FRANKLIN'S PRINTING PRESS. 149 for many years a very successful packet-master; he was grand. father of the wife of James Atkinson, Esq., publisher of the "Advertiser." On the 13th of July, a most distressing accident took place in Newport; a pleasure party, consisting of five young men, and thirteen young women, while on their way to Canonicut Island, in a two mast boat, were upset in a squall, and one of the young men, and six young women were drowned; the remainder of the party were rescued by a boat in sight. The names of those lost were John Stall, Betsy and Lydia Hockey, daughters of William Hockey, Polly Spooner, Betsy Allen, Nabby Stanton, and Suckey Hefferon. Matthew Cozzens, an eminent merchant, built the house, commonly called the Dudley House, in Middletown. FRANKLIN'S PRINTING PRESS. The history of Franklin's press is this:-James Franklin, elder brother of Dr. Benjamin, imported, in 1720, a press and type, for the purpose of carrying on the "Art and business of Printing." He soon after issued the first number of the "New England Courant," the second paper published in America. His brother Benjamin became his apprentice, and was employed in distributing copies to his customers, after having assisted in composing and working them off. The publisher of the Courant having given offence to the Assembly, the paper was suppressed, and he removed his office to Newport. Here he first published the "Rhode Island Gazette," and shortly after (1758,) established the "Newport Mercury." The press was used as long as it was serviceable. It is now honored as the one on which Dr. Franklin worked, when learning his trade; and as giving to the world his first effusions, in the form of anonymous letters, printed in the "Courant." It still remains in the printing office of the "Newport Mercury." Amidst the changes which have occurred in Newport, many of which are of a most painful character, there are, nevertheless, some estates, which have remained in the families from the early settlement of the Island, and some prior to the American Revolution. It may prove interesting to the reader to be informed on this subject. The Overing property has continued to the present period, in the hands of the heirs, Cahoone, Freebody, Hockey, Job Cornell, Webber, John Stephens, Martin Howard, corner of Malborough and Thames-street, Jonathan T. Almy, and the Marsh Estate, which deed was given by Governors Walter Clark, Bull, and Carr, from the early settlement. In Portsmouth, the farm of Burrington Anthony, Esq., has been in the family from the period of the settlement, as well as the Mott, Coggeshall, Sisson, &c. Caleb Carr was a native of Scotland, and came to Rhode Island, but the precise time is not known; he was a large owner of land in the towns of Newport and Jamestown, some of which is held by his descendants, together with the ferry, as originally granted to him, and have since remained in the family. He held various offices in the Colony, and was Governor here in 1695, and died before the expiration of that political year. His tomb-stone is still legible, and lies in the Carr burial ground, in Newport, which ground was sequestered, and given by him for that use. It contains the following inscription: Here lies the body of Governor of this Colony, who departed this life, the 17th day in the year 1695. He left three sons, John, Nicholas, and Samuel. John settled in Newport; Nicholas, in Jamestown; and Samuel, on Long Island. John, the eldest, died in Newport, 1717, leaving four sons, Samuel, Caleb, Robert, and Frances.. Samuel, the oldest, settled and died in Newport, 1740, leaving four sons, Caleb, Samuel, Ebenezer, and John. Samuel, the second son, settled in Newport, afterwards removed to Jamestown, and died 1796, leaving two sons, Samuel and Ebenezer. Samuel, the oldest, settled in Newport, and died 1814, leaving four sons and one daughter, who owned the Ferry Estate, which descended to him, in a regular line, from Caleb Carr, to whom the first grant was given for a ferry between Newport and Jamestown, by an Act of the Assembly of Rhode Island. It is still in the possession of the grandchildren of Samuel Carr. THE ARTISTS OF NEWPORT. 151 This account of the family was furnished the author by Robert R. Carr, Esq., of Newport, son of Samuel. The Carr burial ground is situated on the north side of what was once called the Ferry Wharf Lane, but now Mill-street. We would suggest the importance of having this ground renovated and improved. THE ARTISTS OF NEWPORT. The interest which accumulates as we proceed in the history of Newport, admonishes us of the necessity of being brief. No. spot presents more attractive materials than Newport. Before the Revolution, she had attained to a high degree of celebrity, and stood unrivalled by any city or town in the Colonies. Doctor Benjamin Waterhouse, himself a native of Newport, says: "The island of Rhode Island, from its salubrity, and surpris ing beauty, before the Revolutionary war so sadly defaced it, was the chosen resort of the rich and philosophical, from nearly all parts of the civilized world. In no spot of the thirteen, or rather twelve Colonies, was there concentrated more individual opulence, learning, and liberal leisure." It was no doubt owing to the highly cultivated taste of her inhabitants, why so many of her youth indulged in poetry and painting. Newport has been fertile in producing artists, some of whom have been highly