USA > Rhode Island > Newport County > Newport > A hand-book of Newport, and Rhode Island > Part 6
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" Jan. 7, 1778 .- A soldier's wife was drummed through the town for breaking a house to burn."
" March 24 .- The Hessian troops appear in uniform for the first time."
" June 18 .- Last night the shop of Messrs. John and William Langley was broke open and robbed."
" July 10 .- A cole mine is opened in the Neck."
4 4 29 .- This morning the signal at the Ward House were, A fleet appears in sight ! "
" Eleven o'clock .- The town is alarmed ; it proves to be the French Fleet."
"Five o'clock .- The Associators all in arms on the Pa- rade. The town-crier warns the inhabitants to join them. The frigates hauled in under the North Battery; the town appears in the greatest confusion."
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" July 31 .- Reported that the inhabitants were plunder- ed without distinction in Canonicut."
" August 2 .- The garrison on the Island at present is said to consist of 7,200 soldiers and 1,500 sailors, exclud- ing marines."
"6 .- The army continues to lay waste the Island- cutting down orchards, laying open fields, and numbers of the inhabitants are ordered to move from their houses that they may be pulled down."
" 29 .- Early this morning a report arrived that the Provintials were leaving the Island. Immediately the English regiments, with the Auspach Chasseurs and a regiment of Germans, rallied from the lines and attacked a party of Provintials on the road, but were beat off with loss. The Provintials halted at Windmill Hill, and was followed by the King's Troops, when a smart battle en- sued."
"30 .- The Provintials remain at Windmill Hill; the King's army at Quaker Hill."
"Dec. 25 .- No firewood is allowed to be brought from the country for the inhabitants; notwithstanding num- bers of families are ready to perish for the want of that article."
"Jan. 1, 1779 .- All the windmills are taken up to grind rice for the soldiers, being entirely out of flour."
The greater portion of Greene's Diary consists of such matter as the arrivals and departures of fleets- reports of victories and defeats-accounts of com- mittals to the "Provost," and the like. It breaks off' abruptly on the 12th October, 1779, when the fol- Jowing entry occurs :-
"_Arrived the Refugee fleet from the eastward ; the army and merchants are carrying their baggage as fast as possible. The whole appears in one general con- fusion."
On the last fly-leaf of the copy-book, in which these
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memoranda are made, is the following-evidently written at a much more recent date :-
The Evacuation of the Town took place on the 25th October, 1779, when they marched [through] the Town in solid columns into the Neck, and embarked on board their ships, and sailed for New York at eight in the evening."
To the future historian of Newport, this document may be extremely useful. We have only picked up a grain here and there, leaving, to a more minute chronicler, the task of thoroughly sifting it. It is about to be placed in the Cabinet of the Rhode Island Historical Society, by Mr. Wm. H. Taylor, of New Bedford-the gentleman who received it from the hands of Captain Cahoone.
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CHAPTER XI.
THE CHURCHES OF NEWPORT-FIRST BAPTIST-NORTH BAPTIST - JEWS' SYNAGOGUE -- TRINITY CHURCH - FRIENDS -- FRIENDS (NEW) FIRST CONGREGATIONAL- MORAVIAN-CENTRAL BAPTIST-ROMAN CATHOLIC- FREEWILL BAPTISTS-COLORED.
IN the year 1647 it was ordered and decreed by the General Court of Rhode Island, in the matter of religious opinion, " That all men may walk as their own consciences persuade them, every one in the name of his God. And let the sheep and lambs of the Most High walk together in this colony with- out molestation in the name of Jehovah, their God, for ever and ever." " And," says Mr. Ross in his Historical discourse, " to the honor of Rhode Island, and the glory of the Christian name, let it be told to our children from generation to generation, that when, in 1656, the colonies of Plymouth, Massachu- setts, Hartford and New Haven, attempted to urge their sanguinary edicts against the Quakers on the colony of Rhode Island, calling on the legislature for an act of proscription, and enforcing that call by threatening to cut off all commercial intercourse with them in case they refused to comply ; they nobly
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and promptly answered : " We shall strictly adhere to the foundation principles on which this colony was first settled, to wit: that every man who submits peaceably to civil government in this colony, shall worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience, without molestation."
