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CALIFORNIA
STATE LIBRARY
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Annals
OF THE
Redwood Library
AND
Athen^um,
NEWPORT, R. E
BY
George Champlin Mason.
REDWOOD LIBRARY,
NEWPORT, R. I.
189I.
^ GIFT
THE EVANS' t^lRlNtlNC 'HOI/SE;
Fourth and Library Sts.,
PHILADELPHIA.
LIBRARY
SCHOOL
OF
ABRAHAM REDWOOD,
founder of
The Redwood Library,
Whose Generous Benefaction Has Endeared His Name
TO THE
People of Newport,
This Volume is Inscribed.
M8i)3540
" Out of the olde fieldes, as men sayeth,
Cometh all this new corne fro yeare to yeare,
So out of olde bookes, in good faith,
Cometh all this newe science that men lere."
Chaucer.
" If any body would make me the greatest king that ever lived, with
palaces, and gardens, and fine dinners and wines, and coaches, and
beautiful clothes, and hundreds of servants, on condition that I would
not read books, I would not be a king. I would rather be a poor man
in a garret, with plenty of books, than a king who did not love reading."
Macau/ay, to his little niece.
jsi^sa-
PRESIDENTS
OF THE
Redwood Library and Athen^um.
Abraham Redwood,
Henry Marchant,
William Vernon,
John Bours,
Jonathan Easton,
Robert Stevens,
David King,
Audley Clarke,
George G. King,
William Hunter,
David King,
George G. King,
William C. Cozzens,
Henry Ledyard,
Edward King,
Francis Brinley,
James E. Mauran,
Henry E. Turner,
Le Roy King.
from
1747 to 1788
1791 '
' 1 797
1797 *
' 1801
1801 '
' 1809
1809 '
' 1813
1813 '
' 1830
1830 '
' 1836
1836 '
' 1844
1844 '
' 1846
1846 '
' 1849
1849 '
' 1859
1859 •
' 1870
1870 '
' 1872
1872 '
' 1874
1874 '
' 1875
1875 '
• 1882
1882 '
' 1883
1883 '
• 1886
1886
vice-presidents.
Edward King,
Francis Brinley, .
Charles T. Brooks,
William Gilpin,
Henry H. Fay,
187010 1874
1874 '• 1875
1875 " 1883
1883 " 1886
1886
OFFICERS
OF THE
Redwood Library and Athen^um,
1891.
PRESIDENT,
LEROY KING.
VICE-PRESIDENT,
HENRY H. FAY.
DIRECTORS:
ANDREW B. ALMON, GEORGE C. MASON,
ARTHUR B. EMMONS, WILLIAM R SHEFFIELD,
WILLIAM GILPIN, WILLIAM P.SHEFFIELD, Jr.,
GEORGE GORDON KING, FREDERIC W. TILTON,
DAVID KING, HAMILTON B. TOMPKINS,
HENRY G. MARQUAND, HENRY E. TURNER,
ALFRED TUCKERMAN.
TREASURER,
GEORGE GORDON KING.
SECRETARY,
WILLIAM P. SHEFFIELD, Jr.
LIBRARIAN,
RICHARD BLISS.
ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY.
CHAPTER I.
1730-1747.
T has been conceded, with a show of
reason, that the Redwood Library
of 1747 was the outgrowth of the
Philosophical Society of 1730; but
that the Society of that date owed its
origin to Dean Berkeley, to whom
it has been attributed, is by no
means clear. That the Society was
established during the Dean's resi-
dence on the Island of Rhode Island, and owed something of its
influence to him, we may readily admit ; but when he came to New-
port, intellectually, he found it no barren wilderness. The people
with whom he made his home, and who helped to make his stay
agreeable, were well-informed — could appreciate the advantage of
having among them a man of so much learning, to whom they could
listen with profit and pleasure ; while the Dean found in them con-
genial companions, — men who could sustain their part in a discus-
sion when they came together, — meeting at first informally, and
then as an organized body. They loved learning, and they had
books to feed that love. If distant from the great centres, their ships
— for this was the metropolis of the New World — brought to them
lo ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
the best products of the English press, with contributions from
Geneva and Amsterdam ; books that were read, and discussed, and
handed down as heirlooms — mentioned with minuteness in wills —
from father to son. If the acquisitions were argumentative, so
much the better, for disquisitions, especially on theology, were the
regimen they loved. The Quaker, the Baptist, and the firm sup-
porter of the Church of England maintained each his part ; but the
Quaker preacher and the Jewish Rabbi, alike tenacious of their rules
of doctrine, listened respectfully to the preaching of Berkeley, and
the no less saintly Honyman. The use of the library given to
Trinity Church in the days of Queen Anne, was not confined to
Episcopalians, whose numbers were not large, but was open to all
who sought such fountains of thought; and if it did not fill the meas-
ure of the denominational mind, the little family book shelves helped
to close the gap. How numerous were these little collections can
now only be conjectured ; but even at this date we find traces of
their variety and influence in wills and copies of wills that have been
preserved.^ And when the Redwood Library was organized, 1747,
^ Citations under this head, if indulged in, would be iiumeroiis; two
must suffice: '' My ' Concordance,' " said Dr. John Clarke, who died in
1676, ''and 'Lexicon' belonging to it, written by myself, the fruit of
several years' study, my Hebrew Bible, Buxtorff 's and Pasor's ' Lexicon,'
Cotton's ' Concordance,' and all the rest of my books, to Richard Bailey."
Benedict Arnold, the second, thus disposed of his books in 1753 : " To
my dear wife, my large Bible (which my brother, Josiah Arnold, brought
me from London), first part of ' Penn's Works,' Sewel's ' History of the
Rise and Progress of the People Called Quakers' (all in folio), first and
second parts of George Fox's 'Journal,' a book containing thirty ser-
mons, Quarle's 'Poems,' 'Paradise Regained,' Sampson's 'Agnostics,'
Barclay's 'Apology,' and Robt. Wicken's ' Concordance.' "
To his brother Josiah he gave Fuller's " Pisgah," and his " History of
the Holy War," "Christian Religion," written by Zachary ; "Military
Discipline," "Geographical Dictionary," "Plutarch's Lives" (all in
folio), "More Wonders of the Principal World — Europe," "Divine
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. ii
the friends of the measure, incited by the HberaHty of Redwood
and ColHns, gave of their books for the general good.^
A hundred years after the organization of the Philosophical
Society, an enthusiastic friend of the Library, — the late Robert
Johnston, — in the space of twelve months, gathered from the family
book shelves in Newport and the neighborhood upward of forty
Poems " and '' Speculum Speculatum," by George Withers, " Hudibras,"
Bridge's " Seven Sermons," a '' Sermon Book," by Thomas Fuller, " Ad-
vice to a Son," Matthias Brodinix's '' Chronology," "My Terrestrial
Globe," etc. He also enumerated in his will: "The Works of the
learned Hugh Broughton, Baker's * Chronicle,' Gage's * Survey of the
West Indies,' 'Gazetteer,' Prideaux's ^The Old and New Testaments
Connected with the Jews and Neighboring Nations,' Howell's 'Letters,'
etc. " — evidence that he sought, in his reading, to keep up with the times.
'■^ Mention of the books given to the Library during the first years of
its existence would, in itself, make an interesting chapter. Henry Col-
lins, Dr. Brett, Dr. Moffatt, Thomas Ward, and others, gave liberally. A
Greek and Latin edition of " Dionysius," 1688, came from Thomas
Ward. He also gave "The Origin and Institution of Civil Govern-
ment Discussed," 1 710, by Hoadly, whose controversies with the High
Church party had called attention to his writings ; Keill's " Introductio ad
Veram Astronomiam," the most important of his works ; Calvin's " In-
stitutio Christianae Religionis " (Ward was a Sabbatarian), and other
works. KnoUe's "Lives of the Othoman Kings and Emperors," the
ponderous tome of 1638, was the gift of Col. Francis Willet — the book
that Peter Garrick said Johnson borrowed from in writing his "Irene,"
and whi^ Byron remembered as the first book that gave him pleasure in
childhood. The only old copy of the " Fairy Queen," 1609, owned by
the Library came to it through private hands. On the last page there are
these entries ;
" Nathaniel Townsend, Jr., bought this book of James Harding, at
Fort George, A. D. 1733." Under it: "Thomas Ward bought it of
Nathaniel Townsend, Jr., A. D. 1734." Townsend and Ward were both
members of the Philosophical Society, and could appreciate the book,
which is badly worn ; and the same could probably have been said of
Harding, who may have found it a solace in his enforced idleness as a
soldier at Fort George.
12 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARy,
volumes for the Library, many of them rare and valuable editions
of the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries; books that
our great grandfathers had read with profit, and which helped to
fit them to be the friends and associates of Berkeley, — the Praxis
Medica of Lazarus Riverius, of 1649 ; The French Acadernie of Peter
de la Primandaye, 1589; Baxter's Christian Directory, 1673 ; Knox's
Reformation of the Church of Scotland, 1644; Camden's //w/(5'ry of
the Princess Elizabeth, 1675 ; Ray's Collection of English Proverbs,
1678; Kerry's Bible, 1608; Historicnm Mellificum^ 1628 (Christ.
Pezelius), and others that will be mentioned in place.
The earliest authentic paper connected with the Society (given
below) is dated 1735. Four years had elapsed since the departure
of Berkeley. Whatever influence he may have had while here, it is
clear the Society was moving on, and still engaged in the discussion
of subjects calculated to promote its end. Its range was wide, for
it embraced men of all persuasions, — Jacob, the Quaker; Collins
and Ward, Sabbatarians; Callender, the Baptist; Searing, the
Congregationalist ; and Honyman and others of the Church of
England.
Nor do we know how the Society was merged into the Library,
but it is probable that Mr. Redwood, seeing how great had been
the advantage of the Society to the community, with the large-
heartedness which marked his life, gave freely of his means to
found the Library that bears his name. His munificent offer met
with a ready response, the Company was formed, and it is pleasant
to follow it through all its changes, and the vicissitudes of war, to
its noble position in our day.
Rules and regulations of a Literary and Philosophical Society
estabHshed in Newport, R. I., A. D. 1730.
''Whereas, K. D. 1730, Messrs. Daniel Updike, Peter Bours, James
Searing, Edward Scott, Henry Collins, Nathan Townsend, Jeremiah
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 13
Condy and James Honyman, Junr., did form a Society for the pro-
motion of Knowledge and Virtue, by a free conversation according
to several regulations by them agreed.
" We, the present members of the said Society, finding it neces-
sary on many accounts for the more effectual answering the end of
our Institution, do agree to enter into a more strict engagement,
and establish the following as the laws and orders to be observed in
this Society.
" I. The members of the Society shall meet ever}^ Monday eve-
ning, at the house of one of the members, scriatmi, and converse
about and debate some useful question in Divinity, Morality, Philos-
ophy, History, &c,
" 2. 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.
" 3. Every member in order shall freely give his opinion with his
reasons, having liberty to explain the sense of the question, or his
own expressions, and to retract or alter his opinion as to him shall
seem right.
" 4. The member at whose house we meet shall propose a ques-
tion for the next evening's conversation, the Society to judge of its
propriety and usefulness, only nothing shall ever be proposed or
debated which is a distinguishing religious tenet of any one
member.
" 5. No member shall divulge the opinion 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 inquire the names, number,
general design, method and laws of the Society, and the opinions or
conclusions of the major part, without discovering how any par-
ticular member voted.
" 6. The moderator for the time being shall keep a book, in which
he shall register the questions and the solutions or answers, and
another for the fines and forfeits that may become due.
*' 7. The question shall be propounded by the moderator exactly
at seven in the evening, or if he be absent, another shall be chosen
in his room, and whoever shall come after that shall forfeit one shil-
14 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
ling ; whoever is absent the whole evening, shall forfeit two shillings
and sixpence; only the moderator shall pay double. Whoever
shall make it an excuse to avoid giving his opinion, that he has not
thought of the question, or has forgot what the question is, shall
forfeit one shilling. Whoever is unprovided of a proper question,
on his turn to propound one, shall forfeit one shilling. He that
omits to register the question or solution in his turn shall forfeit two
shillings and sixpence. A treasurer shall be chosen once in three
months, and whoever shall refuse an office when chosen, shall for-
feit five shillings. And every treasurer that is deficient in his duty
in collecting the fines, shall pay them himself. No excuse shall be
taken for absence but sickness in person or family, or the being out
of town. The fines shall be gathered every month, and be laid out
in books, &c., as the Society shall think best. Whoever shall absent
himself a quarter of a year successively, without sufficient excuse,
shall have his name struck out of the list.
" 8. Any member may bring with him any friend or stranger who
shall desire it, and whom he may think may not be offensive to any
other member.
" 9. Any member may propose a candidate, but none shall be
admitted without the full and free consent of every member, to be
manifested in written votes, after a month's probation. However,
the same person that has been negatived, may be propounded again
by another member.
" 10. If the Society inclines to choose any gentlemen at a distance
to be occasional members, their election shall be made in the same
manner; they shall be subject to the same rules of secrecy, and
have the same liberty to speak and debate any subject with the other
members, and shall vote in all occasional matters.
"11. The laws shall be publicly read in the Society every three
months, on the same evening that the Treasurer is chosen. And
every member shall there produce his copy, upon the forfeit of two
shillings and six pence.
" 12. Every member shall promote the good order of the Society
as far as it is in his power.
" 13. Each of the present members shall sign these articles in the
book, and shall have a copy of them, signed by the moderator for
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 15
*
the time being, to be and remain as a proof and token of our fel-
lowship and society. And every gentleman that may hereafter be
chosen a member shall enter his name in the same manner, and
have a copy of the laws signed as above, together with a list of the
Society and a copy of the additional or explanatory laws that may
hereafter be made.
" Newport, February 2, J735.
"^Daniel Updike, ''Peter Bours, ^Edward Scott, ^Nathan Town-
^.— ^^^^ was the first signer of the
j ^.^ >. /^^^^V^*^ Constitution of the Philo-
^^— ^ /J V 3yy\ * J sophical Society. He had
(^^^"yy^^ ^y^ . ' L/C/^(y*^^^^-^y ^^^ home in Narragansett,
/y but spent much of his time
in Newport. Here he
studied law and here he entered upon its practice. He was the Attorney-
General of the Colony from 1722 to 1732; King's Attorney for King's
(now Washington) county, from 1741 to 1743, and Attorney-General
from 1743 to 1757, in which year, May 15th, he died. Wilkins Updike
has recorded of him : ''Among his professional brethren he was highly
respected, and in all literary and professional associations of his time his
name stands at the head. He possessed a good library, and he found in
books a solace and companionship. He prided himself on his critical
knowledge of English history and every circumstance relating to the
settlement of America, and particularly of Rhode Island.
When it was known that Rev. William Smith, of St. Paul's, Narragan-
sett, had accepted a call to Trinity Church, Newport, a parishioner, de-
pressed at the prospective loss, said to Bishop Seabury ; '' I am afraid our
church will die." ''It may be chastised," said the Bishop, "but while
you have for a warden a man like Col. Updike, or a Martin Reed for a
clerk, it will never die."
In a notice of Peter Bours at the time
of his death, September 30, 1761, then
in his fifty-sixth year, he is spoken of as
"a gentleman of distinguished abilities," who had served and adorned
the Colony to a degree that called from his fellow-citizens a vote of
thanks, as here expressed :
" The Town from a just Sense of the Advantages of an upright Admin-
1 6 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
send, ^Samuel Wickham, '^John Brett, ^Charles Bardin, ^"^J. Hony-
istration, and to express their Gratitude, unanimously passed a Vote, that
Col. Bennet and Mr. William Coddington, wait upon Peter Bours, Esq.,
with their compliments, and thank him for the singular Services he has
done the Town, and for that disinterested Zeal and Regard he has dis-
covered on every Occasion, in the different Characters he has sustained
in the General Assembly, upwards of Twenty Years, to promote the
Happiness and Welfare of the Colony."
Mr. Bours, William Ellery and three others gave this reason for their
protest, which was placed on record, against the further issue of bills of
credit : " Because the ruin of this flourishing Colony will probably in a
great measure be owing to this fatal act ; we would have the whole Colony
and posterity know we have not deserved their imprecations on this occa-
sion, but have endeavored to preserve and deliver down to posterity the
privileges and the property which our ancestors earned with so much
hazard, toil and expense."
But little is known of
Judge Scott, other than
that for upward of twenty
years he sustained a posi-
tion at the head of the
first classical school in
Rhode Island. He died in 1768.
A very fine silver snuff-box that belonged to him is now in the poses-
sion of the Redwood Library.
We only know of him
through the copy of the
Fairy Queen," already re-
(/ — yf -"/>■ ferred to. He was admitted
y (/ **a freeman" in May, 1729,
and George Berkeley was admitted at the same time.
^ /7^t\ Jy ^^^ question has been raised whether Dr.
^y/rJl'T^QviG^*^^ ; John Brett came to America in 1743 or 1749,
jf the latter date being given by Dr. Benjamin
(J^^' ^0 Waterhouse, who could not have known that
he was a charter-member of the Redwood
Library, 1747. That he was here at a much
earlier period is made certain by the copy of the Constitution of the
Philosophical Society already given, under date of 1735, of which body he
y oiiAi'arv ofcc^^^p''^
n
^^^^ ^y^y^'^Vl^ fe
IZ^'^
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 17
man, Jr. (February 9th), Hez. Carpenter (May 24, 1736), "James
Searing, ^■- Thomas Ward, ^^Josias Lyndon, "John Callender, Jr.,
was a member. He was recognized in Newport as high medical author-
ity, having had an opportunity to attend lectures by the distinguished
Boerhaave in Leyden, where he was studying medicine — a reputation that
was sustained up to the time of his death, in 1755. Dr. Waterhouse, in
1824, had in his possession some of his original notes when a student
attending lectures in Leyden. Dr. Brett was liberal in his gift of books
to the Redwood Library, all the volumes being in Latin. None of them
are of later date than 1662, and a 4to of the Biblia Latina dates from
1487. The above autograph is taken from one of his books in the
Library.
The name of his widow, Mrs. Mary Brett, is associated with a free
school for blacks, 1773, sustained by a society in England, of benevolent
clergymen of the Church of England, who provided that she should teach
a class of negro children to read, write, etc. She lived to see eighty-
six years, and died in Nevport, April 14. 1799.
^"^^-^^miUf mc^^tm^
'** ^^ was the son of Rev. James Hony-
\1 /"Tv y man, Rector of Trinity Church,
/f «. ^^^yy^yyfV^i/J^ Newport. He was born in April,
/J A 1 710, and was educated for the bar.
In 1732 he was the Attorney-Gene-
ral of the Colony, and held the office until 1741, when the law appointing
an attorney-general was repealed and county attorneys were substituted.
He was one of the Committee on the Eastern Boundary question, in 1 741,
between Rhode Island and Massachusetts, and was one of the Counsel who
argued the case before the King's Commissioners. In 1755 he was ap-
pointed, with Governor Hopkins and George Brown, to attend the Con-
gress of Governors and Commissioners of the Northern Colonies, called
by Lord Loudoun, to devise measures for the defeat of the enemy. He
I ft ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
'^Sueton Grant, ^^ Joseph Jacob, '^William EUery (October 3, 1737),
^'^^ Jos. Sylvester, ^^John Checkley, Jr.
was elected First Assistant of the Colony from 1756 to 1764, but, when
the Legislature remonstrated in a strong and decisive manner against the
rule of 1756, he declined a re-election.
Shortly after this event Mr. Honyman was appointed King's Advocate
for the Court of Vice- Admiralty in Rhode Island, which office he held
up to the breaking out of the war. When hostilities commenced, while
deploring the unhappy state of things, and regretting that the controversy
could not be healed, he expressed a wish to deliver up his commission, if
his holding it was disagreeable to the Legislature, whereupon that body
adopted the following resolution :
"That James Honyman, Esquire, Advocate-General in the Court of
Vice-Admiralty in this Colony, under the Crown of Great Britain, having
appeared before, and informed, this Assembly, that if his holding said
office be disagreeable to the Colony, he would deliver up his commission,
it is voted and resolved, that his holding the same is disagreeable to the
Colony, and that the sheriff of the county of Newport call upon the said
James Honyman to receive said commission, and that he deliver it to his
Honor the Governor, to be lodged in the Secretary's office."
Mr. Honyman had an extensive and lucrative practice. He did not
leave the Island when the British approached, but remained here, and here
died, February 15, 1788, aged 67 years. His wife was Elizabeth Gould-
ing, daughter of George Goulding, to whom he was married September
23* 1731- She bore him two sons and six daughters. The sons died in
early life; the daughters married men attached to the Crown. His prop-
erty was confiscated.
was the pastor of the Congregational
^V^Z^ \^y^ (^l/I^^^VQ-.,^ Society. He died about 1755, when
>y \Rev. Ezra Stile was called to the
^ church. A daughter of Mr. Searing,
widow of Col. Robert Elliott, a Revolutionary officer, died at Bristol,
August 31, 1 81 6, in her seventy-third year.
^"^ ^ ' ^ came of a family distinguished in the annals
//9 /yi^Mr/^f ^^^ Rhode Island, all the members having
"^^ ^^*v c/x^ attained to honorable positions in the affairs
of the Colony. Richard Ward, son of the first Thomas, was Secretary
of the Colony in 1 733, and was elected Deputy-Governor and Governor,
and Samuel Ward, his son, was Governor from 1762 to 1765. Thomas,
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, 19
" Occasional Members.
" •''John Adams, Daniel Hubbard, '^Jeremiah Condy, John Wal-
lace, ^^ Stephen Hopkins, " Samuel Johnson.
another son, the subject of this sketch, was Secretary of the Colony for
fourteen years, and died in office. Henry Ward, the brother of Thomas,
was his successor as Secretary, and died in office at the end of eight and
thirty years. They were all men of education, and were well read. The
half-dozen books given by Thomas Ward to the Redwood Library, Greek
and Latin versions of Homer, Seneca, Dionysius, Keill and Calvin, give
us some clue to his own reading.
13
was born in Newport, removed to Warren, R. I., and died there. He was
buried in the Kickemuit burial-ground, on the banks of the Kickemuit
river. Over his remains there is this inscription :
** In Memory of the Hon. Josias Lyndon, Esq. He was born in New-
port, on Rhode Island, on the loth of March, A. D. 1704, and received
a good education in early life. In the year 1730 he was chosen Clerk
of the Lower House of Assembly, and of the Inferior Court of the County
of Newport, and continued so with great applause, with the intermission
of only two years, until his death. In the year 1768, to put an end to the
violence of party rage, he was prevailed on to accept the place of Governor,
which office he filled with reputation for one year. He died of the small-
pox, at Warren, on the 30th of March, 1778."
At the age of thirteen entered Harvard
.s, / College, graduated in 1723, and joined
^ T the first Baptist Church in Boston, then
under the pastorate of his uncle. In
June, 1727, he was licensed to preach, was called to the Baptist Church
in Swansey, Mass., the following year, and remained with that Society
until February 15, 1730. From Swansey he came to Newport, and was
io ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
" October 3, 1737. Voted, That every member who shall neglect
settled over the first Baptist Church in this place. He was ordained Octo-
ber 13, 1 73 1, and remained with the Society during the rest of his days.
Over his remains there is an epitaph, written by Dr. Thomas Moffatt,
which shows how high he stood in the estimation of those who knew him
personally :
''Confident of awakening, here reposeth John Callender, of very
excellent endowments from nature, and of an accomplished education,
improved by application in the wide circle of the more polite arts and
useful sciences. From motives of conscience and grace, he dedicated
himself to the immediate service of God, in which he was distinguished
as a shining and very burning light, by a true and faithful ministry of seven-
teen years in the first Baptist Church of Rhode Island, where the purity
and evangelical simplicity of his doctrine, confirmed and embellished by
the devout tenor of his own life, endeared him to his flock, and justly
conciliated the esteem, love and reverence of all the wise, worthy and good.
