MIDDLETOWN, the central come a leading agricultural protownship of Rhode-Island, is situ-duction, and probably receives ated two miles N. E. from Newport, more attention here than in any and about 28 miles southeast from other part of New-England. The Providence. It is bounded north- orchards of this town are very vawest by the Narragansett bay,||luable, and are not only a source northeast by Portsmouth, southeast of convenience, but form a conby the east passage of Narragan-siderable important agricultural insett bay, and southwest by New-terest. The people of this town port. are principally agriculturists; and are distinguished for their habits of industry and economy, and the uniformity, plainness and simplicity of their manner of living.

The length of the town, from northwest to southeast, is about five miles, and it has a mean breadth of nearly two and a half miles, comprising an area of about 12 square miles.

There are few subjects of statistical or local detail in this town; The surface is undulating and di- being situated in the vicinity of a versified, affording numerous plea-large commercial town, most of sant and interesting landscapes. the mercantile, mechanical and The soil is a rich loam, very pro- professional business is transacted ductive, and under a high state of at Newport. cultivation; and the lands maintain a very high estimation.

The forests are inconsiderable, and principally consist of oak and walnut.

Middletown is accommodated with two good roads, both leading from Newport to the upper end of the island.

There is one Religious Society in this town, and five Schools.

The agricultural interests of the town are very flourishing. The The population, in 1810, was leading objects of husbandry are 976; and there are about 160 the dairy business, hay, the culture Dwelling-houses, 2 companies of of Indian corn and barley, and the Militia, and 115 Electors. Midraising of supplies for Newport dletown sends two representatives market. The article of barley, to the General Assembly. the cultivation of which has been The town was incorporated in but recently introduced, has be-1743.

NEW-SHOREHAM.

NEW-SHOREHAM, a town-||about eight miles, and is from two ship in the county of Newport, to four in breadth. A chain of consists of the island of Block-Isl-large ponds extends from the north and. This island lies in the open end to nearly the centre. These, sea, 15 miles S. S. W. of Point-Ju-with several separate and smaller dith, and about 12 miles southertly of the nearest part of the continent. It extends north and south

ones, compose about one seventh part of the island. The land, in general, is high, and in some parts

tended to. The concerns and in- The population of the island, at terests of husbandry in general ex- the last census, in 1810, was 504; hibit a flourishing aspect, the in-and there are about 60 or 70 habitants being industrious, econo-Dwelling-houses, 1 Religious Socimical and persevering agricultur-ety and Church, 2 or 3 Schools and alists. School-houses, 50 or 60 Electors, 1 Grain Mill, and 1 company of Militia.

This town sends two representatives to the General Assembly.

The town is accommodated with two ferries, one to Newport and the other to South-Kingston; and the principal road extends across the island, communicating with This island was purchased of the these ferries. At the southern Indians, as early as 1657, and extremity of the Island, at a place Jamestown was incorporated in called Beaver tail, stands a light-|| 1678, house.

LITTLE-COMPTON.

LITTLE-COMPTON is a weal-||stitutes a staple production, large thy maritime and agricultural town-quantities of it being raised. Horship, situated in the southeast- ticulture also receives consideraern extremity of the county and ble attention, various culinary veState, 30 miles southeast of Provi-getables being raised for marketing. vence; bounded on the north by Tierton, on the east by the State of Massachusetts, on the south by the Atlantic ocean, and on the west by the east passage of the Narragansett bay. The average length of the township, from north to south, is about 7 miles, and its mean breadth, from east to west, is 4 miles, comprising an area of about 23 square miles,

The manufactures of the town are wholly of a domestic character, which are extensive and important, the inhabitants being distinguished for their habits of industry and economy, and their social and moral virtues.

The population of the town, in 1810, was 1553; and there are about 230 Dwelling-houses, 225 Freemen or Electors, two companies of Militia and a part of ano

There are 2 Religious Societies, one of Congregationalists and one

The form of the southern section of the township is that of a penin-ther company. sula, inclining to a point. The surface is pleasantly diversified. The soil is a deep loam, rich in agriculof Friends, 7 Schools and 1 Social tural resources, and the means of Library. There are 4 Mercantile wealth derived from this branch Stores and 6 Grain Mills. of industry. town sends two representatives to the General Assembly.

This

The agricultural productions are abundant, and consist of the Little-Compton was settled in various articles common to this re- 1674, by Capt. Church and his gion. This town is one of the associates. The Indian name was most flourishing agricultural dis-Seconnet. tricts in the State. Barley con

MIDDLETOWN, the central come a leading agricultural protownship of Rhode-Island, is situ-duction, and probably receives ated two miles N. E. from Newport, more attention here than in any and about 28 miles southeast from other part of New-England. The Providence. It is bounded north-orchards of this town are very vawest by the Narragansett hay,||luable, and are not only a source northeast by Portsmouth, southeast of convenience, but form a conby the east passage of Narragan-siderable important agricultural insett bay, and southwest by New-terest. The people of this town port. are principally agriculturists; and The length of the town, from are distinguished for their habits northwest to southeast, is about of industry and economy, and the five miles, and it has a mean uniformity, plainness and simplicibreadth of nearly two and a half||ty of their manner of living. miles, comprising an area of about 12 square miles.

There are few subjects of statistical or local detail in this town; being situated in the vicinity of a

The surface is undulating and diversified, affording numerous plea-large commercial town, most of sant and interesting landscapes. the mercantile, mechanical and The soil is a rich loam, very pro- professional business is transacted ductive, and under a high state of at Newport. cultivation; and the lands maintain a very high estimation.

The forests are inconsiderable, and principally consist of oak and walnut.