The same toleration has been transmitted from sire to son, even until now. Perhaps it would be diffi- cult to find a place where all the various shades of religious opinion are more nicely distinguished than in Newport. Indeed, the man must be fastidious who could not attain the spiritual aliment which he might desire in this fine old town. Episcopalians, Baptists, Methodists, Unitarians, Congregationalists, Jews, Roman Catholics, Quakers, and Moravians, all have their places for public devotion. It is a matter of pleasure too, that we can speak of the good un- derstanding which prevails among the various deno- minations of Christians. The spirit of Roger Wil- liams and John Clark still seems to animate the community, and excepting those who claim a perpen- dicular descent, we imagine that very few indeed, would think of damning a fellow Christian without a remarkably clear case. Exclusive pretensions do not find much favor here ; and when men are foolish enough to maintain them, they find few of the natives of Rhode Island who can be induced to listen to them. Think, and let think, is remarkably the spirit of the population.
In the following brief notices of the various
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Churches, we have taken them in the order in which they were built :-
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
This Church is the oldest in Newport, it having been founded in the year 1638 by Dr. John Clark. The first house erected to the worship of God in this town, was built by this Church, and stood at a place now known by the name of " Green End." Dr. Clark was a learned man, and wrote a Con- cordance and a Lexicon. He died on the 20th April, 1676, aged 66 years. Mr. Calender, one of the pastors, was the author of the celebrated Histo- rical Sermon preached in March, 1738; and another, Dr. Foster, was the best Hebraist of New England. The Meeting-house, situated in Spring street, is a spacious but plain building, capable of holding pro- bably one thousand persons. A large portion of the congregation reside upon the island, and come three or four miles to attend worship.
The present pastor is the Rev. Samuel Adlam. He has occupied the pulpit three years, and is chiefly distinguished for being the only Baptist minister in Rhode Island who advocates the new Baptist version. Of course he has few around him to sympathize in his views.
NORTH BAPTIST CHURCH.
This Church was established in 1656. The first pastor was the Rev. William Vaughan.
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The present edifice was built by the liberality of the late Judge Taber, who bequeathed his property to this Church and Society in 1827. It is situated in North Baptist street. The style is Gothic, and its beautiful tower is quite an ornament to the town, from whatever point it is viewed. The interior is spacious, commodious, and elegant, and is capable of containing twelve hundred persons. There is an excellent and powerful organ, and the bell in the tower is the best in Newport. Divine service is observed three times every Lord's day, viz., at half- past 10 A.M., and at 3 and 7 P.M.
The pastor is the Rev. Dr. Choules, who was or- dained over this Society September 27, 1827.
JEWS' SYNAGOGUE.
The present Synagogue in Touro street was erect- ed in the year 1762. Before the war commenced it was thronged with worshippers, upwards of three hundred Jews attending it. It is now, however, never used except occasionally for the funeral service of some of their descendants, who may have desired to be buried there. There is a Jews' cemetery also in Touro street, which was founded by Abraham Touro, whose remains were, in 1822, interred there- in. The entrance to it exactly resembles that of the Granary cemetery, Boston, but it is on a smaller scale.
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TRINITY CHURCH (EPISCOPAL).
This Church was formed near the close of the 17th century. In 1702 a handsome Church had been built ; but in 1724 the Episcopal congregation had grown too numerous for its accommodation, and a new building was erected, which has since been lengthened. This is the present Trinity Church. It is a fine old edifice, with a church-yard on its side fronting Church street. In the latter are some quaint old monuments well worthy of observ- ation. The organ within was presented by Bishop Berkeley, and remains a musical memorial of that good man, who often preached here. It is still ornamented with the British crown, as is also the steeple-perhaps the two only remaining emblems of kingly rule to be now found in the United States. The congregation is not usually large, excepting in summer. Trinity is regarded as what is called "High Church." The Rev. Mr. Brewer is the rector. There is a small and neat Episcopal Chapel (private ownership) in Church street, which is open every day for morning and evening prayers.
FRIENDS' MEETING-HOUSE.
