ed in considerable quantities and to good advantage. Fruit likewise receives considerable attention.

carried on to a considerable extent at Newport, and ship-building also receives some attention, particularly of that description of vessels intended for packets. Boat building is likewise attended to.

The manufacturing interests of the county, although they will not sustain a comparison with those of some other sections of the State, There are in the county three are however very considerable for Cotton Factories, two Woolen Facthe advantages which it possesses; tories, one Duck Factory, four there being no rivers of any ex- Clothiers' works and 28 Grain tent, and consequently few sites for Mills, a large proportion of which hydraulic works. The most im-are Wind Mills. There are about portant branch of manufacturing 160 Mercantile Stores of every debusiness is the manufacture of scription, 24 Religious Societies. rum, which is carried on conside-about 61 Schools, 5 Social Librarably extensively at Newport.ries and 5 incorporated Banks. There are seven distilleries enga- The population of the county, ged in the business at that place. in 1790, was 14,300; in 1800, The manufacture of cordage is 14,845; and in 1810, 16,294.

NEWPORT.

NEWPORT, an ancient com- || sections, and in the calcareous mercial posttown, and semi-metro-rocks serpentine marble has been polis of the State, is situated in the found, of a very rich and elegant southwest section of Rhode-Island; quality. 30 miles south by east of Providénce, and 75 miles southwest from Boston. The township lies in an irregular, and somewhat of a semicircular form, and may be about 6 miles in length upon an average estimation, and more than a mile in breadth, comprising about 8 square miles.

The soil is a shistic gravelly loam, generally deep and rich, and productive both in grass and grain. It is also very favourable for fruit, and the various objects of horticulture. The original forests were of the deciduous species, but there are none now of much extent. The agricultural interests are consideThe surface of the town is plea-rably flourishing. Among the obsantly diversified, presenting a suc-jects of husbandry, the culture of cession of beautiful and prospec-barley, which has been recently tive eminences, and gentle and in-introduced, sustains a conspicuous teresting declivities. Its gelogo-place. This is a profitable crop, cal structure, and the prevailing and deserves to be encouraged and strata of rocks are of the transition extended. Indian corn and hay character, and consist principally are cultivated with success; and of schistus or slate, interspersed vegetables and fruit for the Newwith which there is some granite; port market. limestone also abounds in some

The waters of the town, for

beauty and convenience, are unri-||more advantageously situated, or valed. The Narragansett bay af-unite more advantages for the fishfords, at this place, one of the mosting business, and a spirit of enterexcellent harbours in the United prise and perseverance, directed States. It is in a semicircular form,in this channel, would raise it to an and of safe and easy access; suffici-important interest; affording imciently capacious to contain whole mense wealth to individuals, emfleets, and has sufficient depth of ployment to thousands, and conwater for vessels of the largest tributing essentially to the general burthen. prosperity. The business, at present, is chiefly directed to furnish

The harbour is defended by Fort Wolcott, erected upon Goating a supply for the market in this Island. Another fort has been town, and the villages on the shores erected, called Fort Adams; and of the Narragansett. there was a fort erected during The commercial interests of the the late war, called Fort Green. town, although they have declined These forts are kept in good repair, at some periods, are now very res& are well provided with ordnance, pectable. Previously to the revobarracks and magazines; and they ||lutionary war, there were but few are garrisoned with a detachment towns in the colonies, whose comof United States troops. In addi-merce was more extensive or tion to these, some works were flourishing than Newport. More commenced for the defence of than 100 sail of vessels were owned the harbour, some years since, on here, at an early period; but the reRose Island, but have never been volutionary war destroyed the completed. sources of the trade of this town, The fisheries of Newport are ve-and for some time subsequently its ry valuable, and a source of sub-commerce continued to decline. sistence, convenience and wealth. Within the last fifteen years, it has There is probably no fish market experienced various vicissitudes, in the world that is better suppli- but it is now considerably revived. ed; that affords a greater variety, At this time (1819) there are 10,951 or fish of better quality. Nearly six- tons of shipping owned here. The ty different kinds of eatable fish, trade of Newport has no particular comprising almost every species of direction; it maintains some trade fin and shell, have been exhibited with the East Indies, some with in Newport market. This great the north of Europe, and considesupply of fish is a convenience to rable with the Island of Cuba; but all; but is of the greatest advan- the most important is a coasting tage to the poor, affording them a trade with the middle and southern sure and cheap means of subsist-States. The last branch of trade ence. The fishing business, also, is supposed to be increasing. In opens an extensive field for indus-addition to the other navigation try; but is capable of great exten-interests, there are a number of sion, and might be rendered an im-regular packets that ply between important business, and a source this port and New-York, Proviof great profit. Few places are|dence and the numerous villages

