appointed missionary, and sent over 
 to this station by the " Society for propagating the 
 Gospel in Foreign Parts," and brought with him, as 
 a present to the church, a valuable library of the best 
 theological books of that day. Many of these books 
 are still in the possession of the church. Mr. Hony- 
 man served the society for nearly fifty years, and was 
 instrumental of much good. 
 
 The house at that day presented an appearance 
 similar to many then in use. The windows werf 
 glazed with diamond panes in frames of lead, and 
 unique window casings, and the whole exterior, 
 
16 N K W PORT 1 I. L t S r K A T K I) . 
 
 shaded by heavy projections, was painted a bright 
 red color. 
 
 James Honyman, Esq., son of the rector, resided 
 with his father. He was elevated in the profession 
 of the law at an early age, and held many important 
 offices. In his 28th year he was elected Attorney 
 General of the colony, which office he held for a 
 number of years, and was subsequently King's Attor- 
 ney for the County of Newport. Mr. Honyman was 
 also one of the committee on the Eastern Boundary 
 question, and was one of the counsel who argued the 
 case in behalf of Rhode Island, before the Commis- 
 sioner appointed by the Crown, at Providence, in 
 1741. After resigning his seat in the Senate, he wa.s 
 appointed Advocate General of the Court of Vice- 
 Admiralty in the colony, but on the breaking out of 
 the difficulties with the mother country, he delivered 
 his commission to the Governor, at the request of the 
 Legislature, to be lodged in the Secretary's office. 
 As a speaker, Mr. Honyman is described as elabo- 
 rate ; in deportment, as dignified ; and his practice 
 was both extensive and profitable. 
 
 Just above — was in earlier times the assembly 
 room of Newport, which was kept ])y Mrs. Cowley, 
 who, a hundred years ago, wa.s known to all the 
 region round. 
 
 It was here that the citizens of Newport gave a 
 ball in honor of Washington and Rochambeau, and 
 on this occasion Washington opened the bull. 
 
 Passing up the street a short distance, we enter 
 the yard of Trinity Church. Here every spot is 
 planted with graves ; the very walks and steps sepul- 
 
TRINITY CHURCH. 
 
NEWPORT ILLUSTRATED. 17 
 
 cher the dead. Many who took an active part in 
 colonial times, here find a common resting-place. 
 The first grave as we enter, on the left, is that of 
 Nathaniel Kay, Esq., Collector of the King's Customs, 
 who in his will handsomely endowed the church. 
 Here the remains ol the Chevalier De Fayelle, aid- 
 de-camp to La Fayette, found a resting-place ; here 
 Bishop Berkeley resigned an infant daiighler to the 
 earth; and there, by the church side, tovrrcd by a 
 icw boards to preserve it from furUicr injury, stood a 
 monument erected at the charge of royalty over tlie 
 remains of the Chevalier De Ternay.* One who was 
 long spared to tell of the past well remembered the 
 pageant on the burial of that lamented soldier. He 
 was in the chumber where De Ternay died, when 
 the body was placed in the coffin, and followed the 
 cortege — the most imposing ever witnessed in these 
 streets — to the grave, where the priests, nine in num- 
 ber, chanted the funeral service, and the sailors who 
 bore the corse slowly resigned it to the earth. 
 
 The monument is composed of a large, and once 
 beautiful, slab of Egyptian marble. The inscription 
 was in gold. It was designed for the interior of the 
 church, but as no suitable place coi.ld he found for it 
 within the walls, it was placed nearly over the grave, 
 where it has gradually cracked and i'allen away. 
 
 The venerable church now numbers one hundred 
 and twenty-eight years, and occupies the site of the 
 first Episcopal church erected on the Island. We 
 have not room for its long list of rectors, and to speak 
 of their good deeds would be to fill a volume ; but we 
 
 * This h.s been removed to the VL'St;bu!c, and a new granite monu- 
 ment erected near the site of the old one. 
 
.18 NEWPORT ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 will close our account of this building, one of the 
 few which has retained its original features un- 
 changed for more than a century and a half, with 
 an extract from the Memoirs of Rhode Island, pub- 
 lished fifty years ago, in the Newport Mercury — and 
 never issued in book form, so that it is practically 
 unknown to the present generation. Speaking of 
 this church the author. 
 
 The late Major Bull remarks : 
 
 •• A few days after the British left Newport, some young men 
 of the town, and among them two American officers, entered 
 the church and despoiled it of the altar-piece, consisting of the 
 King's arms, the lion and the unicorn. They were highly or- 
 namental, and were placed against the great east window 
 After trampling them under foot, they were carried to the North 
 Battery and set up for a target to fire at. The other emblems 
 of royalty being out of reach, were suffered to remain. They 
 consist of one royal crown on the spire, and another on the top 
 of the organ. However little the present generation may care 
 for baubles of that kind, still, the antiquity uf these ornaments 
 and the propriety of them in the day when they were put up, 
 make them still interesting — as indicating, at the first view, to 
 the stranger, the antiquity of the structure which contained 
 them — and splendid for the days and country in which it was 
 erected. This structure has nevejJfeen subjected to the hand 
 of modern vandalism. The interior of the church is now the 
 same as when Dean Berkeley preached in it, with the exception 
 of the longitudinal enlargement, and the pulpit is now the 
 only one in America ever graced by the occupancy of that dis- 
 tinguished prelate. The church was at that time we are speak- 
 ing of without ft minister. As it had been nursed by the High 
 Church party in England, it was unpopular with the mass of 
 the people, who were writhing under the scourge inflicted by 
 that very party. The church edifice, too, had been spared by 
 those invaders who worshipped in it, while the other places in 
 the town they had desecrated — by convening them into riding 
 schools or hospitals — and every part of them but the shells 
 they had demolished." 
 
 Turning off at this point, and passing throuijh Schoul 
 
 Street to the corner of Mary Street, we have on the 
 
NEWPORT ILLUSTRATED. 19 
 
 right, the house in which the late William EUery 
 Channing, Esq., was born in 1751. 
 
 Wm. E. Channing was one of the earliest Attorney 
 Generals of Rhode Island He was a delegate to 
 the Continental ( ongress, an opponent of the paper 
 money party, and a devoted Federalist. Well read in 
 the law, and interested in politics, he rose to distin- 
 guished eminence, and at the time of his death he 
 held the offices of General and District Attorney. 
 
 The late Hon. Asher Robins says of Mr. Channing, 
 in a communication to his biographer : 
 
 "His manner of speaking at the bar was rapid, vehement 
 and impressive ; never studied nor exactly methodical in his 
 pleadings ; but he always came well prepared as to matter and 
 authority. He had an extensive practice, attended all the 
 Courts of the State regularly, and was considered for several 
 years before his death as the leading counsel of the State. He 
 died. I think, at about forty, and after a short illr.ess." 
 
 And his domestic traits are thus recorded by his 
 
 father-in-law, the late Hon. Wm. hllery : 
 
 "The law of kindness and benevolence was in his heart and 
 on his tongue. The persons employed by him as domestics, 
 and in other services, he treated with great humanity, and 
 rewarded with a liberal punctuality. He was an obedient and 
 respectful son, and a most ati'ectionate brothet and friend. To 
 the poor he was compassionate. The needy never turned away 
 from his house empty. His table and his purse were always 
 open to their wants, and his muniticence was ever accompa- 
 nied with a sweetness in the manner, which doubled the obli- 
 gation of gratitude." 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 BASTON'S beach. — BATHINC. — prRGATOUY. — SACHUEST POINT. - 
 CAPTURE Off iHE PIGOT BY MAJJR TALBOT. 
 
 :.^-^Y' 
 
 HE Ocean at New- 
 port is, and must 
 be, one of its great- 
 est attractions. 
 The visitor for a 
 few hours, or he 
 who makes it his 
 refuge for the sul- 
 try season, alike 
 wend their way 
 thither to breathe 
 the air from the Atlantic, and rest mind and body, 
 lulled and soothed by its mighty anthem. Even 
 those who live within sight of it never weary of its 
 changeful beauty. Like the mountaineer, the 
 dwellers by the sea learn to love its quiet in calms, 
 and its majesty when lashed to fury. 
 
 We are on Easton's Beach, a spot that Berkeley 
 and Allston and Malbone and Channing loved to 
 visit. Here they each, in turn, came for study and 
 meditation, undisturbed save by the music of the 
 tumbling surf. Of its influence over his mind, 
 Channing thus made record : 
 
NKWPOllT ILLUSTRATED. 21 
 
 " In this town I pursued for a time my studies of theology. 
 I had no professor or teacher to guide me ; but I had two noble 
 places of study. One was yonder beautiful edifice, now so 
 frequented and so useful as a public library, then so deserted 
 that 1 spent day aft^i day, and sometimes week after week, 
 amidst its dusty volumes without interruption from a single 
 visitor. The other place was yonder beach, the roar of which 
 ha- -^o often mingled with the worship of this place, my daily 
 resort, dear to me in the sunshine, still more attractive in the 
 storm. Seldom do I visit it now without thinking of the work, 
 which there, in the sight of that beauty, in the .sound of those 
 waves, was carried on in my soul. No spot on earth has helped 
 to form me so much as that beach. There I lifted up my voice 
 in praise amidst the tempest. There, softened by beauty, I 
 poured out my thanksgiving and contrite confessions. There, 
 in reverential sympathy with the mighty power around me, I 
 became concious of power within. There, struggling thoughts 
 and e. notions broke forth, as if moved to utterance by nature's 
 eloquence of the winds and waves. There, began a happiness 
 surpa.-^sing all worldly pleasure, all gifts of fortune, the happi- 
 ness of communing with the works of God." 
 
 Tuckerman, in a volume of poeins, also pays a 
 tribute to Newport beach : 
 
 " Thy breath, majestic Sea, was native air, 
 And thy cool spray, like Nature's bajiti.sm, fell 
 Upon my brow, while thy hoarse suminuus called 
 My childhood's fancy into wonder's realm. 
 Thy boundless azure in youth's landscape shone 
 Like a vast talisman, that oft awoke 
 Visions of distant climes, from weary round 
 Of irksome life to set my spirit free ; 
 And hence, whene'er I greet thy face anew, 
 Familiar tenderness and awe return 
 At the wild conjuration ; — fondest hopes, 
 And penitential tears and high resolves 
 Are born of musing by the solemn deep. 
 
 " Then here, enfranchised by the voice of God, 
 0, ponder not, with microscopic eye. 
 What is adjacent, limited and fixed ; 
 But, with high faith gaze forth, and let thy thought 
 With the illimitable scene expand. 
 Until the bond of circumstance is rent. 
 And personal griefs are lost in visions wide 
 Of an eternal future ! Far away 
 
22 NEWPORT ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 Where looms yon sail, that, like a curlew's wing, 
 Prints the gray sky, are moored enchanted isles 
 Of unimagined beauty, with soft airs 
 And luscious fruitage and unclouded stars ; 
 Where every breeze wafts music, every path 
 By flowers o'erhung, leads to a home of love, 
 And every life is glorified with dreams : 
 And thus beyond thy present destiny. 
 Beyond the inlet where the waves of Time 
 Fret at their barren marge, there spreads a sea 
 More free and tranquil, where the isles of peace 
 Shall yield thy highesr aspiration scope, 
 And every sympathy response divine." 
 
 During the summer mouths, the beach is daily vis- 
 ited by hundreds, who array themselves in fancy 
 costumes, and eagerly plunge into the tumbling surf. 
 Gayly appareled beaux and belles vie in fantastic 
 tricks, making the air ring with their careless laugh ; 
 but the music of their nn rry voices and the roaring 
 of the surf are occasionally made to play the second 
 pan to the screams of some timid girl, who would 
 fain buffet with the waves, did her courage admi^ 
 She is vanquished at the outset, and the first wave 
 that caresses her tiny feet banishes for ever her small 
 stock of courage ; while her companions fearlessly 
 ride the billows' snowy crest ; now floating lightly on 
 the ocean's heaving bosom ; now diving beneath the 
 surface, in search of old Neptune's sparkling treasures. 
 Nought will the swimmer there find, save sand smooth 
 and white, or perchance a few shells fringed with 
 delicate coral and many-colored moss. 
 
 Here, as well as on Sachuest Beach, were once 
 seen fishermen drawing their nets for menhaden and 
 blue fish or horse mackerel. The latter were also 
 
NEWPORT ILLUSTRATED 
 
 23 
 
 taken in great abundance at the east end of Sacliuest 
 Beach. . 
 
 Passing over the Beach and the creek connecting 
 Easton's Pond with the ocean, we cross the neck of 
 land that divides the two beaches, and pause upon 
 the bold line of rocks that face the shore, '^he^se 
 rocks, called the Bluff, are composed of gray wacke, 
 and many of them have been displaced from their 
 original bed by some mighty convulsion of nature. 
 
 BLUFF XFAR PURGATORY. 
 
 Near the northern extremity of the Bluff, and at the 
 highest point, there is a dark chasm, known as Pur- 
 gatory. The general impression is that the rock at 
 this point was divided by some sudden upheaving ot 
 the earth, though President Hitchcock has expressed 
 the opinion that it resulted from the washing of the 
 
24 NEWPORT ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 ocean at an early period in the world's history, at 
 which time a larger portion of the earth was submerg- 
 ed, and the less enduring portions of the rock gave 
 way under the action of the sea. Be this as it may, 
 it requires strong nerves to approach the brink and 
 look down into tlie yawning abyss. By actual measure- 
 ment, the chasm is one liundred and sixty feet in lengtn ; 
 width at top, from eight to fourteen feet ; width at 
 bottom, from two to twentv-four feet; depth at the outer 
 edge, fittv feet; depth of water at h)w tide, ten feet. 
 
