Rhode Island 



they subsist and grow rich. They have besides these 

 some other inconsiderable branches of trade, but 

 nothing worth mentioning. They have very few 

 manufactures; they distill rum and make sper- 

 maceti candles; but in the article of dry goods, 

 they are far behind the people of New York and 

 Pennsylvania. 



The government of this province is entirely demo- 

 cratical, every officer, except the collector of the cus- 

 toms, being appointed, I believe, either immediately 

 by the people, or by the general assembly. The 

 people choose annually a governor, lieutenant-gov- 

 ernor, and ten assistants, which constitute an upper 

 house. The representatives, or lower house, are 

 elected every half year. These jointly have the 

 appointment of all other public officers, (except the 

 recorder, treasurer, and attorney-general, which are 

 appointed likewise annually by the people) both 

 military and civil; are invested with the powers of 

 legislation, of regulating the militia, and of perform- 

 ing all other acts of government. The governor has 

 no negative, but votes with the assistants, and in 

 case of an equality has a casting voice. The assem- 

 bly, or two houses united, are obliged to sit imme- 

 diately after each election; at Newport in the summer, 

 and in the winter alternately at Providence and South 

 Kingston in Narraganset: they adjourn themselves, 

 but may be called together, notwithstanding such 

 adjournment, upon any urgent occasion by the gov- 