The first Friends' Meeting-house in Newport was erected in 1700, and the yearly meeting was then established, where it has ever since been held. The present edifice in Farewell street is an immense building, and looks vastly like the ship-houses at
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the Navy Yards at Brooklyn and Charleston. Ordi- narily the congregation is very small, but every June, at the time of the annual meeting, the house is indeed a Golgotha, it being so thronged that little else than heads can be seen. At such times, proba- bly 1700 persons assemble beneath its roof.
THE NEW FRIENDS' MEETING-HOUSE,
Is a small building in Mann avenue. It was built by the Hicksite party, who left the more orthodox of their body behind them.
UNITED CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
This Church was constituted in 1720. It stands at the corner of Spring and Pelham streets, fronting the former. It is a neat, plain building, with gal- leries, and will accommodate about 700 persons. It was built about fifteen years ago. The pastor is the Rev. Thatcher Thayer. Just in front of the Church are the tombs of two eminent divines, former pastors of the Congregational churches of this town, Dr. Hopkins and Dr. Patten. For many years there were separate Churches, since the union of which the Society is large and prosperous.
MORAVIAN CHAPEL.
In 1758 the United Brethren constituted a Church in Newport. The Chapel is situated in Church street, but it has been closed for many years. The
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few persons of this communion in the town worship in other churches.
CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH.
This Church is in Clark street. It was formed by a secession from the North Baptist Church in 1847, and occupies a small, but neat house, holding about 450 or 500 persons. The pastor is the Rev. Henry Jackson. This Church, with the First and the North Baptist, belongs to the Warren Association.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
This Church was erected in 1806. It is situated in Marlborough street, and is a large, plain building, which will seat about 750 persons. By a regulation of Conference, the minister changes every two years. We cannot help thinking it somewhat strange that in our democratic country, the laity of this respect- able body allow themselves to be excluded from the Conference, which is composed exclusively of min- isters.
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHAPEL.
The Roman Catholics organized a congregation in Newport in 1828. Their first place of worship was the school house in Barney street. A church was afterwards built at the head of the same street-a large and fine stone building, in the Gothic style. A most substantial building has just been erected in
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Spring street. The congregation consists chiefly of Irish emigrants. The Rev. Joseph Fytton is the priest in charge.
ZION CHURCH- -[Episcopal.]
This is a neat building, with a Grecian portico. It is well situated on the Mall. It is esteemed to be the place of meeting of the Low Church party. The rector is the Rev. M. Watson.
UNITARIAN CHURCH
Is situated in Mill street. It formerly belonged to an orthodox church, but was sold, when the former society built a new house to the Unitarians. It was dedicated on the 27th of July, 1836. It will hold about 400 persons, and is neatly fitted up. The congregation is not large, excepting in summer, when it has quite an accession from Bostonians. The Rev. Charles T. Brooks, a very amiable man and a good scholar, is the pastor.
FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH
Stands at the south end of Main street, and has ac- commodation for about 300 persons. The pastors have frequently been changed.
COLORED CHURCH.
This church is in Division street, and is a commo- dious place of worship.
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CHAPTER XII.
LILY POND-THE SPOUTING ROCK-SONG OF THE WILD FLOWERS-A "GEM" FROM SHELLEY.
WE have wandered with the reader to several of the scenes of attraction which are to be found on the coasts around Newport. Conrad's Cave has been visited ; Purgatory has been gazed into; a glimpse has been caught of Paradise ; and from Coggeshalls' Ledge we have stared, like Cortez and his men, upon the wide and heaving ocean. When in the neighbor- hood of the latter locality, we omitted to notice two places which are well worthy the attention of the visitor.
Neither of them will require lengthened descrip- tions, for they are places which require eye-know- ledge, and almost defy pen-and-ink descriptions. Nevertheless, we will do our best to make the reader acquainted with them, though in the end we should only serve as a guide-post.
And first for
THE LILY POND.
To reach this charming spot, the stranger should start from the southern end of Thames street, and
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proceed along a slightly tortuous road for about one mile; this will lead him to the beautiful sheet of water which has received so mellifluous an appella- tion.
The southern portion of Lily Pond is separated from the ocean by a belt of land, looking from which, in windy weather, a striking contrast between the rolling billows of the latter with the scarcely rippled surface of the former, is afforded.
