USA > Rhode Island > Pictures of Rhode Island in the past, 1642-1833 > Part 9
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Literature. The literature of this state is confined principally to the towns of Newport and Providence. There are men of learning and abilities scattered through other towns, but they are rare. The bulk of the inhabitants in other parts of the state, are involved in greater ignorance perhaps than in any other part of New-England.
At Providence, is Rhode-Island college. . . . This institution was founded at Warren, in the county of Bristol, and the first commencement was held there in 1769. . . . In the year 1770, the college was removed to Providence, where a large, elegant building was erected for its accommodation, by the generous dona- tions of individuals, mostly from the town of Provi- dence. It is situated on a hill to the east of the town ; and while its elevated situation renders it delightful, by commanding an extensive, variegated prospect, it furnishes it with a pure, salubrious air. The edifice is of brick, four stories high, 150 feet long, and 46 wide, with a projection of ten feet on each side. It has an entry lengthways, with rooms on each side. There are forty-eight rooms for the accommodation of students, and eight larger ones for public uses. The roof is cov- ered with slate.
[The college] is now very flourishing, containing upwards of sixty students. This institution is under
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PICTURES OF RHODE ISLAND.
the instruction of a president, a professor of natural and experimental philosophy, a professor of mathe- matics and astronomy, a professor of natural history, and three tutors. The several classes are instructed in the learned languages, and the various arts and sciences. The studies of the freshman year, are the Latin and Greek languages, English grammar and rhetoric. Of the sophomore, Guthrie's geography, Ward's arithmetic, Hammond's algebra, Sheridan's rhetorical grammar, and lectures on elocution, Watt's logick, and Cicero de Oratore. Of the junior, Horace, Kaim's elements of criticism, Euclid's elements, Atkinson's epitome, Love's surveying, Martin's grammar, Philosophia Britannica, and Ferguson's astronomy. Of the senior, Lucian's dialogues, Locke's essay on the human understanding, Hutchinson's moral philosophy, Bolingbroke on history, and a review of all the studies of the several years. Every year are frequent exercises in speaking, and the various kinds of composition. There are two examina- tions, several public exhibitions for speaking, and three vacations annually. The institution has a library of between two and three thousand volumes, containing a valuable collection of ancient and modern authors. Also a small, but very valuable philosophical appa- ratus. Nearly all the funds of the college are at in- terest in the treasury of the state, and amount to almost two thousand pounds.
Newport contains about 1000 houses, built chiefly of wood, and 5530 inhabitants. It has nine houses for public worship ; three for the baptists, two for congre- gationalists, one for episcopalians, one for Quakers, one for Moravians, and a synagogue for the Jews. The other public buildings are a state-house, and an edifice for the public library. The situation, form, and archi- tecture of the state-house, give it the preference to most public buildings in America. It stands sufficiently ele-
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REV. DR. JEDIDIAH MORSE.
vated, and a long wharf and paved parade lead up to it from the harbour.
The building for the library consists of one large room, thirty-six feet long, twenty-six feet broad, and nineteen feet high, where the books are kept, with two small offices adjoining. The principal or west front is a pediment and portico of four columns, of the Doric order ; the whole entablature of which, runs quite round the building.
The two offices are placed as wings, one on each side the portico, and connected with the body of the build- ing so as to form two half-pediments proceeding from the lower part of the entablature. The east-front con- sists of a plain Doric pediment, supported by a rustic arcade of three arches, in the recesses of which, are placed three Venetian windows, after the Dorick order.
The outside of the whole building is rustick work, and stands on a base five feet from the ground, and the entrance is by a flight of steps the whole width of the portico.
In the year 1747, Abraham Redwood, Esq ; gave 1294 volumes, valued at £500 sterling, as the founda- tion of a library in Newport. Several other valuable donations were afterwards given. These books were deposited in the above-described edifice, which was erected for the purpose of receiving them.
A number of gentlemen were incorporated into a body politic by the name of the " Company of the Red- wood Library,' with power to choose annually eight . directors, a treasurer, secretary and librarian. This elegant building is now much out of repair, and one- third of the books in the library were either carried off, or destroyed by the British during the war.
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PICTURES OF RHODE ISLAND.