Much humility, benevolence and charity breathed in his conversation,
discourses and writings, which were all pertinent, reasonable and useful.
Regretted by all, lamented by friends, and deeply deplored by a wife and
numerous issue, he died in the forty-second year of his age, January 26,
1748, having struggled through the vale of life in adversity, much sick-
ness and pain, with fortitude, dignity and elevation of soul, worthy of the
Philosopher, Christian and Divine."
For the titles of Mr. Callender's published discourses, see Hammett's
*' Bibliography of Newport." One of them, a Centennial Discourse, de-
livered in Newport, in 1738, is known to every reader of the history of
Rhode Island.
^^ . yj) y >0 • came to America in 1725, and
\^CIJ2>^^^^ C'O^^^C/y\/( *^ ^^^ made a Freeman in Newport
in 1734. He was the lawful son
of Donald Grant, of Bellvadone,
and was descended from the fam-
ily of Gartenbeg, which family sprang from the family of Grant of Grant,
in the county of Inverness, the first and principal family of that name.
By his mother's side, Marjorie Stewart, he was descended from the barons
of Kimmeachy, in the county of Banff. His wife was Temperance Tal-
mage, of East Hampton, Long Island. In Newport, Mr. Grant was
engaged in business up to the time of his death, caused by an accidental
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 21
to bring or send the book of fines, shall forfeit two shillings and
six pence. A true copy compared with the Society's book, by
" Edward Scott, Moderator T
explosion of gunpowder, in September, 1744. He was a man of strong
intellect and great purity of mind. Copies of his letters to his father,
brothers, and others, in Scotland, show this. He was fond of books and
lovers of books, and, if he could not indulge in paintings, he had on his
walls the best engravings of his day. His son Patrick was a charter mem-
ber of the Redwood Library, and his grandson Sueton Grant Heatly,
entered the service of the East India Company, rose to distinction, and,
in 1797, was appointed Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals at Dacca.
^® ^^ ^,-0 But little more than his name would
(X J ^y ^ have come down to us but for the interest
Jl ^C^O^ . J^^.>^Q<^,^^^i he took in Mary Callender, the daughter
of Rev. John Callender, a young girl just
coming to womanhood when her father died. She had been brought up
a Baptist, and was a member of her father's church. Jacob and his wife,
who were Quakers, were the warm personal friends of Mr. Callender, and
they took Mary, after the death of her father, to their own home, where
she was as a daughter to them. There she became imbued with the tenets
of her Quaker benefactors, joined the Society of Friends, and attained to
prominence as a preacher. Of Jacob, who was said to have been some-
what unique in character, we have this description from Dr. Benj. Water-
house :
" Easy in his circumstances and intellectual in his tastes, he filled up
his liberal leisure in watching the wind, his clock, and his weather-glasses.
At that day he was the only person in Rhode Island who owned a ther-
mometer. When very cold or very warm he was the oracle of the atmos-
phere and of timepieces, for every one had recourse to him as the prime
regulator, and, when passing along to meeting with his uniform step, peo-
ple in his way consulted their clocks and watches without speaking to
him."
Joseph Jacob died February 12, 1778, aged 87.
Of Mary Callender in the home of the Jacobs, we have this pleasant
sketch from the same hand :
"His [Jacobs's] house was the pattern of neatness, order, and quiet,
and a very proper place for the nun-like Mary Callender ; and in this
pleasant greenhouse grew up and prospered that fair lily of Quakerism,
22 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
The original of the above, in the handwriting of Judge Edward
Scott, is in the Archives of the Rhode Island Historical Society.
who sprang originally from a Baptist stock. She was not a cactus grandi-
fior, but the modest lily of the valley, with qualities of the sensitive plant,
and yet she thought it her duty to proclaim in the most public parts of
Newport a mission from heaven. I myself heard her, in the open streets,
call the people to repentance, exclaiming : ' Repent, repent ! for the
kingdom of heaven is at hand.' .... Her second father, by adoption,
the wise and wary Joseph Jacob, had died a few years before and left her
alone, with no other guide than her own enthusiastic feelings operating on
a feeble frame and, one would have supposed, a timid disposition, for
there was no wildness in her manner or anything like rant in her utter-
ance."
" William Ellery was the son of Benjamin Ellery. He served the
colony in various capacities. For several years he was a Deputy, and he
also filled the office of Assistant. In 1 748 he was elected Deputy Governor,
and was re-elected the two following years. Afterwards he was made a
Judge of the Supreme Court. He died March 24, 1764, at the age of
sixty-three years, leaving three sons and two daughters. One of the sons
was Hon. William Ellery, one of the Signers of the Declaration of Inde-
pendence. The following tribute was paid to his memory at the time of
his deatli :
'* On Thursday morning died here the Honorable William Ellery, Esq ,
late Deputy Governor of this colony, in the sixty-third year of his age.
He was initiated into the polite arts and sciences by a liberal education
at Harvard College. He soon became a useful member of the Common-
wealth, and served the Government in many posts of honor and impor-
tance with uprightness and integrity. As a Representative in the General
Assembly for this town, he always acted for its true interest. He dis-
charged the duties of a Judge with uncorrupted and inflexible justice,
mixed with the tenderest compassion, and the offices of a Counsellor and
a Deputy Governor with ability and honor. That part of his time not
spent in the public service was employed in the m.ercantile life, in which,
by his industry and activity in a fair and extensive trade, he served both
himself and the public, and, while he was addmg to his own estate, he
supplied the wants of the industrious poor by a punctual payment for their
services,' judging the honest laborer worthy of his hire. He preserved a
valuable character through life ; was a sociable, cheerful, and affable com-.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 23
^ Henry Collin? was a member of the Society, although his name
panion; a sincere, honest, benevolent, and hospitable friend; a lover of
virtue and mankind ; a warm advocate of civil and religious liberty, and,
though attached to the Congregational way of worship, yet, unbigoted,
he experienced Christian charity to all men ; candid, not rigid, but gen-
erous in his religious sentiments, and was an unsuperstitious worshipper of
the God of heaven.
" The sincere tears of his weeping consort, children, and servants, in
silent but expressive language speak his domestic character. Prompted
by a generous disposition of heart and guided by the principles of right,
he lived virtuously and died an honest man."
John Checkley, Jr., was the son of Rev. John Checkley, who was
known as the representative of the extreme High Church party in Boston
— a man of education and strong will, and a determined advocate of the
principles he avowed. It was not until he had attained to his forty-seventh
year (1727) that he went to England, to enter into Holy Orders, and was
ordained by the Bishop of Exeter. He was already known in America as
a writer on polemics. On his return to America he was sent to Provi-
dence, as missionary to St. John's Church, and preached also at Warwick,
R. I., and Attleborough, Mass., at intervals, up to the time of his pro-
longed illness, which was followed by death, in 1753. John Checkley,
Jr., the subject of this brief sketch, graduated at Harvard in 1738, the
year before the return of his father from England. He studied divinity
with his father, probably in Providence, which would bring him into con-
tact with the literary men of the State, particularly in Newport, where he
became a member of the Philosophical Society. He went to England to
take orders, and died there of small-pox.
^^ Rev. John Adams. In 1725 there was a want of harmony between
the members of the Congregational Church and their pastor. Rev.
Nathaniel Clap, a man eminent for his sanctity, but of marked eccen-
tricities. His people proposed a colleague, to which he would not con-
sent. They persisted, and Rev. John Adams was called as associate ; a
measure that did not calm the troubled waters. He was ordained in April,
1728; on which occasion he preached a sermon suited to the day, in the
24 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY.
does not appear in the above list, and there is good reason for
old meeting-house on Tanner Street, which sermon was printed by James
Franklin. The supporters of Rev. Mr. Clap could not be reconciled, and
they went out and built a new church, the one on Mill Street, which now,
alas, is an auction mart. Mr. Adams remained with his people until
February, 1728-29, when he was succeeded by Rev. James Searing, who
was ordained over the Second Church in 1731. From Newport Rev. Mr.
Adams went to Boston, where he died, January 6, 1755, at the age of
fifty years.
'^^ Rev. Jeremy Condy was of Boston, and it is probable that he was
brought into connection with the Society through his acquaintance with
Rev. John Callender. He graduated at Harvard in 1726, and after
preaching for a number of years, went to England ; returned in 1738, and
was settled over the first Baptist church in Boston in 1739, Rev. John
Callender preaching the ordination sermon,* which sermon was published
"at the desire of the hearers" the same year. In 1764 he resigned his
charge, which he had held twenty-five years, and retired from further
public service. He died in 1768, aged fifty-nine years. He was one of
the petitioners to have Brown University incorporated in 1764. Several
of his sermons were published.
With such a tribute as
that paid by Mr. William E,
Foster, in one of the Rhode
/ "" / ' Island tracts, to the patriot-
' ism, executive ability and
scholarly attainments of Governor Hopkins, one may well hesitate to say
more than that Stephen Hopkins was recognized as one of the ablest
of the learned members of the Philosophical Society. That he was alive
to the advantages it afforded him to meet with men who had had a better
training and discuss with them points raised by their varied reading, we
cannot question; and when Mr. Foster comes to this period in his career
he takes occasion to say : '' As a Representative from Scituate to the Gen-
eral Assembly, he was enabled, from 1731 to 1738, with the exception of
one year, to go regularly to Newport; and there, while attending to his
»t nis sermons were puDiisnea.
* A sermon Preach'd at the Ordination of Mr. Jeremiah Condy, to the pastoral Care
of the Baptist Church in Boston, Feb. 14th, 1738-9, By John Callender, A.M., Pastor of
a Church in Newport, Rhode Island. Published at the desire of his Hearers. 4to, pp.
33. Boston: Printed by S. Kneeland & T. Greene, in Queen Street. MDCCXXXIX,
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, 25
believing, as can here be shown, that Dr. Thomas Moffatt ^ was also
a member.
public duties, find time to enjoy the society of the literary and scientific
founders of the Philosophical Society. This, it must be remembered, was
the Newport of Dean Berkeley and of the genial divines. Rev. Mr. Hony-
man and Rev. Dr. McSparran ; of Smibert the painter, and, a little later,
of the youthful Gilbert Stuart ; of such merchant princes as the Wantons,
the Malbones, Abraham Redwood and Whipple; of such accomplished
historical scholars as Dr. Stiles and John Callender ; and of scientific men
like Joseph and Peter Harrison and Dr. William Hunter."
His epitaph, written by Hon. Asher Robbins, a distinguished citizen
of Newport, who was with him in his last moments, is an epitome of his
life. On one side of the monument there is inscribed :
"Sacred to the memory of the illustrious Stephen Hopkins, of revolu-
tionary fame, attested by his signature to the declaration of our national
Independence. Great in counsel, firm sagacity of mind, magnanimous
in sentiment, firm in purpose, and good as great from benevolence of
heart, he stood in the front rank of statesmen and patriots. Self-edu-
cated, yet among the most learned of men ; his vast treasury of useful
knowledge, his great retentive and reflective powers, combined with his
social nature, made him the most interesting of companions in private
life."
On the reverse :
"His name is engraved on the immortal records of the Revolution,
and can never die. His titles to that distinction are engraved on this
monument, reared by the grateful admiration of his native State, in honor
of her favorite son."
" Rev. Samuel Johnson. The books sent to America in the early
years of the eighteenth century were a mine of wealth to the young men
who were pushing to the front. Samuel Johnson was one of three students
who were so benefited ; the others were Timothy Cutler, who became
President of Yale College, and Daniel Brown, a tutor in the same abode
of learning. "They were intimate friends, of a literary character," says
Hawkins, in his "Historical Notices of the Missions of the Church of
England," "and of an inquiring disposition. At the commencement of
the eighteenth century learning was at a low ebb in New England, and
those who had been educated in traditional hostility to the Church of
England had but little chance of acquiring more correct notions of the
3
26 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY.
subject of the Church government by the study of ecclesiastical history.
But about the year 1714 a library^ containing, besides many vaKiable
books of science, several of the best writers on theology, as Barrow,
Patrick, Louth, Sharp, Whitby and Sherlock, was sent over to the college,
which was then at Saybrook. This importation was as springs of water
in a thirsty land."
Mr. Johnson, fully imbued with what he had read, and intent on enter-
ing the ministry, went to England to be ordained. He returned in 1723,
and was assigned to the mission at Stratford, Conn. There, although
working hard among a people who had to be enlightened in all that related
to the doctrine and discipline of the Episcopal Church, found time to
keep up his study of Hebrew, and to employ his pen vigorously. His
treatises on logic and metaphysics led to his being called to the head of
the college in Philadelphia, a call that he declined ; but two years later,
at the earnest solicitation of his friends, he accepted a like call to King's
College, New York. There he remained for nine years, at the expiration
of which time he returned to his old parish at Stratford, to the great de-
light of his people.
The distance between Stratford and Newport jjrevented Rev. Dr. John-
son from taking an active part in the discussions of the Philosophical
Society, and he was rated an ''occasional member;" a connection that
was evidently agreeable to him. There was a warm tie between the doctor
and Dean Berkeley ; and probably a like tie bound him to other members
of the Society. Before Berkeley returned to England, he visited him at
Whitehall.
Rev. Dr. Johnson was born at Guilford, Conn., October 14, 1696, and
died at Stratford January 6, 1772. Of him it has been said, " he was a
man of great learning, quickness of perception, soundness of judgment
and benevolence."
^^ .*«^ V Henry Collins, the son of
Arnold Collins and Ammi
(Almy) his wife, was born at
Newport, March 25, 1699.
His mother, at the time of
her marriage to his father, was the widow of Thomas Ward and mother
of Richard Ward. She was also the grandmother of Samuel Ward. That
the surroundings of young Collins had much to do with the formation of
his character, and the development of a taste for literature, is apparent ;
for the Wards were men of sterling character, who left their impress on
the affairs of their native State. Richard Ward was Governor of Rhode
Pa ill led by John Sniibert.
'. bbTCKUNST, PHINT.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 27
Island from July 1740 to May 1743 ; while Samuel Ward was twice Gov-
ernor, and was attending the first Continental Congress, 1776, when he
died of small-pox.
Henry Collins was sent to England to perfect his studies, and was there
trained for a mercantile career ; to which he gave such attention as secured
the means, on his return, to indulge a refined taste for literature and the
arts. Dr. Waterhouse has spoken of him as the " Lorenzo de Medici of
Rhode Island ;" and Hon. William Hunter, in his centennial address, said
of him :
" He loved literature and the fine arts ; he had taste ; the sense of the
beautiful in nature, conjoined with the impulse to see it imitated and sur-
passed by art; he was a merchant, enterprising, opulent and liberal.
Smibert, who is noticed by Horace Walpole, in his anecdotes of early
English painters and engravers, was the father of true painting in this
country Collins was fortunate enough to engage his earliest labors ;
not his own portrait only, but likewise those of the venerable Clap, and
the worthy and pious Callender, and above all, of Berkeley himself."
Robert Feke and Alexander were also employed by Mr. Collins to paint
the portraits of some of his cotemporaries.
It was Mr. Collins, when the project of founding a public library in
Newport was stimulated by a gift of money from Abraham Redwood, who
offered and gave the lot of land on which the library edifice now stands.
He was also public-spirited in other ways, — in aiding in building the
Long Wharf (then known as the Town Wharf), the granary, and the
Seventh-Day Baptist Church ; of which Society he and the Wards were
active members. Later in life he was greatly embarrassed. His liber-
ality had led to a considerable diminution of his fortune, followed by
ruinous losses under the admiralty rule of 1756, which broke him down
financially, and he died, about 1770, under the roof of Ebenezer Flagg,
his former partner, with whom he had been in business under the firm
name of Collins & Flagg. His house on Washington Street was taken
possession of by George Rome, agent of his creditors, and appropriated
to his own use ; and was finally confiscated as the property of Rome, who
was a loyalist. Mr. Collins never married.
^* yj It is remarkable how long a man whose
^^I^P^OlS /rPii^/Y^r;^/^ "^^^^^ is entitled to some degree of promi-
l// nence, maybe passed by until some event
of moment draws attention to him. Dr.
Thomas Moffatt had resided in Newport a score of years before anything
was heard of him. Dr. Benjamin Waterhouse first speaks of him in con-
28 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
nection with an effort to introduce the manufacture of snuff in America.
He observes :
'' Between the years 1746 and 1750 there came over from Great Britain
to the English colonies a number of Scotch gentlemen. Some settled in
Philadelphia, some in Perth Amboy, some in New York, but the greater
part sat down in that pleasant and healthy spot, Rhode Island, called by
the first historiographer, Callender, the 'Garden of America.' Several of
the emigrants were professional men. Amo^g them was Dr. Thomas
Moffatt, a learned physician of the Boerhaavean school; but, however
learned, his dress and manners were so ill suited to the plainness of the
inhabitants of Rhode Island, who were principally Quakers, that he could
not make his way among them as a practitioner, and he looked around for
some other mode of subsistence. He hit upon that of making snuff to
supply the place of the great quantities that were every year imported
from Glasgow ; but he could find no man in thecountry who, he thought,
was able to make him a snuff-mill. He, therefore, wrote to Scotland and
obtained a competent millwright by the name of Gil|3ert Stewart."
The project was successful until, for want of a sufficient quantity of
bottles, resort was had to bladders in which to pack the snufi".
We next find Dr. Moffatt's name enrolled as one of the charter mem-
bers of the Redwood Library, 1747, and, later, in connection with the
odious Stamp Act, which, as an officer of the Crown, he attempted, with
4iis associates in office, to enforce — an effort that resulted in his having to
seek shelter in the house of Quaker Tom Robinson, on the Point ; and
from there, with the aid of Mr. and Mrs. Robinson, he escaped to one of
the British ships in the harbor. With the above, and a few details con-
nected with the last event, we have had to be content. But in my search '
in the Library I found the following obituary in the Gentleman' s Maga-
zine; and then, a little later, a notice of the sermon preached at his funeral ;
the latter confirming the statement that Dr. Moffatt essayed to come to
America with Dean Berkeley, and did follow him the following year,
1729.
" In consequence of old age and a paralytic stroke, at Grosvenor Place,
Pimlico, Thomas Moffatt, M.D., a native of North Britain, and lately
His Majesty's Comptroller at New London, in Connecticut. Dr. Moffatt
went to America in 1729, under the patronage of the famous Bishop
Berkeley, and was amply rewarded for his classical knowledge and polite
literature, planted in a fertile soil by the University of Edinburgh. The
Doctor was ever loyal to the House of Hanover and faithful to the British
Government ; and oftentimes in perils amongst false brethren, on account
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 29
of those virtues, rare in New England. In 1765 his house and goods at
Newport, Rhode Island, were destroyed by the mob, in derision of the
Stamp Act; of which abuse the Doctor complained, and the Minister
ordered the Governor and General Assembly of Rhode Island to pay him
;,{^iooo sterling for the damage done by the mobs. However, the Gen-
eral Assembly ordered the Treasurer to pay him ;^i5o currency; but the
Doctor could never recover even that sum from an empty treasury, and
'so they wrapt it up.' In 1775, after sundry insults offered him by the
Americans, headed by Governor Trumbull (since created LL.D. of Edin-
burgh, by the courtesy of the Rev. Dr. Robertson), Dr. Moffatt, for per-
sonal safety, fled to the royal banner supported by General Gage, then at
B.)ston, and left his property to the mercy of an ungrateful foe, who pur-
loined his goods, confiscated his real estate, and proscribed his person.
But on his arrival in England his sovereign remembered his services, his
loyalty, and integrity, and most graciously allowed him a pension oi ^200
per annum. His remains were interred on the 21st inst., in the new
burying-ground belonging to St. George's, Hanover Square. On his
gravestone is written :
'* ' Here is laid Thomas Moffatt, M.D., 21 March, 1787 : who left his
gratitude to the King and British Nation, his prayers to the Loyalists, and
pardon to the Rebels of America.' "
The above is at variance with the received opinion, that Dr. Moffatt
came to America only about the year 1747, but is confirmed by the fol-
lowing notice of his funeral sermon :
'■'■A Sermon preached at Charlotte Chapel, Pimlico, on Sunday, the
^25th day of March, 1787, on the death of Thomas Moffatt, M.D., late of
New London, in Connecticut, who died at Grosvenor Place, in the Parish
of St. George, Hanover Square, March 14, 1787, in the eighty-seventh year
of his age. By Samuel Peters, A.M. 4/^."
The discourse is inscribed to General Gage, and contains an address to
the American Loyalists. It has the following preface :
*' It [the sermon] was composed, preached, and printed in compliment
to some friends and acquaintances of the late Dr. Thomas Moffatt, M.D.,
who went from Edinburgh to North America in the year 1729, but would
have gone the year before, in the train of- Dean Berkeley, afterwards Lord
Bishop of Cloyne, in the kingdom of Ireland, had not sickness prevented.
This trait in the early part of life substantiates the great abilities and the
literary merits of Dr. Moffatt, more than ninety-nine diplomas of less
ancient date from universities in Europe or America. The author has
known Dr. Moffatt nearly forty years, and was known to him as soon as
so ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
born. He justly owed great veneration to the Doctor in his lifetime, and
most freely paid this last office of respect to his memory."
I have thought that the above interesting facts should not be passed
unnoticed, and have, therefore, introduced them here. There is only one
mention of Dr. Moffatt's name in connection with the Library, and that
is worthy of record.
In the first of the four folio volumes of '' Richard Baxter's Practical
Works," there is inscribed:
'' We, being sensible of the declension of these days, and earnestly de-
sirous to revive true and primitive religion, have contributed and advanced
the underwritten sums to Mr. Samuel Vernon, to purchase the works of the
venerable Mr. Richard Baxter, with which we shall endow the Redwood
Library :
"Jacob Hasey, ^Z\ Robert Stevens, £,\\ Samuel Vernon, ;£^4;
:, ;£^3.4.6 ; Joshua Sayer, ^5 ; Thomas Mofiatt, ^4 ; Eleazer Tre-
vett, ;£2i '-> ' ? ;^3-io.o; Nathaniel Sweeting, j[^2 ; Jonathan Thurs-
ton, i^3-5-o-— ^40.
" Newport, R. I., July 24th, 1749.
In each volume there is inscribed, in a fiill, clear hand : '' Given to the
Redwood Library by Messrs. Thomas Moffatt, Samuel Vernon, and others,
May, 1750-"
From the above facts, we can hardly but believe that Dr. Moffatt took
part in the discussions of the Philosophical Society, although his name
does not appear in the list of members. '
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
31
CHAPTER II.
1 747- 1 765.
T a Meeting of the Company of the Red-
wood Library, in the Council Chamber at
Newport, the last Wednesday of Septem-
ber, A. D. 1747, this being the first meeting
of the Company since its Incorporation,
the Charter was pubhcly read, as follows :
COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND, Etc.
By the Honorable the Governor and Company of the English Colony of Rhode
Island and Providence Plantations, in New England in America, in General As-
sembly met at Newport, within and for the Colony aforesaid, on the third Tuesday
in August, one thousand seven hundred and forty-seven :
To all to whom these pi'esents shall come. Greeting.
