OCCUPATION OP FORT GREEN.

269

Newport, under the command of Colonel Fry, and a detachment of seamen from the United States flotilla, to prevent it; but having nothing but small arms with them, their efforts were ineffectual. It would have been far more politic to have taken the brass field-piece belonging to the Artillery Company, the night previous, and thrown up a breast-work which would have prevented the success of the enemy. The Nimrod fired about 200 cannon-balls, one of which killed Mr. John Smith of the Middletown militia, took off the leg of Isaac Basset, a seaman belonging to the flotilla, and knocked down Oliver Wood.

The skill and nerve of Doctor William Turner, was displayed on this occasion, when the chicken-heart of another had failed. He in a very few moments amputated and dressed the leg of Basset, proving his superiority as a surgeon. The boys who had assembled on the beach would, the very moment the shot struck, commence digging them out of the sand, and some made a profitable day's work of it, for Greene Burroughs was ready to cash them.

A few days previous to this, the barges of the Nimrod had chased two sloops on shore in the east passage; but the militia of Little Compton having assembled in considerable numbers, they were prevented from taking possession of them. The sloops were got off, and proceeded up the river.

In June, 1814, the General Assembly passed an act authorizing the Town Councils of the several seaport towns to cause the shipping to be removed from their wharves and harbors, whenever by them it should be thought advisable. The Town Council of Newport accordingly, ordered the shipping to be removed, lest it should be an inducement for the enemy to visit Newport.

In July, 1814, the Artillery Company of the town of Newport, under command of Col. Benjamin Fry, took possession of Fort Green, at the north end of Washington-street, on the Point, by order of the United States Government. The company, rank and file, numbered about one hundred and fifty men. Col. Fry was to have the entire command of the fort, and the company to be under the control of the Governor of the State. While the company were in possession of the fort, they kept it in fine order; the parade ground was gravelled, &c., by the labor of the company, and they were ready to defend the town in case of invasion.

DARTMOOR PRISON.

In the course of the war of 1812, one of the sons of Capt. Evan Malborn, was taken prisoner by the British and confined in Dartmoor prison. He wished the keeper to take a note to Lord Stanhope; the keeper seemed greatly surprised at his presumed acquaintance with so illustrious a personage; without condescending to enter into particulars, he urged the forwarding of the note, which was complied with, and on its reception Lord Stanhope repaired to the prison with all possible haste, in his State carriage, attended by his servants in livery, when orders were instantly issued for the liberation of Mr. Malborn from confinement.

Having lost his all, he stood in need of pecuniary aid, which was quickly furnished by Lord Stanhope, who placed at his disposal fifty guineas, in order that he might clothe himself in a manner becoming his rank and as a relative of his wife. He was then taken to his princely mansion, where he tarried for a few weeks, enjoying the munificent hospitality of the noble Lord. When the period for his leaving had arrived, funds were furnished, and a free passport granted him to America. They were chased by a British man-of-war, and in the confu sion he forgot his passport, the vessel was run on shore, and he at last arrived home, having, however, again lost his all, which a moment's thought might have prevented. Lord Stanhope's bust still occupies a place over the mantle-piece in the Malborn house, now owned and occupied by James R. Newton, Esq.

The entrance to the harbor was also garrisoned about this time, by the enlisted State Corps, under command of Col. John Wood, father of Dr. Wood of the U. S. Army. These posts were occupied until the proclamation of peace.

Provisions, in the time of the war, were extravagantly high; flour sold for $15 00 per barrel, meal $2 00 per bushel, molasses $2.00 per gallon, sugar and coffee 2s. per lb., and so in proportion with all articles of merchandize. The difficulty of obtaining every kind of articles, owing to the coast being so completely blockaded, was one great cause of the high price of provisions. As there was little or nothing doing in Newport, during

SUCCESS OF THE WAR.

271 a great part of the war, it rendered the condition of the laboring classes very trying. Newport had every reason to wish for the termination of a war so injurious to her commercial prosperity. On the 14th of February, 1815, the joyful news of peace was proclaimed by the merry peal of bells, the roar of cannon, and the display of the military. In the evening, a most splendid and general illumination of the town took place, and a display of paper lanterns with emblematic devices, suspended in the streets, which, notwithstanding the great quantity of snow that had fallen, were thoroughly promenaded by nearly all the inhabitants of the place.

This war, though of short duration, was signalized by many splendid victories, both by land and sea, and proved that Great Britain was not invincible. Having been so long mistress of the ocean, she felt an assurance that she should be able to sweep the ocean of everything that floated, and capture our vessels of war, whenever fortune should throw them in her way. But in this she was most egregiously disappointed. The victories of Hull, Decatur, Porter, and Jones, on the ocean, and Perry and Lawrence on the lakes, evidenced to the British, that they had an enemy to compete with, who proved themselves their superiors. The arrogance of the English nation has never been equalled; assuming to control the destinies of the world, she looked on this growing republic with jealousy, and flattered herself that she might yet be able to humble her pride, and subject her to British domination.