Middletown is accommodated with two good roads, both leading from Newport to the upper end of the island.

There is one Religious Society in this town, and five Schools.

The agricultural interests of the town are very flourishing. The The population, in 1810, was leading objects of husbandry are 976; and there are about 160 the dairy business, hay, the culture Dwelling-houses, 2 companies of of Indian corn and barley, and the Militia, and 115 Electors. Midraising of supplies for Newport dletown sends two representatives market. The article of barley, to the General Assembly. the cultivation of which has been The town was incorporated in but recently introduced, has be-1743.

NEW-SHOREHAM.

NEW-SHOREHAM, a town-||about eight miles, and is from two ship in the county of Newport, to four in breadth. A chain of consists of the island of Block-Isl-large ponds extends from the north and. This island lies in the open sea, 15 miles S. S. W. of Point-Judith, and about,12 miles southertly of the nearest part of the continent. It extends north and south

end to nearly the centre. These, with several separate and smaller ones, compose about one seventh part of the island. The land, in general, is high, and in some parts

very uneven, being diversified with abrupt hills and narrow dales.

The soil is various-sandy, loamy and gravelly. Its agricultural productions are corn, barley and potatoes. It is no longer "famous for its cattle, and sheep, and butter and cheese," as formerly;|| the land being more generally converted from pasturage to tillage. It is entirely destitute of forests. Considerable quantities of peat are produced, which is the only fuel. The stones are granite in detached nodules, none of very large size. There being no nucleus or rocky foundation, the land is constantly washing away by the surges of the ocean. In process of time, the island must totally disappear, and its present site constitue a shoal, where the tenants of the waters will feed, and fishermen

resort. There is no ship harbour; the boats are obliged to be hauled on shore in bad weather. In the season of fishing, 33 boats, from 14 to 30 feet keel, and about 190 men, are employed in taking cod and mackerel. It contains 128 Dwelling-houses; and at the last census there were 722 inhabitants, 140 of which are freemen or voters. It pays the hundred and nineteenth part of the State taxes, and sends two representatives to the General Assembly. There is one company of Militia, organized by law, but it is never called upon to do military duty. There is one Meeting-house and one Religious Society of the Baptist order. There are two Windmills and four retail Stores. Its aboriginal name was Manisses. It was settled in 1661, and incorporated in October, 1672.

PORTSMOUTH.

PORTSMOUTH is a post town- || comprises extensive strata of minship, situated upon the northern eral coal, which are supposed to be section of Rhode-Island; bounded four miles in extent. Two pits on the north by Mount Hope bay, have been opened, and consideraon the east by the Seconnet or ble quantities have been raised. cast passage, on the south and The quality of the coal is suppossouthwest by Middletown, and oned to be improving, as the mine is the west by the Narragansett bay. extended; and it is believed, that The length of the township,from it will eventually be a source of northeast to southwest, is about great profit, and of extensive pub8 miles, and it has a mean breadth||lic utility.

of more than 2 miles, comprising The soil is various in different about 17 square miles. sections of the island. There are

The surface is generally eleva-some tracts of shistic gravel, and ted and prospective,affording plea- some of argillaceous loam. In gesant and interesting landscapes. neral, it is very productive, and The geological structure is similar well adapted to grass and a grain to that of the rest of the island; culture. the prevailing rocks being schistus. or slate. The internal structure

The lands are mostly in a state of cultivation, the forests being

1 Social Library.

very limited, and sustaining a high |cantile Stores, 2 Religious Socieprice. The leading objects of hus-ties and Churches, 7 Schools and bandry are the dairy business, and the raising of grain; of which, barley and Indian corn are the principal. The raising of sheep, which formerly received much attention, has for some years past been more neglected. The soil and climate are favourable for fruit, and the orchards are extensive and valuable.

The population of the town, in 1810, was 1795; and there are about 250 Dwelling houses, 220 Electors, and 2 companies of Militia. This town sends four representatives to the General Assembly.

Prudence, and several other small islands, are attached to this From the maritime situation of town. Prudence Island is situated this town, being surrounded by wa- in Narragansett bay, opposite the ter upon almost every side, its fish-northern section of Portsmouth. eries are extensive and valuable, This island is about 6 miles in affording employment to conside-length, and has a mean breadth of rable industry. about three-fourths of a mile, com

The navigation business is in-prising about four square miles. considerable. There are, howev-The soil is excellent, affording er, a few coasting vessels owned in abundant crops both of grass and the town. grain. The land is principally Its mechanical and manufactur-owned in Providence. There are, ing interests, likewise, are not very upon this island, about 17 families. important. There are 2 Woolen Portsmouth was one of the oriFactories, 1 Cotton Factory, 8 ginal towns contained in the charGrain Mills and 2 Clothiers' works. ter of the State of Rhode-Island, There are, in the town, 4 Mer-granted by Charles II. in 1663.

TIVERTON.

TIVERTON is a post town, the || from east to west, comprising 42 most extensive in the county, situ-square miles.

ated in the southeastern section of The surface is generally diverthe State, 24 miles southeast of sified with hill and dale; but there Providence, and about 13 north-are some sections that are rough east of Newport; bounded on the and rocky. The prevailing geonorth and east by the State of logical structure is granitic. The Massachusetts, on the south by Lit- soil is somewhat various, correstle-Compton, and on the west by ponding with the geological charthe eastern passage of the Nar-acter, but is principally a gravelly ragansett bay and Mount Hope bay.

The township is more than eight miles in length, from north to

loam, and is considerably fertile both for grass and grain.

The forests, in some sections of the town, are extensive and valua

south,and about 5 miles in breadth,ble, the prevailing timber being