men of great intellectual power, among whom were Judge Edward Scott, Hon. Daniel Updike, Governor Jonas Lyndon, Dr. John Brett, Hon. Thomas Ward, Hon. William Ellery, Rev. James Honeyman, Rev. James Searing, Rev. John Chickley, Jun., and the Rev. Jeremiah Condy, of Boston. Among the occasional numbers, were Governor Stephen Hopkins, and Samuel Johnson, D.D., afterwards President of Columbia College, New-York, and to this distinguished array of talent the Rev. Elisha Callender also belonged. As this was probably one of the earliest societies of the kind in this country, we have thought that it might prove interesting to the reader, to subjoin a few extracts from the "Rules and Regulations of the Society." The original is in the handwriting of Judge Scott. "First Regulation.-The members of this society shall meet every Monday evening, at the house of one of the members, seriatim, and converse about, and debate, some useful question in divinity, morality, philosophy, history, &c. "Second. The member who proposes the question, shall be moderator, pro hac vice, and see that order and decency be maintained in all the debates and conversation. "Fifth-No member shall divulge the opinions or arguments of any particular member, as to any subject debated in the society, on penalty of a perpetual exclusion. Nevertheless, any member may gratify the curiosity of any that may enquire the names, number, general design, method, and laws of the society, and the opinions, or conclusions of the major part, without discovering how any particular member voted. Newport, February 2d, 1735.' One of the objects of this society, was the collection of valuable books. It was subsequently joined by Abraham Redwood, Esq., who gave the sum of five hundred pounds sterling, to increase its library, on condition that the society would build a suitable edifice. The society obtained a charter from the Colony in 1747, by the name of "The Company of the Redwood Library." Abraham Redwood, was the son of Abraham Redwood, formerly of Bristol, England, and Mehitable, his wife, daughter LITERARY SOCIETY ESTABLISHED. 125 of Jonas Langford, of the island of Antigua. At what time they came to Rhode Island is unknown. Mr. Redwood died in Newport, in 1772. They belonged to the Society of Friends. Mr. Redwood, by the death of an elder brother, became sole heir of the large estate of his grandfather, Langford, in Antigua. In 1748, the present classical building was commenced, from a design by Mr. Harrison, the assistant architect of Blenheim House, England. It is remarked by Dr. Waterhouse, that in architectural taste and costly structure, Newport stood preeminent. He "Where is there a structure now in New says England, that surpasses the Redwood Library? We have only to lament its perishable material. If you say that it was copied from an Athenian temple, still there is some credit due to them in selecting, seventy years ago, and relishing so chaste a specimen of Grecian taste." At this period, Newport was the "Athens of America." We would suggest that the entrance to the Library be restored, agreeably to its original design, which was a gate in the centre, leading direct to the steps. It is now in bad taste, and contrary to the rules of architecture. Henry Collins, Esq., proved a noble coadjutor of Mr. Redwood, and presented, in June, 1748, to the Company, the lot of land then called Bowling-Green, on which the present edifice now stands. The building was not completed until 1750; a tax of twelve hundred pounds was assessed on the members of the Company, to defray the expense of completing it. The principal library room occupies the whole of the main building, is thirty-seven feet long, twenty-six feet broad, and nineteen feet in height. The present number of volumes is 6,000. The King of England gave to Redwood Library eighty-four volumes, of which seventy-two are large folios, and twelve octavos, which is said to be the largest collection sent to this country. The entire set has been nearly thirty-five years in the course of publication, and from the great demand for the different works of which it is composed, many of them have become exceedingly scarce, and some of them are now out of print. They consist of Doom's-day Book, Statutes of the realm, Parliamentary Acts of both England, Scotland, &c. The master builders of the library were, Wing Spooner, Samuel Greene, Thomas Melville, and Isaac Chapman. Abraham Redwood, of Dorset-place, Mary-le-bone, London, England, gave the homestead place, situated in Newport, to the library. In 1837, Baron Hollinguer, a distinguished banker, of Paris, who was connected by marriage with the Redwood family, presented the Company one thousand francs, for the restoration