Mr. Channing was grandson of John Channing, of Dorsetshire, England; the first of the name who came to America, and who arrived in Boston about 1715. He was born in Newport, May 31st, 1751, and was educated at Aashua Hall, (Princeton College,) where he graduated in 1769. He was the father of the late W. E. Channing, D. D., who ranks as one of the most eminent divines the world has ever produced, as also Walter Channing, M. D., of Boston, who is distinguished as a philanthropist.

Matthew Robinson, the only son of Robert Robinson, was appointed Searcher of the Customs in Newport, by Queen Anne, and assumed the duties of the office about the year 1706. Matthew was born in Newport, in the year 1709. He was well educated, and was an apt and ready Latin and Greek scholar, but whether he graduated from any public institution, cannot now be ascertained. He established an office in Newport, about forty years before the Revolution, and practised law with reputation, and his business was considerable on the circuits. He was a great collector of amazing incidents, trite sayings, and conundrums, which he preserved in a book kept for that purpose. One was, "that it was difficult to drive a black hog in the dark."

Robert Lightfoot was born in London, in 1716. His family were wealthy, and of high respectability. He graduated from the University of Oxford, studied law in the Inner Temple, and was appointed Judge of the Vice Admiralty, in the Southern District of the United States, in the reign of George II, with a salary of £6,000 a year. He entered upon the duties of his office, but the climate enfeebling his health, he came to Newport, which was then, as now, celebrated for its restorative influence to renovate his impaired constitution. Finding the island and its scenery as delightful as his fancy could sketch, and its society refined and attractive, he was disinclined to return, and resigned his office.

The venerable Dr. Waterhouse, in his letter, observes, "I knew Judge Lightfoot very well; he was a well-educated man, and first taught me to value and study Lord Bacon, and from him I learnt to value Locke, and Newton, and Boerhaave. He was the oracle of literary men in Newport; was a very able and learned man, and appeared, at Rhode Island, I thought—

"He was a great epicure, a perfect encyclopædia, and welcome to the tables of the first characters, and constantly dined from home." (In those days Grahamism was unknown, and to enjoy life seemed to be the wish and desire of all.) "He was not a buffoon or mimic, but a fine relator of apt anecdotes. He informed every body, and contradicted no one, but had a happy Socratic method of teaching. He honored me with his notice, and I gained more knowledge from him than any other man in the choice of books." These were the palmy days of Newport, when the island was the intellectual constellation of this Western hemisphere.

MEDICAL FACULTY.

The names of Hunter, Halliburton, Brett, Moffat, Hooper, &c., rank high among the most eminent physicians of that or any other age. Dr. Waterhouse says:

"About the year 1756, Dr. William Hunter gave at Newport, R. I., the first anatomical and surgical lectures ever delivered in the twelve Colonies. They were delivered in the Court House, two seasons in succession, by cards of invitation, and to great satisfaction. His collection of instruments was much larger than any professor exhibits at this day. Dr. Hunter was a man of talents, well-educated at Edinburgh, and a gentleman of taste in the fine arts."

He further says, alluding to Dr. Hunter and Halliburton: "We doubt whether Boston, New-York, or Philadelphia, ever had, at one and the same time, two practitioners of physic and surgery, better educated and more skillful than these two gentlemen."

Dr. Hunter's daughters were said to have been beautiful and accomplished women. Soon after the peace of 1783, they went with their mother to Europe, for the purpese of procuring medi cal aid for one of the daughters. The youngest was married on the Continent, to Mr. Falconer, a celebrated banker in Naples, and the other to Count de Callender.

Dr Hunter was the father of the late Hon. William Hunter, who was Minister to Brazil, South America. Of his distinguished talents we are fully acquainted. He was one of nature's

noblemen, and his native town of Newport felt justly proud of him, and highly appreciated his commanding talents, in their electing him to the various offices of importance in the State, and in the national councils. In the Senate of the United States none held a higher rank. His eloquence was listened to with the profoundest attention. He showed himself a man; one who was every way qualified to discharge the high and important trust committed to him by his constituents. His form and carriage indicated the finished gentleman. Those who remember him in his palmy days, will be ready to respond to the view here given of him.