 One side of Purgatory is much higher than the 
 oLher, and a few persons have been so daring as to 
 leap across it. Two legends are connected with 
 Purgatory. One is that the Devil once rewarded a 
 sinning squaw for her murderous deeds, by throwing 
 her down into the gulf The foot-prints of His Ma- 
 jesty are still visible in the rock, and some go so far 
 as to point out the spots of her blood along the bluff. 
 The other story is of a maiden who put the affections 
 of her lover to (he test, by requiring him to leap 
 across the opening in the rock from the point where 
 they stood; deciariuo that if he did not confirm his 
 vows of love by this act, he should never wed her. 
 The youth, perceiving that she was really in earnest, 
 boldly sprang to the opposite side ; then bowing to 
 the heartless girl, and bidding her a final adieu, he 
 left her on the rock speechless from remorse. 
 
 Passing the second beach, we are on Sachuest 
 Point, the extreme south-east of the Island. The 
 waters on the left hand flow from Mount Hope Bay 
 and make the East River. 
 
 Here a bold scene was witnessed in 1778. The 
 
NEWPORT ILLUSTRATED. 21. 
 
 British were then in possession of the southern portion 
 of the Island, and they desired to cutoffall communica- 
 tion by sea with other portions of the State. To 
 effect this, a galley was anchored directly in the pas- 
 sage before us, armed with ten eighteen-pounders, 
 besides ten swivels. In addition to this heavy arma- 
 ment, she was protected by a strong boarding netting, 
 and manned by a crew of forty-five men, under Lieut. 
 Dudley. She was called the Pigot. In her position 
 she could do much injury to the American forces by 
 intercepting supplies ; and at last complaints became 
 so general, that Major Talbot conceived the bold 
 project of capturing her. To insure success, he ob- 
 tained a small sloop, called the Hawk, equipped her 
 with two three-pounders and sixty picked men from 
 the various regiments quartered in Providence. The 
 number was subsequently increased to seventy-five. 
 After passing the fort at Bristol Ferry without receiv- 
 ing any injury from the shots fired at him, he anchored 
 in Mount Hope Bay, where he left the vessel in 
 charge of Lieut. Baker, landed and rode down the 
 shore to this point. Here he carefully inspected the 
 galley. He found her armed at all points, but the 
 result of his inspection was exhibited in a stronger 
 determination to attack her, which resolution he car- 
 ried into effect on a dark night, Nov. 4th, 1778 The 
 attack is thus described by the biographer of Talbot:* 
 
 "As the .sloop dropped silently down the river, they lashed 
 s kedge-anchor to the jib-boom, to tear, and at the same time 
 grapple with the nettings of the Pigot. They drifted by tho 
 Fogland fort under bare poles, without being discovered, 
 
 ♦ "Life of Talbot," by Henry T. Tuckerman. 
 
26 
 
 NEWPORT ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 although they saw the sentinel each time he passed the bar- 
 rack light. This was a most auspicious circumstance, for one 
 shot wuuld liave given an alarm to the galley. All hands 
 being ready for action, they again hoi.sted sail ; but fearing 
 they should run astray of their object in the darkness, soon 
 cast anchor once more, lowered a boat, and went in search of 
 her with muffled oars. They had proceeded but a few rods 
 when her sombre form was seen rising in the gloom ; they 
 noted how she rode with the wind and tide, returned to the 
 Hawk, and directed her course accordingly. Being soon per- 
 ceived by the watch on the deck of the galley, they were 
 repeatedly hailed, but made no answer; when nearly along- 
 side, a volley of musketry was discharged at them ; but before 
 the Pigot could fire one gun, the jib-boom of the Hawk had 
 torn its way through the nettings, and grappled the foreshrouds; 
 while their sakite had been amply returned, and Lieut. Helm, 
 followed by his detachment, mounted the deck sword in hand. 
 With shouts, the crew of the Hawk drove every man into the 
 hold of the galley, except the commander, who fought despe- 
 rately in his :;hirt and drawers, until convinced that resistance 
 was useless. When informed, however, that he was van- 
 quished by a little sloop, he wept over his inevitable disgrace, 
 and Major Talbot in vain offered him the condolence which, 
 as a generous victor, he felt at his mortification. This brilliant 
 covp de main was effected without a loss on either side." 
 
CHAPTER YI. 
 
 OLD STONK MII-L. 
 
 N the centre of an open lot, 
 bounded by Pelham, Belle- 
 vue, Mill and George Sts., 
 stands a venerable pile, 
 known to the world as the 
 "Old Stone Mill," but 
 sometimes it is spoken of 
 as the "Newport Ruin'' 
 and the " Round Tower." 
 The stranger asks " when 
 and by whom was it built,"and from one 
 he receives an answer that carries the 
 mind back to the days when the Viking rover, 
 
 " Wandering from his region frozen, 
 On \ineland's shores delighted once to roam." 
 
 And by another he is told that 
 
 " This is the " Old Mill " of which they tell lies." 
 
 The origin and early history of the " Old Mill " is 
 shrouded in mystery ; and this fact, coupled with its 
 peculiar construction and isolated position, Iims led to 
 many fruitless conjectures. The antiquarian claims 
 for it the honor of having afforded a secure shelter to 
 the Norsemen, who, they say, built it as a lookout 
 
28 
 
 NEWPORT ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 OLD STONE MILL. 
 
 and a tower of defense. The matter-of-fact observers 
 deny it this enviable renown, and maintain thut it is 
 neither more nor less than an " Old Mill," built by 
 CJov Benedict Arnold, the first Charter Governor ol 
 the Colony, who owned the property at the time of 
 his death, and of it makes mention in his will, calling 
 it '• my stone built Wind Mill." 
 
 xVn old mill near Leamington, England, designed 
 by Inigo .Tones, is supposed to have been Gov. Ar- 
 nold's model for his stone-built windmill by those 
 who claim it to be a modern structure. The cut of 
 this mill will help the reader to form his own con- 
 clusions. 
 
OLD MILL AT LEAMINGTON. 
 
CHAPTEK VII. 
 
 REDWOOD LIBRARY. JEWISH CEMETERY JEWISH SYNAGOGtIE. 
 
 AT the time that Bishop Berkeley resided at New- 
 port, a literary and philosophical society was 
 lormed by a number of gentlemen of the town. The 
 society met weekly for debates and conversation upon 
 questions of utility and interest ; and to enable them 
 the more successfully to carry out their original plan, 
 it was deemed expedient to secure a library. In this 
 step we trace the foundation of the Redwood Library 
 and Athenaeum. The attention of the society was 
 immediately directed to the collection of books ; and 
 m 1747 a great impulse was given by Abraham Red- 
 wood, Esq., who placed at the disposal of the society 
 jC500, for the purchase of standard books in London 
 For the following sketch of the library building, we 
 are indebted to tlie history of the Library, introduced 
 iiiio ih^ list published catalogue : 
 
 " To give permanence and usefulness to his donation, Mr. 
 Redwood enjoined on the society the duty of erecting an edi- 
 fice, a.s a depository for such books as might be purchased. In 
 pursuance of their object, a charter of incorporation was ob- 
 tained in 1747, and the society in honor of iheir most liberal 
 benefactor, assumed the name of the Redwood Library Com- 
 pany For the erection of a library building, five thousand 
 pounds were almost immediately subscribed by different citi- 
 zens of the town. Henry Collins, Esq., proved a noble coad- 
 jutor of Mr. E^edwood, and presented in June, 1748, to the 
 company, the lot of land, then called Buwling Green, on which 
 the present library edifice now stands. 
 
30 N K W P O R T I 1, 1. U S 1' R A T E D . 
 
 " The library building, which is a beautiful specimen of the 
 Doric order, was commenced in 1748, and completed in 1750. 
 The plan was furnished by Joseph Harrison, Esq., assistant 
 architect of Blenheim House, England. He also superintended 
 the erection of the edilice, with the committee of the company, 
 consisting of Samuel Wickham, Henry CoUims and John Til- 
 Hnghast The master-builders were Wing Spooner, Samuel 
 Green, Thomas Melvil and Israel Chapman. The principal 
 front is ornamentt d with a portico of four Doric columns, sev- 
 enteen feet in hight, and projecting nine feet from the walls 
 of the building. The edifice consists of a main building, and 
 two small wings on each side, ranging in a line parallel with 
 the west end of the building. The wings furnish two rooms 
 of about twelve feet square The principal library room, occu- 
 pying the whole of the main build'ing, is thirty-seven feet long, 
 twenty-six feet broad, and nineteen feet in hight. The whole 
 building is supported by a substantial foundation raised seve- 
 ral feet from the grc"ind." 
 
 Names of the leading men in the history of Rhode 
 Island, are connected with this library. William 
 Ellery, Stephen Hopkins, Daniel Updike, James 
 Honyman, Jr., Dr, Stiles; and many others in turn 
 were active members. 
 
 Valuable presents have been made to the library at 
 difTerent'times, and the late Judah Touro, Esq.,inhis 
 will, bequeathed three thousand dollars to the Company, 
 lobe expended in books and repairs. In 1843 he 
 gave a thousand dollars to defray the expense of 
 re-setting ihe steps. 
 
 The Library contains many old and valuable books 
 that are now comparatively scarce ; but many of the 
 finest works were carried off by the British troops, 
 when they left the Island. The loss sustained at that 
 time can never be replaced. The present number of 
 volumes is more than twenty thousand. 
 
 Continuing along Touro street to the north, the mas- 
 sive granite gateway nnd fence, surrounding the Jewish 
 
NEWPORT I L L U S T R A i h D 
 
 31 
 
 JEWISH CEMETKRV. 
 
 Cemetery will attract attention . It was erected in 1 843 
 Uy order of the late Judah Touro, Esq., at an expense 
 <)f about $12,000. Mr. Touro was a native of 
 Newport, and in these grounds repose the remains 
 of his father and mother and other members of his 
 family. The cemetery and the walk in front are kept 
 in repair by a fund provided for that purpose through 
 the liberality of Mr. Touro. 
 
 The street to the right, and leading nearly north, is 
 Kay street, named after Nathaniel Kay, Esq., 
 of whom mention is made in a former chapter. Kay 
 street is of ample width, and in time, the walks will be 
 shaded by the ornamental trees that have been planted. 
 The b'llMings — all erected within a few years — stand 
 back fro;n the street, and many of them are large and 
 
32 N E W P O U T I L I, U S T R A T i: D . 
 
 expensive, and not a few, are luat and picturesque 
 cottages. 
 
 The continuation of Toiiro street will bring us to 
 the Jewish Synagogue, which stands in an open lot, 
 surrounded by a granite fence, somewhat similar to 
 that around the cemetery. The synagogue was built 
 in 1762, and up to the war it was regularly opened for 
 services ; at that time there were not less than sev- 
 enty Jewish families residing in Newport, and many 
 of their members were nunbered among the most 
 wealthy and influential ciiiz* ris. It was the only 
 place of worship in New Ei, gland, where Hebrew 
 was chanted and read weekly. Abraham Touro left 
 the handsome sum of $20,000 in charge of the 
 Town authorities, the interest to be expanded in 
 keeping the synagogue and grounds, and the street 
 leading to it, in good repair, and the wishes of the 
 donor have been carefully complied with. 
 
 In July, 1859, the improvements which had been in 
 progress for some time upon the Redwood Library were 
 completed. The extensive addition to the east of the 
 new building will furnish sufficient room for the books 
 with wlilch the Library has Ion:? been crowded. 
 
CHAPTER VJIT, 
 
 CHURCH OF THE HOLY CROSS. CAPTURE OF GEN. PRESCOTT. 
 
 REDWOOD HOUSE BUTT's HILL. LAWTOn's VaLLEY. 
 
 BY taking the main road, and keeping to the west, 
 an hour's ride will bring us to the spot where 
 Ge-n. Prescott was captured by Col. Barton, on the 
 night of June 10th, 1777. The road is not as much 
 frequented as the east or mail route, but in many 
 respects it is more pleasing. 
 
 At the corner of the cross read, about three and a 
 half miles out, stands a picturesque little church, built 
 from a design by Mr. Upjohn, and calletl the Church 
 of the Holy Cross. Beyond this, a distance of per- 
 haps a mile and a half, we reach the farm known as 
 the Page place, and the house that stands back a 
 short distance from the road, was occupied by Gen. 
 Prescott, as his head-quarters in Portsmouth, at the 
 time that he was surprised by the Americans. 
 
 The capture of Gen. Prescott by Col. Barton was 
 a memorable event in the history of the Revolution, 
 and as remarkable for its daring as for its complete 
 success. It is unnecessary here to rehearse the 
 story ; every one is acquainted with the particulars, 
 and we have only to point to the diiTerent objects to 
 make the whole scene familiar. 
 
y4 NEWPORT ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 The stream that gently falls over the wall, then 
 winds across the road and under the little bridge, is 
 soon lost to view in the tangled brushwood on the 
 west. It was by this ravine, (through which this 
 stream finds its way to the sea,) that Barton and his 
 party approached the house. The gate and the path 
 remain unchanged, and one can readily imagine the 
 band of patriots quietly drawing near to the 1 ouse, 
 with the full determination of capturing the leader o( 
 the enemy's forces, or of sacrificing their lives in the 
 attempt. The work was soon done. The old negro 
 (who we well remember) broke in the panel with his 
 head ; the astonished General was taken from his 
 bed, and without allowing him time to dress, he was 
 carried forth l)y strong arms, and hurried over a field 
 but lately reaped — the stubble sorely cutting his naked 
 feet — to the boat in waiting at the mouth of the creek. 
 There he was wrapped in Barton's cloak, and the 
 boats pulled away for the opposite shore, passing 
 directly under the stern ol one British man-of-war, 
 and under the bows of another ; the General hearing 
 the sentinel above his head proclaiming " All's well," 
 but, restrained by the fear of instant death, he could 
 not make known his painful situation. 
 