Whereas, Abraham Redwood, Esquire, hath generously en-
gaged to bestow five hundred pounds sterling, to be laid out in a
collection of useful books suitable for a Public Library proposed to
be erected in Newport aforesaid, and, having nothing in view but
the good of mankind, hath chosen to make his donation as lasting
and diffusive as possible ; to which end, James Honyman and
others have been invited to join him, and, so far as in them lies, to
form a Society, or Company, for the propagating virtue, knowledge,
and useful learning ; which they have accordingly done, etc. : where-
upon the said Society have made application to this Assembly for
a charter of incorporation, who, highly approving of 50 noble and
generous design, and being willing and desirous to give all the
assistance and encouragement which it justly merits, have given,
32 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
and by these presents the said Governor and Company do, for
themselves and their successors, give and grant, that the said
Abraham Redwood, James Honyman, and others, and all others
that shall be by them admitted members of their Company, be, and
they are hereby constituted, erected, and made a body politic and
corporate, to subsist, at all times for ever hereafter, in deed and
name, by the name of The Company of the Redwood Library;
and, by the same name, shall and may have perpetual succession,
and be personable and taxable in law ; to have, hold, receive, and
enjoy lands, tenements, rents, liberties, franchises, and heredita-
ments, in fee-simple, or for term of life, lives, years, or otherwise ;
and also goods, chattels, and other things, of what nature, kind,
or quality soever ; and also to give, grant, let, sell, or assign the
same lands, tenements, hereditaments, goods, and chattels ; and to
do and execute all other things about the same by the name afore-
said. And also that they and their successors, by the name of the
Company of the Redwood Library, be, and shall be for ever here-
after, a company of persons able and liable to sue and be sued,
plead and be impleaded, answer and be answered unto, defend and
be defended against, in all or any of the courts of law or other
places, and before any judges, justices, and other persons whatso-
ever, in all manner of actions, suits, complaints, pleas, causes, and
matters of every kind and nature whatsoever. And that it shall
and may be lawful to and for the said Company of the Redwood
Library, and successors, for ever hereafter to have one common seal
for their use in their affairs ; and the same, at their will and pleasure,
to change and alter. And, for the well-governing and ordering
their affairs, the Governor and Company of the Colony aforesaid do
hereby further grant, that it shall and may be lawful for the said
Company and their successors to assemble and meet together on
the last Wednesday in September in every year, and at such other
times as they shall think convenient, at their Library or any other
suitable place in the town of Newport ; due and public notice being
given at least five days before the times of such meetings, not only
of the day, hour, and place of such meeting, but of the cause thereof,
and of the matters to be transacted therein. And that the said
Company, or one-fourth part of them at least, in person, or by
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 33
proxy duly constituted in writing, shall have full power and au-
thority, from time to time, to make constitute, and establish such
laws, statutes, orders, and constitutions as shall appear to them, or
the major part of them, to be good and useful, honest and neces-
sary, for the government, regulation, and direction of the Company,
and every member thereof; and for the appointing and regulating
the election or nomination of Directors, a Treasurer, Librarian, Sec-
retary, and such and so many other officers as they may think fit,
and for limiting and appointing their trust and authority ; and for
the admitting new members ; and to do all things concerning the
government, estates, goods, lands, and revenues, and also all the
business and affairs, of the said Company. All which laws, statutes,
orders and constitutions, so to be made as aforesaid, shall be bind-
ing on every member, and to be from time to time inviolably ob-
serv^ed according to the tenor and effect of them, provided that they
be not repugnant to the law of England or of the Colony. And
now, and that the intent hereof may prove more effectual, and in-
flame the worthy zeal of the Company, Gideon Wanton, Esq.,
Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Colony afore-
said, doth, by the direction of the said Assembly, subscribe his
name, and cause the seal of the said Colony to be affixed hereunto,
the twenty-fourth day of August, in the twenty-fourth year of the
reign of his most sacred Majesty George the Second, by the grace
of God, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, Defender of the
Faith, etc.
(Signed) Gideon Wanton.
(Sealed with the Seal of the Colony.)
By order of his Honor the Governor,
(Signed) Thomas Ward, Secretary.
It is agreed by the Company that the directors shall be eight in
number, and any five of them constitute a quorum.
This day being the anniversary for electing directors, etc., accord-
ing to the Company's charter, the following gentlemen were chosen
to the respective offices ascribed to their names :
Directors for the Year Ensuing. — Abraham Redwood, Esq., The
34 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
Rev. Mr. James Honynian, The Rev. Mr. Callender, Mr. Henry
Collins, Edward Scott, Esq., Samuel Wickham, Esq., Capt. John
Tillinghast, Peter ^ours, Esq.
Treasurer. — Capt. Joseph Jacob.
Librarimi. — Edward Scott, Esq.
Secretary. — Thomas Ward, Esq.
The Company agreed to meet again the 7th of October next, at
three o'clock, afternoon.
October 7, T747. The Company met in the Council Chamber
according to adjournment, and Messrs. Abraham Redwood, Edward
Scott, Joseph Harrison, Joseph Jacob, Samuel Rodman, Henry Col-
lins, John Tillinghast and Peter Bours were appointed a committee
to collect contributions for building the Library.
November 4, 1747. The Company met in the Council Chamber
according to adjournment.
Messrs. Gideon Wanton, Joseph Wanton, Joseph Whipple, Junr.,
William Ellery, Walter Chaloner, Jonathan Thurston, Samuel
Holmes, Godfrey Malbone, Junr., Charles Bowler, Gideon Cornell,
Robert Crooke, John Collins, John Dennis, Abraham Hart, Matthew
Robinson, William Dunbar, John Chaloner and John Jepson were
unanimously admitted members of the Company.
As there is upwards of ^^5000 subscribed for erecting a Library
wherein to deposit Mr. Redwood's donation, the directors, or any
two of thefn, are desired to wait on that gentleman for bills of ex-
change to purchase the books withall.^"
"^ No mention is made in the records of the gift of the land on which
the building was erected, from Henry Collins ; the lesser gift being wholly
eclipsed by the weightier one from Mr. Redwood. But the fact that the
lot, then known as Bowling Green, was so given, has been properly noted
on the tablet on the walls of the Library. Some years ago a copy of the
deed was entered upon the records in the city clerk's office, see appendix,
but the original is not in the Library.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 35
Agreed that the directors shall draw up a catalogue of books
such as they shall think will best answer the ends of the foun-
dation, and present the same to the Company at their next meet-
ing.''*^
The directors are hereby desired to procure forthwith all mate-
rials necessary for building the Library ; and that they may be
enabled so to do, one of them at a time is desired to go with the
Treasurer to the several subscribers, in order to collect the sev^eral
sums which the gentlemen have set against their names.
July 4, 1748. At a meeting of a quorum of the Company in the
Council Chamber, in consequence of a notification from the Secre-
tary, made by order of the directors ; the directors produced the
catalogue of books proposed to be bought for the Company, which
being read was approved ; but it appearing that five hundred pounds
sterling will not purchase so many books, the directors are. therefore
desired to retrench their catalogue, and send it home as soon
as possible, with Mr. Redwood's bill of exchange, to Mr. Thom-
linson.
Capt. Joseph Harrison is chosen director in the room of the late
Mr. Callender.
Agreed that the directors, or any three of them, be and they are
hereby fully authorized and impowered to contract with and employ
such workmen as they shall please to go on and build the Library ;
and that for the payment of those workmen they, or any three of
them, are hereby fully authorized and impowered to draw money
"^ One copy of the catalogue of the books purchased, and only one, is
known to exist, and as it cannot fail to interest the reader to know what
books were thought most fitting to form the nucleus of such a library, a
place has been assigned it in the appendix. With it there is an interesting
list of books, with the names of the donors, as far as known, given at that
early period in the history of the Library.
36 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
out of the Company's treasury to pay ye workmen.^^ [For build-
ing contract, see Appendix.]
" The Redwood Library building is a notable specimen of the archi-
tectural taste of the early eighteenth century ; a period rich in the achieve-
ments of English architects of the school of Sir Christopher Wren, and,
later, of those of Sir William Chambers and Sir John Vanbrugh.
Among the few trained architects who found their way to the colonies
in the early years of the century, the name of Peter Harrison stands out
in strong relief. Of his early life we know but little. Tradition says he
was a pupil of Vanbrugh, and assisted him in the erection of Blenheim
palace. However this may be, we have evidence in the Redwood
Library, City Hall, and Jews' synagogue at Newport, that he was an edu-
cated architect of the school of Vanbrugh and Chambers, and not simply
a carpenter with a smattering of professional knowledge. This was de-
monstrated to the writer while making measurements of the Library build-
ing, preparatory to the erection of the eastern section, in 1875. These
measurements, numerous and accurate, proved that the building erected
by Harrison was most carefully planned and studied ; its proportions, de-
tails, columns, etc., being in strict accord with the rules of classic archi-
tecture, as set forth by the authorities most followed in the eighteenth cen-
tury— Vignola and Alberti.
As originally designed, it was in effect a Roman temple of the Doric
order ; and it stands to-day, as it stood when it came from the builder's
hands in 1750; the changes being confined to additions to the building,
in the rear, and not to any disturbance of the original plan. The pedi-
ment on the front is, as then, supported by four columns beautifully curved
in perfect entasis — the columns without fiutings and the pediment without
ornaments or sculpture. On each side of the front there was a small room
— wings — slightly receding from the west front, their roofs forming half
gables. The east front was rich in detail ; it had a pediment, as on the
west, while the wall was broken by three finely-arched windows, enriched
with columns, imposts, and transoms, in Roman Ionic; the whole of
wood, standing upon a rusticated basement of Connecticut brownstone,
with broad steps and buttresses of the same material. The walls of the
building, from the base course to the under side of architrave, is rustic
work.
In 1858 the building was enlarged from designs of George Snell, a
Boston architect of high and deserved repute, who entered upon the work
a
0
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 37
At a meeting of the Company of the Redwood Library in the
Council Chamber at Newport, the last Wednesday in September,
A.D. 1748.
This being the anniversary day for electing Directors, etc., accord-
ing to the Company's Charter, the following gentlemen were chosen
to the respective offices ascribed to their names :
Directors for the Year, Ensuing. — Abraham Redwood, Esq., The
Rev. Mr. Jas. Honyman, Mr. Henry Collins, Samuel Wickham,
Esq., Capt. Jno. Tillinghast, Peter Bours, Esq., Capt. Joseph Harri-
son, The Rev. Mr. James Searing.
Treasurer. — Capt. Joseph Jacob.
Librarian. — Edward Scott, Esq.
Secretary. — Thomas Ward.
Capt. George Wanton, Mr. Joseph Rhodes, Capt. Henry Taggart,
with a feeling of sincere respect for the design of his predecessor, and
conscientiously followed the original treatment. He added a large room
on the east (the present reading-room), properly proportioned to the
Harrison building ; carefully removed the east front and reset it as the
south front of the new part, adding a like front on the north. The two
wings on the sides of the old building were extended, one on each side,
to the new part, and so skillfully done that the mass, when completed,
made a most pleasing and harmonious whole.
In 1875 ^^''^ Library building was further enlarged, from designs and
under the care, of the writer, who, left all the work of Harrison and Snell
intact, and erected a large cruciform building, — a large domed room in
the centre, with wings north and south, — the north front of Berea stone
and the rest of brick. The proportions and details of the old work were
carefully followed, and, to gain the needed additional height, a plain attic
was given above the entablature of the main building.
The shingles on the original building and the Snell addition gave way
to slate. No change has since been made in the edifice, but the interior
has been greatly improved, particularly in the provision for books, the
building of the " Alexander Mercer King Memorial Gallery," and enrich-
ing the walls with pleasing and harmonious colors.
38 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
Capt. Isaac Stelle, The Rev. Mr. Jeremiah Learning, were unani-
mously admitted members of the Company.
The last Wednesday in September, 1749. This being anniver-
sary day for electing Directors, etc., the following gentlemen were
re-elected. [Here follows the names of all the officers re-elected.]
John Thomlinson, of London, Eng. ; Stephen Greenleaf, of Bos-
ton, New England ; Moses Lopez, John Tweedy, John Belitho,
James Duncan, Rowel Potter, Simon Rhodes, William Richards,
John Eldred, Thomas Coggeshall, John Bennett, mariner ; George
Gibbs, Joseph Wilson, Junr., Robert Stevens, Peleg Thurston, Stephen
Ayrault, Philip Wanton, William Stoddard, Paris Hendren, Wm.
Bennett, Junr., and William Pinnegar, were unanimously admitted
members of the Company.
N. B. — John ThomHnson, Esq., an Honorary Member.
Daniel Updike, Esq., James Honyman, Junr., Thomas Ward and
Mr. Matthew Robinson are appointed and requested to draw up a
Body of Laws for the Regulation of this Company, and present the
same to the Directors.
Capt. Benjamin Wickham and Capt. Wm. Paul are appointed to
collect the sums subscribed for building the Library House, and
pay the same into the Treasury.
March 15, 1750. At a meeting of the Company of the Redwood
Library, the Body of Laws drawn up by the Directors and pre-
sented to this meeting, was voted and agreed to, viz. :
" The Generous Mr. Abraham Redwood, of Newport, on Rhode
Island, sensible of the distinguished favour whereby Heaven had
bless'd him with an ample fortune, proposed to acknowledge it by a
design which could be only the genuine effect of a gratefull mind,
the improving the place of his residence in knowledge and virtue,
that from the Inhabitants some Revenue of honour might return
and be paid to the Donor of all mercies.
" To accomplish this happy end, he freely and without a prompter,
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, 39
devoted and paid down Five Hundred pounds Sterling, for purchas-
ing a Library of all arts and sciences, put under the most prudent
Limitation and Restriction, whereunto the curious and impatient
inquirer after resolution of doubts, and the bewildered ignorant
might freely repair for discovery and demonstration to the one, and
true knowledge and satisfaction to the other, nay to inform the
mind in both, in order to reform the practice. Now to conduct
this design to the best advantage, he proposed to form a Company
of some of the best repute and character, who might join in con-
sultation upon the most suitable method to bring so important a
project to a happy issue. And those Gentlemen, seeing the bene-
ficial consequences that would accrue, not only to the Town, but
the confines around, in diffusing light and truth to places far and
wide, came readily into the proposal, and well knowing that nothing
of that nature can be carried on, without method and order, nor any
society subsist without agreeing to some rules, whereunto every one
in turn must submit, they obtained from the Government a Charter,
by which they are incorporated and impowered, in a social capacity
to name their Laws, and in consequence thereof do Vote and agree
to the following :
" First. That every member shall in person, or by proxy, meet
annually at the Redwood Library, at ten o'clock in the forenoon on
every last Wednesday in September, where and when for managing
the affairs of the Library with the greatest ease and dispatch, they
shall choose eight Directors, a Treasurer, a Secretary and a Libra-
rian, of which Directors five to be a quorum, who may make, alter
or add to the laws with the approbation of the Company, which
Directors are to meet on the first Monday of every month at three
o'clock in the afternoon ; which Treasurer shall receive such monies
as may be given or become due to the Company, disburse them by
order of the Directors, with whom he shall account every quarter,
if required ; which Secretary shall keep fair and exact records of
the Directors' and Company's transactions, take care of the charter,
and keep it safe from accidents and injuries; and which Librarian
shall attend the service of the Library and at it from three o'clock
to five in the afternoon of every Thursday.
" Secondly. That in the election of these officers, as in all other
40 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
transactions of the Company, every member shall have a single vote
and no more.
** Thirdly. That any member may borrow any one, and but one
book at one time, and for one month, or less, at any of the Libra-
rian's hours, on his attending days, giving a note to the Librarian
to the value of the book fixed in the Catalogue as security for its
being returned in the same good condition, whereof he is to be
judge, which book shall neither be sent nor lent out of the Colony,
at the forfeiture of the borrower's interest in ye library.
" Fourthly. That any person not a member may borrow for the
same time, first signing a receipt for said book, or depositing the
sum set against it in the Catalogue (as a security for its being re-
turned in the same good condition, whereof the Librarian is to be
the judge), and also for the hire thereof, which shall be per week at
the following rates, viz. : For folios, five shillings ; quartos, four
shillings ; octavos, three shillings ; and all of a smaller size two
shillings, which money shall be disposed of as the Company shall
direct ; such book not to be carried out of the town of Newport on
the penalty of forfeiting the deposit money, and of being excluded
from the like privilege for the future.
" Fifthly. That every borrower who keeps a book beyond the time
limited in his note or receipt, may return it on either of the two
next succeeding attending days, paying double hire for every week's
neglect, which, not being done, the note or deposit money is to be
deemed forfeit.
" Sixthly. That all books returned shall be delivered to the Libra-
rian, to be by him examined whether damaged, and if so, the bor-
rower's note or money shall not be delivered till restitution made
to the Librarian, of which he shall be judge, which, if not sub-
mitted to by said borrower, then to be determined by any three of
the Directors within one month after.
" Seventhly. That no borrower from whom any fine or forfeiture
shall be due, or who shall have damaged any book, shall be per-
mitted to borrow another book until satisfaction be made.
'^Eighthly. It is allowed by Mr. Redwood, the founder, and agreed
to by the Directors and Company, that every member who has or
shall contribute to the value of fifty pounds, have an equal right
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 41
and property in the books, house and lands thereunto belonging, to '
be held forever in common, and not subject to partition, and in that
manner to descend to their heirs as an estate of inheritance, and to
be assignable to such only as the Company approve of, and that
such members as have not contributed the sum aforesaid shall not
have the privilege of assigning their right ; neither shall it descend
to their heirs, but their property therein shall, at their decease,
revert to the Company.
" Ninthly. That the Directors shall appoint a committee of the
members within a month's time before the annual meeting of the
Company, to examine the books and compare them with the cata-
logue, and report if any are missing.
" Tcnthly. That, no borrower shall lend a book to any person
whatever on the penalty of forfeiting the sum set against the book
in the catalogue.
''Lastly. That for discharging officers' salaries, unforeseen inci-
dental charges, and unavoidable repairs, every member shall pay at
every annual meeting of the Company, at the Library, twenty shil-
lings, on the penalty of being excluded the privilege of borrowing
any book until he complies thercAvith."
Joseph Whipple, Junr., Esq., and Mr. Josias Lyndon are ap-
pointed to audit the Treasurer's acct's, and make report to the next
meeting.
The Librarian, Joseph Whipple, Junr., Esq., and Josias Lyndon
are appointed to agree with the Printer to print a Thousand blank
notes and Receipts for the Borrowers to sign.
September 26, 1750. The following gentlemen were chosen to
the respective offices ascribed to their names.
Directors for the Year Ensuing. — Abraham Redwood, Esq., Mr.
Henry Collins, Rev. Mr. James. Searing, Samuel Wickham, Esq.,
Mr. John Tillinghast, Peter Bours, Esq., Capt. Joseph Harrison,^
Edward Scott, Esq.
2^ Joseph Harrison was the brother of Peter Harrison, the archaect of
4
42 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
Secretary. — Thomas Ward, Esq.
Treasurer. — Capt. William Paul.
Librarian. — Dr. Thomas Moffatt.
Voted : Mr. Edward Upham admitted an Honorary Member of
this Company.
Voted : That the Treasurer wait upon the delinquent subscribers,
and upon their refusing or neglecting to pay their subscriptions,
that he commence an action against each of them at the next No-
vember Court.
Voted: That Mr. Henry Collins and Edward Scott, Esq., be re-
quested to procure subscriptions sufficient to complete the building
of the Library'.
December 28, 1 750. Voted : That the Company be equally taxed
the sum of twelve hundred pounds for finishing the Library house,
and that Capt. Solomon Townsend and Mr. John Chaloner be ap-
pointed to collect the same as soon as conveniently may be.
September, 175 1. At the annual meeting the officers of the
Company were re-elected, with one vacancy — that of Librarian.
Benjamin Sherburne, Silas Cooke, David Melvill, Robert Stod-
dard, Solomon Townsend, Charles Bardin, James Hamdan, Evan
Malbone, and John Banister were admitted members.
September 22, 1852. The old officers were re-elected, with Mar-
tin Howard, Jr., as Librarian, to fill the vacancy caused by the re-
tiring of Dr. Thomas Moffatt.^
the Library building. They were both members of the " Hand and
Heart Fire Club" of 1749. Joseph was more identified with Newport
than Peter, whose profession as an architect, frequently called him to
Boston and New Haven.
■^ At that time Dr. Moffatt, the Librarian, was taken up with his snuff-
mill project, in Narragansett, and it does not appear that the vacancy was
filled until the following year, when Martin Howard, Jr., was elected '\\\
his place.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 43
Voted : That Rev. Mr. John Beach,^° and Mr. Nicholas Eyres'^ be
admitted Honorary Members.
Voted : That Francis Willet'*^ and Christopher Waterman be ad-
mitted members of this Society.
Voted : That such members of the Society as shall refuse or
neglect to pay their proportion of any sums already voted to be
paid to the use of the Library within one week from the day, or
shall neglect paying their proportion of any sum or sums that shall
hereafter be voted to be paid for the use aforesaid within three
months from the date of such vote, he or they shall absolutely be
refused by the Librarian for the time being, the liberty of having
^" Rev. John Beach was sent by the congregation of Trinity Church,
Newport, to England, in 1731,10 take Holy Orders; returned the follow-
ing year and entered upon missionary labors at Newton, Conn., where he
was a preacher up to the time of his death, in 1782. In August of the
above year, 1752, he declined a call to Trinity Church, on account of
continued ill health, and the Rev. Thomas Pollen, whose name will ap-
pear in these pages in connection with the Library, was sent in his stead
by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts.
^^ Rev. Nicholas Eyres was born at Chipmanslade, England, August
22, 1691, came to America and settled in New York in 1715, removed to
Newport in 1731 and became the pastor of the Second Baptist Church,
and died here, February 13, 1759, ^f^^^* having been settled over the
church a period of twenty-seven years. On his tombstone in the common
burying-ground there is a monument erected to his memory by the Baptist
Society, on which there is a long epitaph, which closes with these words :
*' This stone transmits the memory of one who shall shine as ye bright-
ness of ye Firmament and as the Stars for ever and ever."
^'^ Col. Francis Willet was the son of Thomas Willet, who was the first
Mayor of New York. He died February 6, 1776, aged eighty-three years,
and was buried on his own estate in Narragansett. Wilkins Updike said
of him : " He was educated a merchant, but did pursue commerce. He
had a good genius, and was a man of much reading and information ; and
settling himself on his paternal estate, being very opulent, he lived the
life of a private gentlemen. He was hospitable and generous, of excellent
morals, and a very estimable an4 highly respected character,"
44 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY, .
any book out of the Library until they pay up what they severally
owe.
September 26, 1753. The following officers were elected:
Chosen Directors for the Year. — Abraham Redwood, Esq., Mr.
Henry Collins, John Tillinghast, Esq., Revd. Mr. James Searing,
Peter Bours, Esq., Edward Scott, Esq., Mr. Joseph Harrison, Dr.
Thomas Moffatt.
Secretary. — Mr. Thomas Vernon.
Librarian. — Mr. Martin Howard, Jr.
Treasurer. — Mr. William Paul.
Voted : That Mr. Thomas Vernon be admitted a member oi this
Society in the room of Capt. Joseph Phillips, said T. Vernon having
a conveyance of said right from J. Phillips, and that he wait on
Thomas Ward, Esq., the late Secretary, and desire him to deliver
to said Tho. Vernon the charter, and all the laws, papers, etc., be-
longing to the Redwood Library.
Voted : That the Directors for the time being (or a major part of
them) be a standing committee to adjust and settle all accompts
relating to the Library.
Voted : That Mr. Thomas Malbone be admitted a member, pay-
ing sixty-two pounds to the Treasurer.^
September 25, 1754. The Directors were re-elected, with Mr.
Thomas Vernon Secretary.
Mr. Martin Howard, Junr., Librarian.
Mr. William Paul, Treasurer.
Voted: That Mr. Henry Ward be admitted upon his paying
sixty-two pounds.
Voted : That Mr. Martin Howard be admitted a member of the
Society.
Voted : Tha:t Mr. Francis Honyman be admitted in the right of
his father [Revd. James Honyman} upon Mr. James Honyman con-
veying the said right of his father to him.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 45
Voted : That the Revd. Mr. Thomas Pollen be admitted an hon-
orary member.
Voted : That in the absence of the Librarian, any officer of the
Society hath Hberty to wait on any gentleman, with the key, to
view the Libraiy, but that no books be delivered but on Library
day.
September, 1755. At the annual meeting, Edward Scott, Esq.,
was chosen Moderator,
No change was made in the officers of the Company other than
the election of David Chesebrough as Director, in place of Revd.
Mr. Searing, deceased, and Revd. Mr. Jeremiah Leaming,^^ Libra-
rian, in place of Martin Howard,^* Junr.
