Boundaries.] BOUNDED north and east, by the Commonwealth of Maffachusetts fouth, by the Atlantic; weft, by Connecticut. Thefe limits comprehend what is called Rhode Lland and Providence Plantations. Civil Divifions and Population.] This State is divided into five counties, as follows: Newport 7 14,845 185 Newport Counties. No. No. Inh. No. Chief Towns. No, Inh. 6,739 Providence 9 25,854 Washington 7 16,135 Briftol 7,614 Kent 5 Providence 3 3,801 46 Bristol 4. Total, 30 69,122 380 Bays and Islands.] Narraganfe: Bay makes up from fouth to north, between the main land on the eaft and weft. It embofoms many fertile inlands, the principal of which are Rhode Island, Canonnicut, Prudence, Patience, Hope, Dyer's and Hog islands. Rhode Island, from which the State takes its name, is 15 miles in length; its average breadth is about 3 miles. It is divided into three townships, Newport, Portfmouth, and Middletown. This ifland, in point of foil, climate and fituation, may be ranked among the finest and most charming in the world. In its moft flourishing Bourishing ftate, it was called by travellers, the Eden of America. But the change which the ravages of war, and, a decrease of bufinefs have effected, is great and melancholy. Some of the most ornamental country feats were defroyed, and their fine groves, orchards and fruit trees wantonly cut down; and the gloom of its prefent decayed ftate is heightened by its charming natural fituation, and by reflecting upon its former glory. The farming intereft fuffered far lefs injury than the commercial city of Newport, and has nearly recovered its former ftate. Between 30,000 and 40,000 fheep are fed on this ifland, befides neat cattle and horfes. Canonnicut Ifland lies weft of Rhode Island, and is about feven miles in length, and about one mile in breadth. It was purchafed of the Indians in 1657, and incorporated by act of affembly by the name of the Ifland of Jamestown, in 1678. Block Ifland, called by the Indians Manifles, is 21 miles S. S. W. from Newport, and is the fouthernmolt land belonging to the State. The inhabitants of this ifland were formerly noted for making good cheese. Prudence Island is nearly as large as Canonnicut, and lies north of it, and is a part of the township of Portsmouth. Rivers.] Providence and Taunton rivers both fall into Narraganfet Bay; the former on the weft, the lat ter on the eaft fide of Rhode Island. Providence river rifes partly in Maffachusetts, and is nasigable as far as Providence, for thips of goo tons, thirty miles from the fea. Taunton river is navigable for fmall veffels to Taunton. Patucket river, called, more northerly, Blackstone's river, empties into Seekhonk river, 4 miles N. N. E. from Providence, where are the falls hereafter deferib. ed, over which is a bridge, on the poft road to Bokon, and 40 miles from thence. The confluent ftream empties into Providence river, about a mile below Weyboffett or the Great Bridge. Climate.] Rhode Island is as healthful a country as any part of America. The winters, in the maritime parts of this state, are milder than in the inland country; the air being foftened by a fea vapour, which also enriches `enriches the foil. The fummers are delightful, efpecial ly on Rhode Island, where the extreme heats, which prevail in other parts of America, are allayed by cool and refreshing breezes from the fea. Fifbes.] In the rivers and bays is plenty of fish, to the amount of more than 70 different kinds, fo that in the feafons of fifh the markets are alive with them: Travellers are agreed that Newport furnishes the best fil market in the world. Religion.] The conftitution of this State admits of no religious eftablishments, any further than depends upon the voluntary choice of individuals. All men profeff ing one Supreme Being, are equally protected by the laws, and no particular fect can claim pre-eminence.This unlimited liberty in religion is one principal caufe why there is fuch a variety of religious fects in Rhode Illand. The Baptifts are the most numerous of any denomination in the State. The other religious denominations in Rhode Island are Congregationalists, Friends or Quakers, Epifcopalians, Moravians and Jews. Befides thefe, there is at confiderable number of people who can be reduced to no particular denomination. Literature.] The Hterature of this ftate is confined principally to the towns of Newport and Providence. There are men of learning and abilities scattered through other towns, but they are rare. The bulk of the inhab itants in other parts of the State are involved in greater ignorance, perhaps, than in moft other parts of New England. At Providence is Rhode Ifland college. The charter for founding this feminary of learning