Rhode Island 



300 1. value, new tenor. The people have the power 

 of pardoning criminals, except in cases of piracy, 

 murder, or high treason; and then it is doubted 

 whether they can even reprieve. 



There is no established form of religion here; but 

 Church of England men, independents, Quakers, Ana- 

 baptists, Moravians, Jews, and all other sects what- 

 soever, have liberty to exercise their several profes- 

 sions. The Society for the Propagation of the Gos- 

 pel sends only four missionaries. 



Arts and sciences are almost unknown, except to 

 some few individuals; and there are no public semi- 

 naries of learning; nor do the Rhode Islanders in 

 general seem to regret the want of them. The in- 

 stitution of a library society, which has lately taken 

 place, may possibly in time produce a change in these 

 matters. 



The character of the Rhode Islanders is by no 

 means engaging, or amiable, a circumstance prin- 

 cipally owing to their form of government. Their 

 men in power, from the highest to the lowest, are 

 dependent upon the people, and frequently act with- 

 out that strict regard to probity and honour, which 

 ought invariably to influence and direct mankind. 

 The private people are cunning, deceitful, and self- 

 ish: they live almost entirely by unfair and illicit 

 trading. Their magistrates are partial and corrupt: 

 and it is folly to expect justice in their courts of judi- 

 cature; for he who has the greatest influence is 



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