and ports upon the shores of the one of which contains 3000 volNarragansett.

umes. There is also one public Library, a very ancient establishment, which was founded and incorporated as early as the year 1747. It contains about 700 volumes, most of which are large and valuable folios. Among this col

as early as 1487; one of the most ancient volumes in the United States. A neat and commodious edifice was erected for the Library, as early as the year 1748.

The compact part of the town of

The manufacturing interests of Newport are not very important or extensive; nor can this be a matter of surprise, considering the maritime situation and habits of the place, and the want of advantageous sites for manufacturing estab-lection, is a bible that was printed lishments, which can scarcely be expected upon an island affording only small streams. The most important manufacturing interest is that of domestic spirits, which are made principally from foreign materials. There are 7 rum distille-Newport is built upon a beautiful ries in Newport, at which large site, being a gentle declivity faquantities of rum are distilled, most cing the harbour, in a southwesterof which is sentabroad for a market. ly direction. The principal street There is also one gin distillery; is Thames-street, which extends and the manufacture of cordage more than a mile in length, from receives considerable attention, a northwest to a southeasterly dithere being five rope walks. Ship rection; it is well built, and contains building is carried on to some ex-a dense population. The houses tent; and boat building likewise on this street have an ancient apreceives considerable attention.pearance, but most of them are in There are 1 Duck Factory, 4 Tan- good repair. This street is the neries and 5 Grain Mills. seat of a large proportion of the There are in Newport about commercial business. Next to the 1100 Dwelling houses, 140 Mercan-Thames, the most important is tile Stores of every description, Broad-street, commencing at the and numerous Mechanics' shops; public square, and extending in a the town being well supplied northeasterly direction. This is with mechanical industry. Some the main road to Boston and Probranches of mechanical business vidence, and is a seat of consideare carried on to considerable ex-rable business. Spring-street runs tent, affording more than a supply south of the public square, paral-for home consumption. lel with Thames-street. Washing

There are in Newport 10 Reli-ton-street extends from the longgious Societies, and about 30 wharf across the point. This street Schools for the primary branches has a most beautiful and prospecof education; in some of which al-tive situation. The public or so, the higher branches are taught. Washington square is a very handThese schools are generally well some area in front of the Stateconducted, and contain a great House. In addition to these, there number of scholars. There is one are numerous other streets most Academy and two Social Libraries, of which are well built, and seats