 The house was at that time in the possession of 
 the Overing family, and by some it is still called *he 
 Overing house. Since that time it has passed thro-gh 
 several hands. 
 
 The name of Prescott was detested by friend j.nd 
 foe, and independent of the humiliation and disg.ace 
 attached to such a capture, the British troop^j were 
 
NEWPORT ILLUSTRATED. 35 
 
 overjoyed to find that he had been so siiudenly 
 snatched from his command. 
 In Newport, the 
 
 ■^-^v 
 
 HEAD-QUARTERS OF GEN. PRESCOTT, 
 
 was the house corner of Pelham and Spring Streets, 
 directly opposite the Congregational Chur( h, and 
 later the property of Joshua Sayer, Esq. During the 
 war it was owned by the Bannister family. The 
 General, in pleasant weather, used to walk frotn the 
 corner of the house in Spring Street to the north 
 corner of the block, and, to have a dry flagging, he 
 caused a sufficient number of stone steps to be re- 
 moved from the neighboring dwellings, and placed 
 there for his accommodation. Hern he used to sun 
 himself, and wo betide the man who had the temerity 
 lo pass him without taking off his hat. 
 
 The house is of the old school, of which we have 
 already made mention. It is finished througiiout with 
 
36 N E W P O 11 r ILLUSTRATED, 
 
 panel work, elaborate mouldings, rooms of ample di- 
 mensions, a wide hall and generous staircase. 
 
 The next estate to the Page place, with the fine 
 row of linden trees in front, is the Redwood farm : 
 and at the time of the capture of Gen. Prescott, it was 
 occupied by Gen. Smith, who was second in com- 
 mand. 
 
 Beyond the Redwood farm, and to the right, there 
 is an elevation, known as Butt's Hill. Here the 
 Americans, under Sullivan and Greene, made a des- 
 perate stand against the British, at the time they were 
 driven from the Island. The odds were greatly in favor 
 of the enemy, but nevertheless these brave officers 
 managed to cover the retreating forces, and to embark 
 with them without serious loss. 
 
 The valley below Butt's Hill is an exceedingly 
 picturesque one, and is known as Lawton's Valley. 
 It is watered by a small stream that flows through its 
 entire length, and falls into the Bay. Few who have 
 leisure, pass this lovely spot without pausing to rest 
 beneath the shade of the trees that hang gracefully 
 over the little brook. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE POINT. WASHiNGTON STREET DR. WM. HUNTER EON. 
 
 WM. HUNTER. DEATH OF CHEVALIER DE TERNaY. FORT 
 
 UBKENE. 
 
 FINE view of the Bay 
 and Harbor may be ob- 
 tained from the Point, 
 which comprises that 
 part of the city to the 
 north of the Long 
 Wharf, and west of 
 Thames Street. 
 
 The change in the 
 appearance of the Point 
 within a few years, is 
 very great ; not that 
 any remarkable buildings have gone up there, but the 
 whole of that portion of the city has sensibly im- 
 proved. The principal streets have been graded, the 
 buildings generally neatly painted, and in a few in- 
 stances new and pretty cottages have been built. 
 We often wonder that no more buildings are erected 
 in that quarter ; the situation is delightful, the pros- 
 pect finer than in the compact part of the city ; it is 
 easy of access, affords a fine opportunity for bathing, 
 and offers many inducements to those who are seek- 
 ing desirable building lots. 
 
38 NEWPORT ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 The principal street running norih and south, is 
 Washington Street. About half way from the Long 
 Wharf, and a few doors from Bridge Street, stands 
 the Hunter house, another of the old fashioned build- 
 ings, so characteristic of Newport. 
 
 Here Dr. Wm. Hunter resided, and the property 
 is still in the hands of his descendants. 
 
 Dr. Hunter was a Scotch physician of high respect- 
 ability He was educated at Edinburgh, but settled 
 in Newport many years prior to the Revolution. It 
 is said that he was one of the devoted band of Scotch- 
 men who adhered to the last to the ill-fated house of 
 Stuart, and that his emigration hither was the conse- 
 quence of his participation in the rebellion of 1745. 
 In the year 1755 he was surgeon of the troops raised 
 by this State for the expedition against Crown Point, 
 and it was in his tent that the brave Baron Diesiiau 
 breathed his last. In the year 1756 he delivered in 
 this city, the first course of anatomical lectures ever 
 given in the country. H-s youngest son, the late Hon. 
 William Hunter, was born at Newport. 
 
 Hon. William Hunter graduated at Brown Univer- 
 sity, and sailed for London, where he commenced the 
 study of medicine under the guidance of his kinsman, 
 the celebrated Dr. Hunter. The profession, however, 
 was distasteful to him, and he soon after entered the 
 Inner Temple, a pupil of Arthur Murphy, Ksq. Re- 
 turning to Newport, and having been admitted to the 
 bar at the age of twenty-one, he soon found himself, 
 despite his youth, in the enjoyment of a large and 
 lucrative practice. 
 
 In 1834, Mr. Hunter was appointed Charge to 
 
NEWPORT ILLUSTRATED. 39 
 
 Brazil, an office which, in 1842, was raised to that of 
 a full mission. In a 844, Mr. Hunter retired from the 
 post and from public lile, and returned to this place, 
 where he resided until his death. 
 
 As a lawyer, Mr. Hunter was distinguished for the 
 extent and variety of his learning, while his varied 
 accomplishments gave him great power as an advo- 
 cate. As a writer, he is mostly known by his occa- 
 sional orations and discourses, which display rich 
 and ripe scholarship. 
 
 It was in the Hunter house that the Chevalier De 
 Ternay breathed his last. 
 
 At the northern extremity of Washington Street, 
 Fort Greene is situated ; and from this point a beau- 
 tiful prospect opens, and one may long enjoy the 
 view of the Bay and the projecting points of land. 
 
 Fort Greene rests in part on the Blue Rocks. It 
 was built in 1776, and the breastwork was thrown up 
 in one night, for the purpose of attacking the British 
 ship Scarborough, lying off Rose Island. On the 
 following day the guns were brojught to bear so eflect- 
 ually upon her as to force her to beat an ignoble 
 retreat The fort was called the North B; t cry till 
 1798, when, by order of Congress, the present fort 
 was built and named after Gen. Greene. 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 TAMMANY HI! I.. MALBONK's GARDtN. SMIBERT. ALLSTON. 
 
 STUART. 
 
 THE rising ground to the north of the city is known 
 as Tammany Hill — so called from the fact that 
 Miantonomi, an Indian sachem, once ruled this por- 
 tion of the island, and it h;is been said that he made 
 this hill the seat of his government ; recent discoveries 
 have, however, shown that the sachem who made 
 this hill his home was Wannemetonomie, a son of 
 Miantonomi. The hill is quite elevated, sloping 
 gradually to the south and west, and on the north it 
 is very abrupt. 
 
 During the Revolution, Tammany Hill was sur- 
 mounted by a breastwork, thrown up by the British, 
 and was made one of a chain of outposts across the 
 Island. The remains of the work are still visible. 
 There is a lookout rising from the centre of the hill, 
 and from its summit a fine view of the surrounding 
 country may be obtained. We have often paused 
 upon this elevated point to erjoy the scene. To 
 watch ail the changes in the landscape, from the first 
 dawn of light to the last dying rays of the setting sun, 
 is the privilege of those only who reside on the hill- 
 tops ; and the lessons that are taught to Ihe young by 
 the glories of the sunlight and the majesty of the 
 
NEWPORT ILLUSTRATED. 41 
 
 storm, seen from a point like this, cannot be effaced 
 even amid the stirring scenes of after lif^. 
 
 A little lower, on the south side of the hill, stands 
 a picturesque stone house, built by J. Prescott Hull, 
 Eovj. It is located on or near the site of the famoi.s 
 Malbone House. All the land in that section wss 
 once tne procerty of the late Gcdliey Malbone, Esq., 
 and the estate had a wide reputation for (he taste and 
 elegance displayed b^- its weahby proprietor. 'I'he 
 house was acciaenunly consumed in 1766. The 
 flames broke out as a large party were about to sit 
 down to dinner. Mr. Malbone, finding that it would 
 be impossible to save the house, ordered the dinner 
 to be taken to the lawn and served, observing, " If 1 
 have lost my house, there is no reason why we should 
 lose our diimer." To this day the grounds are spoken 
 of as Malbone's Garden, though noiliing now remains 
 of the former splendor, save the artificial fish-ponds, 
 and the rows of ancient fruit trees. 
 
 When the property passed out of the Malbone fam- 
 dy, Edward Malbone, a descendant of Godfrey Mal- 
 bone, Esq., devoted himself to his art with unabated 
 zeal, that by so doing he might in time be enabled to 
 repurchase the estate. By his intense application to 
 his profession, he undermined his constitution, and 
 planted the seeds of a disease that shortened his life. 
 
 Newport may justly be proud of the distinguished 
 artists who, at various periods of her history, have 
 shown so decided an attachment to her soil. Smilert 
 painted here, and probably the portrait -i Bishop 
 Berkeley, now at Yale College, was painted at White- 
 hall. Samuel King, during his lifetime, practised por- 
 
43 X K W P O R T ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 trait painting in Newport, and it is a nu tier of regret 
 that we have so little of his history preserved to us ; but 
 we know that he was the first instructor of Malhone 
 and AUston, and that the store in Thames Street, long 
 occupied by Mr. Jno. N. Potter, No. 130, was the spot 
 where they were daily employed under his direction. 
 Stuart made Newport his home ; his attachment to it 
 was very marked, and his daughter. Miss Jane Stuart, 
 an artist of much skill, resides here at the present time. 
 The painting in the Senate Chamber of the State 
 House, is one of Stuart's finest works ; and as a con- 
 trast to it, there are two pictures in the Redwood 
 Library, portraits of the late Mr. and Mrs. Bannister, 
 painted by him when a boy, and before he sailed for 
 Europe to study with West. Mr. Charles B. King, 
 now of Washington, claims Newport as his home, 
 and many ot his finest pictures have been deposited 
 in the Redwood Library ; and Mr. R. M. Staigg, 
 whose miniatures are so highly prized, is a citizen of 
 Newport by adoption. 
 
 A few of Malbone's pictures are still to be found 
 in Newport, but in most cases they have been pur- 
 chased and taken away. The " Hours " — the picture 
 that has made his name famous — is at present in 
 Providence. 
 
MINIATURE BY MALBONE. 
 
T.H E [N- .) J 
 
 Rhode-Ifland Gazette. 
 
 THURSDAY. Jan I'ARY ii I7?3 
 
 SIR. 
 
 To Mr. Timothy Truman. /<;;, and tqucl, and not liafclc to any Abufel 
 
 from Fofce or Bribery, or Frauds ct any SotU 
 3S Where the Eleftion feldomer recurs, or is 
 T W3S a very good' made by fewer Hinds, or where there are hf 
 Reply that was given ger Fees, or longer tr greater Opportunities of 
 to one who had faid, yrlvate. Gain and Aiivantage to be made of the 
 Rehston end Govern pijblicid Dffices, at ihq, publick Fxp.;nce. All 
 mint viere the Caufe cj our Freemen are Eleftors :' they are the B d? 
 all the Conieniioni ,n\ of the People, whofe Inrerclt and the Publick 
 ths World, that, Thire is the fame thing I have heard .it indeed oh- 
 '.;* nothing elje in the jeOed againll r.ur Superior Court of Judicature 
 
 '"'•' ■■ coniending that the Annual Choice of the Judges muft 
 
 tender themVnore likely to receive Impreflions 
 than if they held during rheir good Behaviour. 
 But as they ate chofen by the Body of tho. 
 People, and not appoijiied by the Executits 
 Authority, I think the Ohj-flion is of no 
 Weigttior Regard. The •U.ftrihution of Lands, 
 at firft, and the Prefervation of Property in fa 
 many Hands, is a greai Bulwaik to our Con- 
 Ititutioh. And fo has been our dultotn of 
 changing, and varying feveral Officers, wliicb 
 has procured us more Men capable of tiiofe 
 Office^ and ar 'he ■^me Time they have l>een! 
 
