its most flourishing state, it was called by travellers the Eden of America; but the change which the revolutionary war, and a subsequent decrease of trade have effected, is great indeed. Canonicut lies about three miles west of Newport, and is seven miles in length and one in breadth; the soil is luxuriant, producing grain and grass in abundance. Prudence island is nearly as large as Canonicut, and lies north of it in Narraganset-bay; it belongs to the town of Portsmouth, in Newport county, Rhode Island. Patience island, also in the same bay, lies a mile south-east of Warwick Neck, and is about two miles long and one broad. Hope, Dyer's, and Hog islands are too small to merit a particular description.

Providence river, which falls into Narraganset-bay, rises by several branches, part of which come from Massachusetts. It is navigable as far as Providence, thirty miles from the sea, for vessels of 900 tons burden, and affords fine fish, oysters, and lobsters. Taunton river is formed by several streams which rise in Plymouth county, Massachusetts; it falls into Narraganset-bay at Tiverton, after a course of about fifty miles, and is navigable for small vessels as far as Taunton. Patucket, or Blackstone's river, empties into Seekhonk river, four miles from Providence ; over it are two bridges, connecting Rhode Island with the state of Massachusetts. In this river is a beautiful fall of water, which in its whole length is upwards of fifty feet; the water passes through several chasms in a rock which runs directly across the bed of the stream, and serves as a dam several mills have been erected upon these falls. Wanaspatucket river falls into the bay a mile and a half north-west of Weybosset bridge, and Moshasuck river flows into the same bay, three quarters of a mile north of the bridge; these rivers united form Providence river, which, a few miles below the town, receives the name of Narraganset-bay.

There is but one mountain in this state, and this is in the county of Bristol, called Mount Hope; there is nothing in the appearance of this mountain to claim particular attention. Iron ore is found here in great plenty, and the country abounds with limestone and marble; large quantities of lime are made and exported. Some copper ore and loadstone have also been found, and there are several mineral springs, but of no great importance; though there is one near Providence to which many people resort.

Climate, face of the country, soil, and produce.-The climate is in many respects similar to that of Massachusetts.

The winters, in the maritime parts of the state, are milder than in the inland country; the air being softened by a sea vapour, which also enriches the soil. The summers are delightful, especially on Rhode Island, where the extreme heats which prevail in other parts of the Atlantic states are allayed by cool and refreshing breezes from the sea. The face of the country is finely variegated by hill and dale, and the state is intersected in all directions by rivers and bays, which swarm with fish, to the amount of seventy different kinds, so that the markets may be said to be alive with them.

The soil is various, and a great part of it good; though better adapted for grazing than for grain. The northwestern parts of the state are but thinly inhabited, being rocky and barren; but the tract of land lying between North and South Kingston on the east, and Connecticut on the west, is excellent pasture land, and is inhabited by a number of wealthy farmers, who raise some of the finest neat cattle in America. They keep large dairies, and make butter and cheese of superior quality, and in large quantities for exportation; the cheese is sold from 5d. to 6 d. a pound, wholesale. Farms contain from ten to 200 acres, and as the inhabitants of the country are generally proprietors of the farms they cultivate, and having neither landlord to grind them, nor rent to pay, they live independent and happy. The lands are not entailed, and hence there is no aristocracy; but independence is easily obtained by labour. The ground is well cultivated, and produces Indian corn, rye, barley, oats, wheat (though not enough for home consumption) fruits in great abundance, and a profusion of vegetables.

Narraganset has been long celebrated for a fine breed of pacing horses, remarkable for their speed and hardiness, and for enduring the fatigues of a journey. The people of this state, and indeed throughout New England, are for the most part native Americans; emigrants from Europe scarcely ever think of settling in the eastern parts of the Union: indeed, that portion of the country which we are now describing has been so long inhabited, and is so well occupied, as to offer little encouragement to foreigners.

Civil divisions, towns, population, religion, &c.-This state is divided into five counties, which are subdivided into thirty-one townships, containing 76,931 inhabitants, being about fifty-one to each square mile.

Counties. Townships. Population. Chief Towns and Population. Bristol....... 3....... 5,972........ Bristol, 2,692 Kent. 4....... 9,834........ Warwick, tp. 2,600 Newport...... 7.......16,294........Newport, 7,907; Providence..10....... 30,769........ Providence, 10,071 Washington. 7....... 14,962........ South Kingston tp. 3,500 Five. 31 76,931

The chief towns are Newport and Providence, which are called the capitals of the state. The former is situated on the south-west point of Rhode Island, five miles from the sea, and has one of the finest harbours in the world, in which a large fleet may ride in perfect safety. The town extends about a mile from north to south along Narraganset-bay, and is about one-third of a mile in breadth, rising as it proceeds from the water by a considerable ascent; the streets cross one another at right angles, and are all well paved. The number of dwelling houses is about 1,200, chiefly built of wood, and painted white; and there are ten houses for public worship, viz. four for baptists, two for congregationalists, and one each for episcopalians, quakers, Moravians, and Jews: the other public buildings are a state-house, academy, and library. The academy is under the direction of a rector and tutors, who teach the learned languages, English grammar, geography, &c.