of the building. Many other bequests have been made by the friends of literature. A certain elegant writer, (Dr. Waterhouse,) asserts, "That the founders of Redwood Library, sowed the seeds of science among us, and rendered the inhabitants, if not a more learned, yet a better read, and more inquisitive people, than that of any other town in the then British Provinces." The late Dr. W. E. Channing, in a discourse delivered in Newport, in 1836, alludes to the neglected condition of the Library, at the period during which he pursued his studies in the town. He says, "I had no Professor to guide me; but I had two noble places of study,-one was yonder beautiful edifice, now so frequented, and so useful as a public library, then so deserted, that I spent day after day, and sometimes week after week, amidst its dusty volumes, without interruption from a single visitor." The other classical spot was Easton's Beach, then equally as retired, though now so much frequented. He remarks, in his usual glowing style: "No spot on earth has helped to form me so much as that beach. There I lifted up my voice in praise, amid the tempest; there, softened by beauty, I poured out my thanksgiving, and contrite confessions. There, in reverential sympathy with the mighty power around me, I became conscious of power within. There, struggling thoughts and emotions broke forth, as if moved to utterance by nature's eloquence of the winds and waves. There began a happiness surpassing all worldly pleasure, alf gifts of fortune, the happiness of communing with the works of God." As the name of Berkley has been introduced in this connection, it may not be amiss to dwell somewhat on his character, which, for moral purity, was unexampled. Berkley was endued with great powers of mind, and possessed vast stores of erudition. His intellectual and moral qualities, inspired to LETTER OF BISHOP BERKLEY. 127 form in him a character of high and attractive excellence. The learned Bishop Atterbury said of him, " So much innocence, and such humility, I did not think had been the portion of any but angels, until I saw this gentleman." Pope, who as friend knew him well, describes him as possessed of "every virtue under Heaven." It was to such society, that Newport was indebted for the intelligence and refinement of manners, which characterized her past history. Berkley was highly prepossessed in favor of Newport, as his letters to his friends plainly show. The following is an extract, from a letter, written by Dean Berkley, to Thomas Prior, Esq. "NEWPORT, ON RHODE ISLAND, April 24th, 1729. "I can by this time say something to you, from my own experience, of this place and people. The inhabitants are of a mixed kind, consisting of many sects, and subdivisions of sects. Here are four sorts of Anabaptists, besides Presbyterians, Quakers, Independents, and many of no profession at all. Notwithstanding so many differences, here are fewer quarrels about religion than elsewhere, the people living peaceably with their neighbors of whatsoever persuasion. They all agree in one point, that the Church of England is the second best. This island is pleasantly laid out in hills and vales, and rising ground; hath plenty of excellent springs, and fine rivulets, and many delightful landscapes of rocks, and promontories, and adjacent lands. "The town of Newport is the most thriving place in all America, for business. It is very pretty, and pleasantly situated. I was never more agreeably surprised, than at the first sight of the town and harbor." The following verses were written by Bishop Berkley, during his residence in Newport, which fact demands their insertion. "ON THE PROSPECT OF PLANTING ARTS AND LEARNING IN AMERICA. "The muse disgusted at an age and clime, In distant lands, now waits a better time, In happy climes, where from the genial sun In happy climes, the seat of innocence, There shall be sung another golden age, Not such as Europe breeds in her decay, Westward the course of empire takes its way," A fifth shall close the drama with the day, "The Minute Philosopher," which he penned while he was a resident of Newport, consists of a series of dialogues, involving most of the important topics in debate between Christians and Infidels, the principal arguments by which Christi anity is defended, and the principal objections with which it has been opposed. In treating on academical study, he remarks, " Academical study may be comprised in two points, reading and meditation. Their reading is chiefly employed on ancient authors, in dead languages; so that a great part of their time is spent in learn ing words, which, when they have mastered with infinite pain, what do they get by it? but old and obsolete notions, which |