distinguished in their profession. Edward G. Malborn, son of Col. John Malborn, has left an imperishable fame as a miniature painter. It is said that when Mr. Malborn, who went to Europe for the purpose of improvement in his profession, was introduced to Mr. West, and produced specimens of his work, after examining them, that distinguished and celebrated artist, inquired for what purpose he had come to England? Mr. Malborn answered, to perfect himself in the art of painting. Mr. West replied, "Sir, you can go home again, for a man who can paint such a picture as this, need not come to England for instruction." His picture of the "Past, Present, and Future," now belonging to his brother-in-law, John G. Whitehorne, Esq., is one of the most chaste and splendid things of the kind in existence. It represents three female figures. The Past has an air of dejection, the Present seems all life and animation, the Future buoyant with hope, and anticipating unalloyed pleasure. "Earth's perfection, angel graces In each feature fair." We fondly hope that this valuable relic will never be taken from Newport. Washington Allston received his first instructions as a painter, from Mr. Samuel King, late of Newport, who displayed a fine taste in the art, and his propensity for painting was probably cultivated by his residence during his boyish days, amid the scenery of Newport, whence he had come from South Carolina to attend the classical school in this place, kept by the late Robert Rogers, Esq. Charles B. King, now resident in Washington city, where as a painter, he is much patronized, is also a native of Newport. It has been said that Mr. King wishes to bestow his valuable collection of paintings on his native town, on condition that a suitable place be provided for their reception. It is highly desirable that a chaste building should at once be erected, for the Southern Department, in which to place whatever is valuable in a historical point of view. And many others, who have not engaged in this employment as a profession, in their early days have sketched, and drawn, and painted, until immersed in the business of life, they have dropped the pencil, but still retain the taste. Gilbert Stewart is claimed as being a native of Newport, though Mr. Updike says he was born in Narragansett. We have no wish to claim for Newport more than she deserves, but will merely state the discrepancies of the two accounts of his birth-place, and leave the reader to judge. The following is extracted from a letter of Miss Anne Stewart, the daughter of Gilbert Stewart, addressed to Mr. Updike. She states in reply to the questions asked, in relation to what family of Anthony's her great-grandmother was, that she "was the daughter of Captain John Anthony, who was from Wales, and had a farm on the Island, near Newport, which he sold to Bishop Berkley. It was on this farm that my mother was born, and was married in Narragansett to my grandfather, Gilbert Stewart, who was from Perth in Scotland. They had but three children, James, Anne, and Gilbert. As to their birthplace, THE ARTISTS OF NEWPORT. 153 you are much better informed than myself. My father was edu cated in the grammar-school in Newport, and then sent to Scotland, to Sir George Chambers, for the purpose of finishing his education at Glasgow, after which he returned to Newport, where he remained for a time, and was then sent to England to study with Benjamin West, the great historical painter of that day."— Updike's History. It seems from this letter that Mr. Stewart was educated in Newport, and after going abroad, on his return comes to Newport, and here tarries, but not one word of his being at Narragansett. Miss Anne Stewart seems to be quite ignorant of her father's birth place; she refers the matter entirely to Mr. Updike, which is most certainly strange and unaccountable. We have conversed with Miss Jane Stewart, and she appeared to be ignorant of his birth-place being in Narragansett. She remarked that her father's associations and attachments were all in Newport, and she expresses a strong wish that the remains of her father which lie buried in Boston, might be removed here and placed by the side of his wife, which repose in the common burial ground in Newport. Without attempting to invalidate the statement made by Wilbour Hammond, of the conversation said to have passed be tween him and Mr. Stewart, on his last visit to Narragansett, as every one is liable to mistakes and misapprehensions; it becomes us to offer such evidence as is furnished of the birthplace of this distinguished man. An aged and highly respectable citizen of Newport, in a conversation with him on his last visit to Newport, and before crossing the ferries to visit the old snuff mill, which his father had formerly carried on, he asked him the question, where he was born; standing near the spot, he pointed to the story and half house, at the head of Bannister wharf, on the south side, and said: "there I have been told that I was born." This statement is confirmed by other aged citizens, which has given the impression that Stewart was a native of Newport. It is certain that the name of Gilbert Stewart appears in the census taken by John Bannister in 1770, and he is there found in the very spot where he stated that he was born. The building has since been taken down and another erected in its place. It is also said that he derived his first impression of painting from |