 "^, 
 
 World worth 
 for: 
 
 — • " For what is Life ? , 
 
 " 'Tis not to Itjlk ah'ut. and draw frefh Air, 
 " From Time to Time, and gaze upon the Suni 
 "Tis to be jrte . When Liberty is- gone, 
 "Life grows irifipid, and has lotl its Relifh, 
 '' A Day, an Hour of vertuous Liberty 
 "Is worth an 'ivhole Eternity of Bondage. 
 
 iddi/on. 
 Bo;)dage destroys Religion, which is 
 
 " The <;otdial Drop Heaven in our Cup hastHtown to min7 <nircks uptra cn^ crrOT»b«, 
 
 " To inake the naufeous Draft of Lift go down." hence tias proceeded, above all, .the Cheapocfiji 
 
 ol our Adminiftration, the Eafinefs of our Tax 
 
 When I confidet the Lihelties left in the os of all Sorts, which I 'apprehend has in thei 
 
 tngliO: Nations, when almoR the whole World grearelt Degree preferved to us the intire life 
 
 >iefid« thbft fottunate lilands is enilaved, it fills of the original Plan of Gi^vernment the Crowrn 
 
 iry rieart with Gratitude to God and thcfe was mod gracioufly pleafcd, with fo much JVit 
 
 illuftrious jHeroes. who, under him, were the dom and Goodnefs, at firif to. give us. 
 
 happy Means of its Prefervation. May there Libirt^ ,o) .Con/cience, which is Ftcedom t^ 
 
 never be wanting there generous Defenders of worOiip God in the Way we ate fletfwaded ii 
 
 the jijlt. Rights of the People. May the Love moft agreeable to his Will, and mbft accepta" 
 
 of Liberty nevet decay, aadway God for theit hie to him, and which is the only indefeojiblt 
 
 Sins ne*et delivei' iT'ttiise Nations to Tjrran Right of nil Mtti, is no wheie elfe fo fully en 
 
 ny and Arbitrary fltiw jiy'd: We have even no Terms «f Reproach, 
 
 When I refitQ on our happv C'^ndition in and are burdened wijh no EftaMirtiftient. 
 
 this Colony, and the mol't invaluable Priviledges On evety Account we are and may be rfie" 
 
 we enjoy at the eafioll and cheapcll Kate ima- happiell People in the Univerfe, if We could 
 
 ginaWe, 1 cannot fuflicicntly admire thr Wifdotn dc Iftrfible of otir H^ppjf)efs, and contented to 
 
 and Felicity of out ConlUiution, nor enouji: enjoy ir. If I (hould rcprrfent to my CouflttV- 
 
 applaud the Diftretion and Frugality with which men rhe Slavery and Opprejjion of ihe greafkll 
 
 our Affairs have all along been managed. Part of theit Fellow Cieaturcs, they would 
 
 By o^x Charter, out Lrg:nature and the Exet have a quickci Relifh for theit. Ptiviledges, 
 
 cuilve Potter are more agreeable to the E'jui- and he more tenacious of them, and he gieatly 
 
 lily of Narjire,- and do better ferve the true Itrergthencd in the honelf , 4?rejadice every 
 
 Ends of Government, than any other Fotm or Man has for his Native Country. We fhould 
 
 Nfethrd nrhjtevcr. _ The Annuti Choice of Ma- ptvu bcgrutch a warmer Climate or more 
 
 g'fftates, and all other Officers, is a wife tto- fruitful Soil, to thofe who are Slaves in Bo- 
 
 vifi»n to Ijeep them honeU and faithful, and dy aiid. Mind. If I fhould but mentioi^lt\e 
 
 li)»k£s Way for that Romrion in Government conOant' growing Expence, and heai^ Tiles, 
 
 yhicb has alwaj-s been found and acknowledged the Ijofs of ancient Priviledges, and 'he i^«- 
 
 the /urrfl Support and 'Defence of a joft Li- fent< vexatious, inextricable, and, 1 tear, \\nt 
 
 bciiy And the Quice it /^^ among ui is nofi Entanglements of a iKiBhboiuio-r,..</3veniine»1', 
 
fny Counuym^n rruft uninimoully join in apJ Pii6cg-'f3F the States which may give- Sip 
 
 plauding the l.ifc and Happinefs of obr Con- tnoTe Prerogatives. 
 
 Ititutioii, and the Wifdom arid NecelTity, of Parts, Sept. 22. H.S. Mr. Thompfon, belonging' 
 
 avoiding any Mialuies .*t»c--t7iay 3(.'»ll* eniin- ti} the 'Ciapiable Ctrporatlon 1n .€hgland, had 
 gerjt. 05. (jirevini. oai; £njtyJns"iW ftiU/Hapj *' fcifcjl . fame Tjm^ in ToMrnUahd appeired-pub- 
 
 .lin'els it li capable fo'lfFoia, Wfiile we hivi t Ikmy 4fl -his ov^a Cloathi|_ ,but vw_ hear he 
 
 •ihuS the Management of out own Affairs l> now gone tot a few Djys towards the CoaU. 
 
 ir. our ^--vn Hands, whtf TeEs tnottliat vpsi oiiy in ^ot4et ita nvef his Father upon extraoidinarV 
 
 t... Affairs. 
 
 , ".Hiil iappy native Land' But I foibeat ) London, Sept. ix. Governdur Worfley lies tnuclt 
 
 *VVlia't cTtVef fcdiln(-t<cs:niull^«vitl>..Env)i. heat? indifpofed .at .his -'"Houfe -If) Golden-Square. 
 '''If iKefe'TlTOBghts miy yield any Entertaini thihdilphU, Die. ti 
 
 iiient ni ■Adv3n?i5C io'ycWT'KeadcTS,' efpctrally We hear from the lower Counties, t^at ^it is 
 
 af-'rher fti'wWMrt any Meaibra tnnrejiSe ; Ihe lb exceeding ^kly there,. . the Livingih; /carce 
 
 J-ivo of OUT W^pfiy 'ConlHiarion and Forin of able jo. bury ihe. Dead,- whole FafSine5»g)8r.tig 
 
 CiQvernirtrn'r, J' (Kali JW"V»-irt tewaided- for my cjown .at, oi»ct,,and mq,n.; d>^ unisnovjrtjo iSifir 
 
 yjins in. iirowilig-tKtin 6n'Paper'; andiyou, Naigh6sur9.,,,Tivp Indi«Ti\$?ichcms cOn/ijjg ddwn 
 
 J "h(?P^'Vi\l, ftnCyo'il 'Account in tHrir Puh- to vifit the iProptietor,, wej^eaWen -fiefe o)L.tSc 
 
 Lifauon. , ' 
 
 ^hairjgani'eit 'Nmt ? 
 
 « O'K^* >'G N 
 
 He, Small , Pqx, one of Which fe*^dfia^ 
 
 WilliaisrFreebnrBi Bajion^.Jnit^' i.' 
 
 ',;WeihMT-, ftftto ibe .Hflshlinas, orl>-tfii.(iack- 
 
 (jdeL.<iSiiCoip^t;od, ihjt'on'JVfiinday iiJi ■'Cspr. 
 
 John Prince came In ih/ii .froni KsW ytjrki 
 
 '■■*"■''" d 
 
 P F A I It S. 
 ■N..S> 
 PrU'ite i,epers fronvjiPaiis inform ur, c!H« bound ro this Place, with Flov»er,' 8tc,-^ an 
 It' vviii Jby if.' ^dvicer 'of thei ^dipil iflff having ^(Caffon,, to gp qd Shore in the Fven 
 Tolii»nac,- thi: 'th* -tn*^^ CbriliriHi )4irig ing, liiiis,^Vf(r«Jtfw» tarried, Of.'C,of .ibeHa^bou. 
 f,'iili^dcd Hls'<^[,hoJic<)<''Mi^efty t6 p\ahe Llfp hdrae J>ili)fiQin,.g„>t>y 'U}^ riVis-l' an4 ice, >iih 
 *-Oid(n5i-'Rtbh^5nl ^i>" PrlMe ^ioiltflr: ;«f all.to.^ MeiV-o^i froaWr >nd .',ii?» w»atl.)' ^.ffU'J 
 1be Infant Duke ; his Emincncy teing a that both VcUel and Men afc iSt upon tU* 
 !>etfnn, than whom none has 1 better' Know- Shoals. 
 
 ledge of the AiVairs of Europe, a more fer-i 'The Harbour hii been fo iDuch FrozSy^P 
 lile Biain for Proiefls, or greater .Courage (ince cur Ijlt, that ftvetal Peifons have palt 
 in the Execution of them. The Truth is, to the Gallic upon tha Ice, and bick again 
 Ive may expeft to hcjt ft f-""- Enf^priies c.n Foot ; as alfo to jni" from Char' -**■->■"' 
 fit iii.^.uii»n<.c auiii.g his MiniUfy. He fome ^lih Horks and Lay?, and otheis wirh 
 will not only maintain the Gicat Prince's loadedi Sleds. 
 
 Rights and Pretenfions, but will infallibly f)n Tuefd'ay laft William Lambert Efq, re- 
 eling about a Reunion of the States of whicli ceivU a Deputation from the iurveyor Gene- 
 66 is acknowledged to be Lawfuf Succeflbr, ral, to. fucceed Johnljekyll Eft; deceas'i, in the 
 with thofe from which they were founerly CoU.Gors Office, till furnher 'Orders. ' 
 j'Tmembered. On Thurfday the 28rh paft ^led here Mr. Bar- 
 
 To al! thefc Contmantei on the patt of tiolomew Green, who has b<cn the principal 
 Ijance, the Court of Vienna are fat Fiom Printer of this Town and Country hev Foiiv 
 being Strangers; whence it is naiural tofup- Yeats, in the 67rh Year of his Age. 
 pofe, a Cofdnefs ftiuft arifc between the two A' ElV PO R T, fan. 11 
 
 Courts. The Emperor Itill finds Pietences for On xhe joth pift, dy'd Abraham Bord'e|i Efq; 
 inferring the Venmn .ttatis, or Dlfpenfation of General Treafuier o£ this. Colony, afrej » few 
 
 /ige, demanded for the Infant Don Citlos, not- Days Illnefs. 
 
 tjfitjiltanding tiie prelhng Inltances of the Duka Vn Friday laft was drawn the Lottery fct 
 
 of Liria i and the ■Great Dijke of Tulrany, forth by Mt. Ifiac Anthony. The Hoi>fe and 
 
 on the other hand, con:phin4 to his imperial Land fell to Mr. Jofias Lendoii, Jun. and three 
 
 JMUJeflf, that the States and Subjeflj of ct fou/ more confideiable Prices to others oi 
 
 Toffany took Opportunity of thcit Annual Con- this Place. 
 
 ItibWions at Midlaromet, ro give the Intanr . Cuftom Hoa/e Xewporr.f.n'irci Inwards. 
 
 Don Catlos the Title of Gz-mi Duie-, where- Coa.ns from Boneiry. Ouiw^rJ Bound, ticne. 
 
 ty they put him entirely upon a Level with Clctfti,- Out, Ccggtlhall and Norton for Sui 
 
 tiimfelf. ■ 
 
 It is cQitain, Ihat that yaung Ptince upon 
 
 .\11 Occafions claims greater Prerogatives, than 
 
 liio o.thet Princes of the Empiie, even thcfe 
 
 W'iio i>e Itriflly allied with the Kings and 
 
 V.l ec^L^'tal HouRs A ConduS which. > feems 
 
 ■iKe more Fxiraoidirary, becaafe hfil*, isyet a 
 
 Ourinr, and- oug'-iy not upon any Account to 
 
 lif^ook.'d upon ^ihtiwife than as Herediraty 
 
 4nam, and Ladd for Barbadoei 
 
 ADVERTISEMENT 
 
 ' No 15 of this Paper concludes a Quattsr. 
 
 re vAv3 have taken it ffum (.'le ReainninE, a if dlHt'd to p«y 
 
 MAiev to_;olin Franilin of Huftun, Or James Frankltn of 
 
 depending on punOual Qiur- 
 
 Niim 
 
 nf .'ijl.lcri".!! 
 
 ^ - .- .. — , (,llW for "r.ipplylrl this 
 
 l*?19t with FoicUn inj IJo-neOicIc .'\ff^irs, I'l v/cll 3S Sfeaill- 
 ti'Jts, and may be h.mi carrycd on ihjb hirhat" ik h^» Ij^ 
 if > fatthet. EotfoufaRcnent 13 eivea. - 
 
 hlBy^iVO^J, K'.Kdi \flani : Printxid and Sold.bji James Fiiy.Nkv.iN, a't his Ptivin;; .■Houfe 
 //U'ff.j rhs Town School- Houle. where Adv'enifdmints and Letttts to the Authos ve AVer.n ij>r. ' 
 
CHAPTER XI. 
 
 FRANKLIN S PRINTING PRESS. 
 
 rtiE .vEvvroKT mkrul'ky — james frankl;n.— r. i. gazette. 
 
 THE first newspaper published in Newport was 
 issued in 1732, by James Franklin, elder brother 
 "!' Dr. Benjamin Franklin. It was a small sheet, the 
 si/e of ordinary letter paper, and was print( d on a 
 l)ress brought from Boston, which press, imported by 
 .hinies Franklin, was long standing in the office of the 
 Newport Mercury. 
 
 On the 14th of February, 1734-5, James Franklin 
 
44 NEWPORT ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 died, aged 38, alter a long indisposition. The print- 
 ing office he left to his son James, then a child. On 
 the 12th June, 1758, James, the son, issued the first 
 number of the Newport Mercury. He was assisted 
 m the management of it by his mother, Mrs. Ann 
 Franklin, and in a few years, James, having left New- 
 port, for some cause never made known, and never to 
 return, her imprint alone appeared on the paper. The 
 daughter of Mrs. Franklin having married one Samuel 
 Hall, the Mercury was made over to him, and subse- 
 quently it was transferred to Solomon Southwick, who 
 published it until December, 1776, when it was dis- 
 continued lor a time, Southwick fearing the British, 
 who were preparing to land on the Island, would des- 
 troy his property. To prevent his press and types, 
 then standing in the office on Queen Street, near the 
 middle of the parade, from falling into their hands, 
 they were removed to the rear of the old building on 
 Broad Street, known as the Kilbum House, where 
 they were buried in the garden. The fact that the 
 property was so secreted was made known to the 
 commander of the British troops, who caused it to be 
 removed to the building known as the Vaughan House, 
 making the north corner of the Parade and Thames 
 Street, where, in the chambers, one John Howe, who 
 was known as printer to his Majesty, regularly issued 
 the Rhode Island Gazette during 1 777-78-79, copies 
 of which paper can now be seen at the Redwood Li- 
 brary. After the war, the office was purchased by 
 Mr. Henry Barber, and the Mercury was again issued 
 January 1, 1780. 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 
 WHITEHALL. 
 