1793 Rev. Dr. James Freeman.
Dr. Freeman (1759-1835) wa's a famous Unitarian clergyman. He went to Boston in 1782, and became a lay-reader in King's Chapel. He became a Uni- tarian, and, in 1785, induced the church to alter its liturgy so as to conform to the views of the Unitarian theology. As a consequence of his heresy, the bish- ops refused to ordain him, whereupon, in 1787, the wardens and congregation ordained him in " a solemn and appropriate form," as " Rector, Minister, Priest, Pastor, teaching Elder, and public Teacher" of the Society. Thus the first Episcopalian church in New England became the first Unitarian church in this country, and was for many years the only Unita- rian society of any importance. The quotation here given is taken from a criticism of Dr. Morse's Geo- graphy (see the preceding extract) entitled Remarks on the American Universal Geography, p. 40. Boston, 1793 .*-- Under Rhode Island the author takes excep- tion to the commonly received opinions respecting the religious zeal and the average intelligence of the people.
Mr. M. does not appear to be pleased with the state of religion of Rhode Island. .. . I assert that there are a few only of the people of this state,
* The copy preserved in the John Carter Brown Library, pre- sumably Dr. Morse's copy, contains a slip pasted on the fly-leaf bear- ing the words, in Dr. Morse's handwriting, " Dependence is not to be placed on all the corrections in this pamphlet-a number of them, however, are worthy of notice."-J. MORSE.
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GOVERNOR JOHN DRAYTON.
who do not class themselves with some religious sect ; and that in few of the towns, publick worship is neg- lected by the greater part of the inhabitants. In this neglect Rhode Island is not peculiar ; for there are some towns in Massachusetts (to say nothing of other states) in which a majority of the people do not attend publick worship. . The fact is that the relig- ious societies are numerous, in proportion to the popu- lation ; there being above eighty of various denomina- tions. Of these, not more than eighteen are destitute of ministers. There are, in proportion, as many vacant churches in Massachusetts.
The literature of the state is not confined to Newport and Providence ; and though there may not be as many men of learning, as in the two adjoining states, yet the inhabitants are not involved in greater igno- rance, than the inhabitants of many other parts of New England.
I794. Governor John Drayton.
John Drayton (1766-1822) was a lawyer of Charles- ton, South Carolina. He was elected lieutenant-gov- ernor of that state in 1798, and in 1800 succeeded Governor Rutledge, who died in office. He also held the same position at two subsequent periods of his career. The quotation given is taken from his Letters written during a Tour through the Northern and Eastern States, pp. 40 et seq.
After a sail of twenty-six hours, we arrived at the town of Newport : situated on an island in Narragan-
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PICTURES OF RHODE ISLAND.
sett Bay ; and having before it a quiet and deep har- bour, quite protected from the winds by a small island which is before the town ; upon which there has been a large fort, for its protection. At present, nothing gives it a military appearance, but the flag ; the fort, having been entirely dismantled.
The town, is said to contain about seven thousand inhabitants. And I am afraid, is rather in decline, than in prosperity. The wrath of kings, fell upon it during the American war ; and it felt so severely the scourge of their armies and fleets ; that it will be long ere it shall recover its former prosperity. Besides, it has a more serious difficulty to contend with in being rivalled of its commerce by the town of Providence ; situated about ten leagues farther up the country.
The inhabitants have lately fitted up a room in the form of a theatre, capable of containing about two hun- dred persons ; much in the style of what Harmony-hall was with us. They have a rope-dancer attached to the company, by the name of Placide. I saw him and his wife, who is a handsome woman, about twenty-two years of age, dance an allemande upon the stage ; in which, their bodies were thrown into a variety of positions.
At this place, is a library house ; I wish I could say a library. But that alas ! has been taken away, by the pilfering hand of the British. Who in this, as well as in other instances, carried on war not only against men, but against learning.
I took a ride through the extent of the island, which is twelve miles long. It is parcelled out every way into small farms, which are divided, and laid out in all directions, by stone walls. There is not much variety in the scene. The eye, is thrown around for trees ;: but in vain. The zephyrs, have no foliage here, upon which they may dance. For the troops of Britain,
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GOVERNOR JOHN DRAYTON.
like the locusts of Afric, have withered each tree upon this once happy island : and when they departed, left the inhabitants no shrubs, under whose shade, they might rest themselves in peace. But their industry begins to raise up some trees, to defend them from the summer sun : though at great expence, as they have them all to buy.