The Revd. Ezra Stiles was admitted an honorary member.
^ Revd. Jeremiah Learning served as Librarian for only one year. He
had been sent to England to take Orders, in 1748, and, on his return
was made Assistant Minister of Trinity Church, Newport, under Revd.
James Hon y man. He resided in Newport eight years, then removed to
Connecticut, where he was the minister of the church at Norwalk for
twenty-one years, and he then had charge of the church at Stratford for
eight or nine years. He was thought worthy to be the first American
Bishop, an honor he felt bound to decline, owing to a bodily infirmity
caused by imprisonment for his Tory sentiment in the Revolution. He
died at New Haven, September 15, 1804. A number of his works were
published, but there are none of them in the Library.
^* Martin Howard, Junr., the retiring Librarian, who studied law under
James Honyman, was residing in Narragansett in 1749, but he subse-
quently made his home at Newport, where his father had been admitted
a freeman in 1726. A good deal of prominence was given to him in
connection with the Stamp Act, he, with Dr. Thomas Moffatt and Augus-
tus Johnston, having taken office under that odious measure. For their
allegiance to the Crown they suffered at the hands of a mob, and were
forced to seek shelter on board of one of the King's ships in the harbor.
An appointment was subsequently given him — that of Chief Justice of
North Carolina. In 1778 he went to England, and died at Chelsea,
March 9, 1782.
46 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
Capt. Joseph Bull produced a conveyance of the right in the
Library of Doctor Walter Rodman,^ deceased, made to him by
Joseph Rodman, heir-at-law of said Walter, which is approved of,
and the said Joseph Bull is therefore voted a member.
September 29, 1756. John Gardner, Esq., was chosen Mod-
erator.
The Directors were re-elected. Mr. Thomas Vernon was chosen
Secretary, Rev. Mr. Ezra Stiles Librarian, and Capt. William Paul
Treasurer.
Voted : That Capt. Daniel Ayrault, Capt. Thomas Wickham and
Capt. Charles Bardin be a committee to audit the Treasurer's and
Librarian's accounts ; and Edward Scott, Esq., Capt. Charles
Bardin and Mr. Martin Howard w^ere to take an account of the
books.
Voted : That Thomas Vernon ^^ and Charles Bardin be appointed
to collect the arrears due from the Company, agreeable to the last
^^ rioctor Walter Rodman, son of Doctor Charles Rodman, was born
at Newport, August 13, 1719, and died at Jamestown, July 20, 1753, aged
thirty-four years. His wife, Rebecca Redwood, sister of Abraham Red-
wood, after her husband's death (by whom she had no children) married
Joseph Clarke, who was the Treasurer of the Colony and the State from
1761 to 1792. Dr. Rodman came of a family of physicians who practiced
successfully in Rhode Island for many years.
^ Thomas Vernon was the son of Samuel Vernon and grandson of
Daniel Vernon. He was born May 31, 1718, and died without issue in
1784. His wife, Jane Brown, was the daughter of Capt. John Brown.
She died April 28, 1765, aged forty-three years, and May 20, 1766, he
married Mary Mears, who died in August, 1787. Mr. Vernon was at one
time engaged in business in Newport. He was the Royal Postmaster from
1745 to 1755. For twenty years he was Registrar of the' Court of Vice-
Admiralty. For his loyalty to the King he suffered much, and was im-
prisoned. During his captivity he kept a journal, now in the archives of
the Newport Historical Society, and which has been published in the
Newport IListorical Magazine.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 47
article of the laws, which money is to be applied for making a
fence, etc.
October 14, 1756. Mr. Thomas Rowland, of Tiverton, appeared
at the Library, and produced a conveyance from the hand and seal
of Abram Borden of his right in the Library. Present, Edward
Scott, Esq.
September 28, 1757. No change was made in the officers of the
Library.
Mr. Solomon Townsend was to collect the arrearage due from
the Company, and pay said money into the hands of the Libra-
rian.
September 27, 1758. Annual meeting. Peter Bours, Esq., chosen
Moderator.
The officers were all re-elected.
Voted: That Jacob Rodriguez Rivera ^^ be admitted a member of
this Society in the room of Mr. Moses Lopez.
" Jacob Rodriguez Rivera was a merchant largely engaged in the manu-
facture of spermaceti in connection with other industries. He was known
as "the honest man," so correct was he in all his -dealings. A series of
losses forced him to stop payment. As soon as this was known in England,
the merchants there with whom he traded sent him word that their con-
fidence in him was unimpaired, and that he could have all the goods he
wanted to carry on his business. To avail himself of this liberal offer it
became necessary to take the benefit of the insolvent act. Again suc-
cessful, in a few years he paid oif his old indebtedness, principal and
interest.
The following is the English inscription on his monument in the
Jewish cemetery, taken off by Rev. A. P. Mendes, who had great diffi-
culty in deciphering it, so worn is it by time :
'*If to profess and patronize the principles of Judaism, to observe the
strictest integrity in extensive commerce, and to exhibit unbounded
benevolence for all mankind, ran secure to the spontaneous and invariable
practiser of these virtues eternal bliss, Jacob Rods Rivera, whose mortal
frame is deposited beneath this marble, must, consonant to the ardent
48 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
Voted: That Mr. Jonas Langford Redwood ^^ and Mr. William
Redwood, sons of Abraham, be admitted members of this Society.
Voted : That Mr. Ebenezer Flagg^'' be admitted a member in the
room of William Bennett, deceased ; it appearing to the Society that
hopes of all who knew him, be in full possession of that superlative hap-
piness.
'* He lived beloved and he died lamented the 2 2d Sebat, A. M. 5549,
corresponding with i8th February, A. D. 1789, aged seventy-two years."
Then follows in Hebrew: *' The memory of the just is blessed."
^** Jonas Langford Redwood was born June 16, 1730, and died in 1779
or 1780. He married Abigail Godfrey, and after the death of his grand-
father he went to England, where he resided up to the time of his death,
at Brighton, in his seventy-fifth year. His brother, William Redwood,
born June i, 1734, married Sarah Pope.
^^ Ebenezer Flagg was befriended by Henry Collins when a poor boy,
for which a full return by him and his family was made, when misfortune
overtook his benefactor. His patriotism was marked. He was quarter-
master of the " squadron " — two vessels, the Washington and Katy — that
sailed under Commodore Whipple in 1775, and since recognized as *' the
commencement of the American Navy." He rose from one rank to
another, and in 1779 was i^ajor of the First Rhode Island Battalion. The
unfortunate termination of his life is thus recorded in Arnold's " History
of Rhode Island:"
** The American army were stationed near Fishkill. Col. Greene's regi-
ment was encamped at Rhode Island "village;" part of them occupying
an advanced post some ten miles distant, at Point's Bridge. Before day-
break a body of two hundred and sixty of the enemy's light horse forded
the river above and surprised them in the rear. Major Flagg was mur-
dered in his bed. Col. Greene, first wounded, was taken into the woods
and cut to pieces."
Flagg was a manufacturer of cordage. Henry Collins became his part-
ner, under the firm name of Collins & Flagg. Subsequently the firm was
Collins, Flagg & Engs. When Mr. Collins, one of the most benevolent
and public spirited of men, as already noticed, was greatly reduced, it is
said the Flagg family took care of him and smoothed his way to the grave.
The portrait of Mr. Collins, from which the print in these pages was taken,
is in the possession of Mr. Wm. J. Flagg of New York.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 49
said Bennett never paid for his right or any charges of the Library,
the major part of said right being paid by Mr. Henry CoUins,
and that whatever [obHterated] upon that right to be paid, by said
Flagg.
Voted : That Mr. Solomon Townsend be appointed to collect the
last year's arrears, due from the Company, and that he pay the
money into the hands of the Directors.
Voted : That a suitable board fence be built around the Library
yard this fall.
Voted : That the accounts respecting the Library be adjusted by
the Directors before the expiration often days from this date.
September 26, 1759. Annual meeting. Mr. Joseph Jacob chosen
Moderator.
Chosen Directors. — Abraham Redwood, Esq., Mr. Henry Collins,
John Tillinghast, Esq., Peter Bours, Esq. [often written Bourse],
Edv/ard Scott, Esq., Mr. Joseph Jacob, Dr. Thos. Moffatt, Mr. David
Cheseb rough.
Secretary. — Thomas Vernon.
Librarian. — Rev. Ezra Stiles. •
Treasurer. — William Paul.
Voted : That no person be admitted a member of this Society
without first paying one hundred pounds, old tenor, to the Treasurer,
for the use of the Company.
Voted : That if any member w^ho is or shall for the future be de-
linquent in paying his or her taxes, which was or may be here-
after assessed by the Company for the necessary uses and repairs
of the Library and building, shall omit and neglect after six months'
notice given to pay the sums by them in arrears to the Treasurer
for the time being, shall forfeit his or her right and property in
said Library to the Company, and shall be excluded ipso facto
from all his interest therein ; saving the right of such persons who
may be absent or under age.
50 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY.
Voted : That each member of this Society be taxed eight pounds,
including the annual tax of 20s., old tenor, for making the fence and
the necessary repairs of the Library; and that Mr. Solomon Town-
send collect the same as soon as may be.
Voted : That Mr. Gardiner Thurston'^^ be an Honorary Member.
September 24, 1 760. Annual meeting. Mr. David Chesebrough
chosen Moderator.
No change was made in the officers of the Library.
Captain Matthew Cozzens was admitted a member of the Society
on paying one hundred pounds, old tenor.
Voted : That the law respecting delinquents be notified to them
as soon as conveniently can be, by Mr. Charles Bardin and Robert
Stevens, who are appointed to receive the same.
Voted : That Mr. John Malbone, at the request of Col. Godfrey
Malbone, Jr., be admitted a member of this Society in the room of
their brother, Mr. Thomas Malbone,*^ deceased.
The following persons paid each 20^. for the year 1760: David
Chesebrough, Edward Scott, Robert Stevens, Philip Wanton, John
Tillinghast, Stephen Ayrault, Thomas Rodman, Naph. Hart, John
ColHns, Joseph Jacob, Gideon Wanton, Josias Lyndon, Solomon
Townsend, Henry Collins, Ebenezer Flagg, Charles Bardin, Jah.
Brenton, Godfrey and John Malbone r=y 19, paid by Capt. Bardin
to John Tillinghast.
September 30, 1761. John Tillinghast chosen Moderator.
^ Rev. Gardiner Thurston was one of the most earnest and laborious
of the ministers of his day. He was born in Newport in 1 721, was licensed
to preach in 1748, and was ordained pastor of the Second Baptist Church
in Newport, in April, 1759, as the successor of Rev. Nicholas Eyres, who
died in February of that year, and whose assistant he had been. He died
August 23, 1803, greatly beloved.
*^ Thomas Malbone, son of Godfrey Malbone, was born May 7, 1733 ;
died in 1754.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 51
Chosen Directors. — Abraham Redwood, Esq., Mr. Henry Collins,
John Tillinghast, Esq., James Honyman, Esq., Edward Scott, Esq.,
Mr. Joseph Jacob, Dr. Thomas Moffatt, Mr. David Chesebrough.
Secretary, — Mr. Thomas Vernon.
Treasurer. — Mr. John Bours.
Librarian. — Revd. Mr. Ezra Stiles.
Voted : That Mr. Charles Cozzens be admitted a member in the
room of Mr. Joseph Wilson, who has removed out of the colony.
Voted : That Capt. Charles Bardin and Mr. John Tweedy*^ be a
committee to settle the late Treasurer's accounts, and to request of
him to deliver any papers he might have in his possession respect-
ing the Company.
Voted : That Thomas Teacle Taylor be admitted a member of
this Society by paying one hundred pounds, old tenor, for the benefit
of the Company, to the Treasurer.
Voted : That Revd. Mr. Marmaduke Browne*^ be admitted an
honorary member so long as he may continue in town.
*^ John Tweedy, in connection with his brother William, was a large
importer of drugs, and had his branch office in New York, where dealers
in that section of the colonies obtained from the firm their supplies. He
died in 1782.
*^ Revd. Marmaduke Browne, of Ireland, was sent to America as a
missionary by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign
Parts. He was the successor of Revd. Thomas Ppllen as minister of
Trinity Church, and was at the head of the Parish at the time of his death,
1 771. In the church there is a handsome monument by the side of the
chancel, erected to his memory by his son, Arthur Browne, Senior Fellow
of Trinity College, Dublin. — ''Annals of Trinity Church."
In his "Miscellany," Arthur Browne thus spoke of the Redwood
Library : '' The Library at Newport, though built of wood, was a struct-
ure of uncommon beauty. I remember it with admiration, and I could
once appeal to the known taste of an old schoolfellow — Stuart, the
painter — who had the same feeling towards it. It was racked of its
books by the British army, as was the College at Princeton, in the
Jerseys."
52 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
Mr. Charles Bardin and Mr. Robert Stevens were to be continued,
to collect the arrears due to the Company and to pay the same to
the Treasurer.
September 29, 1762. Annual meeting. Mr. David Chesebrough
chosen Moderator. The officers of the Company were re-elected.
Capt. Thomas Teacle Taylor has paid the present Treasurer one
hundred pounds, old tenor, upon which he was admitted a member.
Mr. Robert Stevens and Mr. Collins Flagg were to collect the tax
for the ensuing year, and it was
Voted : That a tax of three pounds, old tenor, be levied on the
Company to pay the arrearages.
September 28, 1763. At the annual meeting, Mr. John Gardiner,
Moderator, no business was transacted other than re-electing the
men who were then in office.
September 26, 1764. Samuel Ward,** Esq., was chosen Moderator
at the annual meeting.
No change was made other than the election of Mr. Henry Mar-
chant,*^ Librarian, in place of Revd. Ezra Stiles.
Mr. Edward Thurston, Junr., is admitted a member in the room
of Mr. James Hadwin, whose right he has purchased.
^* For an interesting article on Samuel Ward, see a paper in Sparks's
''American Biography," by the late -Prof. Gammell.
^ H. March ANT, who was born at Martha's Vineyard in 1741, and
died in Newport in 1796, became eminent at the bar. In 1770 he was
elected Attorney-General of the Colony, which office he held until 1777,
when he was sent a delegate to the Continental Congress. In the in-
terval he had been sent to England to adjust claims against the British
Government. While the British were in possession of the island of
Rhode Island he resided at Narragansett, but returned to Newport in
1784, was a member of the Legislature from that' town and a member of
the Convention that adopted the Federal Constitution. At the time of
his death he held the office of District Judge. He was the President of
the Redwood Library from 1791 to 1796.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 53
Mr. Abraham Redwood, Junr./'' is voted a member of this So-
ciety. *
Mr. Christopher Hargill is admitted a member upon his first
paying to the Treasurer one hundred pounds, old tenor.
Voted: That Mr. Robert Stevens and Mr. Edward Thurston,
Junr., collect the tax for the ensuing year, and pay the same to the
Treasurer.
Voted : That a tax be levied on the Society of four pounds, old
tenor, for purchasing twelve chairs for the use of the Library,*^ and
a covering for the table and writing-desk.
*^ Abraham Redwood, Junr., was the eldest son of Abraham Redwood,
the founder of the Library. Born January 8, 1728, and died in 1788.
He married Susannah Honyman, daughter of James Honyman, and grand-
daughter of Rev. James Honyman, by whom he had three children,
Langford William, Abigail and Martha, who married Baron Jean Conrad
Hottinguer. Their descendant. Baron Hottinguer, in 1837, then a banker
in Paris, gave the Company one thousand francs towards the restoration
of the Library building, then greatly in want of repairs.
*' There are a few chairs in the Directors' room that were probably a
part of the set purchased at that time.
54
ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
CHAPTER III.
1765— 1777.
EPTEMBER 25, 1765. Annual meeting.
John Tillinghast, Esq., Moderator,
Chosen Directors. — Abraham Redwood,
Esq., John Tillinghast, Esq., James Hony-
man, Esq., Edward Scott, Esq., Joseph
Jacob, Mr. David Chesebrough, Josias
Lyndon, Esq., Jonas Langford Redwood, Esq.
Secretary. — Thomas Vernon.
Librarian. — Mr. Henry Marchant.
Treasurer. — Mr. John Bours.
Mr. Robert Stevens and Mr. Edward Thurston, Junr., were to
collect the tax and pay it over to the Treasurer.
Voted : That Mr. Samuel Hall,"^ printe*-, be admitted a member
of this Company for his late services to the amount of upwards of
one hundred pounds, old tenor.
^^ James Franklin, brother of Dr. Benjamin Franklin, printer of the
Newport J/^ra/ry, died in 1762. Ann Franklin, his mother, known as
the widow Franklin, took up the business. The next year Samuel Hall,
who came from Medford, Mass., married the ''widow Franklin." Hall
was then twenty-three years of age. The business \^as carried on under
t'he firm name of Franklin & Hall. Mrs. Hall died the same year, aged
sixty-eight. Hall continued to publish the Mercury until 1768, when he
sold out to Solomon Southwick, went to Salem, and started the Salem
Gazette. He was a man of ability, and during his stay in Newport raised
the Mercury to a higher plane than it had reached before.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 55
Mr. Charles Bardin and Mr. William Vernon were to audit the
Treasurer's account for the past year.
September 24, 1766. Mr. Edward Thurston, Junr., was elected
Librarian,
Voted : That the [obliterated] of books to all persons saving to
members, be at the following rate, viz. :
For folios, 6 coppers per week.
Quartos, 5 coppers per week.
Octavos, 4 coppers per week.
And of a smaller size, 4 coppers per week.
Voted : That any person before he be admitted a member of this
Company, pay to the Treasurer the sum of twenty dollars.
Voted : That the Society be .taxed five pounds each, includ-
ing the annual tax, for defraying the charges of painting the
house.
March 30, 1767. Thomas Wickham, Junr., was chosen Libra-
rian.
Mr. Thomas Rumreil was admitted a member in the room of
Joseph Rodman, whose right he hard purchased.
September, 1768. Josias Lyndon chosen Moderator. No change
made in the officers, other than the election of Rev. Ezra Stiles,
Librarian and Mr. Wm. Redwood a Director.
Voted : That the Treasurer be the person to collect the arrearage
due to the Company, and if any person refuses to pay immediately,
to put their several accounts in suit.
Rev. Mr. George Bissett*^ is admitted an Honorary Member so
long as he continues in town.
^ Rev. George Bisset was called to Trinity Church, as schoolmaster
and assistant minister. On the death of Rev. Marmaduke Browne, 1771,
he was elected minister, to fill the vacancy. He married the daughter of
James Honyman, Esq., and remained in charge of the church until the
evacuation of Newport by the British, when he went with them. He
56 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
September 27, 1769. No business was transacted at the annual
meeting.
September 26, 1770. Voted: That Mr. Ezra Stiles write to Mr.
Francis Maseres,°° and return him the thanks of the Company for
his present of two books to the Society.
Voted : That Rev. Mr. Samuel Hopkins^^ be admitted an Honorary
Member so long as he shall continue a residence in this town.
Voted : That the Librarian improve the lot the Library stands on,
for the year ensuing, gratis.
Voted : That Mr. David Chesebrough, the Secretary and Treas-
urer, wait upon Mr. Abraham Redwood and request of him that he
will sit for his picture as soon as may be, and that the expense
thereof will be defrayed by the Company.
September 25, 1771. No change was made in the officers.
Voted : That the Treasurer procure a table at the expense of the
Society, to be placed in one of the wings. ♦
Voted : That the Rev. Albertus * Ludolphus Russmeyer^* and
became interested in the Redwood Library, was elected Librarian when
Rev. Dr. Stiles retired from that office, and continued his connection wath
the Company until he left the place. For a full account of Rev. Mr.
Bisset, see '' Annals of Trinity Church."
^ The books given by Francis Maseres were : "A Dessertation on the
Use of the Negative Sign in Algebra." 4to. London, 1758; and '* Ele-
ments of Plane Trigonometry." London, 1760.
^^ It was at this time that Rev. Dr. Hopkins was settled over the Con-
gregational Church in Newport. He came from Barrington, Mass. He
continu'ed to preach in Newport, except when interrupted by the Revolu-
tion, until impaired health forced him to give up his charge. He died
December 20, 1803.
^^ Rev. Mr. Russmeyer was the fourth pastor of the Moravian Society
in Newport, and held the office from 1766 to 1783. The Society was
constituted in 1758, although services had been held here as early as
1749, as opportunity offered. Lacking accessions the services were dis-
continued, and later the meeting-house was sold. On the site Trinity
Church built Kay Chapel.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 57
Mr. Erasmus Kelly"^^ be admitted Honorary Members of this
Society.
[The appHcation to Mr. Redwood, to sit for his portrait, not
having met with a favorable response, a further effort was made to
secure that desirable end. The Quaker prejudice against por-
traiture had probably stood in the way.]
Voted : That David Chesebrough, Thomas Vernon and John
Bours, Esq., be and they are hereby appointed a committee to wait
upon Abraham Redwood, Esq., and request that he will permit his
picture at full length to be taken as soon as may be, and that the
expense thereof be defrayed by the Society.
September 30, 1772. Voted: That the Rev. William Willard^*
Wheeler and the Rev. Henry [obliterated, probably Dawson] be
and they are hereby admitted Honorary Members of the Society.
Voted : that a tin case^^ be provided by the Secretary, to contain
the Charter and deeds belonging to the Society.
March 29, 1773. Voted: That the Rev. Ezra Stiles, D.D., and
Edward Thurston, Junr., be paid out of the Treasury of this Com-
pany one pound four shillings, lawful money, each, for their ser-
vices in taking an account of the books belonging to the Library .^^
Voted : That Mr. William Coggeshall be admitted a member of
^ Rev. Erasmus Kelley was called to the First Baptist Church in New-
port in 1771, and remained with the Society till 1778, when he went to
Warren. The war over, in 1784 he returned to Newport, and labored to
gather again the scattered members of his flock, but died in a few months.
^* Rev. Mr. Wheeler was elected schoolmaster and assistant minister of
Trinity Church on the Kay foundation, in May, 1772 ; a connection that
only lasted four years.
^^ The case and its contents were probably lost during the Revo-
lution.
^ No record was made of the number of volumes in the Library at
that time.
5
58 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
this Company in the room of Mr. David Melvill, he having pro-
duced a conveyance of the said right.
Whereas, The Committee that waited upon Abraham Redwood,
Esq., reported that he would permit his picture^^ to be taken, agree-
able to the vote of this Company, the last Wednesday in September,
1771 ; it is therefore voted and resolved that David Chesebrough,
Thomas Vernon and John Bours, Esq., be a Committee to agree
with a portrait painter to execute the same, and that they procure
an elegant frame for the piece, and draw money out of the Treasury
of this Society, to defray the charge thereof
September,' 1774. No change was made in the officers of the
Company.
Voted : That the Librarian prohibit persons from assembling in
the Library lot for the purpose of learning the military exercise
within the same, as it is an injury to the estate.
Voted : That Nathaniel Mumford be admitted a member of this
Company, on the right of Stephen Wanton, he having produced a
conveyance of the same.
Voted : That Haddock Marcy be admitted a member of this
Company, he having a conveyance of the right from Solomon
Townsend.
Voted : That Jacob Richardson be admitted a member of this
" At the time the vote was passed the public mind was greatly dis-
turbed by the impending danger of war with the mother country. No
further reference was made to the subject.
That Mr. Redwood did sit for his portrait, to oblige his associates, there
is evidence ; but before it could be completed hostilities had probably
begun, and the picture when finislied remained in the hands of Mr. Red-
wood, to whose heirs it passed, and is now owned by his direct de-
scendants. It is a fine picture, a half length, seated. The frontispiece of
this volume is taken from it. In the Library there is a copy of the
portrait, painted by the late Charles B. King, and presented to thti
Library.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 59
Company on the right of John Channing, he having produced a
conveyance of said right.
Voted : That no books be deHvered out upon any of the above
rights until the whole of the taxes respectively due upon them be
paid.