 A KIDE TO GKEEN END, HONYMAN S H.I.L, WHITEHALL, AND 
 OVER THE BEACHES. 
 
 FEW spots in the environs of Newport are more 
 endeared to the antiquarian than the quiet vale 
 where Berkeley lived, and wrote his finest works. The 
 changes that have been effected in that portion of the 
 island for the century past, are slight indeed, and one 
 can there still enjoy the quiet and repose, so congenial 
 to the mind of Berkeley, climb the hill, named for his 
 friend and neighbor, to survey the scene that always 
 
46 NEWPORT ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 filled his mind with delight; or, enjoy the shade of 
 the overhanging rocks, where, in fine weather, he daily 
 wrote, undisturbed, save by the murmur of the distant 
 ocean, the song of birds, and the low hum of bees. 
 
 The day is fine, the roads are in excellent order, 
 and we will turn our horses' heads towards Green End 
 and chat of Berkeley's sojourn on Rhode Island, as 
 we gently mount the hill. 
 
 Whitehall can be reached by passing over the Beach 
 and the neck of land that divides it from the second 
 beach, and then up through the valley that opens to 
 the left: or, by the main and Green End roads, re- 
 turning by the beaches. We prefer the latter, and 
 will now take the road leading from Broad Street, and 
 follow it for half a mile or so, where it branches ofl' to 
 the right, and to the right we must keep. On either 
 slope are beautiful meadows of emerald green : the 
 orchards already display thick clusters of ripening 
 fruit : the maze, in its perfection, is gently swayed by 
 the soft breezes from the sea, and the birds, that fill 
 the air with their song, fly not at the approach of man. 
 
 At the top of the first hill we look down upon Eas- 
 ton's Pond, a large sheet spread out before us, its 
 waters unbroken, save by the light skifl^ of the angler, 
 or the duck leading forth her young brood upon its 
 glassy surface. Its eastern shore is bounded by Ea.s- 
 ton's beach, and in the breakers beyond we can descry 
 the bathers, dark against the white waves sporting on 
 the shore. 
 
 To the east, the eye rests upon the valley below, 
 and the rising ground that shuts out the view on the 
 opposite side. The hill is known as Honyman's Hill, 
 
NEWPORT ILLUSTRATED. 47 
 
 and on its summit the American forces were once 
 gathered, under Lafayette, to repulse the British troops, 
 then in possession of the spot on which we now stand. 
 The remains of the breast work, thrown up by the 
 British, are still visible on the farm to the east, and 
 when a portion of it was levelled a few years since, 
 cannon balls were brought to light, that were thrown 
 from the American work before the general retreat 
 under Sullivan. 
 
 As we descend the hill we lose the view of all save 
 the sloping banks of green, the gnarled and twisted 
 trees that have yielded their fruits to father and son 
 for generations, and the quiet little brook, that takes 
 its rise in the woods some miles to the north, and 
 empties its limpid waters in the pond to the right. 
 The view is contracted, for the road curves at every 
 few rods, and each change is more pleasing than the 
 last. 
 
 The ascent of Honyman's Hill is somewhat steep. 
 On the left hand, just by the school house, there is a 
 narrow road, running north, and shaded by overhang- 
 ing trees, that, for a short drive, is very pleasant. It 
 comes out on the main road, about three miles from 
 town. We contimie the ascent, and as we approach 
 the summit of the hill, find ourselves well repaid for 
 the exertion. 
 
 To the south a wider view is offered. The Pond, 
 Easton's Beach, the more elevated portions of the 
 town, and the cliffs, pushing far out into the sea, are 
 spread out before us like a map. Each object can 
 be distinctly seen, and even the sails and masts of 
 
48 NEWPORT ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 the light craft, far out on the horizon, are clearly 
 marked. 
 
 Berkeley, when asked why he did not select this 
 spot for the site of his house, replied, " To enjoy the 
 prospect of the hill, he must visit it only occasionally ; 
 that, if his constant residence should be on the hill, 
 the view would be so common as to lose all its 
 charms." 
 
 George Berkeley, son of William Berkeley, was 
 born at Kilcrin, near Thomaston, county of Kilkenny, 
 March 12, 1684. At the county schools he received 
 the rudiments of education, and at fifteen years of 
 age he entered as a pensioner in the University of 
 Dublin, where, at the expiration of eight years, he 
 obtained a fellowship. At this time he published 
 some of his writings, principally upon mathematical 
 science. In 1709 he gave to the world his " Theory 
 of Vision," and the following year he published the 
 "Principles of Human Knowledge." In 1712 he 
 was induced to enter upon the discussion of political 
 theories, and to Jjocke's celebrated treatise the world 
 is indebted for the sudden turn given to his writings. 
 Berkeley's support of the banished Stuarts made him 
 unpopular at the time, insomuch that Lord Galway 
 represented him as a Jacobite, which unfavorable 
 iiupression was only removed through the agency of 
 his college pupil, Mr. Molyneaux. 
 
 The writings of Berkeley early attracted consider- 
 able attention, and they soon became the subject of 
 discussion and contioversy. With Dr. John Clarke 
 he had a controversy of a serious and protracted na- 
 ture, and many years after, through the influence of 
 
NEWPORT ILLUSTRATED. 49 
 
 Addison, the parties were brought together ; but they 
 separated without a settlement of their dispute. 
 
 In 1713, Berkeley went over to London to super- 
 intend the publishing of his three Dialogues between 
 Hylas and Philonous, which brought him to the notice 
 of the most celebrated literary men of his day. He 
 became intimate with Steele and Pope, and at the 
 request of the former, wrote several papers for the 
 Guardian ; for each of which it is said he received a 
 guinea and a dinner. He was introduced by Steele 
 to the Earl of Peterborough, who took him as chap- 
 lain and secretary, when he received the appointment 
 of Ambassador to the King of Sicily. 
 
 In 1724, Berkely was preferred to the deanery of 
 Derry, with a living of jCl.lOO. But new thoughts 
 had found birth, and these filled his mind with visions of 
 future usefulness. His heart was filled with the lofty 
 and holy design of converting the savages of America 
 to Christianity, by means of a College to be erected 
 on the Island of Bermuda. The design once c(m- 
 ceived, he arranged and drew up plans with full ex- 
 planations, and solicited the influence of his friends 
 to secure for these a favorable hearing His feelings 
 at the time found utterance in the verses so often 
 quoted : 
 
 " Westward the course of Empire takes its way." 
 
 The project which Berkeley had so much at heart, 
 is admirably set forth in a letter from Swift to Lord 
 Carteret. In this he says : 
 
 " Your Excellency will be frighted when I tell you all this 
 is but an introduction, for I am now to mention his errand. 
 
50 NEWPORT ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 He is an absolute philosopher with regard to money, titles and 
 power ; and for three years past, has been struck with a notion 
 of founding a university at Bermudas, by a charter from the 
 crown. . . He showed me a little tract which he designs to 
 publish, and there your Excellency will see the whole scheme 
 of a life academico-philosophical, — I shall make you remember 
 what you were, — of a college founded for Indian scholars and 
 missionaries, where he most exorbitantly proposes a whole 
 £100 for himself, £40 for a fellow, and £10 for a student. 
 His heart will break if his deanery be not taken from him, and 
 left at your Excellency's disposal." 
 
 The efforts to change the views of Berkeley were 
 unavaihng ; and to carry out his plans, he sent in his 
 proposals to King George I. The result is well 
 known. On the 11th of May, 1726, it was voted in 
 the House of Commons, " That an humble address be 
 presented to His Majesty, that out of the lands in St. 
 Christophers, yielded by France to Great Britain by 
 rke treaty of Utrecht, His Majesty would be graciousy 
 pleased to make such grant for the support of the 
 president and fellows of the College of St. Paul's in 
 Bermuda, as His Majesty should think proper." To 
 this the King answered favorably, and Berkeley felt 
 sure that the £20,000 asked for would be forthcoming. 
 But the statesmen of the day thought differently, and 
 before the great seal was affixed, the King died. 
 Berkeley did not pause for this, but arranged his 
 affairs with the full expectation of ultimately receiv- 
 ing the grant ; and in 1728, having married but a 
 month previous, he sailed for this port. Here he 
 corresponded with his friends in England and Ireland 
 on the subject of his grant. It then often required 
 six months, and sometimes a year, to transmit a letter. 
 He met with no encouragement, and after learning 
 
NEWPORT ILLUSTRATED. 51 
 
 that the land in St. Christophers had l)eea sold and 
 the proceeds distributed without regard lo his claim, 
 and having received the following reply from Walpole 
 to Bishop Gibson's question in his behalf, he settled 
 his affairs and returned to Dublin : " If you put the 
 question to me as a minister, I trust and assure you 
 that the money shall most undoubtedly be paid as 
 soon as suits with public convenience ; but if you ask 
 me as a friend, whether Dean Berkeley should con- 
 tinue in America, expecting the payment of je20,000, 
 I advise him, by all means, to return home to Europe, 
 and to give up his present expectations." 
 
 The following tradition of the landing of Dean 
 Berkeley in Newport, we extract from " Memoirs of 
 Rhode Island," by the late Major Bull: 
 
 " The ship ran into the west passage, and came to anchor. 
 The Dean wrote a letter to Mr. Honyman, [rector of Trinity 
 Church,] which the pilots took on shore at Conanicut Island, 
 and called on a Mr. Gardner and Mr. Martin, two members of 
 Mr. Hony man's church, informing them that a great dignitaiy 
 of the Church of England, called Dean, was on board the ship, 
 together with other gentlemen passengers. They handed tivjm 
 the letter from the Dean, which Gardner and Martin brought 
 to Newport in a small boat, with all possible dispatch. On 
 their arrrval they found Mr. Honyman at church, it being a 
 holyday on which divine service was held there. They then 
 sent the letter by a servant, who delivered it to Mr Honyman 
 in the pulpit. He opened it and read it to the congregation, 
 from the contents of which it appeared the Dean might be 
 expected to land in Newport every moment. The church was 
 dismissed with a blessing, and Mr. Honyman, with the war- 
 dens, vestry, church and congregation, male and female, re- 
 paired immediately to the Ferry wharf, where they arrived a 
 little before the Dean, his family and friends." 
 
 Berkeley was charmed with Rhode Island, and in 
 writing to his friends he describes it as " pleasantly 
 laid out in hills and vales and rising grounds, and hath 
 
52 NEWPORT ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 plenty of excellent springs, and fine rivulets, and many 
 delightful landscapes of rocks, and promontories, and 
 adjacent lands." He soon became settled, and built 
 Whitehall, in the valley below us, and to approach it 
 we leave the main road to the left, enter a gate, and 
 follow the path a few rods to the house — now fast 
 going to decay from neglect, and the wear of more 
 than a hundred New England winters. 
 
 The worthy dean found in Newport a society re- 
 fined and elevated, whose pursuits were congenial to 
 his tastes. With others, he soon formed a philoso- 
 phical association, comprising the names of men dis- 
 tinguished in their day for their learning and liberality, 
 and who ultimately laid the foundation of the Red- 
 wood Library. 
 
 Whitehall was given by Berkeley to Yale College, 
 which still retains the fee, and he also presented that 
 institution with a considerable portion of his library. 
 Of his favorite resort. Major Bull thus speaks : 
 
 " During his residence at Whitehall he wrote his * Minute 
 Philosopher,' and his celebrated poem, so oracular as to the future 
 destinies of America. These were principally written at a 
 place about half a mile to the south of his house. There he 
 had his chair and writing apparatus placed in a natural alcove 
 which he found in the most elevated part of the Hanging 
 Rocks, (so called) roofed and only open to the south, command- 
 ing at once a view of Sachuest Beach, the ocean and the 
 circumjacent islands. This hermitage was to him a favorite 
 and solitary retreat. He continued here about two years, per- 
 haps a little longer. He was certainly here as late as Septem- 
 ber, 1731, as appears by a supplementary inscription on the 
 tombstone of Nathaniel Kay, Esq., which is as follows, viz: 
 Joining to the south of this tomb, lies Lucia Berkeley, daughter 
 of Dean Berkeley, obit, the 5th of September, 1731." 
 
 And it is recorded of him by another : 
 
 " His preaching was eloquent and forcible, and he always 
 
NEWPORT ILLUSTRATED. 53 
 
 had a large congregation He was tolerant in religious opin- 
 ions, and members of all denominations flocked to hear him " 
 
 After Berkeley's return to England, he presented 
 Trinity Church with the organ, still seen in that edi- 
 fice. A recent examination of the records of the town 
 of Berkeley, Mass., has brought to light the fact that 
 the name of Berkeley was given to the parish as a 
 compliment to the dean, and that after his return to 
 Dublin he caused a magnificent organ to be built, 
 which he shipped to his agent at Newport, to, be for- 
 warded to Berkeley. The selectmen of the latter 
 place, when they received the letter from the dean, 
 called a town meeting, and it was voted that " an or- 
 gan is an instrument of the devil for the entrapping of 
 men's souls," and would have nothing to do with it. 
 The vote was soon made known to Berkeley, who 
 subsequently presented the organ to Trinity Church. 
 The original case, of English oak, is still in use in 
 the church, and it contains a part of the old works, 
 with the addition of such new pipes as were found 
 necessary when it was rebuilt a few years ago. 
 
