RHODE ISLAND, one of the 13 original United States of America, and the smallest in the union, on the southern coast of NewEngland, is 47i in. from n. to s., and 37 in. from e. to w.; and has an area of 1306 sq. miles. It is bounded n. and e. by Massachu setts, s. by the Atlantic, and w. by Connecticut. It is divided into five counties, and its principal towns are Providence and Newport, the twin capitals; Bristol, Warren, Paw tucket, Woonsocket, etc. Narragansett bay, which occupies the south-eastern quarter of the state, is from 3 to 12 m. wide, and filled with beautiful islands, the largest of which, Rhode Island, is 15 in. long, by 3 to in. wide, and contains the town of Newport, a fashionable summer resort, with a large and spacious harbor, and formidable fortifica tions. Several small rivers, as the Pawtucket, Pawtuxet, Parocatuck. etc., rising in the hills of Massachusetts, flow into Narragansett bay, and their frequent falls afford water power to numerous manufacturing villages. The country is hilly, and tl.e soil rough and stony, and chiefly devoted to pasturage and orchards. The formation is chiefly of pri mary stratified and unst ratified rocks, with some coal of a poor quality, iron, limestone. and marble. The ehimate is mild, and on the islands delightful. The population is chiefly engaged in trade and manufactures. There are in the state 142 cotton, 65 woolen,
26 iron factories; and a large coasting-trade and considerable fisheries arc carried on. There are several railways. The state debt in 1878 was 2.434,400 dollars; the receipts for the year 1877-78 were 832,980 dollars. There are 62 national hanks and 37 savings banks. 6 daily and 19 weekly newspapers, about 300 churches, over 700 schools with 40,000 pupils, Brown university, and state penitentiary and asylums (see PROVIDENCE). The government, which existed until 1842 under the charter given to Roger Williams in 1642. is similar to that of the other states. The governor has a salary of 1000 dollars, or about £200, and the lieutenant governor 500 dollars, or £100 per annum. Rhode Island is believed to have been the Vinland of the Norsemen, who explored this coast in the 10th century. It was settled in 1636 by Roger Williams and his companions, Baptists. who expelled for their religious opinions from the Puritan colony of Plymouth. The colony suffered from the Indian wars, until the defeat and death of Philip, king of the Wainpa Mtgs. Pop. in 1820. 83,659; 1840, 108,830; 1860, 174,621; 1870, 217,353, of whom 4,980 were colored; 1875, 258,239.