September 27, 1775. There being but few members present at
the annual meeting ;
Voted : That business of this meeting be adjourned until Monday,
the ninth day of October next.
At the meeting in October, the officers who had held over were
re-elected.
Voted : That John Mawdsley be admitted a member of this Com-
pany, upon the right late belonging to Thomas Rumreil, he having
produced a conveyance of said right.
Voted: That William Hunter ^^ be admitted a member of this
Company, on the right of Martin Howard, Jr., he having produced
a conveyance of the same.
Voted : That Solomon Southwick ^' be admitted a member of this
Company, on the right late belonging to the Hon. John Gardiner,
he having produced a conveyance of said right.
Voted : That Stephen DeBlois be admitted a member of this
Society, upon the right late belonging to Joseph Sylvester, he
having produced a conveyance of said right from John Dockray,
who had previously purchased said right of Joseph Sylvester.
Voted : That no books be delivered out upon any of the above
*^ Dr. William Hunter came to America in 1752, and settled in New-
port, where he soon acquired a high reputation as a physician and surgeon.
He was Scotch by birth and highly educated. See '* Annals of Trinity
Church."
^ For a notice of Solomon Southwick, see "Reminiscences of New-
port," p. 84.
6o ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
rights until the whole of the taxes respectively due upon them be
paid.
September 26, 1776. Annual'meeting.
Were Chosen Directors. — Abraham Redwood, James Honyman,
Joseph Jacob, David Chesebrough, Hon. Josias Lyndon, Jonas
Langford Redwood, Stephen Ayrault, Esq.
Secretary — Edward Thurston.
Librarian. — Ezra Stiles, D.D.
Treasurer. — John Bours, Esq.
Voted : That when Dr. Stiles^ may be absent from the town, the
^ Revd. Ezra Stiles was the Librarian from 1756 to 1764, and at
intervals till 1776. In 1754 he travelled for his health, taking Deerfield,
Newport, and Boston in his circuit. In 1755 he was made an honorary
member of the Library, and preached during his stay here. The follow-
ing year he was called to the Second Congregational Church in New-
port. The call embarrassed him, he not knowing what reply to make to
it, having determined to confine his attention to the law. In 1753 he had
taken the attorney's oath. Repeatedly urged to comply with the wisnes
of the Society, he finally yielded, and wrote in his diary :
" At length, partly my friends, especially my father's inclination, partly
an agreeable town and the Redwood Library, partly the voice of Provi-
dence in the unanimity of the people; my love of preaching, and pros-
pects of more leisure for pursuing study than I could expect in the law —
which, however, I love to this day — induced me to yield, and I gave an
affirmative answer to the Church and Society."
The following sketch of Dr. Stiles's connection with the Library is from
the pen of the late Dr. David King, and should be inserted here:
'* In 1755, the Revd. Ezra Stiles was admitted an honorary member of
the Society. His distinction as a scholar and theologian, connected with
his exertions in behalf of the Library, justifies some allusion to his char-
acter in an historical sketch of the institution. The Redwood Library,
at the time of his settlement in Newport, contained about one thousand
five hundred volumes of standard books. The classical and theological
departments were the most valuable, and constituted the principal attrac-
tion which determined Dr. Stiles to fix his residence in Newport. He
remained in Newport twenty years; and during the greg^ter portion of
^y. ///// ///
'//'
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 6i
keys of the Library be kept by Stephen Ayrault, Esq., who is
authorized to appoint a proper person or persons, to act as Libra-
rian, from time to time during such absence.
that time, officiated as Librarian of the Company. Having constant
access to this vahiable collection of books, he drew from it, by assiduous
study, his great and various learning. He held an extensive correspond-
ence with European scholars ; and the principal object of that correspond-
ence was to illustrate and perfect those researches and investigations in
philosophy, history, antiquities and physical science, to which his mind
had been prompted by the perusal of books which he found on our shelves.
His zeal for the diffusion of knowledge led him to solicit for the Library
valuable works from European authors. Many of these works, obtained
through his instrumentality, are still preserved in the Library. The copy of
Montanus's ' Hebrew Bible and Dictionary,' now belonging to the Library,
enabled him to perfect his knowledge of the Hebrew language ; and a
folio copy of* Homer' still bears the marks of his profound study, in the
form of Greek annotations, in his own handwriting. He was one of th.e
most eloquent advocates of liberty in the colonies, before the Revolution.
The late Dr. Channing says of him: 'To the influence of iliis distin-
guished man, in the circle in which I was brought up, I may owe, in part,
the indignation I feel toward every invasion of human rights. In my
earliest years, I regarded no human being with equal reverence.' His
rare learning, eloquence and goodness, uniformly supported by tradition,
have received, of late, the attestation of great names. The eloquent
eulogy pronounced upon this gifted and extraordinary man by Chancel-
lor Kent, will preserve for many generations the memory of his attain-
ments, genius and virtue."
Dr. Stiles's efforts to increase the number of readable books in Newport
was not confined to the Redwood Library. There is a library of about
five hundred volumes belonging to the United Congregational Church ;
among them a perfect copy of Eliot's " Indian Bible," and early editions
of New England ecclesiastical publications. How this library was gath-
ered is thus told by Dr. Stiles, on the fly leaf of one of the volumes :
*'A Memoir.
*'We may form some idea of the abilities of the seventy or eighty
worthy ministers who first settled New England from the libraries they
brought with them from England. They were educated in the Universi-
62 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
Voted : That William Tillinghast be admitted a member of .this
Society, on the right late belonging to John Tillinghast, Esq., said
William having produced a paragraph of the last will and testament
of said John Tillinghast, by which the aforesaid right is granted
to him.
ties of Oxford and Cambridge, and the most eminent were of Emanuel
College.
"Their theological learning consisted in being well studied in the
Fathers of the three first centuries, the writings of the Reformers, and the
Councils — these for ecclesiastical polity; for doctrines they read Augustin's
works and the '' Systems of the German Divines;" '' Calvin's Institute,"
and the " Vindicias Gratias " of Dr. Twisse, an English divine cotem-
porary with them, were in great esteem ; but above all the Bible was their
fountain
" The ministers generally understood Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, and
read the sacred books freely in the original. The tradition is that Mr.
[Rev. John] Eliot brought out of England twenty-three barrels of books.
"One of his sons settled in the ministry at Guilford in Connecticut,
and became the father of the celebrated Rev. Jared Eliot of Killingworth
in Connecticut, with whom I was intimately acquainted His
library consisted chiefly of old books, perhaps 4000 volumes, being a
branch of the library of Mr. Eliot of Roxbury, In 1764 I selected about
twenty volumes, which the heirs generously presented me, which gives a
specimen of another of these ancient libraries ; out of which I selected
twelve volumes, which I hereby give to the Ecclesiastical Library in New-
port, Rhode Island, founded by Rev, Samuel West of Dartmouth and
myself, A.D. 1743 We design to form a collection of the Fathers
of the three first centuries, the Fathers of the Reformation, and the
Fathers of New England churches, besides other writings. Newport,
Oct. 30, 1766, this year of the repeal of the Stamp Act, the two hundredth
year of Puritanism, and one hundred and forty-sixth year from the first
settlement of Plymouth, one hundred and thirty-five years since Mr. Eliot
brought these books out of England, which was the year after the build-
ing of Boston in New England.*
" Ezra Stiles, cetat 39."
* Newport Illustrated.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 63
September 24, 1777. Annual meeting.
Were Chosen Directors. — Hon. Abraham Redwood, James Hony-
man, Joseph Jacob, Edward Thurston, Stephen Ayrault, William
Redwood, Jr., Thomas Vernon, Thomas Wickham, Esq.
Secretary. — Edward Thurston.
Librarian. — William Tillinghast.
Treasurer. — Stephen Ayrault.
Voted : That Thomas Vernon, Edward Thurston and the Libra-
rian, be a committee to take an inventory of the books in the
Library, and lay it before the Directors as soon as may be.
September 30, 1778. Annual meeting.
No business was transacted other than the election of officers.
Directors. — Hon. Abraham Redwood, Edward Thurston, Stephen
Ayrault, William Redwood, Jr., Thomas Vernon, Thomas Wick-
ham, John Mawdsley, John Malbone, Esq.
Secretary. — Edward Thurston.
Librarian.— ^^v . George Bisset.
64
ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
CHAPTER IV.
1778-1810.
T this point there is a break, and for a num-
ber of years the Library was left in the
most unsatisfactory condition.
The foregoing careful transcript of the
records from the organization of the Li-
brary Company down to the war of the
Revolution, gives but an outline of its
doings. The minutes are confined to what transpired at the annual
meetings, and one cannot but believe there was another, book, in
which were recorded the actions of the Directors, their instructions
to the Librarians, the funds at the disposal of the purchasing com-
mittee, and the steps taken to promote the growth and prosperity
of the Library — that those who were interested in it, and were will-
ing to be taxed for its support, would not permit its affairs to be so
loosely conducted. It was not the way that men like Dr. Stiles,
Dr. Moffatt, the Wards, Vernons, Channings and Ayraults managed
their own affairs ; and we cannot believe they would neglect to
acknowledge gifts of books to the Library, favors that we know
were received from time to time; and yet, from 1750 to 1778, but
one such entry is made on the records — that of the works of Francis
Maseres, presented by the author, in 1770. Not a word is said of
Mrs. Macaulay's gift of her " History of England," in six volumes,
although she was at the pains to say that the volumes were " sent
to the Library as a testimony of her regard to the people of the
Free Colony of Rhode Island " ; or of similar gifts. They were
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 65
probably noted in some book that has escaped us —lost in that
scene of confusion, when the British and the Hessians swept over
the island, leaving burning houses and desecrated churches in their
track. Wherever they trod the woods were levelled with the
ground, until hardly a tree was left standing. Hundreds of houses
were razed for firewood, farms were broken up, and earthworks
frowned on every hill-side. The loss that Newport suffered was
estimated by a committee of the General Assembly, in June, 1782,
at nearly ;^ 125,000. To-day it can hardly be understood to what
an extent the people were impoverished. In that struggle to make
both ends meet but little thought could be given to the Library ; but
there were those who did their best to protect it. The troops went
there to get books to beguile the time during the long winter even-
ings, careless whether they returned them or not ; and if Lord
Percy, with a respect for learning that should have our warmest
gratitude, had not stayed the spoiler by his peremptory order to
refrain from meddling with the Library, it would have, in all prob-
ability, been nearly or quite destroyed. From that time up to the
departure of the troops, there does not appear to have been any
cause for complaint.
Who drew Lord Percy's attention to the sacrilege that was going
on ? In the absence of anything to the contrary, may we not
believe that it was the Rev. George Bisset, the minister of the
Church of England ? He was the Librarian, the successor of Rev.
Dr. Stiles, a strong adherent to the Crown, who remained at his
post, when the larger part of the people had left the island, and con-
tinued the services of the Church. To a man in his position Lord
Percy would doubtless listen ; and when his hand was raised the
plague was stayed. But what losses the Library sustained can
never be known ; that so many of its ancient volumes have been
preserved to us we have reason to be thankful. In 1750 the Library
had commenced with 1334 volumes. From 1750 to 1764 182
66 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
volumes had been added by gifts from different persons, making
15 i6, with no mention of the books that were purchased during
those years. In 1816 the whole number of volumes was 1502;
less by 14 volumes than the Library contained fifty -two years
before — conclusive evidence of a considerable loss during the war.
The peace of 1783 found the finances of the State in a deplorable
condition. The people, heavily in debt, were without resources, and
the State debt could only be lifted by increased taxation. The State
was divided into two parties — the commercial and mercantile, and
the agricultural.
The merchants and traders, who represented one party, resided
in the seaports ; the farmers, who made up the other party, scattered
over the State, were numerically the strongest. Between the two
there was a feud. The farmers owed the traders, and not being
able to pay, they sought relief in the issue of paper money — a step
that the hard-money party knew, if persisted in, would be suicidal.
Every effort was made by the debtors to get temporary relief, and
they paid no heed to those who admonished them that, if successful,
the fraudulent debtor would discharge himself of his liabilities under
the sanction of law, without giving a proper consideration ; that the
mercantile property of the State would float in other channels, and
mechanics and seamen would be without employ. Even then, with
all this depression, an effort was made to keep alive the old interest
in the Library, following the first organization of the new city
government. At a meeting of as many proprietors as could be
brought together ; .
October 14, 1785, the following officers were elected:
Directors, — Hon. Abraham Redwood, Stephen Ayrault, William
Vernon, John Malbone, Jonathan Easton, Nicholas P. Tillinghast,
Jacob Richardson, and Robert Stevens.
Secretary. — William Channing.
Librarian. — Christopher Ellery.
NEWPORT. RHODE ISLAND. 67
Treasurer. — Stephen Ayrault.
[The same officers were again elected, in 1786, and were also
elected in 1787, with Henry Marchant in the place of Jacob Rich-
ardson, as one of the Directors ; but nothing more was done. There
was no further movements of the kind for several years. (In the
meantime, March, 1788, Mr. Redwood died.*^*") The paper-money
^* The earliest record that we
have of the Redwood family
is that of Abraham Redwood,
of Bristol, England, born in
1665. He commanded a
ship in the trade between London and Jamaica, on which island he mar-
ried Mehetable Langford, daughter of Jonas Langford, through whom he
came into the possession of a valuable sugar plantation, known as Cassada
Garden ; which placed him in such easy circumstances that he gave up
the sea and resided at Antigua. There he remained until 171 2, when he
came to America, and settled at Salem, where he is said to have resided
seventeen years. His wife died in 17 15, leaving him with ten children.
August 14, 1 7 16, he married a widow, Patience Phillips, of Rhode Island,
and daughter of Joseph Howland, of Duxbury, Mass. She bore him four
children, and died at Newport, December 11, 1745. He died at Salem,
January 17, 1729, aged sixty-four years. That he resided in Newport for
a season, but at what time, or how long he was on the island we have now
no means of knowing.
The eldest son, Jonas Langford, was killed by being thrown from his
horse, at Newport, October 27, 1724, aged eighteen years. This made
Abraham, the second son, heir to the estate in Antigua. Abraham is
reputed to have been born in 1709, which tallies with the record of his
death, March 13, 1788, in his seventy-ninth year. This is manifestly
incorrect. He w^s evidently older. The writer has in his possession an
instrument signed by Jacob Mott (a prominent Quaker) and others, set-
ting off and conveying certain lots on Easton's Point, in Newport, ''on ye
thirtieth day of ye tenth month, called December, in ye year of our Lord
1 715, acknowledged before John Wanton, Assistant." One of the wit-
nesses was Abraham Redwood, who subscribed his name in this way. If
68 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
party had triumphed. A paper-money bank was made. Bills to
the amount of ;^ 100,000 were to be loaned to the people on a
pledge of real estate of double their value, to be paid into the
treasury at the expiration of fourteen years. Newport and the
the date of his birth is cor-
rectly given, he would have
been but six years of age
when he drew the mono-
gram. Possibly the signa-
/ ture may have been that of
0^ uC>^— -) his father ; but it is hardly
probable that a man who
had reached his time of life should have indulged in fancy penmanship,
when signing a paper of such import.
Young Redwood was taken to Philadelphia and placed under teachers
who looked carefully after his education — who evidently gave him a good
training. His mind well stored, he returned to Newport, and entered
into the literary pursuits of those by whom he was surrounded. Before
he was twenty years of age he married Martha Coggeshall, a Quaker
maiden, for he himself had become a Quaker, and provided for his com-
fort and enjoyment a substantial town house, and a country house. Be-
tween the two he divided his time. His town house, now a sorry-looking
place, is still standing on the west side of Thames Street, opposite Ann
Street, and his country house was in Portsmouth, about five miles from
Newport. It has been known as ''Redwood" since the time it came
into Mr. Redwood's possession, November 2, 1743. It was here that he
indulged his taste for horticulture. Dr. Waterhouse, who was personally
acquainted with Mr. Redwood, said of his " botanical garden," " it was
stored with curious foreign, as well as valuable indigenous plants, in either
hot or greenhouses, or in the open air." The following obituary notice
of this benevolent man appeared in the Newport Herald of March 13,
1788:
''Last Saturday morning died the Hon. Abraham Redwood, in the
seventy-ninth year of his age. He was blessed with an ample fortune and
a liberal spirit, which prompted him to encourage useful learning and
relieve the distress of mankind. He founded the Library in this town.
He subscribed largely to a college to be built in this State, on condition
NEWPORT, RHOD^ ISLAND. 69
other leading towns had stoutly opposed the measure. The depre-
ciation of the money began at the start, and the General Assembly
vainly tried to sustain it by a forcing act. Coercive measures
failed, and those who set the law at defiance, if arraigned and
brought to the bar, were sure of acquittal. At length the hard-
money party prevailed ; the people saw there was no hope if they
did not enter the Union, and although every inch of ground was
hotly contested, it resulted, on the 29th of May, 1790, in a majority
of two in convention in favor of ratification of the Constitution.
Rhode Island had come into the Union.
But the Library during all this time was in a sad plight. Not a
thing had been done to put it upon its old footing. It was not even
known what had become of the key, and it was not until the
autumn of 1790, that its deplorable condition was brought to the
notice of the public. Then the following communication appeared
in the Newport Herald, on the 9th of September. In the same
issue there also appeared this advertisement :
" The key of the Library being missing, supposed to be lent by
the former Librarian, the person who has it in his possession is
earnestly requested to deliver it to Mr. Stephen Ayrault, one of the
Directors."
It was at this time that the following communication appeared in
the Newport Herald :
that it should be established in the county of Newport. He subscribed five
hundred pounds sterling towards a uiyversity proposed to be erected in this
town; and he offered the same sum to the Society of Friends, of which
he was a member, to endow a school in this place for the instruction of
Friends' children. His less public acts of generosity will be gratefully
remembered by those on whom they were conferred ; and the poor will
never forget that Abraham Redwood was their constant friend and bene-
tactor."
70 ANNALS OF TJiE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
" It is a common and just observation, that wJiat is everybody s
business is nobody's business, and it is equally applicable to compa-
nies associated or incorporated for some particular purposes, as to
the community at large. I was led to this remark, several times of
late, as I was pensively walking by the Redwood Library. To
suffer that beautiful edifice, which was once an ornament and a
credit to the town — admired by all who have any knowledge of
architecture for its noble appearance and symmetry of parts — a
building, erected, too, for the most beneficial purposes — the advance-
ment of learning and knoivledge, to be totally neglected, and mould-
ering into ruin for the want of a small sum of money, — perhaps
one or two hundred dollars, laid out in repairs upon it, — is such a
reproach to the proprietors, such an indignity to literature, that, as
one of them, I feel hurt and ashamed — however, I cannot but flatter
myself that nothing is wanting but for a few spirited members to
take the lead in rousing the attention of the rest, and the work will
be done. Let us reflect a moment, what an affront is offered to the
worthy and generous donor of the books, and to the gentlemen at
whose expense the house was built for their reception; that it should
be allowed to rot and fall down, without a single man of the Com-
pany stepping forward to prevent it. A small sum judiciously ap-
propriated at the present mome?it, may save a much larger outlay the
next season ; whereas should it remain neglected only one winter
more, the elegant and well-proportioned pillars, which support and
adorn the front of the building, will be past repair and tumble to
the ground, and never can be replaced without a very great expense.
The books, exposed to the weather, through a leaky roof and broken
windows, will also grow mouldy, and be soon rendered useless ; I
woufd therefore propose, that as the annual meeting appointed by
the charter, is near at hand, viz., on Wednesday the 29th day of the
present month, all the gentlemen proprietors assemble at the Library,
at 10 o'clock A.M., and there choose directors and other officers,
agreeably to charter ; and also consult upon proper measures to
repair the building, as far as is found to be absolutely necessary for
the present, and otherwise endeavor to restore an institution, the
most beneficial and praiseworthy, to its former respectability and
usefulness.
"A Proprietor."
AEWFORT, RHODE ISLAND. 71
[The fact that this communication appeared in the same issue with
the call from Mr. Ayrault for the key of the Library, leads one to
suppose that it was from his pen, for he is known to have been a
warm and active friend of the institution. The outgrowth was
an effort to reorganize the Library. To this end application was
made to the General Assembly, which resulted in the passage of the
following act :]
An Act for the better regulating and defining the powers of the
Company of the Redwood Library, in the town of New-
port, passed at the October Session of the General Assembly,
1790.
Be it enacted by this General Assembly, and by the authority
thereof it is enacted, that the said Stephen Ayrault, William Vernon,
Robert Crooke, Christopher Champlin, John Bours, Edward Thurs-
ton, Thomas Wickham, John Malbone, George Champlin, Benjamin
Ellery, Stephen Deblois, James Cahoone, Solomon Southwick, John
Collins, Henry Marchant, George Gibbs, Robert Stevens, Jacob
Richardson, John Coggeshall, William Hunter, Caleb Greene,
Thomas Howland, Samuel Yates, Jonathan Easton, Jr., Joseph
Burrill, Joseph Jacob Robinson, Gideon Wanton, Daniel Mason,
Nicholas P. Tillinghast, Abraham Roderiguez Rivera, John Scott,
John Banister and Henry Ward, with such other of the proprietors
or members of the said Company of the Redwood Library, as shall
within three months from the rising of this General Assembly, give
in his or their name or names to the Treasurer of said Company,
and appear either by himself or proxy duly constituted in writing,
at the next meeting of said Company, which shall be held at said
Newport, in said library building, on the second Monday of
February next, shall be, and they are, hereby constituted and
declared to be the only members and proprietors of said Company
of the Redwood Library ; and all other rights and claims shall, and
they are, hereby declared to be forfeit to and for the use, benefit and
behoof of said Company forever.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that said
72 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
corporation or body, three of the Directors being present, shall
have power to order such taxes upon the rights respectively as shall
or may be necessary, in the judgment of said company, for the
proper and decent repairing and keeping in repair said building,
and fences around the same, and for such other purposes as the
corporation shall think proper; such taxes to be laid equally on
each right. That upon the non-payment of such rate or tax for six
months after the same shall be ordered by a legal meeting of said
company or corporation, or of any rate or tax now due for four
months after demand made, the person so refusing or neglecting to
pay, shall forfeit his or their right, to and for the use and benefit of
said company forever.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that at all
meetings to be had or held by said company after the first as before
mentioned, no proxies shall be admitted ; and twelve proprietors
actually present shall constitute a legal meeting, seven of which
shall be a quorum.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that all laws,
statutes, orders and constitutions, made by any legal meeting of
said company, shall be binding on every member, and be in force
from time to time, and inviolably observed, according to the tenor
and effect of them : Provided, that they be not repugnant to the
laws of this State, or the Constitution of the United States of
America.
And be it further enacted by this General Assembly, and by the
authority thereof it is enacted, that for the present, and until a legal
meeting shall be had, Stephen Ayrault shall be the Treasurer of
said company, and William Channing, Secretary thereof That
there shall be five Directors chosen, three of whom shall be a
quorum. That William Vernon, John Bours, Nicholas P. Tilling-
hast, Robert Stevens, and Jonathan Easton, Jr., shall be the present
Directors, under the orders, laws and regulations of said company^
and until others shall be appointed* by the said company in their
room and stead ; whose business it shall be to meet quarterly, or
oftener, if they see fit, to examine and settle the accounts of the
Treasurer, inspect the books, view the building, etc., to examine
the doings of the Librarian, and to make such temporary laws and
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 73
orders as they may judge proper, not inconsistent with this act, or
the laws that shall be made by said company ; and which laws and
orders so made shall be in force until the then next legal meeting
of said company, but no longer, unless then confirmed by said
meeting.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that all
deeds or conveyances of rights hereafter to be made, shall be re-
corded at length by the Secretary of said company, in a book of
records by him to be kept for that purpose ; and who shall, at the
first meeting of the said company, record the names of the persons
therein declared to be the present members or proprietors, and such
as shall then agreeable to this act qualify themselves as such, by
appearing as aforesaid by themselves or proxies. And if such deed
or conveyance be not so recorded within three months next after
the rights accruing, the same shall be forfeit to the said company
forever.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that such
rights shall not be liable to be attached or levied upon, by any writ
or execution, for any debt, duty or demand, of what kind or nature
soever ; and that no proprietor shall hold or enjoy, by purchase or
otherwise, more than one right at any one time, after six months
from the passing of this Act.