 In 1753 Bishop Berkeley died at Oxford. He ex- 
 pired in his chair, of palsy of the heart, while his 
 wife was reading to him a sermon by Sherlock. So 
 easy was his death that some time elapsed before it 
 was known to those around him. 
 
SPOUTING CAVE. 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 TRAINING SCHOOL. — WAR COLLEGE. — TORPEDO STATION. — EAR- 
 LY BUILDINGS. — CHURCHES. — LIBRARIF.S. — MODERN ARCHI- 
 TECTURE. 
 
 The City of Newport is situated on the southern 
 portion of the Island of Rhode Island, from which is- 
 land the State is named ; Middletown and Portsmouth 
 occupying respectively the middle and northern por- 
 tions. The island is about fifteen miles in length and 
 about three miles at its greatest width. 
 
 The harbor is all that could be desired. The Bay, 
 of which it is a part, is studded with islands, the prin- 
 cipal one of which is Conanicut now becoming well 
 known as a summer resort. It is connected with 
 Newport by a steam ferry. Between Newport and 
 Conanicut is Goat Island, the seat of the Torpedo 
 Station, and this has also constant steam communica- 
 tion. Just north of this is the island called Coaster's 
 Harbor, occupied by the United States Government 
 for the Boys' Training School and the War College. 
 On Brenton's Point near the southwest end of the isl- 
 and is Fort Adams, where a portion of a regiment of 
 troops is stationed. It was built as a part of a system 
 of defence for Narraganselt Bay. At the head of the 
 Bay, about twenty miles to the north, is Providence, 
 a flourishing manufacturing and commercial city, with 
 a population of more than a hundred thousand. With 
 its immediate neighborhood it contains half of the in- 
 habitants of the State. On Cole's river a few miles 
 
56 NEWPORT ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 above the north end of the island is Fall River, the 
 great Cotton City and the terminus of the Old Colony 
 line of steamers. 
 
 The early history of Newport, which was in fact the 
 history of the Colony, is sketched in the preceding 
 pages with the story of its decay. Impoverished, and 
 beaten down by the iron hoof of war, it was, in the 
 early part of the century, but a wreck. Its efforts for 
 recovery by manufactures and commerce were fruitless, 
 and its growth has come from its unrivalled fitness for 
 a Summer or even a Winter resort. Attractive by its 
 climate and situation from its earliest settlement, it 
 owes its position as the first of American Watering 
 Places, more to nature than to art. The first foreign 
 visitor was Verrazano, who spent the early part of the 
 season of 1524 in its harbor. From Brenton's Cove, 
 forming the southwestern part of the harbor, is a most 
 beautiful view of Newport and the Bay. A rocky bluff 
 of about fifty feet in height rises abruptly from the 
 water. At one's feet is Fort Adams with its village of 
 houses for officers and men, — its rocky battlements 
 bristling with guns. Just beyond lies the Torpedo 
 Station, while the ship or ships of the Training Station 
 lie lazily at their moorings and the harbor and bay is 
 dotted with steamers and sailboats. Jamestown, on 
 Conanicut at the west, shows its rapid growth of sum- 
 mer hotels and residences. At the south is the wide 
 Ocean in never-ceasing motion, with Narragansett Pier, 
 Beaver Tail and Block Island far beyond. The Bay of 
 Naples can be hardly more beautiful than this panor- 
 ama on a summer's day. 
 
 Newport approached by rail or steamboat suggests, 
 on landing, its antiquity. Narrow streets, quaint old 
 houses of Colonial and ante-Colonial architecture show 
 little of fashion or modern life. Shops dating back to 
 the last century and houses dating still farther back, 
 
NEWPORT ILLUSTRATED. 57 
 
 with stone chimneys and doors and porches of classic 
 design, are still to be seen, although they are vanishing 
 as modern ideas advance. The town of wooden houses 
 suggests possible conflagrations, which though con- 
 stantly predicted have not yet taken place. From this 
 first view a visitor might conclude that it is not yet a 
 "watering place." A walk through the old-fashioned 
 thoroughfares where two wagons can hardly pass each 
 other, leads to a new and very modern Newport where 
 all the possible and even impossible styles of archi- 
 tecture present themselves. 
 
 One of the early buildings is the State House, built 
 in 1741 froi. ,jlans by Richard Munday. From its steps 
 the Declaration of Independence was read in July 1776 
 and again in 1826 by the same person. During the 
 Revolution it was used as a hospital by both French 
 and English, and Washington was there entertained on 
 his visit to Newport. In the Senate chamber is a full 
 length portrait of the Father of his Country, by Gilbert 
 Stuart. Another building worthy of attention is the 
 City Hall. It was built for a public market and gran- 
 ary, and for many years past it has been used for a City 
 Hall. In the rear of the State House is probably the 
 oldest house in Newport, the Bull House, which has 
 been partially modernized leaving the southern part 
 with its original covering of plaster. Near this is the 
 Mrst Baptist Church, which (the church not the build- 
 ing) has claims to be the first Baptist church in 
 America. On Touro Street near the Jewish Synagogue 
 is an old building erected in 1726 by the Sabbatarian 
 Baptists, the first church building belonging to that 
 sect in this country. It is now the property of the 
 Newport Historical Society, having in connection with 
 it the room of the Natural History Society, both well 
 worth the attention of visitors. From the pulpit of this 
 building, still in its original condition, was preached 
 
58 NEWPORT ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 in 1739 the first centennial discourse by the Rev. John 
 ( allender. The Jews' Synagogue near by with the 
 Cemetery a little distance beyond are maintained by 
 funds left by the Touros for the purpose. The building 
 on Mill Street occupied as an auction room was erected 
 by the First Congregational Society under the pastoral 
 care of the Rev. Nathaniel Clap in 1729. The Central 
 Baptist Church on Clarke Street was erected by the 
 Second Congregational Society in 1733 (?), its pastor 
 being the Rev. John Adams. Over this church Dr. 
 Ezra Stiles presided from 1755 until the Revolution 
 scattered his congregation, after which he was called 
 to the presidency of Yale College. The two Congre- 
 gational churches united in 1834, and the freestone 
 building on the corner of Pelham and Spring Streets 
 is the home of the United or rather Re-united Con- 
 gregationalists. Near it are the graves of Dr. Samuel 
 Hopkins and Dr. William Patten once its pastors. The 
 North Baptist or Second Baptist Church has a wooden 
 building of the Gothic style near the north part of 
 Thames Street. The Society was formed by a seces- 
 sion from the First Baptist. Trinity Church occupies 
 its original building, and is a fine specimen of the 
 architecture of the period, with square pews, sounding 
 board, and beautiful groined arches as built in 1726. 
 There are four other Episcopal churches, — Emmanuel 
 in the southern part of the city, All Saints open only 
 in summer, St. John's on the Point, and St. George's 
 on Rhode Island Avenue, in the midst of the new 
 growth of the city at the north. There are two Cath- 
 olic churches, — one on Spring Street, a fine freestone 
 building, and the other on Washington Square, for- 
 merly the place of worship of Zion Episcopal Church. 
 Both have schools, parsonages and convents attached. 
 Three churches, Baptist, Congregationalist and Meth- 
 odist, are maintained by the colored citizens. The 
 
NEWPORT ILLUSTRATED. 59 
 
 Methodists have two churches, one of which, on Marl- 
 borough Street, built in 1806, enjoys the distinction of 
 being the first of its denomination in this country that 
 had a steeple and bell-tower. The Unitarians have a 
 very tasteful stone building on Pelham Street, erected 
 as a memorial to Dr. William Ellery Channing on his 
 one-hundredth birthday in 1880. A Swedish church 
 has a building on Annandale Road, and an unsettled 
 church of the same nationality worships in the Epis- 
 copal Chapel on Church Street. 
 
 The Redwood Library is housed in a beautiful build- 
 ing on Bellevue Avenue and has a most interesting 
 history. It is constantly growing in usefulness and 
 value. It has always exerted a great influence, and 
 has a choice, though not extensive, collection of books. 
 The Free Public Library in its well arranged rooms 
 on Thames Street has been established and endowed 
 by the late Christopher Townsend, who with his sister 
 did very much for the place of their own and their 
 ancestors' birth. 
 
 From its settlement the principal street of Newport 
 has been Thames Street, or as it was called the Main 
 Street. Evidently laid out as a two-rod highway, it 
 has gained nothing in width and now measures only 
 about twenty-nine feet. It retains its old-time quaint- 
 ness ana gives the impression of belonging to a bygone 
 age. Its shops have shed their old shutters and double 
 doors with hanging shelves under the windows. Its 
 roadway has been improved by the removal of its spine 
 ot pavings resembling good sized boulders, — but noth- 
 ing will make it modern. 
 
 From it streets run eastwardly ; some of them, still 
 narrower, confirming the impression that the traveller 
 has landed in an old continental city. After crossing 
 Spring Street, which extends from Broadway to Bailey's 
 Beach and is made a main artery by the electric rail- 
 
6o NEWPORT ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 road, we come, farther east, to a continuation of Touro 
 Street — Bellevue Avenue, alive in summer and dead 
 in winter. It ends with Ocean Avenue which then 
 runs along the shore with wild and rugged scenery on 
 one hand and the vast ocean on the other, till passing 
 by the southern part of the harbor we arrive again 
 in town, at the lower part of Thames Street. East of 
 the town is the Bathing Beach where modern life 
 and modern fashion is shown in full contrast with 
 the work-day life of the old town. Narrow as are the 
 streets they have had to furnish place, if not room, for 
 modern conveyances, and an electric street-railway 
 winds its way from the Mile Corner at the north to 
 Morton Park on the south, and from Commercial Wharf 
 to the Bathing Beach, and has already laid its plans 
 for tracks to the Point; while omnibuses and hacks 
 tender their services at all points. 
 
 Modern Newport contains specimens of every style of 
 architecture and it would be difficult to select from the 
 many residences, all deserving of illustration, those 
 most peculiar and attractive. A few truly palatial res- 
 idences have features that render them of much value 
 to those interested in the architecture of homes. 
 
 A few years since Ochre Point, having then only the 
 unpretending residence of Gov. Lawrence, was sold 
 and divided. Miss C. L. Wolfe of New York was the 
 purchaser of a large portion of it, on which she built 
 a most beautiful and substantial house of free-stone, 
 in every way suited to the location, and gave it the 
 name of Vinland, making its interior a proper repre- 
 sentation of the homes of those who gave a thousand 
 years ago the name to a part of New England. 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 WHARVES. — CLIFF WALK. — THE AVENUE. — OCEAN AVENUE. — 
 LAND TRUST COTTAGES. — JAMESTOWN. 
 
 But Newport has other claims than modern palaces 
 and cultivated grounds. Let us pass from the brillian- 
 cy and splendor of luxurious leisure to the musings 
 and dreams of the battered and decayed portions of 
 Newport of the past. A visit to the wharves, once 
 crowded with business, when vessels sailed the whole 
 length of the harbor front seeking in vain an oppor- 
 tunity to get a berth, brings one much nearer to the 
 heart of old Newport. Here, until a few years ago, 
 could be seen the stand where slaves from Africa 
 were exposed for sale, as well as the old vats of the 
 
62 NEWPORT ILLUSTRATED 
 
 score or more distilleries where the rum for the pur- 
 chase of these slaves was made, and the warehouses 
 where goods were stored for shipment to Africa or 
 the West Indies. The City Wharf occupies the ground 
 where numbers of pirates were hung, and across the 
 harbor is the Torpedo Station, once Fort George, or 
 Fort Anne, or Fort Walcott, as either king or queen 
 was in ascendency. Sailboats glide through the har- 
 bor, steamboats laden with excursionists bound to the 
 Beach, Block Island or Conanicut, come and go, and 
 the whole air is redolent with the flavor of nautical 
 life. 
 
 There are few places so conducive to dreams of 
 years gone by as the wharves of an old town, where 
 stranded and loquacious old mariners can be found to 
 spin their yarns of danger, death or daring. 
 
 The visitor at Newport who desires to see its attrac- 
 tions, may well on his arrival at the Bathing Beach 
 take the Cliff" Walk, extending through private grounds 
 from the Beach to the Boat House Gulley, a distance 
 of two and three-quarters miles. It is accessible only 
 to pedestrians, and possesses all the charms of Nature 
 with enough of Art to make it attractive. 
 
 Leaving the Beach we pass alon;,;; the Cliffs, fifty feet 
 in height, with the Atlantic on our left, and on our 
 right villas and grounds so beautifully arranged and 
 mauitained that the " Land is like the Garden of 
 Eden" before him. 
 