Mr. Hunter was an independent man; he acknowledged no superior in the sense as to lead him to abandon his own private opinion, to gratify some would-be lordling. He planted his feet on the broad principle of right, and maintained the honor and dignity of the country which gave him birth. He enjoyed the friendship and esteem of James Madison and Andrew Jackson, which we conceived to be no small honor. Mr. Hunter was of the old school. He never followed in the track of the modern pigmies and dwarfs, whose pedantry lead them to think that all knowledge will die with, them. His was a higher stan. dard of moral excellence, derived from an age when firmness and stability of character were the characteristics of the times.

Dr. Isaac Center, who succeeded the distinguished names already, was a native of Londonderry, N. H., and was born about the year 1753. He received his medical education in Newport, R. I., that place being famed at the time for the num ber of its distinguished physicians. While pursuing his studies, the news of the battle of Lexington, April 1775, arrived, and filled with patriotic ardor, he immediately joined the Rhode Island troops, whom he accompanied to the camp at Cambridge, as a surgeon. On the organization of the army, he received a confirmation of his appointment, and was sent with the expedition of Gen. Arnold to Quebec. The road was up the Kennebec river, through the untried wilderness, which occupied thirty-two days, in the inclement months of November and December, before they reached the settlement on the Chaudiere; the whole march was made on foot, during which he, with the rest of the army, suffered almost incredible hardships. In the assault on Quebec, all of Arnold's division were either killed or made prisoners of war;

among the latter was young Center, who after being detained some time to attend to the sick and wounded, was released and suffered to return home. In 1779, he quitted the army, and served as a physician, in the town of Cranston, R. I., and was soon after elected one of the Representatives to the General Assembly, from that town. In 1784 he was chosen Surgeon and PhysicianGeneral of the State and Army, and removed to Newport, where he commenced the practice of physic, under the most favorable auspices, nearly all the old physicans having either died or emigrated during the war.

The Rev. William E. Channing, D. D., in speaking of Dr. Isaac Center, says: "He was a physician of extensive practice, who was thought to unite with great experience, a rare genius in his profession, and whose commanding figure rises before me, at the distance of forty-five years, as a specimen of manly beauty, worthy of the chisel of a Grecian sculptor."

He contributed to several papers, and also to the medical publications of the day, which acquired him a reputation not only in his own country, but in Europe. He died in 1799. He left two sons and three daughters. Dr. Horace Center, was educated in England, and was a practising physician of Newport, a gentleman highly distinguished in his profession. He was killed near Savannah, Geo., in a duel with the Hon. John Rutledge, of South Carolina. Nathaniel Greene Center died at sea, having been in the East India service. Edward Gilbon, the youngest son, was a young man of fine genius and elegant appearance. His eldest daughter, Eliza, married Rev. N. B. Crocker, D. D., Rector of St. John's church, Providence. For forty-eight years he has continued to minister to this church and congregation, with acceptance. Having devoted the energies of his nature in proclaiming the Gospel of Christ, avoiding ques tions which gender strife, rather "than godly edifying, which is in faith" a long life has not alienated, but increased and strengthened the affections of his people towards him, and evidences the preponderance of good sense over ignorance, which distinguishes the society. It is no flattery to say of him, that he is a man of " blameless life and godly conversation," and entitled to the respect and confidence of the community among whom he has lived for nearly half a century.

Sarah married Clement S. Hunt, Purser in the U. S. Navy.

A Charter was granted to the Artillery Company in 1741.

This company has always held a high rank, and embraced the most distinguished citizens of Newport. And for the honor of the town, and out of respect to the memory of the first officers, may it never lose its hold on the hearts of the people.

A List of Fisk brought to Newport in 1779, as reported by Edward Thurston, Esq.