202 



RHODE ISLAND. 



The Athenaeum is a handsome granite build- 

 ing, and contains a public library of 5,000 

 volumes. Providence has numerous church- 

 es, a theatre, many cotton and woolen 

 manufactories, founderies, tanneries, glass- 

 works, paper-mills, dye-houses, &c. Its 

 distance from the sea is 35 miles, but mer- 

 chant ships of the largest size can ccme up 

 to the wharves. Steamboats pass between 

 Providence and New York, through ]^ong 

 Island Sound, during all the open season, 

 and nearly the whole of the summer trav- 

 eling from Boston to the south passes by 

 this route. Providence was founded by Ro- 

 ger Williams in 1636. It retained the de- 

 nomination and government of a town unlil 

 1831, when a city charter was adopted.} 

 Population 20,000. 



jYeu-port, at the mouth of Narragansett 

 Bay, 5 miles from the sea, has a fine harbor 

 and beautiful situation. It was formerly a 

 place of much trade and consequence, and 

 its fisheries are still important, but its com- 

 merce has been diverted to the neighboring 

 cities of New York and Providence, and 

 it has been until very lately on the decline. 

 It contains a State house, a jail, an acade- 

 my, a public library, 1 1 churches, and has 

 manufactures of cordage, cotton, and lace. 

 This town is much lesorted to durioK 

 summer, on account of the purity of its 

 air ; its market is celebrated for the excel- 

 lence of its fish. Population 8,000. 

 Bristol^ 15 miles north of Newport, on Narragansett Bay, is handsomely situated, and has a 

 f^ood harbor. The trade hence to the West Indies and Europe is considerable, and the whale- 

 fishery is prosecuted from this port. Population 3,000. Mount Ilope^ celebrated in the early 

 history of New England as the residence of King Philip, is within the limits of Bristol ; it is 

 a conical-shaped hill, with a pointed summit, and exhibits a charming prospect. 



Pawtucket^ four miles northeast from Providence, has many large and flourishing manufac- 

 tories of cotton, nails, screws, oil, ships, machinery, cabinet-ware, &c. The village is built 

 upon the falls of the Pavvtucket, on both sides of the river, and belongs half to this State, and 

 half to Massachusetts. The Rhode Island portion is in the township of Js^orth Providence. 

 The banks of the river here are high and steep. The turnpike from this town to Providence 

 is one of the finest roads in the country. The whole population of the village is 8,000. 



Warwick., 10 miles south of Providence is a flourishing manufacturing town, with some com- 

 merce. Population 5,600. Pawtuxet village is in this town. 



4. Agriculture. The attention of husbandmen in Rhode Island, is chiefly directed to the 

 dairy and grazing. The islands and shores of Narragansett Bay are celebrated for their fine 

 cattle, their numerous flocks of sheep, and the excellence and abundance of their butter and 

 cheese. Of the difl^erent kinds of grain, maize, barley, oats, and rye, are the most generally 

 cultivated. 



5. Commerce. The exports of this State do not differ materially from those of tiie neighbor- 

 ing parts of New England. The trade is chiefly confined to the ports of Newport and Provi- 

 dence. The foreign imports, in 1838, amounted to 656,613 dollars. The exports of domestic 

 produce to 270,065 dollars, and the shipping to 44,660 tons. 



6. Manufacture.';. Rhode Island, in addition to her own manufactures, furnishes the market to 

 many of those in the adjoining parts of Massachusetts and Connecticut. Pawtucket has the 



/ I CIO m ar J\'cjrport. 