It is, indeed, a retired and lovely spot. On a small rocky promontory, beside the calm waters, there is a profusion of wild roses, and other fragrant children of the sun and the breeze. From these the most delicious odors exhale. A young friend of ours, who is poetically inclined, whilst lying on a bank of this natural garden, gave tongue to his in- spiration; and here is his bouquet of
WILD FLOWERS.
We dwell not in grove or garden ; We boast not the bright parterre ; But seek us far up on the mountains free. Neath the hedge-row green ;- in the shady lea, For our homes are there !
And we envy not those of the garden- Happy and safe we lie : We are far from the dwellings of toil and strife ; And on that sweet spot where we sprang to life, We bloom and die !
But the chief charm of the lake consists in its harvest of those flowers after which it is named. In
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June and July, the surface of the little lake is almost covered with blue and white water lilies, which fill the atmosphere with fragrance; while in the per- fumed air birds sing joyously, and waterfowl glide noiselessly among the broad leaves, or, if disturbed, sail away on whirring wings to the beach beyond.
Lily Pond is just such a place as Shelley de- scribed in his " Sensitive Plant :"-
" And on the stream whose inconstant bosom Was prankt under boughs of embowering blossom, With golden and green light slanting through Their heaven of many a tangled hue,
Broad water lilies lay tremulously, And starry river-buds glimmered by, And around them the soft stream did glide and dance With a motion of sweet sound and radiance.
And the sinuous paths of green and moss, Which led through the garden along and across, Some opened at once to the sun and the breeze- Some lost among bowers of blossoming trees,
Were all paved with daisies and delicate bells As fair as the fabulous Asphodels,
And flowers which drooping as day droop'd too, Fell into pavilions, white, purple and blue, To roof the glow-worm from the evening dew."
Lily Pond is just the place for a pic-nic party. Get up one, reader, and invite us thereto ; then " under the greenwood tree," Gipsy-like,-
we'll have tea and toast ; Custards for supper, and an endless host Of syllabubs, and jellies and mince-pies, And other such lady-like luxuries,- Feasting on such, we will philosophize."
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THE SPOUTING ROCK.
Proceeding in a south-easterly direction from Lily Pond, the stroller after curiosities will find one on the shore at the foot of Almy's Pond. It is a natural curiosity. The under surface of some rocks are ex- cavated, and form deep and tortuous caverns, one of which has an upward shaft which terminates on the surface of the rock. When the wind has been for a little time brisk, and in a south-westerly direction, the sea rushes with great force into these hollows of the rock, and forces itself through the shaft or spout to a considerable height. It has been said to have reached an altitude of thirty feet. The view from the rock is extensive and fine.
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CHAPTER XIII.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND INSTITUTIONS-THE STATE HOUSE -STUART'S PICTURE-TOWN HALL -REDWOOD LI- BRARY-MECHANICS' LIBRARY ASSOCIATION-MASONIC HALL-FREE SCHOOLS-NEWPORT ASYLUM.
THE stranger who leaves the steamboat at Long Wharf, and walks along that marine thoroughfare toward the town, will observe directly before him, at some distance, a large and official-looking building, which is evidently connected with the public business of the town : this is the STATE HOUSE.
This edifice is situated at the end of the Mall, on the upper part of Washington Square. It stands on a slight eminence, and, though possessing no claim to architectural correctness, it is still rather an im- posing-looking structure. The front is of brick, and a flight of steps leads to the entrance. A clock and a cupola, with a bell, serve to mark and announce time's flight. It was built about 1741.
On entering the front door, the visitor finds him- self in a large hall, which is used as a place of meet- ing for the citizens of the town, and there the public business of the place is transacted. A broad flight of stairs leads to the second story, which is divided
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into two rooms. The north one is spacious and commodious : it is used as the Representative Hall ; and in it also the United States Court hold their ses- sions. The south room, which is much smaller, but handsome, is occupied as a Senate Chamber.
In this apartment are two fine paintings. One is a full-length portrait of the great Washington, from the pencil of the celebrated Gilbert Stuart. It is a masterly production, and, whether we consider the likeness or the handling, deserves all praise. New- port may well be proud of possessing such a work of art, and the more so because the distinguished painter was a native of the town.
The other picture is also a portrait of the father of his country.