At a meeting of the merchants, manufacturers, ship-owners, and underwriters, in the city of Glasgow, in 1814, it was declared by them: "There is reason to believe, in the short space of twenty-four months, above eight hundred vessels have been captured by a power whose maritime strength we have hitherto held in contempt. The number of privateers that infest our coast, and the audacity with which they approach our shores, and their success, is humiliating to our pride." And they further say: "Our nation have declared the whole coast of America in blockade, and it is mortifying that our ships cannot traverse our own channels in safety. Insurance cannot be effected, but at an excessive premium."

The war of 1812, demonstrated to the British Government our maritime power, and that it was a fruitless attempt to labor

to overcome us, and we trust that England will learn a wise lesson from the past, and never again attempt to come in collision with America, whose power is gigantic, and whose overthrow is impossible.

Rhode Island can justly boast of having furnished a Greene for her country, in the war of the Revolution, who in rank and generalship, was second to none, save the immortal Washington himself. And the war of 1812, brought forth and contributed to her country's glory, the mighty energies of her gallant Perry.

Mr. Hunter, who was then Senator to Congress from Rhode Island, in a speech in the Senate of the United States, on the resolutions complimentary of Commodore Perry's victory, said: "While I hold in my hand this resolution expressive of a nation's gratitude toward this youthful Rhode Island hero, for his deliv erance of the West, I can point the other to the likeness of that illustrious Rhode Island veteran, (alluding to the likeness of Gen. Greene, in the Senate,) who in the sacred war of the Revolution, saved the South, and accelerated and ascertained the independence of his country."

The sentiments expressed by Mr. Hunter were truly patri otic, evincing his love of country, and that he gloried in the suc cess of the American arms over a foreign enemy.

The brilliant career of Commodore Perry was short. He died in the 34th year of his age, August 23d, A. D., 1819, on board the U. S. schooner, Nonsuch, at the moment the schooner was entering the harbor of Port Spain, in the island of Trinidad. He died of the yellow fever, contracted at Angostura, where he had been transacting business for our Government. His remains were interred on the 24th, at Port Spain, with every mark of respect from Sir Ralph Woodford, Governor of Trinidad, and the inhabitants of the place.

The body was landed from the John Adams, where it had been removed from the schooner, under a salute of minute guns from that ship. When it reached the shore, the Fort of St. Andrews continued the ceremony, until the long procession, accompanied by the band of the 3d West India regiment, playing the dead march in Saul, reached the burial place. After the funeral, the following card was published by the American offi

cers:

"The officers of the United States vessels, John Adams and

Nonsuch, tender their grateful acknowledgments to the inhabitants of Port Spain, for their kind and respectful attention to the funeral rites bestowed on the body of their late Commander, Commodore Perry."

The disposition manifested by all classes, was highly in unison with their feelings, and merited their warmest thanks.

Commodore Perry, at the time of his death, was engaged in executing the duties of a "highly flattering command, involv. ing diplomatic and naval functions of critical nicety and importance." President Monroe, in his message to Congress in December following, referring to several acts and orders for the protection of our commerce, and the suppression of the slave trade, says, “In the execution of the duty imposed by these acts, and of high trust connected with it, it is with deep regret I have to state the loss which has been sustained by the death of Commodore Perry. His gallantry in a brilliant exploit in the late war, added to the renown of his country; his death is deplored as a national misfortune."

The remains of Commodore Perry arrived at Newport from Trinidad, in the sloop of war Lexington, and were landed on Overing's Wharf, on Monday, Nov. 27, 1826, and on the following Monday, Dec. 4th, were interred in the common burial place, with the honors due to his rank and character. The military companies of Providence, Pawtucket, and Bristol, attended the procession with the companies of Newport. The Governor, and other officers of the State, with several distinguished naval and military officers, were present, and the vast assemblage of citizens testified their respect to the character of their fellow-townsman. The State of Rhode Island has since erected a monument in honor of the memory of this lamented and gallant officer.

The 23d of September, 1815, was rendered memorable by a most awful and destructive gale, which swept away and laid prostrate almost everything in its course. The Newport Mercury says: "The gale commenced early in the morning, at northeast, and continued increasing in violence, the wind varying from northeast to southcast, and southwest, until about eleven o'clock, when it began to abate, and about one o'clock the danger from the wind and tide was over." At Newport, the tide rose three feet and a half higher than it had ever been known before