Newport, the town next in importance to Providence, is situated at thesouth end of the island of Rhode Island, in 41'29' N. lat., 71'18' W. long., 80 miles S. from Providence : population 9563. The situa tion is very beautiful ' • the town is built in the form of an Irregular sranicirole around the harbour, which is one of the finest in the United States., It contains a state-house, custom-house, market-house, 12 churches, several schools, an athenaeum, and other public buildinca There are large cotton and woollen factories The commerce of the place is lees than formerly. Many of the inhabitants are engaged in the coasting trade and the whale and cod fisheries. The harbour which can accommodate vessels of the largest size, is defended by two strong forts. The beauty of the situation and the salubrity of the climate have rendered Newport a fashionable bathing-place, and extensive hotels, Ste., afford ample accommodation for visitors.
Bristol, on the east side of Narragansett Bay, 20 miles S. byE. from Providence, population 4616, contains a state-house, churches, schools, &c.; has a good harbour, and is much engaged in the coasting trade and fisheries.
East Greenwich, on the western branch of Narragansett Bay, 15 miles S. by W. from Providence, population 2358, has some cotton and woollen-factories, and many of the inhabitants are engaged in the coasting trade and fisheries.
South Kingston, on the west side of Narragansett Bay, 33 miles S. by W. from Providence, population 8S07, who are chiefly engaged in the woollen manufacture, in the coasting trade or in the fisheries.
Burrillville, on a branch of the Blackstone river, 20 miles W.N.W. from Providence, population 3538, has extensive water-power, which is applied to the working of several large factories. Coventry, on a branch of the Pawtaxet, 14 miles S.W. from Providence, population 3620, is another busy manufacturing town. Pawtucket, on both sides of the Pawtucket River, 4 miles N. from Providence, population about 7000, is next to Providence the chief seat of the cotton manufacture of the state. The village contains 12 cotton-factories and 3 banks: also 7 churches. Scituate, on the Pawtuxet River, 12 miles W.S.W. from Providence, population 4582, has several cotton-mills; in the neighbourhood are extensive freestone quarries. Tiverton, on the east aide of Narragansett Ray, 20 miles S.E. from Providence, population 4699, has numerous factories chiefly of cotton goods, and a considerable coasting trade.
Government, History, dc.—The constitution of 1663, under which Rhode Island was governed for nearly two centuries, was in 1844 superseded b7 a new one. By this the right of voting is vested in every male citizen of the United States (not being a Narragansett Indian) who has resided for 12 months in the state, and for 6 months In the town or city for which he claims to vote, he owning real estate in such town or city worth 134 dollars above all incumbrances, or a clear yearly value of 7 dollars; and every such elector is capable of holding any office for which he is qualified to vote. The legislative
body, styled the General Assembly, consists of a Senate of one member for each of the 31 towns [townships] or cities ; and a House of Repre sentatives of 72 members. The senators and representatives, as well as the governor of the state, are elected annually. The state has no (admitted) public debt. The total revenue of the state for the year ending April 30, 1854, exclusive of the balauce from the previous year, was 136,150 dollars; the total expenditure for the same period was 116,348 dollars, The state militia is composed of 15,969 men, of whom 111 were commissioned officers. For educational purposes the state bus a permanent school fund, the interest of which, with that of the deposit fund, and the proceeds of the militia commutation tax in each town, are applied to the rapport of public schools The number of school districts is 879; the number of scholars in 1853 was 25,905, of whom 14,086 were males and 11,819 females. The only college In the state Is that at Providence, already noticed. A state normal school was established by the legislators in 1854.
The first white settler on Rhode Island was the celebrated Roger Williams, who, in consequence of the severity of the laws against the non-conformists, fled from England to North America, where he arrived on the 5th of February 1631. Williams soon began to preach at Boston, and afterward., at Salem (where he became pastor of a church), in favour of unlimited religious toleration, extended not merely to every sect of Christiana, but to Jews, Mohammedans, heathens, and infidels. This extent of toleration was not approved of by the New England churches, and Williams, after some years of oon troverey and persecution, during which he was more than once obliged to withdraw for awhile from Salem, was eventually banished from the colony. Having refused to submit to the orders of the general court; and there being evident danger of the infection of his opinions spread ing very widely, it was resolved to send him to England in a ship then ready to saiL A pinnace was sent to bring him to Boston to embark, but he had lied. It was the depth of winter (January, 1636). "For fourteen weeks he was sorely tossed in a bitter season, not knowing what bread or bed did mean." He wandered towards Narragansett Bay, and was welcomed by the Indiana, whose language he had learned. In June 1636, with five companions, he founded his little settlement at the mouth of the Seekonk River. Re named the place Providence, as an acknowledgment "of God's merciful providence to me in my distress. I desired," he said, "it might bo for a shelter for persons distressed for conscience?' On the 24th of March, 1688, the chiefs of the Narregansetts, to whom the territory belonged, made over to him a large domain. This was the fouudation of the state of Rhode Island, which was then called Providence Plantations.