After staying at Newport two days, I took my pas- sage on board of a packet for Providence : where, I arrived in three hours and a half. And never in a worse time for observations as a traveller ; it being in- sufferably hot; and the situation of the town rather encreasing it, than otherwise. It is situated on each shore of a narrow river, along the side of the hills down to the waters edge. Where, the summer breezes may blow over it in vain : serving only to tantalize the citizens, with what they cannot enjoy. It is however a flourishing town, and is the present seat of govern- ment; having a baptist church with one of the tallest and handsomest steeples in America. It is said to be two hundred and twenty feet high. The church is built of wood, and is elegantly finished in the inside : being illuminated at night by a superb glass chandelier. The church has been lately repaired and painted at the expence of a Miss B-n; whose fortune furnished her with the means, while her inclination prompted her here to return a portion of those riches, which heaven had given her. And sweet must her feelings be, when she reflects on this good appropriation of what is of no value, but as it assists the pleasures of an honest and well-spent life.
Each part of the town, is connected by a bridge thrown across the river, the whole width of the street. There are foot ways on each side of it, in which three persons may walk abreast: and the carriage way is wide enough for as many carriages to pass at one time. At night it is illuminated by three lamps on each side.
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PICTURES OF RHODE ISLAND.
Upon an eminence within the town, and overlook- ing it, is an handsome and commodious brick college ; where at present numbers of youth are educated. I had not time to go into it, or opportunities of making any particular enquiries respecting it.
The town is said to contain six thousand inhabitants : four thousand less than Charleston. And yet it sends three or four ships to India in each year ! would to heaven, that we were as much advanced in commerce. In comparison with the trading towns of the northern and eastern states, pardon the expression when I say, those of the southern are but in leading strings.
I795.
"Citoyen adoptif."
This quotation is taken from an anonymous work en- titled Response aux Principales Questions qui peuvent être faites sur les Etats- Unis de l' Amérique, Par un cito- yen adoptif de la Pennsylvanie. Lausanne, 1795. Vol. I., p. 292.
Rhodeisland.
· Il est reconnu, par le denombrement de 1791, qu'il y a,
En hommes libres, au dessus de seize ans- 16019
En garçons, au dessous de seize ans- 15799
En femmes & filles libres, de tout âge- 32652
3407
En autres personnes libres
En esclaves 948
Total 68825
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REV. JOHN PIERCE.
Ce nombre donne vingt-cinq habitans par mille quarré, & chaque habitant a vingt-cinq acres and demi.
L'État comprend plusieurs iles dans son étendue, dont la principale est Rhodeisland. Le climat de cette isle est serein et agréable ; Les femmes y sont si belles, que les voyageurs s'accordent à l'appeler l'Eden de l'Amérique. Ce petit Archipel procure à l'État l'avan- tage de six ports, qui sont : Newport, Providence, Wickford, Pataxet, Warren & Bristol. . .
Newport est renommé pour les bourgies de Sperma- ceti : outre leur blancheur, qui les rend plus agréables à la vue que la cire, elles ont l'avantage de ne donner ni fumée, ni odeur désagréable.
Providence est encore une grand ville, dans l'État de Rhodeisland : elle contient environ quatre mille habi- tans ; mais ce qui le distingue sur-tout, ce sont les manufactures de drap, dont elle a un prodigieux débit.
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I795. Rev. John Pierce.
John Pierce (1773-1859) was a Unitarian clergy- man, for fifty years pastor of the Brookline Church. He was one of the institutions, not to say traditions, of Harvard. He was present at sixty-three commence- ments and for fifty-four years led the singing of the tune of "St. Martin's " at the commencement dinner. His memoirs were left to the Massachusetts Historical So- ciety. The quotation here given is taken from his manuscript journal as published in the Society's Pro- ceedings, 2d Series, III. 41-43.
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PICTURES OF RHODE ISLAND.
Wednesday, 2 September, notwithstanding the rain, we proceeded to Providence, and stopped at Tyler's Hotel, near the Baptist Meetinghouse.
At X, we attended the Commencement Exercises in this House. President Maxcy presided. Dr. Still- man, of Boston, offered the concluding prayer.
In the morning the audience was small.
P. M. the assembly was larger. Twenty-six were graduated. the compositions of the students were ex- ceedingly florid. No figures were too bold to be used. The students were much dressed. The speaking was very declamatory. We dined with the College Officers and invited guests in the College Hall. The Presi- dent asked the blessing. Dr. Hopkins, of Newport, Author of the Hopkinsian system, returned thanks. He was then 74 years of age. He looked, as if he were 100. President Maxcy, at the close of the Exer- cises, made a solemn address to the Graduates. I saw Classmates Angier and Avery, & Professor, afterwards President Webber.