It

The situation of this city is beautiful, and the healthiness of the climate proverbial; in consequence of which it has become a great resort for strangers, particularly from the southern states, during the summer season. is no less remarkable for the great variety, and excellent quality, of fresh fish which the market furnishes at all seasons of the year; no less than fifty or sixty different kinds may be seen here exposed to sale. The excellent accommodations and regulations of the numerous packets which sail regularly between this place and New York and Providence, are deserving of particular notice. They are under the best management, and afford superior convenience and cheaper travelling than is to be found in most parts of the world. The distance from hence to New York is about 200 miles, the passage to which is generally made in thirty hours, and the fare, including bed and provisions, is only nine dollars; from hence to Providence, thirty miles, it is one dollar. The trade of Newport is principally in shipping; and there is a manufactory of cotton and one of duck, both of which are prospering.

Providence is delightfully situated at the head of Narraganset-bay, thirty-five miles from the sea, and stands on both sides of Providence river; the two parts of the town being connected by a bridge 160 feet long by 22 wide: the west side of the town lies low, but the east side rises by a rapid ascent to a considerable elevation. The public buildings are a handsome court-house, market-house, a school-house, in which four schools are kept, an hospital, and five places for public worship; viz. three congregational churches, and one each for baptists and quakers. Rhode Island college is established in this town, and is situated on a hill, commanding a fine prospect of the town, bay, shipping, and country for many miles round. The building is of brick, 150 feet long, forty-six wide, and four stories high, and contains lodgings for upwards of 100 students; it has a valuable philosophical apparatus, and a library containing above 3,000 volumes. Providence has a pretty extensive shipping trade, and carries on considerable mercantile business with Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Vermont; several large manufactories are established in the town and neighbourhood, particularly of cotton and linen, which are in a flourishing condition. Besides these, there are two spermaceti works, a number of distilleries, sugar-houses, and other manufacturing establishments, all in a very prosperous state; mechanics of every description, particularly ship and house carpenters, are in full occupation, and highly paid for their labour, and rent and provisions are much lower here, and throughout this state, than they are at New York.

Bristol is a pleasant thriving town, situated on the bay, about half way between Providence and Newport, and is a charming place for situation, healthful climate, rich soil, and a commodious, safe harbour. This town suffered greatly during the revolutionary war, a great part of it having been destroyed by the British; but it is now in a very flourishing state, and has a good shipping trade: onions in great quantities, and a variety of provisions and garden roots are raised here for exportation.

Warren is a flourishing little town, situated four miles north of Bristol, and ten south-east of Providence; it carries on a brisk coasting and foreign trade, and is remarkable for ship building. Rhode Island college was first instituted in this town, and afterwards removed to Providence.

The other towns of any note in this state are South Kingston, Warwick, East Greenwich, and Little Compton;

the latter is situated in Newport county, and is said to be the best cultivated township in the state, affording greater quantities of meat, butter, cheese, vegetables, &c. than any other town of its size. The inhabitants are very industrious, and manufacture linen cloth, flannels, &c. of an excellent quality, and in considerable quantity for sale.

The constitution of this state admits of no religious establishments, any farther than depends upon the voluntary choice of individuals. All men professing the Supreme Being, are equally protected by the laws, and no particular sect can claim pre-eminence; this unlimited liberty in religion is one principal cause why there is such a variety of religious sects in Rhode Island. The baptists are the most numerous of any denomination in the state; they are chiefly upon the Calvinistic plan as to doctrines, and independents in regard to church government. There are, however, some who profess the Arminian tenets, and others who observe the Jewish sabbath; these are called sabbatarian, or seventh-day baptists. The other religious sects in Rhode Island are, congregationalists, quakers, episcopalians, Moravians, and Jews; besides these, there are many of the people who make no external profession of any religion, nor attend to any place of public worship.

The character of the citizens of this state has suffered severely in consequence of their transactions in paper money; and the history of their government for seventy years, commencing with 1710, presents little else than a scene of peculation, and fraud. The vast sums created

in this manner were not for the purpose of commerce, but to supply the state with money, and to fill the pockets of mercenary individuals, who were too idle and profligate to acquire property by industry. This swindling transaction was so managed, that the money was raised at about two and a half per cent., and lent to the neighbouring colonies at ten per cent.; one quarter of the interest went to the several townships to defray their charges, and the other three quarters were applied to the use of govern. ment; so that both the rulers and the people were concerned in this iniquitous public fraud. These scandalous measures deprived the state of great numbers of its most respectable inhabitants; had a most pernicious influence upon the morals of the people, defrauded the widow and the orphan of their just dues, and occasioned a ruinous stagnation of trade. Such was the state of affairs in Rhode Island for a long period; but a better government having effectually abolished this infamous system, the.