By an Act of the General Assembly, passed at the May session,
1 79 1, the following extension of time was granted in which to act
on the above.
Whereas, by an Act of the General Assembly of the State of
Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, held by adjournment at
Providence, on the last Monday of October, 1790, entitled "An Act
for the better regulating and defining the powers of the company
of the Redwood Library in the town of Newport," it w.as among
other things provided, that the proprietors or members of the said
Company, in said Act named or mentioned, with such other of the
proprietors or members of the said Company of the Redwood
Library^ as should within three months from the rising of that Gen-
6
74 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY, ■
eral Assembly give in his or their names to the Treasurer of said
Company, and appear either by himself or proxy, duly constituted
in writing, at the next meeting of said Company, which should have
been held at Newport, in said Library building, on the second Mon-
day of February then next, should be and they were thereby con-
stituted and declared to be the only members and proprietors of
said Company of the Redwood Library ; and all other claims or
rights should and they were declared to be forfeit, to and for the
use, benefit and behoof, of said Company forever : But whereas,
through the inclemency of the weather, and indisposition of the
Secretary, the said Act, or an exemplification thereof, was not pro-
cured within the time for such proprietors and members of said
Company to comply with the same.
Wherefore, be it enacted by the General Assembly, and by the
authority thereof it is enacted, that the proprietors or members of
the said Company, who were allowed three months from the rising
of the General Assembly, at that session, to give in his own or their
name to the Treasurer of said Company, shall and they are hereby
allowed for that purpose until the twelfth day of July next; and
that the first meeting of said Company, to be holden at said New-
port, in said Library building, shall and may be held on the second
day of August next; anything in said Act before mentioned to the
contrary notwithstanding.
The passage of the bill was thus noted in the records :
At a meeting of the Redwood Library Company, at the Library
building in Newport, in the county of Newport and State of Rhode
Island, on the second day of August, A. D. 1791, agreeable to an
Act of the General Assembly of said State, made and passed at a
session thereof begun and held by adjournment at Providence,
within and for the State aforesaid, on the last Monday in October,
A. D. 1790, entitled An Act for the Better Regulating and Defining
the Powers of the Company of the Redwood Library in the town of
Newport, and also one other Act of the said General Assembly
made and passed at a session thereof began and held at Newport,
within and for said State, the first Wednesday in May, A. D. 179L
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 75
entitled An Act in addition to an Act for the Better Regulating and
Defining the Powers of the Company of the Redwood Library, in
the town of Newport ; present the following members :
Stephen Ayrault, John Bours, Edward Thurston, Thomas Wick-
ham, John Malbone, Henry Marchant, John Coggeshall, William
Hunter, Jonathan Easton, Jr., Joseph Jacob Robinson, Nicholas
P. Tillirighast, John Banister, John Scott, Thomas Howland, Jr.,
Caleb Green and John Eldred.
Henry Marchant, Esq., was appointed Moderator of the meeting,
and Nicholas P. Tillinghast, Secretary.
Voted and resolved : That agreeably to the afore-recited Act,
Thomas Wickham be Treasurer of the Library Company, and that
William Vernon, John Bours, Nicholas P. Tillinghast, Robert Ste-
vens and Jpnathan Easton, Junr., be Directors till the annual
meeting.
Voted and resolved : Agreeably to the afore-recited Act, the fol-
lowing persons are the present known and acknowledged members
of the Redwood Library, viz. :
Stephen Ayrault, John Collins, Joseph Jacob Robinson, Williani
Vernon, Henry Marchant, Gideon Wanton, Robert Crooke, George
Gibbs, Daniel Mason, Christ. Champlin, Robert Stevens, Nicholas
P. Tillinghast, John Bours, Jacob Richardson, Abraham R. Revira,
Edward Thurston, John Coggeshall, John Scott, Thomas Wickham,
William Hunter, John Banister, John Malbone, Caleb Green, Henry
Ward, Benjamin Ellery, Thomas Howland, Jr., John Eldred, of
Jamestown, in right of his father, having paid all arrearages ; Ste-
phen De Blois, Samuel Yeates, James Cahoone, Jonathan Easton,
Jr., Solomon Southwick, Joseph Burrill.
N. B. — George Champlin, who in said Act was considered as
having a right, and therein considered as such, came into the
meeting.
Voted : That to the above members the following gentlemen be
76 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
added as honorary members, viz., the Rev. Dr. Samuel Hopkins,
the Rev. Mr. Gardiner Thurston, the Rev. Mr. William Bliss, the
Rev. Mr. Frederick Smith, the Rev. Mr. William Smith, the Rev.
Mr. William Patten, and the Rev. Mr. Michael Eddy.
Voted : That the Rev. Mr. William Smith be and he is hereby
appointed Librariaft to the Redwood Library.
Voted : That the care and use of the Library yard be annexed to
the Librarian for the time being, that he be permitted to put a cow
or horse therein, but that no hogs be permitted or suffered to go
therein.
Voted : That Dr. Jonathan Easton be collector of the present de-
linquent rates and taxes, and when received pay them into the
treasury, taking the Treasurer's receipt therefor.
September, 1791. Annual meeting. Mr. Henry Marchant was
chosen moderator.
Were chosen Directors. — William Vernon, John Bours, Jona-
than Easton, Jr., Henry Marchant, Esq., and Joseph Jacob Rob-
inson.
Secretary. — Edward Thurston.
Librariaft. — Rev. William Smifh.
Treasurer. — Thomas Wickham.
Gatherer of the Tax. — Jonathan Easton, Jr..
Resolved : That the Librarian do not suffer the keys of the
Library to be delivered to any person but a Director.
Resolved : That the Directors be empowered to sell ten rights to
such persons as they shall conceive to be persons who may honor
the Society, and not under the sum of ten dollars.
The following persons were admitted members of the Company,
viz., Mr. Thomas Potter, in right of his father,- by will, having paid
all arrearages ; Elizabeth Miller, by conveyance from Benjamin
Hall and William Peckham, executors and trustees of Josias
Lyndon, all arrearages being paid ; Benjamin Hadwin, by deed
NEWPORT. RHODE ISLAND. 77
from William Crooke, executor to Charles Wickham ; Robert N.
Auchmuty, by deed from Gideon Wanton, all arrearages being paid ;
John R. Thurston, in right of Peleg Thurston, deceased, arrearages
being paid.
Voted : That for the future the Library day be on Wednes-
day, and that the Library be opened by the Librarian at three
o'clock in the afternoon of such days, and kept open until five
o'clock.
Voted : That in lieu of the annual tax of one shilling and six
pence, due this day, no part of which has been collected, the sum of
nine shillings be ordered as a tax on each of the present members,
payable on or before the last day of November next.
Voted : That John Almy having paid the sum of thirty-eight shil-
lings and three pence, the arrearage due upon the right of Thomas
Coggeshall, deceased, and whose right was forfeited, be admitted a
member.
Voted : That John Faxson, having purchased the right of John
Dennis, of Swansey, and paid the arrearages, eighteen shillings, be
admitted a member of thi» Company.
Voted : That Henry Collins Fl^gg having paid thirty-eight shil-
lings and four pence, arrearage of the right of his brother, William
Flagg, which had been forfeited, is admitted a member of this
Company.
Voted : That John Jepson, deceased, having forfeited his right, and
Billings Coggeshall, administrator to Jepson Coggeshall, grandson
of said John Jepson, having paid the arrearages of said right,
being eighteen shillings, the said Billings Coggeshall is admitted a
member.
Voted : That Abraham R. Rivera, having paid the arrearages on
the right of his father, which was forfeited, being thirteen shillings
and six pence, is admitted a member.
Voted : The right of George Wanton, deceased, being forfeited,
78 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRAR\,
but George Hazard,^^ of Newport, having paid the arrearages
thereof, the said George Hazard is admitted a member.
Voted : That Dr. Walter C. Gardner having paid upon the right
of the late Governor Joseph Wanton, which was forfeited, the arrear-
age due, being ten shillings and six pence, the said Dr. Walter C.
Gardner is admitted a member.
Voted : That Ethan Clark having paid the arrears of the right of
the late Governor Samuel Ward, which had become forfeit, the said
Ethan Clark is admitted a member.
Voted : That the Library house be shingled, and that the Direct-
ors see the same done accordingly,
September, 1792. Annual meeting. Henry Marchant was chosen
Moderator.
The following officers were elected :
Were chosen Directors. — William Vernon, John Bours, Joseph
Easton, Jr., Henry Marchant and Joseph Jacob Robinson.
Secretary. — Edward Thurston.
Librarian. — William Patten.
Treasurer. — Thomas Wickham.
Tax-Gatherer. — Jonathan Eastan, Jr.
September 25, 1793. The same officers were elected.
Voted: That Mr. Stephen Cahoone be admitted a member, in
right of his father, James Cahoone.
Voted : That a tax of two dollars be assessed upon each right.
^^ George Hazard was the first Mayor of Newport under the charter of
1784. He was born July 13, 1721, and died August 11, 1797. Of him
it was said :
^' Almost forty years of his life were spent in the service of his country.
Without ambition and without the hope of reward, he accepted the various
and important offices of Legislator, Judge and Mayor of Newport, with
diffidence, and executed them with ability."
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 79
towards making repairs upon the Library building, and that the
Committee make such repairs as they think necessary.
September 24, 1794. The same officers were elected.
Voted : That Benjamin Hazard^'' having purchased a right of
Samuel Yates, administrator of Samuel Yates, deceased, and having
paid all arrearages, is admitted a member.
Voted : That Mr. William Vernon be appointed to settle the
account between Mr. Jacob Richardson and the Redwood Library
Company.
Voted : That the Collector of Taxes call upon the delinquent in
taxes and inform them that unless the money due from them be
paid immediately, he must return their names to the Directors, who
are thereupon to publish them, and unless the sums due from them
respectively are paid, their rights shall become forfeit.
Voted : That a tax of twelve shillings on each right be assessed
upon each member of the Company.
September 30, 1795. Annual meeting. Henry Marchant, Esq.,
chosen Moderator, and Caleb Green, Secretary.
Were cliosen Directors. — William Vernon, John Bours, Dr. Jona-
than Easton, Henry Marchant, and Joseph J. Robinson.
Librarian. — Rev. William Patten.
Treasurer. — Thomas Wickham,
Collector of Taxes. — Dr. Jonathan Easton.
Nicholas P. Tillinghast is admitted a member of the Company,
having paid up the arrearages on the right of Paris Hendricks.
Voted : That the Treasurer's account, now exhibited, be approved
and allowed and that the balance due to him thereon, being fifteen
shillings and one penny, he pay himself out of the first money he
may receive from the Collector.
''" His daughters, owners of the right, still enjoy the privileges of the
Library.
8o ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
Voted : That agreeably to a vote passed at the last meeting, Sep-
tember, 1794, the Collector of Rates call upon the deficient proprie-
tors, and that he immediately return to the Directors the names of
those who shall not pay their tax upon his application, and that the
Directors publish the names of the delinquents in the newspapers,
informing them that their rights will be forfeit if their arrearages
are not paid up in three months from the date of the advertisement.
Voted : That a tax of twelve shillings be assessed on each right,
to be collected and paid in within two months.
Voted : That the Library building shall be painted, and that
William Vernon be a committee to attend to the same and contract
for its being done immediately, that the business may be completed
this season.
[It does not appear that any meeting was called in 1796, and the
annual meeting in 1797 did not occur until a month later than the
usual time.]
October 11, 1797. Mr. John Bours was chosen Moderator, and
William Patten,^^ * Secretary pro tern,
*^* Revd. William Patten, D.D., born at Halifax, Mass., was the son of
Revd. William Patten, and grandson, on his mother's side, of Revd.
Eleazer Wheelcock, founder and first President of Dartmouth College.
At Dartmouth College he took his degree, and in June, 1783, at the sugges-
tion of Revd. Dr, Stiles, he was placed in charge of the church in New-
port for a few weeks, he having been licensed by the Eastern Association,
in the county of New London, in April of that year. President Stiles
having wholly relinquished the charge of the church in Newport, Mr.
Patten was selected to fill the pulpit. The installation took place May
29, 1786, on which occasion the consecration prayer was made by Revd.
Dr. Hopkins, the charge was given by Revd. Dr. Stiles, and the right
hand of fellowship was extended to him by Revd. Dr. Hitchcock, of Provi-
dence. Over this church Dr. Patten was settled till 1833, when he gave
up his charge and removed to Hartford, where he resided up to the time
of his death, March 9, 1839, aged seventy-seven years; having been in
the ministry fifty-four years.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. Si
Voted : That Mr. William Vernon, Mr. John Bours, Dr. Jonathan
Easton, Mr. Robert Stevens, and Mr. William Hunter, be Directors
for ye year ensuing. Mr. Thomas Wickham Treasurer, and Wil-
liam Patten Librarian.
Voted : That Mr. Robert Stevens be a committee to direct and
oversee the painting and repairing of the Library building.
Voted : That a tax of two dollars be laid on each member or
proprietor, for completing the repairs and painting.
Voted : That Dr. Jonathan Easton be Collector of Taxes.
Voted : That the Directors be authorized to sell five shares at
the rate of twenty dollars per share, to assist in completing the
building.
September, 1798. Mr. John Bours chosen Moderator, and Caleb
Green, Secretary.
All the officers of the last year were re-chosen.
The Treasurer's account was received.
Voted: That Mr. Robert Stevens and Dr. Jonathan Easton be
appointed to collect the back tax.
Voted: That Mr. Thomas Wickham, Robert Stevens, and Caleb
Green be a committee to audit Dr. Easton's account.
[There came now another break in the records, clearly through
a want of funds to carry on the Library. The prospect of a war
For many years Revd. Dr. Patten was a Fellow of Brown University,
which institution conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity.
He took an active part with Dr. Hopkins and others in forming the Rhode
Island Missionary Society, and was also active in establishing the Conso-
ciation of Congregational Churches in Rhode Island. As a preacher he
was argumentative and doctrinal. By his congregation, particularly those
who had known him through a long series of years, he was highly respected.
During his ministry he published '* Christianity the True Theology,"
against Paine's "Age of Reason," 1792; a *' Memoir of Mrs. Ruth Pat-
ten," his mother, and numerous sermons, one of which was on the death
of President Stiles, and another on the death of Washington.
S2 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
with. France had had a depressing effect on trade and commerce,
business was at a stand, and what capital the people had was idle.
Under the most favorable circumstances, after a war that had swept
away almost everything, it would have been difficult to more than
keep alive the Library in a place that had been so reduced in num-
bers. The population had fallen off from 9209 in 1774 to 5530 in
1782 ; and in 1800 the people numbered but 6739.
But there were those in the community who hungered for books,
and who, knowing that the Library could not keep up with even the
moderate demands of its patrons, sought to help themselves by the
formation of a club, known as the *' Proprietors of Dobson's Ency-
clopaedia," and which held its own for a number of years. Thomas
Dobson, a printer in Philadelphia, and something of a writer, had
brought out a reprint of the Encyclopcedia Britannica, in twenty-one
volumes, 4to., 1798- 1803, which was usually spoken of as Dobson s
Dictionary. For this work the club subscribed, and having done so
they drew up certain rules for their government. The rules are too
long and minute to be inserted here, but in substance the Encyclo-
pcedia was held in thirty shares, each share being owned by a
member who had the right to take out one volume at a time, and
should he keep it longer than one month he would be fined. He
was not to lend a volume to any one who did not belong to the
club, under a penalty of one dollar, and he was held responsible for
any damage to a volume while in his possession. The librarian,
who kept the keys of the book-case, was not to allow a member to
take or exchange a volume, except in his presence ; and annually,
on the first Monday in January, there was to be a meeting at the
coffee-house (Townsend's) for the election of officers and the trans-
action of other business connected with the club. A quire of paper,
with a brown paper cover, was stitched together, and in it was en-
tered the name of every member who took out a volume, with the
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. ^2>
date, and the date of the return ; while on one sheet were entries
Hke the following :
"April 24, 1804. Mr. Thomas G. Pitman wishes the fourth num-
ber to be reserved when returned."
" Dr. Case wishes No. 2 to be reserved."
This was kept up until 1 81 2, when the following action was had :
" We the undersigned, being a majority of the Proprietors of
Dobson's Encyclopaedia, do hereby agree that the books be placed
in the Redwood Library, subject to the rules and regulations here-
tofore agreed to ; and we do hereby appoint the Librarian of said
Redwood Library to be our Librarian, and that the annual meeting
of the Proprietors, directed by the tenth article, be held in future at
the Library room, where the books are deposited.
" Newport, September 22, 181 2." Signed by
** John L. Boss, Jr., Chris. Fowler, Audley Clarke, John G. White-
horne, Henry Moore, William Moore, Jr., Edward Easton, John
Earl, Jr., George Wanton, for W. Wilder's share by transfer, Thomas
R. Gardiner, Thomas G. Pitman, Sarah Wood, Solomon Townsend,
Jonathan Easton, Benjamin Waite Case, Sarah Tew, Jonathan
Bowen, John Sterne, Nicholas Taylor, John Dennis, Henry J.
Hudson."
With the books was deposited the brown-covered quire of paper,
fromwhich these particulars are taken. At the time of the transfer
the book-case was in the keeping of John L. Boss, Jr.,®^ who had
acted as Librarian from November, 1807.
^ John L. Boss was for a number of years cashier of the Rhode Island
Union Bank. He was a Revolutionary patriot and early in the contest
took an active part in the war. Peace declared, he entered into busi-
ness, and represented the town in the General Assembly. For more than
twenty 'years he was the efficient cashier of the Rhode Island Union Bank,
and was succeeded in that office by. his son, the late Nicholas G. Boss.
84 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
September 30, 1801. Annual meeting. Mr. John Bours was
chosen Moderator.^* .
** William Vernon, the President of the Library, retired. He was
the third child of Samuel Vernon, and the grandson of Daniel Vernon.
In early life he entered upon a mercantile career^ and became prominent
as a merchant. As early as 1 740 his name appears as an importer of
European goods; and in 1744 he was associated with his brother Samuel,
in a business that extended to leading ports in Europe and the West In-
dies, and which was only interrupted by the Revolution. They were also
engaged with Godfrey Malbone in fitting out privateers, in which their
gains and losses were both large. . He was an original member of the
Newport Artillery Company, 1741, and took an active part, in 1745, in
fitting out the expedition against Louisburg ; sending one of his own ves-
sels to engage in the work. In 1773 the General Assembly appointed
him, with Aaron Lopez and George Gibbs, to address a letter to the home
Government, touching the interest of Rhode Island in the cod-fishery in
and near the Gulf of St. Lawrence, then endangered by a bill before the
House of Commons. A still heavier duty was assigned him in 1744, when,
with John Collins, Samuel Fowler and Henry Ward, a correspondence
was carried on growing out of the shutting up of Boston harbor. This
was followed, in 1775, by his appointment, with William Ellery and
others, by the General Assembly, to collect particulars of the losses sus-
tained by the colony through the acts of the officers of the Crown. A
still heavier burden was put upon him by Congress, in May, 1777, when
he was appointed, with James Warren and John Diston, of Massachusetts,
to organize the Eastern Navy Board, of which body Mr. Vernon was
made President. There was not only no compensation provided for this
exacting duty, but Mr. Vernon did frequently, and liberally, advance
money to meet pressing demands on the Government, at a time when
money was rated at from three to five per cent, per month, so stringent
was the market. In this way he frequently strengthened the hands of the
Government throughout the war, though at times at great personal sac-
rifice.
But with all his exacting duties Mr. Vernon found time to correspond
with Washington, Lafayette, Adams, the Wards and Ellerys ; and he kept
alive his interest in books, which made his services valuable to the Library
when he was placed at its head. He died December 22, 1806, in his
eighty-seventh year. His wife, Judith Harwood, daughter of Philip
.NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 85
Librarian. — Rev. William Patten.
Secretary. — Caleb Green.
Directors. — Messrs. John Bours, Jonathan Easton, Robert Stevens,
William Hunter, Samuel Vernon, Jr.
Treasurer. — Mr. Thomas Wickham.
Dr. Easton was continued as Collector of Taxes, with Mr. John
Richards to assist him, and he was to be allowed a reasonable com-
pensation for his trouble. Messrs. Wickham, Stevens, and Green
were to audit Dr. Easton's accounts.
Voted: That the Rev. Mr. Dehon,'' Rev. Caleb Green,'" the Rev.
Mr. Brunson,'' the Rev. Mr. Eddy,'' and the Rev. Mr. Bradley'' be
admitted honorary members of this corporation.
Voted : That a tax of four dollars be assessed on each share, and
that the money be collected as soon as possible, in order that the
house and fences may be repaired and painted ; and that Messrs.
Easton, Stevens, Vernon and Hadwin be a committee to make the
necessary repairs, and have the house and fences painted.
Harwood, and great-granddaughter of Governors Walter Clarke and John
Cranston, died August 29, 1762, aged thirty-eight years.
Mr. Vernon was the founder and first President of the Newport Bank,
1803, aided in building Long Wharf and the stone bridge, and was a liberal
supporter of other public enterprises.
^ Rev. Theodore Dehon, D.D., was then the rector of Trinity Church,
and subsequently became the Bishop of South Carolina.
^ Rev. Caleb Green was ordained pastor of the Fourth Baptist Church,
November 27, 1796.
^^ Rev. Abraham Brunson was the schoolmaster on the Kay founda-
tion, and assistant minister of Trinity Church.
^ Rev. Michael Eddy was called to the First Baptist Church in New-
port in 1787, and occupied the pulpit almost half a century. He died
January 3, 1835. It is recorded of him that during his ministry he bap-
tized more than five hundred persons.
*** Rev. Joseph Bradley was called to the First Baptist Church in May,
1799. After residing here for a period of six years he removed to Con-
necticut.
86 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
Voted : That the Rev. Mr. Patten, Messrs. John Bours, William
Hunter, and Robert Stevens, be a committee to form a plan for the
revival of this Institution.
[There appears to have been no other meeting until September
24, 1806, when John Bours was chosen Moderator, and William H.
Vernon Secretary^
Voted : That Messrs. Hazard, Vernon, Cahoone, and Hadwin be
a committee to collect all books and other property belonging to
the Library ; that they cause to be inserted in the Newport Mcixiny
an advertisement calculated to induce persons having such prop-
erty to restore it, and to call personally upon individuals where
necessary.
Voted : That the Librarian suffer no books to be taken out of
the Library until the next meeting of the Company, and that he
dehver the key to no person except to a Director, or to a member
of the committee appointed to collect the books.
Messrs. John Bours, Jonathan Easton, Robert Stevens, William
Hunter and William H. Vernon, were chosen Directors.
Voted: That William H. Vernon, Benjamin Hazard, William
Crooke, WiUiam Hunter, and Stephen Cahoone be a committee to
form a plan for the renewal of this Institution, and they are
requested to report their proceedings at the next meeting of the
Company.
Voted : That the Directors report at the next meeting a list of
the members of the Company, and also a list of those who have
forfeited their shares, agreeably to the laws of the Corporation.
Voted: That the Rev. Mr. Tenny,'° and the Rev. Mr. Ward,^' be
admitted Honorary Members.
'^^ Rev. Mr. Tenny was installed pastor of the first Gongregational
Church, September 12, 1804, and was dismissed in May, 1815.
" Rev. John Ward, of Litchfield, Ct., was schoolmaster on the Kay
foundation, and assistant minister of Trinity Church.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 87
Voted : That the meeting adjourn to Thursday, the 9th day of
October next.
The following -appeared in the Newport Mercury of September
27th :
"The Redwood Library.