I spent the evening at the room of Mr. Wiswell, one of the graduates, in sacred music.
Thursday, 3 September visited various parts of the Town of Providence. An elegant Meeting house, with two Towers, after the Model of the Church, in Hollis Street, Boston, was lately erected, in which Dr. Hitch- cock preaches.
I viewed the improvements of Mr. Brown. He has removed a Hill of about 83 feet in height into low land, to make a wharf, &c. He has a large Distillery, and fattens cattle from the remains of the grains, which have undergone the process of fermentation. He owns a large Wharf, at which lay an Indiaman of between 6 & 700 Tons.
P. M. we visited the Cemetery, two or three miles from the centre of the Town. It contains handsome
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WILLIAM WINTERBOTHAM.
Monuments, decent gravestones, and some elegant Epi- taphs.
At V, P. M., we passed through Johnston, and arrived at Fish's, Scituate, where we spent the night.
Providence stands at the junction of Providence & Taunton rivers, and has the advantage over Newport by the superiority of its market. The buildings in general are indifferent, though some are elegant. The Baptist Church is one of the most elegant and spacious in the United States. It was built by blank Sumner, father of Thomas W. Sumner, who has been an Archi- tect. The College is a convenient brick edifice, com- manding an extensive view of the surrounding country. They have a Theatre nearly finished.
I 795. William Winterbotham.
Winterbotham was a native of London, and assistant minister of a Baptist congregation in Plymouth, Eng- land. On account of two sermons preached there, in which he commended the French Revolution and advo- cated a reform of the British Parliament, he was tried for sedition in 1793, and sentenced to pay fines amounting to £200, and to undergo four years' imprisonment. His work upon the United States, in four volumes, was written in Newgate Prison, "with the Assistance of Persons who have resided in and who are in the constant Habit of extensive Correspondence with the different States."
The extract given is taken from An Historical, Geo- graphical, Commercial, and Philosophical View of the American United States, Vol. II., p. 226. London, 1795.
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PICTURES OF RHODE ISLAND.
General Description of Rhode-Island.
Soil, Productions, etc.
A country for pasture, and not for grain. ... It however produces corn, rye, barley, oats, and in some parts wheat sufficient for home consumption ; and the various kinds of grasses, fruits, culinary roots and plants in great abundance, . . . and cyder is made for exportation. . The tract of country lying be- tween South-Kingston and the Connecticut line, called the Narraganset country, is excellent grazing land, and is inhabited by a number of wealthy farmers, who raise some of the finest neat cattle in New-England, weigh- ing from sixteen to eighteen hundred weight. They keep large dairies, and make both butter and cheese of the best quality and in very large quantities for expor- tation. Narraganset has been famed for an excellent breed of pacing horses, remarkable for their speed and hardiness, and for enduring the fatigues of a journey ; this breed of horses has, however, much depreciated of late, the best mares having been purchased by the peo- ple from the westward. The bowels of the earth in this State offer a large recompense to the industrious adventurer. Iron ore is found in great plenty in sev- eral parts of the State. The iron works on Patuxet river, twelve miles from Providence, are supplied with ore from a bed four miles and a half distant, which lies in a valley, through which runs a brook.
At Diamond-Hill, in the county of Providence, which is so called from its sparkling and shining appearance, there are a variety of peculiar stones, more curious than at present they appear to be useful ; but not far from this hill, in the township of Cumberland, is a copper mine, mixed with iron strongly impregnated with load- stone. . . .
There are several mineral springs in this State, to one of which, near Providence, many people resort to bathe
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WILLIAM WINTHERBOTHAM.
and drink the water. . . . Rhode-Island is considered by travellers as the best fish market, not only in the United States, but in the world.
NEWPORT. .
The excellent accommodations and regulations of the numerous packets which belong to this port, and which ply thence to Providence and New-York, ought not to pass unnoticed ; they are said to be superior to any thing of the kind in Europe.
PROVIDENCE.
