Travels Through North America 



by the town council*, consisting of the assistants re- 

 siding there, the justices of the town, and a few free- 

 holders elected annually by the freemen; and these 

 have been generally partial in their assessments, as 

 must necessarily happen under a combination of 

 such circumstances. After having said so much to 

 the disadvantage of this colony, I should be guilty 

 of injustice and ingratitude, were I not to declare 

 that there are many worthy gentlemen in it, who see 

 the misfortunes of their country, and lament them; 

 who are sensible that they arise from the wretched 

 nature of the government, and wish to have it altered; 

 who are courteous and polite, kind and hospitable 

 to strangers, and capable of great acts of generosity 

 and goodness, as I myself experienced during a very 

 severe fit of sickness which I lay under at this place. 

 The paper-money here is as bad as it is possible 

 to be, the difference of exchange being at least 2,500 

 per cent. 



The 4th of September I took leave of Newport, 

 and having crossed over the river at Bristol Ferry, 

 where it is about a mile broad, and two other incon- 



* Each township is managed by a town council, consisting of 

 the assistants who reside in the town, the justices of the town, and 

 six freeholders chosen annually by the freemen of the town; the 

 major part of them is a quorum, with full power to manage the 

 affairs and interest of the town to which they respectively belong, 

 to grant licenses to public houses; and are a probate office for 

 proving wills, and granting administration, with appeal to gov- 

 ernor and council, as supreme ordinary. Douglas's Summary, 

 vol. ii. p. 85. 



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