** Persons who have books in their hands belonging to the Library,
are desired to restore them immediately to the Librarian (the Rev.
William Patten) or to either of the subscribing committee, who are
authorized to receive them.
" The long neglect of this Institution by the proprietors, may pos-
sibly have furnished those who have books in their hands belonging
to it, with an excuse for neglecting to return them ; and some may
have thought it not incumbent on them to trouble themselves about
books in their possession, because they were not originally taken
out by themselves. These may be the very best of poor excuses,
and the Company must accept them as such for the long detention
of their books hitherto ; but they hope those who have so long
obligingly had the keeping of their books, will now trust them to
the care of the real owners, and will not allow themselves to be
satisfied with such reasons for any further detention. A large por-
tion of the Library books have, in one way or another, got upon
the shelves of individuals in different quarters of the town, and
many valuable sets have thus been broken and rendered useless.
Before these depredations were committed upon it, it was an insti-
tution both valuable and ornamental to the town, and the society at
large reaped the benefit of it. Let it again prosper, and that it may
begin to prosper, let the books belonging to it be honorably re-
stored.
" B. Hazard,
"W. H.Vernon,
" Benj. Hadwin,
" Stephen Cahoone,
, " Committee!'
October 9, 1806. Adjourned meeting. John Bours, Moderator,
and William H. Vernon, Secretary,
88 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
Voted : That application be made to the Legislature of this State,
for the privilege of raising three thousand dollars, by lottery, for
the benefit of this Institution, and that Messrs. Haj^ard, Hunter, and
Vernon be a committee to prepare a petition for that purpose,
and to have it presented to the General Assembly at their next
session.
Voted : That thirty new members be admitted on paying twenty-
five dollars each for a share in this Society ; and that a copy of the
report of the committee of revival be delivered to Messrs. Christ.
Fowler and John P. Mann, and that they be requested to receive the
subscriptions of those who wish to become members of this Com-
pany.
October 25, 1806. Adjourned meeting.
Voted : That Messrs. John Bours, Robert Stevens, William H.
Vernon, William Hunter and Benjamin Hazard be named in the
petition to the General Assembly of this State, as Directors of the
Lottery for which we have agreed to apply at the next session of
the said Assembly.
Voted : On a reconsideration of the vote of the last meeting, re-
specting the admission of new members, that the price of admission
be twenty dollars.
November 6, 1806. Adjourned meeting.
Voted : That Messrs. William Crooke, Benjamin Hazard, William
H. Vernon and Stephen Cahoone, be a committee for the purpose
of obtaining new subscribers to this Institution, and that they report
at the next meeting of the proprietors.
Voted : That Robert Stevens and Stephen Cahoone be a com-
mittee to examine the building, and to ascertain what repairs are
necessary before painting.
The committee appointed to apply to the General Assembly, on
the subject of a lottery, report that the privilege of raising three
thousand dollars by lottery is accorded to the Company, and that
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 89
Messrs. John Bours, Robert Stevens, William H. Vernon, William
Hunter and Benjamin Hazard are appointed directors of it.
September 30, .1807. Annual meeting. Mr. John Bours, Moder-
ator.
Chosen Directors. — John Bours, Jonathan Easton, Robert Stevens,
William Hunter and William H. Vernon. *
Treasurer. — Mr. Thomas Wickham.
Secretary. — Mr. William H. Vernon.
The committee appointed for the purpose of obtaining new sub-
scribers to the Library, reported that they had made but little
progress in the business.
September 28, 1808. Annual meeting. No business was trans-
acted other than the re-election of officers.
At the annual meeting in 1 809 there were not members enough
present to take up any business connected with the Library.
At a special meeting March 13, 18 10, a heroic effort was made to
revive an interest in the Librar}^
Voted : That a subscription be opened for new members at fifteen
dollars each, and that not less than fifty, or more than will carry the
whole number of members be admitted.
Voted : That a catalogue*^"^ of the books now remaining in the
Library be made, and that the members of the Institution return all
the books belonging to it, which they may have in their possession,
and that Messrs. Stephen Cahoone and William H. Vernon "^ be a
committee for carrying the^vote into effect.
^'^ A catalogue was made but not printed, probably from want of funds.
One was printed in 1816.
" William H. Vernon, son of William Vernon, was born March 6, 1759,
graduated at^Princeton College when but seventeen years of age, and died
in 1833. In February, 1778, he sailed for France, in the Continental
frigate, Boston, under the care of John Adams, whose son, John Quincy
Adams, was also on board. After narrowly escaping an engagement with a
7
90 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
superior force, and having taken a number of prizes, the Boston arrived at
Bordeaux March 31, 1778. Mr. Vernon was in France during the French
Revolution. While there he made a collection of pictures, of which some
notice will be found in " Reminiscences of Newport." He became an
enthusiast on the culture of the mulberry tree and the raising of silk-worms.
On his return to America he published an abridgement, in 1828, of the
treatise of M. De la Brouss^ on the subject, with notes and illustrations. It
is now very rare.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND,
91
CHAPTER V.
1810-1811
T was at this time that Mr. James Ogilvie,
a Scotchman, then travelling in America,
came to Newport — a man fond of books,
who, while here, took the initial step to
awaken a fresh interest in the Libraiy. To
this end he gave a number of lectures —
" orations " he was pleased to call them — at
Masonic Hall ; which were listened to by appreciative audiences.
The proceeds of the last lecture, on War, was given to the Library,
for the purchase of books. The act was thus noticed by the New-
port Mercury, of March 29, 18 10:
" Mr. Ogilvie presented to the Redwood Library Company the
receipts of his last evening's performance in this town. This act
of honorable liberality was very gratefully received by the proprie-
tors, who, at a general meeting, unanimously voted that their thanks
should be returned for his generous donation, and they admitted
him an Honorary Member. In a letter inclosing the sum bestowed,
Mr. Ogilvie delicately suggested his wish that it might be applied
to the purchase of certain books that he pointed out. The selec-
tion does honor to his taste and judgment; and we understand the
Company intend scrupulously to comply with his wishes on this
subject.
" To Mr. Ogilvie's visit to this part of the country, may fairly be
attributed the revival of patronage towards an institution which
onght to be the peculiar pride of the town. The Library edifice is
92 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
one of the most correctly elegant specimens of architecture in the
United States. Though the Library has been the sport of Gothic
depredations, the remaining books are highly valued, and form a "
most valuable basis for a complete collection.
" Mr. Ogilvie, as the apostle of taste and literature, has been as
successful as sanguine and disinterested in promoting their progress,
and extending their influence. He is entitled to the gratitude of
every liberal and scientific mind of the present day, and directed so
usefully and prospectively as are his labors, he will be entitled to
the gratitude of posterity."
These words must have been grateful to Mr. Ogilvie, who was
far from averse to such commendation. From Newport he travelled
south, repeating his "orations" with considerable eclat. The col-
legians in South Carolina, not only gave him a gold medal (which
he tells us in his "Philosophical Essays," he wore on all public
occasions " suspended around his neck and proudly too ") but also
got up an illumination over the chapel door, displaying " the
American eagle with the orator's name in his talons."
Mr. Ogilvie died at Aberdeen, Scotland, September i8, 1840,
aged forty-five years, where he had gone to take the title, and pos-
session of the estate of Lord Finlater, to which he had fallen heir.
To the Trustees of the Public Library in Newport.
Gentlemen :
It affords me peculiar pleasure to appropriate the emolument
arising from the delivery of an oration on Friday evening, to the
uses of your infant institution.
In what way the small sum I inclose may be most properly ex-
pended, it is for you to determine. You will not, however, I trust,
deem me unduly obtrusive, if I take the liberty to suggest the pro-
priety of including amongst the additional books you may think
proper to procure, the following works :
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 93
On Education.
1. Miss Hamilton's Letters on Education.
2. Miss Edgeworth's Practical Education.
3. Miss Edgeworth's Popular and Fashionable Tales.
EtJiics.
Smith's Theory of Moral Sentiment.
Political Eco7iomy.
1. Smith's Wealth of Nations.
2. Stewart's Political Economy.
3. Lawderdale's On National Wealth.
4. Malthus on Population.
5. Bentham on Usury.
History.
1. Russell's Ancient Europe.
2. Travels of Anacharsis.
3. Ferguson's Roman Repubhc.
4. Gibbon's Decline and Fall, etc.
5. Russell's Modern Europe.
6. Hume's History of England.
Rhetoric.
1. Cambell's Philosophy of Rhetoric.
2. Allison on Taste.
3. Hume's Dissertation on the Passions.
4. Kame's Elements of Criticism.
5. Burke on the Sublime.
MetapJiy sicks.
Hartly on Man.
Hume's Essays.
Stewart's Philosophy of the Human Mind.
94 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
Chemistry.
Lavoisier's Elements.
Murray's Chemistry.
Accept the best wishes of your humble servant,
James Ogilvie.
[Mr. Ogilvie was evidently better acquainted with books than
with their market value. The sum realized from the " oration "
was ;^88. With it in hand the following selections were made from
the above list of authors :
Hume's England, 13 vols.,.
Murray's Chemistry, 4 vols.,
Burke's Works, 4 vols.,
Ferguson's Rome,
Edgeworth's Practical Education,
Gibbon's Roman Empire, .
$19
00
18
00
12
00
9
00
5
00
18
00
On the above there was a discount that reduced the outlay to
On the 13th of March, 18 10, a subscription paper was put in cir-
culation, with the following result :
" We the subscribers agree to become proprietors of the Red-
wood Library Company, conformably to the above vot€ [that of that
date and which headed the paper] of said Library Company, viz.,
to be assessed the sum of fifteen dollars for each share we may
subscribe, to be paid whenever called for by a vote of the proprie-
tors, for completely repairing the building ; the surplus, if any, to
be appropriated to the replenishing the Library ; the subscription
to be null and void unless the number of fifty shares shall be sub-
scribed.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
95
Share
Christ. Fowler,
Robert Rogers,
David King,
John Karl, Jr.,
John Mein,
S. T. Northam,
P. O. Richmond,
James Taylor,
Charles Feke,
Charles C. Hoskins,
Henry Y. Cranston,
Robert Robinson,
Samuel F. Gardner,
Christ. Rhodes,
David M. Coggeshall,
Charles Gyles,
Henry J. Hudson,
Josiah C. Shaw,
John F. Townsend,
Horatio S. Dexter,
Samuel Lopes,
Saml. Whitehorne,
Wm. Littlefield,
John Barker,
Edmond T. Baring,
Saunders Breese,
Henry Bull,
Stephen Deblois,
WiUiam Ellery, Jr.,
Geo. Mardenborough,
Walter Channing,
B. Hazard, for C. G, Champlin,
John P. Mann, for B. Gardiner,
Thomas Bush.
Share
Enoch Hazard,
Levi Tower,
H. J. Hudson, for Clark Cook,
W. H. Vernon, for Samuel
King, Jr.,
D. King, for Audley Clarke,
Wm. M. Allston,
John G. Whitehorne,
William Ennis,
Edward Easton,
Robert Lawton,
Nichs. Taylor,
Henry Moore,
John R. Sherman,
John Johnson,
Simeon Martin,
John L. Boss, Jr.,
John Price, Jr.,
William Turner,
Gilbert Chase,
Charles M. Thurston,
John B. Gilpin,
Wm. G. Burroughs,
Daniel W. Barker,
Robert Rogers, for G. S. Sil-
liman,
Benj. Wightman,
W. Nichols,
Saml. O. Auchmuty,
Edward Martin,
Richard Fairman,
Jacob Dunnell,
Geo. W. Martin.
[On the margin of the record there is this note, made by Dr.
King, October, i860, at the time the last catalogue was made :
96 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
" From the Treasurer's books it appears that Charles C. Hoskins,
William Littlefield, John Barker, Saunders Breeze, and Daniel W.
Barker, did not become members by paying fifteen dollars per
share ; and that Charles Baring, Jr., and Francis Brinley did become
members."
The subscribers were all admitted as members.]
Voted : That tlie members now admitted pay into the hands of
the Treasurer fifteen dollars each, agreeably to the terms of their
subscription, within one month from this date.
Voted: That Mr, Christopher Fowler'* be Treasurer of the Com-
pany until the next annual meeting, in September; Mr. Wickham^^
having this day resigned that office.
Voted: That Messrs. Hazard and Hunter be a committee for the
purpose of writing to Mr. Ogilvie a letter expressing the thanks of
this Company for his liberal 'donation of the proceeds of the oration
delivered by himself in this town, on' the benefits resulting from
public libraries, and assuring him that his desire respecting the books
designated shall be fulfilled. .
Voted : That Mr. James Ogilvie be admitted an Honorary Mem-
'* Christopher Fowler was a member of the committee on the purchase
of new books. . He was a merchant of the highest integrity, and in poli-
tics just and inclined to moderation. Newport repeatedly sent him to the
General Assembly : a Representative and then a Senator. He was twice
a Presidential Elector — 1808 and 181 2 — was a member of the Council
of War in 1813-14, and one of the committee, in 1824, to frame a con-
stitution for the State, which committee made a negative report. He died
March 13, 1830, aged sixty-seven years.
^^ In Trinity Church there is a tablet bearing this inscription :
"Sacred to the Memory of Thomas and EHzabeth Wickham, who,
during a happy union of fifty years, worshipped in this Sanctuary and
walked in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord."
Mrs. Wickham was the daughter of Governor Joseph Wanton.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 97
ber of this Company, and that Messrs. Hazard and Hunter transmit
to him a copy of this vote.
Voted : That Messrs. John P. Mann, William Ellery, Jr., Stephen
Cahoone and Robert Stevens be a committee to superintend the im-
mediate repairs of the building, the construction of a fence about
the lot, and the complete painting of the edifice and the enclo-
sure.
Voted: That Messrs. Stephen Cahoone, William H.Vernon, Ben-
jamin Hadwin, Robert Rogers, David King and Levi Tower, be a
committee to take a catalogue of the books now in the Library, to
ascertain what books are missing, and to take all means in their
power to collect such books as speedily as possible, and to report
to the next meeting of the Company.
Voted : That the Treasurer be authorized to procure printed re-
ceipts, to be signed by him, and delivered to each new member, on
the payment of the amount of his subscription.
Voted : That the Rev. Samuel Towle,^^ the Rev. John Gibson,^^
and the Rev. Mr. Webb,^^ be admitted Honorary Members of this
Company.
Voted : That Messrs. Channing, Hazard, Vernon, Waring, Hun-
ter, Easton, Crooke, Mann, and Boss be a committee to take into
consideration the Charter, Laws and Regulations of this Company,
and report at the next meeting whether any, and if any, what alter-
ations it may be advisable to make therein.
September 11, 18 10. Special meeting of the proprietors; Mr.
Thomas Wickham, Moderator.
Voted : That Messrs. John Mein and Robert Rogers be a com-
'"^ Rev. Mr. Towle was the sixth pastor of the Moravians or United
Brethren. He was here from 1803 to 18 19.
^' Rev. Mr. Gibson was called to the first Baptist Church, October,
1807, and was dismissed in March, 1815.
''"^ Rev. Mr. Webb was the pastor of the Methodist Church.
98 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
mittee to audit the accounts of the Committee of Repairs, and that
the Treasurer pay the balance that may be found due, and that
they make their report at the next meeting.
Voted : That Dr. King be a Committee for Obtaining Subscribers
to this Institution, and that the subscription paper be closed on the
last Wednesday of this month.
Voted : That the Treasurer be requested to urge the new sub-
scribers to pay into the treasury the amount of their subscription.
September 26, 1810. Annual meeting; Dr. Jonathan Easton,
Moderator.
The committee appointed at the meeting, on the 19th of March
last, to take into consideration the Laws and Regulations of this
Company, and to inquire whether any, and if any, what alterations
it is advisable to make therein ; report the following laws for the
government of this Institution : which after being severally read
and considered, were unanimously adopted, viz. :
Article First. The Library and property of the Company shall be
held in shares, of which the members shall have certificates, signed
by the President.
Second. There shall be a meeting of the Company, at the Library
room, on the last Wednesday in September, annually, at three
o'clock P.M.
Third. Special meetings on other days may be called by order
of the President, or of the Directors, or upon request made in
writing to the President by ten members of the Company.
Fourth. At these special meetings, such business only shall be
transacted as shall be specified in the order for calling the same,
and in the notice given of such meetings to the members.
Fifth. Public or personal notice of every meeting of the Company
(except adjourned meetings, notices of which shall be put up in the
Library room) shall be given by the Secretary, at least five days
previous to such meeting.
Sixth. Thirty members present in person, or by proxy, shall be
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 99
necessary to constitute a meeting, and none but members em-
powered in writing, shall be admitted to act as proxies.
Seventh. No transfer of any share shall be valid until approved
by the Company, and the deed thereof recorded by the Secretary.
Eighth. All taxes and fines due from any member shall attach
upon their shares in the Library ; and no transfer of any such shares
shall be valid until such taxes and fines shall be paid.
Ninth. At every annual meeting, each member shall pay to the
Treasurer one dollar, to be appropriated to the purchase of books.
TentJi. All taxes necessary for repairs, and other purposes of the
Institution, shall be assessed by the Company at their annual meet-
ings ; or at special meetings, called agreeably to the third, fourth
and fifth articles ; and attended in person or by proxy by a majority
of the whole members of the Company.
Eleventh. Any member who shall neglect to make the annual
payment estabhshed by the ninth article, or who shall neglect after
notice in writing from the Treasurer, or from the Secretary, to pay
any tax assessed by the Company, or any fine by him incurred,
shall be deprived of the use of the Library during such delin-
quency.
Twelfth. If any member shall so continue to neglect, for the
space of one year after such notice, his right and shaoe in the
Library shall be forfeited, ipsofacto^ to the Company, provided that
three months previous to such forfeiture, further notice thereof shall
be given to the delinquent member, by the Treasurer, or the Secre-
tary ; and that no share shall be forfeited for any fines or taxes of
less amount than five dollars ; provided also, that every member
who shall be absent at sea, at the time the forfeiture of his share
would accrue, shall be allowed three months, with notice aforesaid,
after his return, before such forfeiture shall take place.
Election of Officers.
Thirteenth. The Company at their annual meetings, shall elect
from among the members, a President ; five Directors ; a Commit-
tee for the Purchase of Books, a Treasurer, a Secretary, and such
other ofificers as they shall think necessary ; vacancies in any of
loo ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
which offices may be filled at any special meeting, all which elec-
tions shall be by ballot without nomination, each member putting
into the ballot-box the name of the person for whom he votes. If
no person shall have a majority of the whole votes, the ballot shall
be taken again, between the two persons having the highest num-
ber on the first trial. In the choice of Directors, each member
shall put in a list, containing the names of five persons; and those
five, whether on one or on different lists, who shall receive most
votes, shall be declared elected. The votes shall be counted by
the Treasurer and Secretary, except in their own election ; the votes
in which cases shall be counted by the President, or by either of
the Directors.
Fourteenth . — The President :
Shall have a general superintendence of the Library ; shall preside
at the meetings of the Company and of the Directors, and of the
Committee for the Purchase of' Books, of all whom he may call
special meetings at such times as he shall think necessary ; and
shall himself be a Director ex officio.
Fifteenth. — The Directors
Shall meet at the Library room on a stated day once a quarter, and
at such other times and places as they shall appoint; of all which
meetings, except those by adjournment, every Director not absent
from the Island, shall have notice given him by the Secretary ; and
any Director, who shall neglect to attend any meeting after notice,
shall pay, if a quarterly meeting, one dollar ; if a special or adjourned
meeting fifty cents, to the Treasurer, for the use of the Company ;
which fines it shall be the duty of the Secretary to report to the
Treasurer, by whom they shall be collected. No excuse shall be
admitted for any such neglect in a Director, except sickness or
absence from the Island. The votes of four Directors, personally
present, shall be necessary for the adoption of any measure.
It shall be the duty of the Directors, to superintend the Library
and property of the Company ; to make necessary repairs, and adopt
temporary regulations (not inconsistent with the charter and laws of
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. loi
the Company) in cases unprovided for ; such regulations to remain
in force only until the next meeting of the Company.
They shall select and appoint a Librarian, whom also they may
remove ; shall prescribe his duties, and fix the amount of compen-
sation to be allowed him'.
They shall have power to ascertain all fines due to the Company,
but not to remit any fines incurred by a breach of the laws of the
Company ; which they shall take care to have strictly enforced.
At the annual meeting of the Company, the Directors shall make
report of their proceedings during the year past ; and shall recom-
mend, for the consideration of the Company, such measures as they
may think advisable.
Sixteenth. The committee for purchasing books shall be composed
of six members, added to the six Directors, and shall be elected in
the same manner as the Directors. Their meetings also shall be
called and regulated in the mode prescribed for those of the Direc-
tors, with the same penalty of fifty cents for non-attendance. The
affirmative votes of eight members shall be necessary for the pur-
chase of any book. They shall take into consideration, what addi-
tions it may be expedient from time to time to make to the Libraiy,
and shall procure the best editions of such books as they shall think
it advisable to purchase, always having reference to the state of the
Company's funds. When any member shall recommend any book
or work to the committee, by leaving the title thereof with the
Librarian, the same shall be balloted for by the committee at the
next meeting.
The committee shall report their doings to the Company at their
annual meetings.
Seventeenth. — The Treasurer.
All monies due to the Company in taxes, fines or otherwise, shall
be paid to the Treasurer; and by him held subject to the orders of
the Company, and of the Directors, and of the committee for pur-
chasing books. Upon non-payment, after proper notice of any
money so due, the Treasurer shall have power, with the advice of
the Directors, to sue for and recover the same, in the name of the
Company.
I02 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
He shall account annually to the Directors, on some day not more
than one month preceding the annual meetings of the Company, and
at such other times as they may require.
Eighteenth. — The Secretary
Shall keep journals of the proceedings of the Company, and of the
Directors, and of the committee for the purchase of books, to each
of whom he shall act as Secretary ; and of whose respective meet-
ings he shall give due notice to the several members.
He shall report all fines within his knowledge to the Treasurer;
shall record all transfers of shares approved of by the Company ;
and, under the orders of the Directors, shall have the care of the
charter, laws and deeds, of the Company.
Nineteenth. — Use of the Books in the Library.
The books contained in the first annexed catalogue, shall always
remain in the Library. Whoever shall take one of them out, shall pay
as a fiiie one dollar, to the Treasurer, for every breach of this article.
Under this restriction, each member may have books from the
Library, any single volume at one time, which volume he may keep,
if a folio or quarto, one month (except the volumes of the Encyclo-
pcedia, which shall be kept only one week each) ; an octavo, a fort-
night ; any book of lesser size, or a pamphlet, one week. Of any
set of books he may take at a time any two succeeding volumes, the
last of which he may keep the whole time allowed for both, if taken
separately. The Directors shall have power, nevertheless, to limit or
extend the time allowed for keeping any particular book ; or to direct
that particular books shall remain in the Library, during such
time as they may think fit.
Any member may enter his name with the Librarian, on Libra-
rian days, for any book then out ; and shall be entitled thereby
to receive such book when returned. But no member's name shall
be entered at any one time, for more than one book, or two volumes
of a set ; nor shall more than one member^s name be entered at
the same time for the same book or books ; and such book or
books shall be reserved on Library day only, for the person whose
name is entered therefor.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 103
Applications for books, shall be made in person or by writing.
No person shall receive a book out of the Library but from the
Librarian ; to whom he shall give a receipt therefor at the time, and
to whom alone at the Library, it shall be returned.
If a person shall detain a book over the time allowed, he shall
pay as a fine ten cents for every day's detention of such book ;
and if it shall not be returned within one month after demand
made in writing therefor by the Librarian, the delinquent shall pay
double the value of the book, or of the set to which it belongs ;
the v^alue shall be estimated by the Directors.