 We pass by the Cliff" Cottages through the grounds 
 of Mr. and Mrs. Gammell, on by Narragansett Avenue 
 and the Forty Steps, where the Goelet houses give an 
 idea of the wealth and taste which has transformed 
 farms into parks, and increased values almost a hun. 
 dred fold. We pass by and over Ochre Point, which 
 within a few years has been crowded with palatial 
 residences, among them "Vinland built by Miss Wolfe 
 
NEWPORT ILLUSTRATED. 63 
 
 and now owned by Mr. Louis Lorillard, the Breakers 
 owned by Mr. Cornelius Vanderbilt, and back of these, 
 beautiful specimens of architecture owned by Messrs. 
 Van Alen, Wysong, Shields, Eldridge and others, all 
 worthy of more than a passing mention. Along the 
 clifTs as we proceed are the residences of the Piersons, 
 Rogers, Jones, Fiske, Kernochan. and as we go on we 
 pass by Belmont's, Bancroft's, who while living spent 
 his summers in the very Rose Garden of America, and 
 then on by the mansions of the Astors an d Vander- 
 bilts, in brick, marble and stone, all adding to the 
 charms of Nature. It is useless to attempt descriptions 
 of these country residences. Builders and owners pass 
 away but their houses and lands remain, kept in order 
 and beauty by constant changes and renewal, present- 
 ing scenery and beauties to make glad the heart of man, 
 generously open to the view and enjoyment of all. No 
 visitor can get a just impression of what it is that makes 
 Newport the place which it is, unless this ramble is 
 made a part of his experience. The gli tter of equi- 
 pages on the Avenue gives an impression of wealth 
 and luxury beyond compare, but the Cliff Walk with 
 the Ocean in its majesty, the gardens and lawns in 
 their beauty and elegance, and the villas with their 
 refinement and repose, make us grateful for so much 
 of that Beauty which is a joy forever. 
 
 Bellevue Avenue, the peculiar street of Summer 
 Newport, extending from Touro Street to Bailey's 
 Beach, a distance of about three miles, is the Boulevard 
 where Fashion and Elegance make their great display. 
 
 We have the old town, with its tradition and its his- 
 tory, cherished by its inhabitants with the tenacity of 
 conservatism and age, and the most modern phase 
 of wealth and fashion, which displays itself on the 
 Avenue and in all the gaieties of modern fashionable 
 luxury and life, with elegance equal to that of Ancient 
 
64 NEWPORT ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 Rome or the French Empire, in the dignity of Country 
 Palaces, serene in the assured possession of means 
 and abihty to compare with the nobles of the earth. 
 
 All these meet, in the Season, on the Avenue, and 
 pass in scenic array each afternoon before the spec- 
 tator. 
 
 A population devoted to amusement and relaxation, 
 released from the cares of business and labor, is spend- 
 ing Its holiday in the enjoyment of all that nature and 
 art can furnish. Alas for poor Newport ! it can hardly 
 turn from the wondrous vision to the humdrum duties 
 of every day life, and has consequently failed of success 
 in enterprises requiring applicative economy and con- 
 tinuous labor. But Vogue la galere — and Newport 
 gives itself up to the pleasure of the moment, and 
 becomes no sturdier by the contact with all that earth 
 can give of pleasure and joy. 
 
 The Avenue is lined with houses. Already those 
 built within a generation are giving place to finer and 
 costlier structures, and Bellevue has extended itself 
 into Ocean Avenue, which from Bailey's Beach runs 
 along the southern shore of the Island around by 
 Castle Hill and back to the town through Harrison 
 Avenue, making the well known Ocean or Ten Mile 
 Drive. 
 
 Pedestrians seldom undertake this, but the Ocean in 
 its Majesty well rewards the visitor who makes the 
 excursion. The southwestern part of the island, hith- 
 erto known and appreciated by a few, is now being 
 laid out with elegant roads winding through and over 
 hills with precipices and valleys suggesting Norman 
 McLeod's description of his " Highland Parish." What 
 is known as the King Lands and the Hospital Property 
 west of Lily Pond has been laid out from plans by 
 Mr. Olmstead. 
 
 Ruggles Avenue has been made a main road to Ocean 
 
NEWPORT ILLUSTRATED. 65 
 
 Avenue and thus a new feature has been added to 
 Newport scenery. 
 
 A number of houses have been built, and it is prob- 
 able that a short time will witness an entirely new 
 development and enlargement of available building 
 property. To the east, too, of Bathing Beach the 
 Newport Land Trust has begun a settlement. A num- 
 ber of cottages are already built and plans for exten- 
 sive improvements already made. 
 
 A rapid extension of cottage and hotel life has been 
 made, which is hardly a part of Newport. 
 
 Jamestown, a short distance across the Bay, has be- 
 come a very popular resort. Large hotels are crowded 
 with visitors. Houses are being erected by scores. 
 The southern shore of the island has its villas and the 
 problem of a new Summer Resort is being rapidly 
 worked out. Its growth has been remarkable and bids 
 fair to continue. It is so intimately connected with 
 Newport by steamboats that it forms a suburb, bidding 
 fair to rival the older resort in many respects. The 
 sail to this place on a summer's day is a charming 
 trip, giving a view of the Bay and the Ocean, while 
 across the island one can take the steamer to Narra- 
 gansett and continue on to Narragansett Pier, too well 
 known to need more than a passing mention. 
 
HAMMETT'S 
 DICTIONARY OF NEWPORT 
 
 AND ITS VICINITY. 
 
 Almanac. The first in Newport was the Rhode Island or 
 Poor Robin Almanac. 
 
 Aqueduct Company was formed in 1802, to furnish water 
 for family purposes from a fountain on Spring street. It 
 was successful as to supply, but not as to profit. The foun- 
 tain on the Parade is all that is left to recall its existence. 
 
 Artillery Company. Formed in 1741. Armory in Clarke 
 street. 
 
 Asylum^, on Coaster's Harbor Island, was built 1822. The 
 Island was sold to the Government in 1881 and the Asy- 
 lum is now located at No. 473 Broadway. 
 
 Banks. There are eight Banks in Newport. Capital aggre- 
 gates $970,000. 
 
 Savings Banks. Newport Savings Bank, deposits $5,734,- 
 000. Coddington, $756,000. Island, $665,000. 
 
 Cooperative Association. Established 1888. Present cap- 
 ital $30,000. Loans only on real estate or shares. 
 
 Battle of Rhode Island, August 29, 1778. 
 Beach, First or Bathing, reached by Street Railway from 
 the Post Office. 
 
 Beach, Second or Sachuest, beyond Easton's Point. North 
 of it is Paradise and the Hanging Rocks. 
 
 Beach, Baileys, south of Almy's Pond at the end of Belle- 
 vue avenue. 
 
 Books, early. The first book written in Newport was 
 Samuel Gorton's "Incorruptible Key," in 1647; then W. 
 
DICTIONARY OF NEWPORT. 67 
 
 Coddington's "Five Letters," 1649; John Clarke's "111 
 Newes, ' 1652. All printeci and published in England. 
 
 The earliest publications were two "Sermons" by N. 
 Clap in 1715, and John Hammett's "Vindication," 1717; 
 all probably printed in Bosion. 
 
 Brenton House, Thames street, between Church and Mary, 
 was probably built before 1700. Later, called the Chan- 
 ing House. 
 
 British Army under General Clinton took possession of 
 Newport. Dec. 8, 1776. Evacuated 1779, after an un- 
 successful siege by the Americans. 
 
 Burial Groufids. Common Burial Ground, Farewell street. 
 North City Cemetery, Farewell street. Island Cemetery, 
 Warner street. St. Mary's Cemetery, Warner street. Friend's 
 Burial Ground, White street. Jewish Cemetery, Touro 
 street. Clifton Burying Ground, Golden Hill street. Clarke 
 Burying Ground, West Broadway. Coddington, opp. Second 
 Baptist Church. Trinity Church Burial Ground, Church 
 street. Coggeshall Burial Ground, Coggeshall avenue. 
 Easton Burial Ground, near Second Beach ; here the 
 daughter of Roger Williams is buried. Collins Burial 
 Ground on Bateman's Farm. 
 
 Business Men's Association Rooms, Thames street, corner 
 Green. Incorporated 1886. 
 
 Butts' Hill in Portsmouth. 
 
 Casino, on Bellevue avenue. A* fine building designed by 
 McKim and Mead, with tennis courts and theatre to which 
 is attached a club house. 
 
 Channing House, now Home for Friendless Children, School 
 street, corner Mary. Here William Ellery Channing was 
 born. 
 
 Charity Organization, formed 1878, when 336 families 
 received public aid. In 1887, with an increase of 25% in 
 population the amount of money called for was diminished 
 ^2500. 
 
 Cherry Neck, south of Ocean avenue, part of Rocky Farm. 
 
 Cheseborough House, Mary street, built about 1720 on 
 what was earlier the Sanford orchard. The owner pro- 
 tested against the continuing of Clarke street through his 
 lands. 
 
68 DICTIONARY OF NEWPORT. 
 
 Churches : 
 
 Central Baptist Church, Clarke street. Church formed 
 
 1847. Building erected 1735 for the Second Congregational 
 
 Church, of which Dr. Ezra Stiles was pastor for 20 years. 
 First Baptist, established by the Congregationalist settlers 
 
 from Massachusetts and formed into a Baptist church 1644. 
 
 Back of State House. 
 Second Baptist, North Baptist and Farewell streets. Formed 
 
 1656. 
 Shiloh Baptist, formed 1864. Corner School and Mary 
 
 streets. Building formerly Trinity Church school-house. 
 St. Joseph's, corner Clarke street. Established 1880. 
 St. Mary^s, Spring, corner Levin street. Building erected 
 
 1853- 
 Union Congregational, Division street. Organized 1824. 
 
 House built 187 1. 
 United Congregational, corner Spring and Pelham streets. 
 
 First church formed 1695, organized 1720. Second church 
 
 formed 1728. Churches united 1834. Present building 
 
 erected 1859 
 
 All Saints Memorial Chapel, Beach, corner Cottage street. 
 Services in summer only. 
 
 Emmanuel, Spring street, corner Dearborn. Organized 185 1. 
 
 St. George^ s, formerly Zion Church, Rhode Island avenue. 
 Built 1880. 
 
 St. John's, Poplar street. Organized 1882. 
 
 Trinity, corner Spring and Church streets Built 1726, in 
 place of one built about 1702, the old building being given 
 to a church in Warwick. 
 
 Kay Chapel, Church street. 
 
 Friends' Meeting House. First society established 1643. 
 House built 1700. Farewell and Marlborough streets. 
 
 Jews' Synagogue, Touro street. Built 1763. Kept in re- 
 pair by Touro Fund. 
 
 First Methodist, Marlborough street. Built 1805. Said to 
 be the first Methodist church having a steeple and bell 
 tower in the United States. 
 
 Thatnes Street Methodist, corner Thames and Brewer 
 
 streets. Organized in 1856. Building erected 1866. 
 Mount Zion {M. E.), Bellevue avenue, head of Touro street. 
 
DICTIONARY OF NEWPORT. 69 
 
 First Presbyterian, organized 1888. Wellington avenue. 
 Swedish {M. E.), Annandale road. Organized 1886. 
 Channing Memorial ( Unitarian), Pelham street. Building 
 erected 1880. 
 
 City Charter. Newport was granted a City Charter in 1784. 
 Charter repealed 1787. (See Easton's Beach.) Re-chartered 
 •853- 
 
 City Hall, corner Long Wharf and Thames street. Built 
 for a market and granary, 1763. Peter Harrison, Architect, 
 afterward used as a theatre. The land on which it stands 
 was given by the Long Wharf Trustees. The cost ^24,- 
 000 old tenor was to be defrayed by a lottery. 
 
 City Property. Value of Real estate ^477,000.00. Total 
 property $700,000.00. Total indebtedness $313,000.00. 
 
 Cliff Walk, extends from the Beach, along the Cliffs, to 
 Ledge road, and passes the residences of Mrs. Gammell, 
 Robert and Ogden Goelet, L. L. Lorillard, C. Vanderbilt, 
 F. Pierson, Fairman Rogers. L Fiske, Mrs. C. O. Jones, 
 y. P. Kernochan, A. Belmont, Bancroft, The Astors, Van- 
 derbilts. Dr. Bell, Ingersoll, Hunnewell, Wales Cushing, 
 F. W. Vanderbilt, "Finiste>re" now owned by Mrs. H. 
 M. Brooks, ending on Ledge road. 
 
 Coal Mines in Portsmouth where much coal of inferior 
 quality has been dug. The mines are for the most part 
 filled with water and disused. 
 
 Drives. Bellevue avenue. Ocean or Ten-mile Drive. East 
 road to Slade's Ferry, 10 miles. West road to Bristol Ferry, 
 9 miles. Bliss road and Honeyman's Hill to Indian avenue. 
 Across the Beaches by Purgatory, Hanging Rocks to Indian 
 avenue. 
 
 Easton's Beach. About 1787 Nicholas Easton, claiming 
 exclusive ownership of the Beach, prosecuted Giles Sanford 
 for taking sand from it. The City defended the suit which 
 was finally decided in favor of the City. Mr. Easton, in 
 consequence" of this decision, sent in a petition to the Gen- 
 eral Assembly, signed by 104 persons, asking a repeal 
 of the City Charter which had been granted in 1784. This 
 petition though opposed by another signed by more than 
 400 citizens, was granted and the Charter was taken away. 
 
70 DICTIONARY OF NEWPORT. 
 
 Excursions on steamboats to Providence ; to Jamestown and 
 to Narragansett Pier by ferries ; to Narragansett Pier by 
 steamer; to Wickford by steamer. 
 
 Edison Electric Sfatioti, Tew's court. Supplies the City 
 street lights and power for the Street Railway and private 
 residences. Office at Whipple & Derby's, Bellevue avenue. 
 