This town is divided into two parts by the river, and connected by a bridge, formerly called Weybosset, from a high hill of that name which stood near the west end of the bridge, but which is now removed, and its base built upon ; this bridge which is the only one of any considerable note in this State, is one hundred and sixty feet long and twenty-two feet wide, supported by two wooden tressels and two stone pillars; its situation affording a prospect of all vessels leaving and entering - the harbour, renders it a pleasant place of resort in the summer. Ships of almost any size sail up and down the channel, which is marked out by stakes, erected at points, shoals, and beds lying in the river, so that strangers may come up to the town without a pilot.
A ship of 950 tons, for the East-India trade, was lately built in this town, and fitted for sea.
The public buildings, an elegant meeting-house for the Baptists, eighty feet square, with a lofty and beau- tiful steeple and a large bell, cast at the Furnace Hope in Scituate-a meeting-house for Friends or Quakers, two for Congregationalists, an episcopal church, a hand- some court-house, seventy-feet by forty, in which is deposited a library for the use of the inhabitants of
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PICTURES OF RHODE ISLAND.
the town and country-a work-house, a market-house eighty feet long and forty feet wide, and a brick school- house, in which four schools are kept. The houses in this town are generally built of wood, though there are some brick buildings which are large and elegant.
At a convenient distance from the town, an hospital for the small-pox and other diseases has been erected. There are two spermaceti works, a number of distiller- ies, sugar houses, and other manufactures.
About four miles north-east of Providence lies a small village called Pautucket, a place of some trade, and famous for lamprey eels .. . .
TRADE AND MANUFACTURES
Before the war, the merchants in Rhode-Island im- ported from Great-Britain dry goods; from Africa slaves ; from the West-Indies sugars, coffees, and mo- lasses, and from the neighbouring colonies lumber and provisions. . . . But the war, and some other events, have had a great, and in many respects, an injurious effect upon the trade of this State. The slave trade, which was a source of wealth to many of the people in Newport, and in other parts of the State, has happily been abolished ; . . .
The present exports are flax seed, lumber, horses, cattle, beef, pork, fish, poultry, onions, butter, cheese, barley, grain, spirits, and cotton & linen goods. The imports consist chiefly of European and West-India goods, and logwood from the Bay of Honduras.
Upwards of 600 vessels enter and clear annually at the different ports in this State. A cotton manufactory has been erected at Providence, which, from present prospects, will answer the expec- tations of the proprietors. The warps are spun by water with a machine, which is an improvement on Mr.
DUKE OF LA ROCHEFOUCAULD-LIANCOURT. 131
Arkwright's ; and strong, smooth and excellent yarn is thus made both for warps and stockings. Jeans, fustians, denims, thicksets, velvets, &c. are here manufactured and sent to the southern States.
But the most considerable manufactures in this State are those of iron, such as bar and sheet iron, steel, nail rods and nails, implements of husbandry, stoves, pots, and other household utensils, anchors, bells, &c. The other manufactures of this State are rum, corn spirits, chocolate, paper, wool and cotton, cards, &c.
1795. The Duke of La Rochefoucauld- Liancourt.
La Rochefoucauld (1749-1827), was a type of the grand seigneur of the old régime. He had travelled and lived in England, and endeavored to manage his estates in France on the model of the English country gentleman. During the Revolution he was proscribed, but contrived to escape to England. In 1792 he came to America, and travelled extensively. He describes his journeys with care and candor, and seems to have managed to extract valuable information from all sorts and conditions of men. He returned to France in 1799, but in spite of opportunities and solicitations, refused to involve himself in political matters.
The extract given here is taken from his Travels through the United States of North America in 1795, 1796 and 1797. Vol. II, p. 272, et seq. (London, 1800.)
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PICTURES OF RHODE ISLAND.
This island [Rhode-Island] exhibits a continued succession of meadows and maize. Barley is likewise produced here in considerable abundance. The brew- eries of Philadelphia and New York furnish an ad- vantageous market for this last article. Formerly this island was extensively covered with fruit-trees and other wood. But these the English destroyed during the war. The soil is light, sandy, and, in general, un- improved by manure or skilful tillage. The medium produce of the meadows is a ton of hay per acre ; the ground under tillage yields, an acre, twenty-five bush- els of maize, or one hundred bushels of potatoes. There are instances of greater produce ; but these oc- cur only where particular land-holders have cultivated their ground with unusual intelligence and care. . The common extent of the farms is seventy acres. Some small number of them contain two hundred acres ; and three or four, even four hundred acres.
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