of considerable business. There territorial limits of the United are in Newport ten Churches, and States, that has experienced so a Jewish synagogue, which is kept many, and so great vicissitudes as in good repair, but is not now used Newport. It is now supposed to as a house for religious worship. be increasing in population and Four of the Churches are for Bap-| business, and is evidently gradually tists, 2 for Congregationalists, 1 rising from its former decline. It has for Episcopalians, 1 for Friends, 1 been suggested, that this town was for Methodists and 1 for Moravi- an eligible situation for manufacans. The other public buildings tures; but we think not. The local are a State house, which is an an-situation of the place, and the maricient, but very respectable brick time habits of the inhabitants, edifice fronting the public square;||which are the result of local influthe Library building already noti-ence, and are of long standing, ced, a Market house constructed seem to interpose a barrier to a of brick, a Theatre and an Alms-manufacturing spirit; and to the dihouse. The town is accommoda-version of industry from establishted with about 30 wharves. ed occupations, to a channel so esThere are in Newport 4 Book-sentially different; and this opinistores, 2 Newspaper establishments on does not rest merely upon arguand 5 incorporated Banks; the ment, but upon experience and Rhode-Island Bank established in the known results of like causes. 1795, with a capital of $100,000; If we look to Europe, (and who Newport Bank established in 1803, does not look there for examples?) capital $120,000; Rhode-Island we shall perceive, that upon the union Bank in 1804, capital $200- sea board, there are few if any 000; New-England commercial manufacturing towns; her BirBank, and Merchants Bank. There minghams and Sheffields are in are two Insurance Companies. the interior. And as like causes produce like effects every where, it can scarcely be doubted that this will be the case in America. Newport, situated as it is, almost form

In 1752, a Marine Society was established here, for the relief of distressed widows and orphans, whose husbands and fathers had been mariners, and other individu-ing a part of the domains of the als in distressed circumstances.

ocean, seems destined to reap its principal harvest from this element. Its local situation gives it superior advantages for maritime pursuits, either the fishing business or foreign commerce and navigation. The fishing business, here, particularly invites attention, and

Previously to the American revolution, Newport was the fourth commercial town in the colonies, and at one period contained more than 9000 inhabitants. It had the appearance, and sustained the character of a rich and flourishing commercial city, nearly one hun-is capable of great extension. dred years since. Its principal streets have been paved for more than 80 years. It is believed, that there is no town within the present

There are many examples in the United States, of bold but judicious enterprise, and persevering industry in this branch of business, be

ing crowned with the most success-stores, and shipping in the harful results; and it is by no means bour; and what added greatly to improbable, that this town, by well the affliction, several lives were directed enterprise in the fishing lost. business, and other maritime and In this town, there is now standcommercial pursuits, may again ing an ancient stone mill, the erecexperience its former prosperity, tion of which is beyond the date of and attain to that population, its earliest records; but it is supwealth and commercial conse-posed to have been erected by the quence and business, to which, by first settlers, about 180 years ago. its superior natural advantages, it It is an interesting monument of seems to be destined. antiquity.

Newport was first settled by Newport is celebrated for the William Coddington and his asso-pleasantness and beauty of its situciates, in 1638. The growth of ation, and is equally distinguished the town was so rapid for the first for the salubrity of its climate, behundred years, that in 1738 it con- ing considered as one of the healtained seven worshipping assem-thiest towns in the United States. blies; and there were about 100 From these circumstances, and sail of vessels owned here. from the inviting objects which it

Newport suffered severely dur-affords, from its local and maritime ing the revolutionary contest, and situation, it is, during the summer for a long time was occupied by months, a place of great resort the enemy. It suffered severely from the southern and middle. also in common with the other States, for the purposes of health towns upon the shores of the Nar- and pleasure. From the facts here ragansett, in the memorable Sep-noticed, Newport may be considtember gale of 1815. Extensive ered as the Montpelier of Ameridamage was done to the wharves,"ca. N. lat. 41° 29', W. lon. 71° 17'.

JAMESTOWN.

ted to grazing. It is likewise productive in grain, especially barley and Indian corn. The agricultural interests, which occupy almost exclusively the attention of the inhabitants, consist principally in the various objects connected with the grazing business, and the cul

JAMESTOWN is an insulated||is a rich loam, and peculiarly adaptownship, situated on Connanicut Island, in Narragansett bay, about 3 miles west of Newport, and 30 south of Providence. Jamestown includes the whole of Connanicut Island, and is about 8 miles in length, from north to south, and has a mean breadth, from east to west, of nearly one mile, compris-tivation of barley and Indian corn. ing about 8 square miles.

The geological structure and rocks of the island are similar to those of Rhode-Island. The soil

Considerable attention has been bestowed heretofore upon the raising of sheep, on this island; but this at present is an object less at