 The Endeavor. Captain Cook's ship in which he made 
 the voyage around the world came to Newport about 1790 
 with a cargo of oil. When about to return to France, slie 
 was condemned as unseaworthy and left to decay. She was 
 brought into one of the docks by one well known to the 
 writer of this, where she was finally destroyed. A piece 
 of the carving on her stern is still preserved as a memorial. 
 
 Fire Department, value $64,985.00. 
 
 First House in Newport was built on Quaker Field, Marl- 
 borough street, and was burned within six months of its 
 erection. 
 
 Fort Adatns was completed about 1799, and in 1S24 the 
 present fort was begun. It was completed in about 14 
 years. 
 
 Fort Chastellux was built about 1781 on Halidon Hill 
 south of Wellington avenue. It was afterwards called Fort 
 Harrison and later Fort Dunham. 
 
 Fort Dumpling was built 1798- 1800. Never finished or 
 armed. It has also been called Fort Louis and Fort Brown. 
 
 Fort Greene, Washington street. 
 
 Fort Hamilton on Rose Island, 1798-1800, was never oc- 
 cupied. 
 
 Fort IValcott, now Torpedo Station, built soon after the 
 settlement of the town. 
 
 Forty Steps at foot of Narragansett avenue on Clifif Walk. 
 
 Funds for Benevolence. Aid for the Aged, largely en 
 dowed by Christopher Townsend : expends nearly $3,000 
 annually. Freebody Fund; land near the Ocean House. 
 Robert B. Cranston Fund, for aid of aged or poor persons 
 selected by Trustees. Fry Orphan Fund, income paid to 
 Home for Friendless Children. Ellen Townsend Trust, 
 $18,000. Kane Poor Fund, $2,400. 
 
 Newport Gas Light Company, 181 Thames street. Cap- 
 ital $225,000. 
 
DICTIONARY OF NEWPORT. 71 
 
 The Glen. Private property about 4^ miles from Newport, 
 on the East road. Open to pedestrians. 
 
 Goat Island. Purchased by the town of Governor Arnold, 
 1673. In 1794 the fortifications were transferred to the 
 United States, and in 1790 the town sold the remainder 
 of the island to the Government for $1,500. The earth- 
 work battery was mentioned in 1701 as Fort Anne, in 
 1730 as Fort George, in 1776 as Fort Liberty, in 1784 
 as Fort Washington, in 179S as Fort Walcott. 
 
 Hacks and Omnibuses (see drives). Omnibuses for the 
 Avenue at the boats, cars, and Washington square. Hacks 
 near Redwood street and Touro Park. 
 
 Fare from northern pait of city to Narragansett avenue, 
 50 cents, with additional 50 cents for first mile or part of a 
 mile and 25 cents for each additional mile or part of a 
 mile. Or to or from Bathing Beach by omnibus 15 cents. 
 Hacks by the hour, first hour $2, each subsequent hour 
 $1.50. Hacks drawn by one horse only, $1.50 per hour. 
 
 Newport Historical Society, Touro street. Instituted 1853. 
 Rooms open from 10 a. m. to 2 p. m. 
 
 Home for Friendless Children, School and Mary streets, 
 in the Channing house. Established 1877. 
 
 Hotels. Ocean House, Bellevue avenue Aquidneck House, 
 Pelham street. Brayton House, Pelham street. Hartmann's, 
 Bellevue avenue. Ciifton House, Bellevue avenue, corner 
 Prospect Hill street. Pinard's, Bellevue avenue, corner 
 Redwood street. Central, Bath road. Perry House, Wash- 
 ington square. 
 
 Indebtedness of Newport. $243,000. .Sinking fund, $26,000. 
 
 Industrial School for Girls, Broadway, maintained by the 
 City. 
 
 Industrial School for Boys, endowed by Miss Ellen Town- 
 send, in preparation. 
 
 Land, early division of. At the settlement of Newport a 
 distribution of land was made among the proprietors, the 
 divisions extending eastwardly from the harbor. To W. 
 Coddington was allotted the portion between North Baptist 
 street and the Parade ; to Walter Clarke from the Parade 
 to Mary street; to William Brenton from Mary to Church 
 streets ; to Robert Carr from Mill to a short distance be- 
 
72 DICTIONARY OF NEWPORT. 
 
 yond Pelham street and to B. Arnold a tract south of 
 Carr's property. 
 
 Outside of the town, William Dyre owned west of Mi- 
 antonomi Hill ; William C'oddington around Coddington's 
 Cove; W. Brenton north of the Big Pond; John Clarke 
 between Tanner and Warner streets; Nicholas Easton 
 owned the Beach and the land west of it. From the Beach 
 around the shore to Brenton's Point were the allotments 
 of Brace. Brenton, Foster, Harding, Bull, Jeffrey, Codding 
 ton and Coggeshall. The exact boundaries are not easily 
 determined. West of the Big Pond was the Commonage, 
 and it is probable that the triangle on which stands the 
 .Soldiers' monument is one of the last portions of this 
 division. 
 
 Lawton' s Valley. A picturesque locality on the West road 
 near which is an old earthwork thrown up during the 
 Revolution. Six miles from Newport. 
 
 Lily Pond, about 30 acres in extent between Ocean Drive 
 and Hazard road. Leased to the Arctic Ice Company. 
 
 Liberty Tree. At the north end of Thames street is the 
 Liberty Tree Lot given in 1766, by William Read, to 
 commemorate the opposition to the Stamp Act by the Sons 
 of Liberty. The tree was destroyed by the British, and in 
 1783 a new one was planted on which was a copper plate 
 with the names of the thirteen by whom it was planted. 
 This tree died and a third has now been planted in its 
 place. 
 
 Long Wharf, first built 16S5. In the hands of Trustees 
 who rent it to the O. C. Steamboat Company, using the 
 income for building school-houses. 
 
 The Earliest Map in Newport was made by John Mumford 
 1712-13, not published until i860 when it was printed as 
 a corner map in a map of Newport with a part of Middle- 
 town. Two maps of the town were made in 1776, one by 
 Blaskowitz and the other by Des Barres ; both are military 
 surveys. 
 
 No map of the town or island was published for sale 
 until 1849. 
 
 First Grist JVlill on Marlborough street, and the mill-stone 
 was used for a doorstep until recently. 
 
 Mortality of Newport. Annual rate 14.5 per 1000 of pop- 
 ulation. 
 
DICTIONARY OF NEWPORT. 73 
 
 Newport Fellowship Club, 1754, and the name changed to 
 
 Newport Marine Society, 1785- 
 
 Market House. First one was built on the Ferry Wharf 
 in 1733 
 
 Masonic Fraternity. In 1658, the first three degrees were 
 brought from Holland by a number of emigrants. 
 
 Masonic Temple, Church, corner of School street. 
 
 Miantononii Hill, near Coddington's Cove, reached by 
 Malbone avenue. From this is a beautiful view of the 
 City and Bay Malbone Gardens were here, now the res- 
 idence of Ex-Mayor Bedlow. 
 
 Morton Park, at the foot of Spring street. The gift of 
 Hon. Levi P. Morton. It contains nearly 13 acres. On 
 it is " Dead Head Hill " from which is a view of the 
 Polo Grounds. 
 
 Natural History Rooms, rear of Historical Society Build- 
 ing on Touro street. Incorporated 1883. 
 
 First Naval Engagement of the Revolution between a 
 colonial sloop and a tender of the British frigate "Rose." 
 The tender was chased onto Conanicut shore, June 15, 
 1778. 
 
 Newport Hospital, Howard avenue. Incorporated 1873. 
 Largely endowed by bequest of John Alfred Hazard's gift 
 of real estate. 
 
 Newport Land Trust owns a tract of land on Easton's 
 Point between First and Second Beaches. 
 
 Newport Reading Rootn, Bellevue avenue, corner of 
 Church street. 
 
 Newport Water Works. Built by George H. Norman, the 
 City giving him their right in Easton's Pond. Formed in- 
 to a stock company with capital of ^750,000. 
 
 New Roads. The tract of land between Lily Pond and 
 Castle Hill is largely the property of the Newport Hospi- 
 tal and the heirs of Edward King. Part of it was long 
 known as " Big Swamp," visited by but few people. It 
 was inaccessible except to pedestrians and is wild and 
 rocky, resembling no other part of the island. Within a 
 short time, under the direction of Mr. F. L. Olmstead, it 
 has been laid out with well-built winding roads, and quite 
 a number of sites are already occupied with buildings. No 
 
74 DICTIONARY OF NEWPORT. 
 
 part of the island affords equal opportunities for picturesque 
 development. The Main roads from Ocean avenue, extend- 
 ing to Harrison and Bellevue avenues by a continuation of 
 Ruggles avenue, are Brenton avenue and Hazard road. The 
 whole scenery is charming in its combination of rocks and 
 precipices, with views of the ocean on the south, while from 
 its stony hills the harbor and bay may be seen on the north 
 and west. 
 Newspapers. Rhode Island Gazette, the first in the State, 
 published 1732 ^t,. Newport Mercury, established 1758. 
 Daily News, 1856. Newport Journal, weekly, 1867. New- 
 port Observer, daily. Enterprise, weekly. 
 
 Ocean Drive, from Bailey's Beach along the southern end 
 of the island, passing the Hospital and King lands and 
 the houses on Castle Hill and Harrison avenue. 
 
 Odd Fellows Hall, organized 1864. On the Parade. 
 
 Oldest House in Newport. The Bull House, rear of State 
 House, on Spring .street. 
 
 Old Colony Railroad. Depot foot of Marlborough street. 
 
 Old Colony Stea-tnboat Coinpatiy. Depot Long Wharf, 
 north. 
 
 Parsonage of the First Congregational Church, Divis- 
 ion street. Mentioned in Mrs. .Stowe's " Minister's Wooing." 
 
 Perry, M. C, statue. Commander of Japan expedition- 
 The gift of his family. Touro Park. 
 
 Perry, O. H,, monument. The hero of Lake Erie. By 
 W. G. Turner. Washington square. 
 
 Pirates. Twenty six were hung at Ciravelly Point, where is 
 now the City Wharf, July 19, 1773. 
 
 Prescott's Head-quarters in Portsmouth about 4)^ miles 
 from Newport on the West road. The head-quaners in 
 town was the house at the corner of Spring and Pelham 
 streets, now owned by the Sayer family. 
 
 Price Neck, part of Rocky Farm. South of Ocean avenue. 
 
 Public School, established in Newport, Aug. 20, 1640. 
 Probably not a free school. These were not formed until 
 1824. 
 
 Fhiblic Schools. Number of school houses, 9. The Potter 
 and Willow street houses were built by the Long Wharf 
 Trustees. Annual expenditures for schools about ^45,000. 
 
DICTIONARY OF NEWPORT. 75 
 
 Purchase of the island. The Island of Aquidneck was 
 bought of Miantonomi and Canonicus, Nov. 22, 1633, by 
 William Coddingion and his friends, for 23 coats and 13 
 hoes. 
 
 Purgatory, Clifils at the west end of Sachuest Beach. 
 
 People's Library, 260 Thames street. Free to all. Open 
 daily. About 29,000 volumes. 
 
 Redwood Library, Bellevue avenue and Redwood street. 
 
 Open to visitors from 12 to 2 p. m. Number of volumes 
 
 about 36,000. 
 Rogers High School on Church street, built in large part 
 
 from bequest of William Sanford Rogers and endowed by 
 
 him. 
 
 Settlement of Newport, made first around the spring just 
 
 southeast of the State House. From this spring a stream 
 
 ran through Marlborough street to the cove. 
 Societies. Masonic, Odd Fellows, Beneficiary and others, 
 
 about 90 to 100 in number. 
 Soldiers' Monufnent, by W. C. Noble. Broadway, on 
 
 line of the Street Railway. 
 Spouting Rock, west end of Bailey's Beach. 
 State House at the head of the Parade, built 1739. In 
 
 the Senate Chamber is a fine Washington by Gilbert Stuart. 
 Stone Mill, Touro Park. Date of erection unknown. (See 
 
 page 27.) 
 Streets, expenditure for, $54,000 annually. 
 Street Railway, from Commercial Wharf to the Beach, and 
 
 to One Mile Corner north and Morton Park on the south, 
 
 passing through Spring street. 
 
 Taxable Property of Newport. Real Estate $25,356,900. 
 Personal $6,863,750. Total $32,226,650. Amount of tax 
 $322,206.50. Rate of tax $10 per $1000. 
 
 Telegraph Hill, on Beacon road, so named from a tele- 
 graph erected there in very early times. 
 
 Telegraph Offices. Western Union, 320 Thames street, 
 170 Bellevue avenue. Postal Telegraph Company, 301 
 Thames street. 
 
 Telepho7ie Exchange, 179 Thames street. 
 
IZ, 
 
 V'C 
 
 -\ 
 
 76 
 
 DICTIONARY OF NEWPORT. 
 
 Torpedo Station. Under the charge of the Navy Depart- 
 ment. Has workshops and laboratories for the manufacture 
 of gun-cotton, torpedoes, &c., on Goat Island. 
 
 Touro Park, between Mill and Pelhani .streets. In it are 
 the Stone Mill, and statue of Commodore Perry of the 
 Japan expedition. 
 
 Training Station for apprentices of the U. S. Navy. Sta- 
 tioned at Coaster's Harbor Island which was given by 
 the City to the U. S. Government in 1881. 
 
 War College. Established at Coaster's Harbor Island and 
 
 under the charge of the Navy Department. 
 Whitehall, formerly owned by Bishop Berkeley, north of 
 
 Paradise road. Given by Berkeley to Yale College. 
 
 LIBERTY TRKE. 
 
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