was granted by the General Affembly of the State, by the name of the "Trustees and Fellows of the College or University, in the English colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations," in 1764. The number of Trustees is thirty-fix, of whom twenty-two are of the denomination called Baptifts, five of the denomination of Friends, five Epifcopalians, and four Congregationalifts. The fame proportion of the different denominations to continue in perpetuum. The Prefident must be a Baptist, Profeffors, Profeffors, and other Officers of inftruñion, are ncelmited to any particular denomination. This inftitution was firit founded a Warren, in the county of Bristol, and the first commencement 204 there in 1769. In the year 1770, the college was removed to Providence, where a large, elegant being was erected for its accommodation, by the generous donations of individuals, mostly from the town of Provi dence. It is fituated on a hill to the end of the town and while its elevated fituation renders it del cami, commanding an extenfive variegated profpes, is nifhes it with a pure, falubrious air. The edice is cé brick, four stories high, 150 feet long, and 46 wide. This inftitution is under the inftruction of a president, a profeffor of divinity, a profeffor of natural and exper imental philofophy, a profellor of mathematics and aftronomy, a profeffor of natural hiftory, and three tators. The inflitution has a library of between two and three thousand volumes, and a valunble photoLind apparatus. Nearly all the funds cf the college are at interest in the treasury of the state, and amount to abmost two thousand pounds. At Newport there is a flourishing academy, under the direction of a rector and tutors, who teach the learn ed languages, English grammar, geography, &c. Societies. A marine fociety was etablined at Newe port in 1752, for the purpose of relieving drar i wide ows and orphans of maritime brethrer, and fuch their fociety as may need affiance. The Providence fociety for promoting the abolition of flavery, for the relief of perfons unlawfully held in bondage, and for improving the co,dition of the Aftican race, commenced in 1789, and was incorporated the year following. It confits of upwards of 150 mem. bers, part of whom belong to the State of Maffachusetts. Mountain.] In the town of Bristol is Mount Hope, or as fome call it Mont Haup, which is remarkable only for its having been the feat of King Philip, and the place where he was killed. Bridges. The great bridge, in the town of Provi dence, is 160 feet long, and 22 feet wide, and unitea N2 the the eastern and western parts of the town. This is noe a toll bridge. The bridge over Patucket falls is a work of confiderable magnitude, and much ingenuity. Central and India bridges over Seekhonk river, near its mouth, east of Providence, built by Mr. John Brown, of Providence, are works of great expenfe and utility. A bridge over Howland's ferry, uniting Rhode Island with Tiverton on the min, was completed in October, 1795; but was unfortunately carried away by a form, a fhorttime after. Soil and Productions.] This State produces corn, rye, barley, oats, and in fome parts wheat, fufficient for homeconfumption; and the various kinds of graffes, fruits, and culinary roots and plants in great abundance, and in good perfection; cider is made for exportátion.The northwestern parts of the State are but thinly inhabited, and are more rocky and barren than the otherparts. The tract of country lying between South Kingtown, and the Connecticut line, called the Narra. ganfet country, is excellent grazing land, and is inhab ited by a number of induftrious, wealthy farmers, whoraife fome of the fineft neat cattle in New England, weighing from 1,600 to 1,800 weight. They keep large dairies, and make butter and cheefe of the beft quality, and in large quantities, for exportation. Trade.] The exports from the State are flaxseed,. lumber, horfes, cattle, beef, pork, fish, poultry, onions, butter, cheefe, barley, grain, fpirits, cotton and linen: goods. The imports confit of European and Weft India goods, and logwood from the bay of Honduras. Upwards of 600 veffels enter and clear annually at the different ports in this State. The amount of exports from this State to foreign countries, for one year, ending the 30th of September, 1791, was 470,131 dollars 9 cents; in the year ending September 30, 17935616,416 dollars. In 1799, 1,955,273 dollars. Manufactures. The inhabitants of this State are progrelling rapidly in this branch of bufinefs. A cotton manufactory has been erected at Providence. Jeans, faftians, denims, thickfets, velvets, &c. &c. are here manufactured and fent to the Southern States. Large quantities |