An interesting spectacle was presented in front of the State House, on July 4, 1826, when Major John Handy read the Declaration of Independence from the steps; that being the place where, fifty years before, it was read to the people by the same gentle- man. The steps were decorated by an arch of flowers. Major Handy addressed the assembled multitude as follows : "My respected fellow-citizens, at your united request, I appear before you in this public station, at an age when it would seem ad- visable that I should remain a silent spectator of the performances of the day-a day which, half a cen- tury past, secured to us our independence and pros- perity ; and no nation has been more prosperous. My own feelings on this occasion I have sacrificed to
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gratify your wishes. The recollection of past scenes of the last fifty years rushes in succession on my mind, with a hope and belief that the mantle of charity will be thrown over my imperfections ; and under that impression, I shall proceed to the perform- ance of the part required of me."
After the Declaration was read, a hymn was sung to the tune of "Old Hundred," the whole multitude uniting their voices with a fervency and zeal which gave it a most sublime and happy effect.
Almost in front of the State House is a wall, orna- mented with trees. At its foot is an excellent foun- tain of pure water.
Such open spaces as this are very advantageous in all towns of any importance. We fervently hope that, as Newport increases, the authorities will not permit the ground to be built over without regard to sanitary rules. Squares and parks are the lungs of towns and cities. By the way, what an admirable situation is the field in which stands the old Stone Tower for a square. The space around it might be laid out with taste ; and a sweeter spot for a town saunter could hardly be imagined. The gray old ruin would finely contrast with the flowers around it. Let this field be bought in, and made free to the citizens of Newport for ever. We merely throw out the hint.
THE TOWN HALL
Stands at the corner of Long Wharf and Thames street. It is an old building, and requires no parti
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cular notice. In the room above, judicial business is transacted, and below is a market place.
THE REDWOOD LIBRARY.
The Redwood Library is in Touro street. It owes its origin to a literary and philosophical society which was established in Newport in 1730. Bishop Berkeley encouraged the formation of this institution. Origi- nally, it was a debating society : but discussions were gradually laid aside, and the energies of the society were solely directed to the collection of valuable books.
In the accomplishment of this new object, a great impulse was given by Abraham Redwood, Esq., who, in 1747, placed at the disposal of the society £500 sterling, for the purchase of standard books in London. To give perseverance and usefulness to his donation, Mr. Redwood enjoined on the society
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the duty of erecting an edifice for the reception of such books as should be purchased. Five thousand pounds were immediately subscribed by the inhabit- ants of the town. Henry Collins, Esq. presented in June, 1748, to the company, the lot of land on which the library-edifice now stands. The library-building is a beautiful specimen of the Doric order-it was completed in 1750. The principal front is ornament- ed with a portico of four Doric columns, seventeen feet in height, and projecting nine feet from the walls of the building. The wings furnish two rooms of about twelve feet square. The principal library- room, occupying the whole of the main building, is thirty-seven feet long, twenty-six feet broad, and nineteen feet in height. The edifice is lighted by seven whole windows, and three attic windows in the east and west ends. The three whole windows in the east end are beautifully enriched with tasteful architectural ornament.
This library is remarkably rich in classical and theological works. It was this circumstance which induced the Rev. Ezra Stiles to settle in Newport. He was an honorary member of the institution, and through his exertions, many valuable works from European authors were procured. He acted for nearly twenty years as librarian of the company.
During the Revolution the library is said to have been defaced, and many of the books carried off. Gen. Prescott, to his honor be it said, on hearing of the exposed state of the library, stationed a military
6*
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guard to protect it from further injury and depreda- tion.
Mr. Redwood died in March, 1788. He was a native of Antigua, where he possessed large and valuable estates.
After his death the public interest in the prosperi- ty of the institution seems to have declined. In fact, its very existence at one time depended on the resolution and efforts of a few individuals. The late Dr. Channing, in a discourse delivered at Newport, in 1836, alludes to the neglected condition of the library at this period, during which he pursued his studies in this town. He says :- " I had no profes- sor 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 I spent day after day, and sometimes week after week, amidst its dusty vol- umes, without interruption from a single visitor."
The Hon. W. C. Gibbs has liberally permitted a free access to a valuable collection of books at pre- sent deposited by him in the library.
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