If any person shall damage a book belonging to the Library, by
turning down leaves ; blotting, tearing, or otherwise defacing the
same ; he shall pay therefor such fine, in proportion to the damage,
as the Directors shall impose, not exceeding the value of the book
or set, which he shall forfeit and pay, in case such book shall be so
damaged as to require replacing.
The Librarian shall carefully examine all books returned, and
any damage done to any of them he shall note at the time, in a
book kept by him for that purpose ; in which he shall also keep an
account of all books detained, and of all breaches of any of the
regulations relating to the use of the Library.
The President, Directors, and members of the Committee for the
Purchase of Books, and the Secretary, may at all times have free
access to the Library, the better to enable them to perform the du-
ties of their respective offices; they are not, however, to take out
books, otherwise than is permitted to the members generally. No
other person whatever shall be allowed, by the Librarian, to have
the key to the Library.
No person, not authorized to receive books, shall be permitted to
frequent the Library, except in company with a member; nor shall
any such person be allowed to take down books from the shelves.
Twentieth. Under the foregoing regulations, such persons having
a temporary residence in the town, as the President and Directors
shall authorize, may have the use of the Library ; paying in advance
therefor three dollars for the quarter, and depositing with the Libra-
rian twenty dollars, which shall be restored on the return of the
last book by him taken out ; which deposit, however, may be dis-
I04 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
pensed with, in cases where the President, or 'any one of- the Direct-
ors, shall in writing to be left with the Librarian, take the responsi-
bility upon himself.
Books Deposited.
Tiveuty-first. Any member, or other person, with permission of
the Directors, may deposit books in the Library, to remain there
for use, or to be loaned out, as the owner shall direct at the time of
deposit ; and all such books shall be preserved with the same care,
and under the same regulations, as the books of the Company ; but
no responsibility shall be incurred by the Company in consequence
of such deposit.
Admission of New Members.
Twenty-second. The admission of any member into the Company
shall require the vote of at least one-third of the whole members of
the Company and a majority of those present at the meeting at
which he shall be admitted.
Every such application shall be decided upon by ballot.
Every applicant for admission into the Company, shall have his
name entered as such in the books of the Secretary, at least one
month previous to the meeting at which he shall be proposed for
admission.
From and after the last day of May, A. D. i8i i, the price for the
admission of new members shall be twenty-five dollars^ which shall
be paid to the Treasurer, and applied solely to the purchase of
books.
Twenty -third. All laws and regulations of the Company hereto-
fore enacted, are hereby repealed ; but this repeal is not to operate
as a relinquishment of any forfeitures incurred, or taxes due to the
Company.
After the adoption of the preceding regulations, the Proprietors
elected for the year ensuing the following officers : '*''
'** Mr. John Bours having declined to serve longer as President, Dr.
Jonathan Easton was elected to the office.
When Mr. Bours was chosen to fill the vacancy caused by the retiring
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 105
President. — Dr. Jonathan Easton.
Directors. — Messrs. William Hunter, John P. Mann, Walter Chan-
ning, Robert Stevens and John Mein.
Committee for Purchasing Books. — Messrs. Christopher Fowler,
Benjamin Hazard, Dr. David King, John L. Boss, Jr., Dr. Edmund
T. Waring ^^ and Dr. William Turner.
Treasurer. — Mr. Benjamin Hadwin.
Secretary. — Mr. Robert Rogers.
September 29, 1 8 10. Resolved: That at the adjourned meeting of
the Library Company, to be held on Tuesday, the 2d of October, an
exact statement be made of the funds and amount of the repairs ;
amount of sums paid on the new subscription ; amount remaining
of Mr. Vernon, he was already far advanced in years, and could do but
little for the Library, other than to sustain its dignity by an unblemished
character. He held the position up to 1809, when he felt constrained to
give up all active work. Two years later, 181 1, he sent in his resignation
to the corporation of Trinity Church, after having faithfully served the
church as vestryman, church warden (and lay reader at times) over a
period of forty-six years. He died in July, 1815, in his eighty-first year.
That Mr. Bours was a good man, engaged in a respectable calling, we
know ; but what qualifications he may have had for the position of presi-
dent of a literary institution, is not known to the present generation.
''^ Dr. Edmund T. Waring was born at Charleston, S. C. For more
than thirty years he practiced in Newport. He was one of the founders
of the Rhode Island Medical Society. He died in Charleston, and in
accordance with his wishes his remains were brought to Newport, and
placed in the grave with those of his wife. It was said of him by a bro-
ther physician (the late Dr. T. C. Dunn) : " With a high sense of honor,
and a dignity which commanded the respect of his brethren, a skill as a
physician which won the confidence of his patients, and a gentlemanly
character which attracted the regard of all his fellow-citizens, he lived in
the home of his adoption universally beloved, and died universally
lamented."
As one of the Book Committee he was one of the most useful members
of the Library Company.
)o6 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
due ; that the assessment of a tax to be appropriated to the dis-
charge of arrearages due on repairs, etc. and the immediate collec-
tion of the one dollar from each share, agreeably to the ninth arti-
cle of the Rules and Regulations, be recommended to be forthwith
voted by the Company.
Resolved : That for the ensuing six months the Library be open
for the purpose of taking books, once in each week, viz., on Satur-
days, from two to five o'clock p.m.
Resolved : That the Secretary be empowered to procure a suita-
ble book, for entering on record the proceedings of the Directors
and Purchasing Committee.
October 2, 1 8 lo. Special meeting. Jonathan Easton, Moderator.
Voted : That the Treasurer be, and he is hereby directed, to call
on the respective Proprietors for the tax of one dollar, agreeable
to the ninth article of the Rules and Regulations.
Voted : That a tax of one dollar be forthwith assessed on each
share, for the purpose of discharging the arrearages due on repairs
and other contingent expenses.
Voted : That William Hunter, Benjamin Hazard, Edmund T.
Waring, David King, William Turner, WiUiam Marchant, and John
L. Boss, Jr., be a committee to prepare an address and present the
same to the public for the purpose of obtaining donations of books
to the Library.
Voted : That David King, and the Treasurer and Librarian, be a
committee to solicit additional subscribers to the Institution, until
1st of May, 1811.
[In compliance with the wishes of the Proprietors, the committee
issued this forcible appeal, drawn up by the late Hon. William
Hunter, to the pubHc]
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
lO'J
CHAPTER VI.
1811 — 1829.
HE Directors and Company of the
Redwood Library are under the
necessity of sohciting public patron-
age, in support of that Institution.
They feel no degradation, and they
offer no apology, in addressing them-
selves, for this purpose, to literary
and benevolent minds. In awaken-
ing and directing the generosity of
men of science to the advancement of science, they deprecate the
imputation of motives merely selfish. They are but agents in a
common cause, for the common benefit. In addition, however, to
this sentiment (as just as it is amiable) of the community of scien-
tific interests, there are peculiar circumstances connected with the
history of this Institution, of persuasive influence, to conciliate the
sympathy of the public, and which constitute a well-grounded claim
on its liberality and support. It is now upwards of sixty years
since the Library was established. Its founders were animated by
a truly noble and enlightened public spirit, and it must be confessed
that their splendid services in favor of literature, put to shame
the reluctant and parsimonious patronage of our own times.
The very name of the Library, reminds us of the noble bounty
of Abraham Redwood, Esq., who, in the year 1747, bestowed on
io8 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
this Institution, five hundred pounds, sterHng, for the purchase of
books.
From the bounty of another individual, Henry Collins, Esq., we
obtained the valuable lot of ground, on which the Library edifice
is erected. That edifice, too, attests not only the taste, but the
MUNIFICENCE of its founders. In its design and construction, by a
strict conformity to the principles of ancient art, and by an unstinted
but judicious expenditure, they have ornamented this town with
a structure that exemplifies the simplicity and grandeur, the chaste
elegance and the magnificent effects of Grecian architecture.
Thus auspicious was the origin, and rapidly successful was the
progress of this Institution, when in the very height of its prosperity
it was overwhelmed by calamity.
During our Revolutionary conflict, this town was occupied by
different armies, and was torn and wasted by the cruel desolations
of war. Our Library edifice was defaced, our books were pillaged,
our friends driven from their homes, and the few who ultimately
returned, were themselves dispirited by their recent losses, and dis-
consolate at their future prospects. After the peace the Library
was suffered to go into decay, its interests, in spite of the rallying
efforts of a few individuals, were neglected, and the benevolent
intentions of its founders were to all a;ppearances irretrievably frus-
trated. But to obtain this further addition of modern books, to any
great amount, is beyond our means. The regular income from
taxes and assessments must necessarily be tardy and inadequate,
and if we are confined to this source exclusively, we shall be
obliged to postpone, to an indefinite period that, which is most
immediately wanted, and waste in petty and detached purchases,
the funds that can be economically and most advantageously
invested at once.
We do therefore invoke in our aid all those who, as scholars and
patriots, are convinced of the importance and utility of Hterary in-
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 109
stitutions. Where can the opulent better deposit their gifts, than
where, enshrined by gratitude, they will endure, as a monument of
their magnanimity. In any other act of benevolence, the motive
may be as virtuous, and the feeling that prompts it as momentarily
delightful, but in none can the beneficent effect be as permanent.
It is not confined to the present age, but extends to the latest pos-
terity. No fame can be more pure, no praise more deserv^ed, no
species of celebrity more honorable, than that which gratitude be-
stows on the founders and endowers of literary institutions. Let
us then hope that for these rewards there may be many noble emu-
lous candidates, and that, not only in the narrow circle of our own
state or society, but wherever be?tevolence is esteemed a virtue, or
science a blessing.
The golden opportunity of inciting the attention, and invoking
the beneficence of the opulent, presented by the iate peaceful and
prosperous times, was not improved. But it is with pride and
pleasure we announce to the patrons of literature, that within the
two last years, in spite of the unprosperous state of our commercial
concerns, and the consequent depression of the public mind, an
attention to the interests of this Institution has been revived and in-
spirited. Its Constitution and By-laws are new-modelled and im-
proved, new proprietors are admitted on easy and liberal terms, the
proper and necessary officers are appointed, who regularly execute
their respective duties. The Library edifice has been repaired and
renovated, many dispersed volumes have been regained, taxes have
been regularly assessed and paid, and valuable modern publications,
to a considerable amount, have been procured. So much has been
done by ourselves, that we think we can with propriety justify our
present call for assistance from others. To render this Institution
efficiently useful, and to complete the plan of its founders, a large
addition of modern books is required. Our ancient books are of
no ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD L/BRARV,
uncommon merit and value, and form a solid and peculiarly appro-
priate basis for a various and vast collection.
For and in behalf of the Directors and Company of the Redwood
Library.
William Hunter,
William Ellery, Jr.,
Christopher Fowler,
William Turner,^
Edmund T. Waring,
Committee.
[It is refreshing to see how much interest was now shown in the
Institution, that for so many years had suffered from neglect. A
record was provided for the doings of the Directors, and of the
Purchasing and other committees, and new life was instilled into all
departments of the Library. Members of committees were held to
a strict performance of their duties, and were fined for non-attend-
ance, if on the Island, in accordance with the rules they had helped
to establish ; and we began to learn what books were selected and
how they were obtained — books few in number each year, for the
Library was always short of funds ; but the little at the disposal of
the committee was laid out understandingly.]
^ Dr. William Turner was born at Newark, N. J., in 1775. ^i^
father and grandfather were both physicians. After being licensed, and
having been made a Fellow of the Medical Society of his native State,
he removed to East Greenwich, R. I., and became the partner of his
uncle, Dr. Peter Turner. Failing health induced him to accept a com-
mission as Surgeon in the Navy, in 1799. On his return from a cruise in
the frigate General Greene, he established himself in Newport. He was
well read, gave to the Library all the time that could be spared from his
profession, and ably assisted in the selection and purchase of books; he
being on the Boerk Committee. He died suddenly in 1837, then in his
sixty-seventh year.
NEWPORT. RHODE ISLAND. in
October 6, 1810. Meeting of the Directors and the Purchasing
Committee.
It was voted that Walter Channing and John Mein, of the
Directors, and Christopher Fowler of the committee, were not on
the Island.
William Hunter and Benjamin Hazard were to confer with Rous-
maniere & Barber,*'' respecting the purchase of books for the
Library, including Hume's History of England and Smollett's Con-
tinuation, and report the result to the next meeting of the Directors
and Purchasing Committee.
The committee were also to write to Dr. Abiel Holmes,^^of Cam-
bridge, Mass., and Mr. Daniel E. Updike, of Wickford, relative to
books belonging to the Redwood Library Company, which are
missing, and concerning which it has been suggested they can give
some information.
Resolved: That every member of the joint committee of Direc-
tors and Purchasing Committee, who is not present within fifteen
minutes of the time appointed for theii respective meetings, whether
special or adjourned, shall be subject to the fines levied by the rules
and regulations.
^^ RousMANiERE & Barber, at that time publishing the Newport Mer-
cury, were dealers in books and stationery. They were enterprising men —
as enterprising as men could be with so little capital — and that year
brought out an edition of Wieland's "Oberon," in two volumes, with a
preface and a biographical sketch of the author, by William Hunter, then
one of the Directors of the Library. The next year they put to press
''Paley's Works," in five volumes, with a memoir by G. W. Meadley —
no small feat for a small country office, fitted with one small platen press,
on which the newspaper had also to be worked.
^■^ Dr. Holmes had probably visited the Library, in search of material
for his great work, ''American Annals," which Prof. Sparks said was
"among the most valuable products of the American press," and Mr.
Updike was at the head of the Academy at Wickford.
112 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
October 20, 18 10. Meeting of the Directors and Book, Com-
mittee. John Mein was not on the Island. WilHam Hunter and
WiUiam Turner not appearing in season, were fined fifty cents each,
which they paid to the Secretary.
The sub-committee were to purchase forthwith Stewart's [Gilbert
Stuart] History of Scotland, and of the Reformation.
Benjamin Hazard and the Secretary were to contract with John
Stevens for books to the amount of a share and the taxes now due ;
and John L. Boss, Jr., was to ascertain thfe best terms on which the
EncyclopcBciia^'^ ^ owned by a company of gentlemen, can be obtained
for the Library. The Librarian was not to permit any book that
needed repairs to be taken out of the Library, and he was to pre-
pare a list, and have it ready at the next meeting, of books that
should be repaired.
October 27, 1 810. At the meeting of the Directors and Book
Committee, John P. Mann was fined fifty cents for non-attendance,
John L. Boss, Jr., was not on the Island, and Christopher Fowler
was excused. John Mein and David King were appointed a com-
mittee to examine 'the books that needed repairs and to have the
work done on the best terms they could make.
Voted : That the committee purchase the following books, with
the proceeds of the donation of Mr. James Ogilvie,^^ amounting to
eighty-eight dollars ; if not sufficient to procure the whole, to make
such selection as they may think proper.
^* The ownership of the "Encyclopaedia," and the manner in which
it was transferred to the Library, has already .been referred to.
^' The donation of Mr. Ogilvie, and the manner in which it was ex-
pended has already been referred to. The Committee reported that they
had purchased all the designated works but " Malthus on Population,"
Campbell's "Philosophy of Rhetoric," Murray's "Chemistry," "Hart-
ley on Man," and "Alison on Taste." These works were subsequently
obtained.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 113
The following books were ordered to be purchased :
Fox's. [Charles James] History of the Stuarts.
Adolphus's [John] History of George III. [History of England
from the Accession of George HI.]
Murphy's Tacitus. [Arthur Murphy's translation, with notes.]
Dupaty's Travels.
Melmoth's Pliny. [Letters, translated with occasional remarks,
by William Melmoth.]
Gillies's [John] Aristotle, Ancient Greece, and History of the
World.
Edwards's [Bryant] History of the West Indies.
Roscoe [William], Lorenzo de Medici, and Leo the Tenth.
Bacon's Works. [The edition of 1803.]
Middleton [Conyers], Cicero, 1804. [The Library was in pos-
session of the editions of 1742, and of his Miscellaneous Works,
1752.]
The committee were empowered to subscribe for the Edinburgh
and Quarterly Reviezvs.
[The meetings of the Directors and the Book Committee were
occasionally held at the Library, but usually at the house of the
Secretary, or of one of the members ; and interesting no doubt
were the discussions over the work they had in hand. The
attendance was prompt and regular, as is shown by the small
number of fines assessed. Of these no further notice will here be
taken.]
November 20, 18 10. The sub-committee were authorized to sub-
scribe for Walsh's Annual Register and Review.
Mr. William Hunter was to subscribe in New York for Dodsley's
Annual Register.
John Mein, Dr. King and the Librarian were to procure a suitable
stove, to be placed in one of the rooms, and provide sufficient fuel
for the winter.
114 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
January 2, 181 1. Voted: That the ordained clergy of .the re-
spective denominations have permission to take out books from the
Library, during their residence in the town as clergymen, subject
to the rules and regulations adopted by the Company, and that the
Secretary give them respectively due notice thereof.
Voted : That the Librarian arrange the books in such order on
the shelves, as they think will best facilitate the finding books when
called for.
January 21, 181 1. Resolved: That the sub-committee direct the
Librarian in what manner the respective donations made to the
Library shall be entered in the red book procured for registering
the same.
May 16, 181 1. John P. Mann was instructed to complete the
painting and fixing the balls on the posts in front of the Library
yard.^*
Voted : That Rhoda Mardenbrough be permitted to take out
books from the Library on the right of her brother George W.
Mardenbrough, until he shall transfer his right "to her, she paying
all taxes that are or may fall due.
The time for paying taxes was extended to the last day of May,
^ The fence around the grounds was an expensive one, and ornamental,
with high gate posts, surmounted by the balls referred to. It was some-
thing of a tax to keep it in repair, and in 1858 it gave way to a new
fence of the same design. This, in turn, rotted away, and was again re-
newed in 1875. A portion of that fence may still be seen on the north
front east of the gates. The elaborate iron gates on that side stood
originally in front of the Redwood estate, on Thames Street, opposite
Ann Street. When they were taken down they were purchased by the
late Andrew Robeson, who intended to use them in front of his estate on
Bellevue Avenue, but changing his mind, he gave them to the Redwood
Library, and they were set up in 1875. The iron fence on the west front
was given by Mr. George Gordon King, as part of a memorial to the
memory of his deceased brother, Alexander Mercer King.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 115
after which the names of all delinquent subscribers were to be
stricken from the list of proprietors.
Benjamin Hazard and Dr. King to procure a new Librarian,®^ who
would attend to the opening of the Library two afternoons in each
week, from 2 to 5 o'clock.
September 25, 181 1. Annual meeting; Dr. Jonathan Easton
serving as Moderator.
Dr. Jonathan Easton was elected President.
Directors. — Walter Channing, Robert Stevens, Christopher Fow-
ler. John P. Mann and William Hunter.
Purchasing Committee. — Benjamin Hazard, Dr. William Turner,
Dr. Edmund T. Waring, Dr. David King, John L. Boss, Jr., Wil-
liam Vernon.
Secretary. — Robert Rogers.
Treasurer. — Benjamin Hadwin.
A tax of one dollar was assessed in addition to the dollar annu-
ally assessed for books ; and a subscription was solicited in aid of
the annual tax.
Voted : That subscribers have a right to subscribe books, charts,
etc., or in money ; or in money to be expended in such books as
they, the contributors, may specify, and under restrictions not to be
delivered or permitted to be taken out of the Library, if the donor
shall so prescribe, and that all donations be regularly entered in the
red book procured for that purpose.
October 8, 181 1. Drs. Waring and Turner were' a committee to
obtain subscriptions for shares, at twenty-five dollars each, either in
cash, or books, to be valued by them.
^ John Rodman was Librarian from 1811 to 181 2, but no mention is
made of his appointment. He was a schoolmaster, with an excellent repu-
tation as such ; but schools at that day had an afternoon as well as morn-
ing session, and it does not appear that he attended to both duties. He
came of an excellent family of Quakers,
ii6 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
John Rodman was appointed Librarian, with a salary of forty
dollars per annum, from the first of June last.
Resolved: That the proceedings of the Subscription Committee,
as reported, be approved, and that the south wing of the Library
building be appropriated for the reception of such books as may be
subscribed and presented on condition of not being taken out of
the Library, and that said conditions shall be strictly adhered to.
Resolved : That subscribers of donations, either of books or
money, who are not inhabitants of the town of Newport, shall be
allowed the use of the Library for the purpose of their consulting
and perusing books, during Library hours.
Resolved : That the President, Secretary and David King, be ap-
pointed a committee to determine on what books should be placed
in the south wing, with prohibition that they should not be taken
out, but kept within the building, for the use of the Proprietors and
others, there only ; and that said committee have such repairs made
as they may think requisite to make the room more convenient for
this purpose ; and, furthermore, are hereby empowered to purchase
on the best terms they can one dozen chairs for the use of the Red-
wood Library.
September 15, 18 12. Messrs. Waring and Turner were to write
to John B. Gilpin,^ Esq., and obtain from him an accurate catalogue
of all the books he has for disposal, and the terms, and report the
same to an adjourned meeting of the committee.
September 26, 181 2. Resolved: That the above committee pur-
chase the books now selected from the catalogue procured from
' Mr. Gilpin, on the terms proposed by him ; and the same commit-
tee were to purchase the thirty-four volumes selected by a catalogue
" John Bernard Gilpin was the British Vice-Consul for Rhode Island
and Connecticut, residing at Newport. He removed to Nova Scotia, and
died there.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 117
presented by George Wanton;^'' they being instructed to draw on
the Treasurer ninety dollars, towards paying for the above purchase
of books. The books to be placed in the Library previous to the
annual meeting.
September 30, 1812. Resolved: That the standing committee are
directed to receive of any Proprietor who may owe a tax to the
Company, any book or books such Proprietor may offer in lieu of
said tax ; provided such books shall be approved by them, and
shall, in their opinion be worth double the amount of said tax, which
shall, on notification to the Treasurer of the receipt of said books,
be discharged.
Resolved : That the Directors cause the Regulations of the Com-
pany, together with a Hst of the members and a " catalogue of the
books^ belonging to the Library on the first day of January next to
be published in a neat pamphlet, and a copy thereof to be furnished
to each Proprietor.
March 26, 181 3. Benjamin Hazard was requested to subscribe
for the Edinburgh Revieiv, from No. i to No. 20, inclusive, and to
continue the subscription on the terms offered in the proposals
issued by Eastburn, Kirk & Co.
Dr. Edmund T. Waring was to purchase Swift's^^ Works, twenty-
four volumes, duodecimo, offered to him for one dollar per volume,
*' George Wanton kept and sold books.
No list has been preserved of the books selected from either Gilpin or
Wanton.
^ These instructions were not fully carried out until April, 181 6, when
a Catalogue, with the Rules and Regulations, was published. The num-
ber of volumes then in the Library was 1502, being 14 less than were in
the Library in 1764; showing how great had been the depredations dur-
ing the war, when we take into consideration the accessions from 1810
to 1816. No list of members accompanied the catalogue of 1816.
^' This was the edition of 1803, arranged by Thomas Sheridan. The
Library had the edition of 1764, the gift of John Bours.
ii8 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
and on receipt of the money the books were to be placed in the
Library.
Jonathan Easton^" deceased since the last meeting. Robert Ste-
vens confined by sickness, Walter Channing not on the Island,
William Hunter and Benjamin Hazard fined each fifty cents for non-
attendance.
August 17, 1813. William Marchant and Dr. King were to have
all the numbers of the monthly reviews and British Critic, lately
presented by John B. Gilpin, and which are now complete, bound
together with fifteen volumes, to which the appendix is wanting.
September 29, 1813. Annual meeting.
Was Chosen President. — Robert Stevens.
Were Chosen Directors. — Christopher Fowler, William Hunter,
John P. Mann, Simeon Martin, and Christopher G. Champlin.
Book Committei. — Benjamin Hazard, William Turner, Edmund
T. Waring, David King, WiUiam H.Vernon, WiUiam Marchant.
Secretary. — Robert Rogers.
Treasurer. — Benjamin Hadwin.
Resolved : That Solomon Southwick, of Albany, N. Y., be ad-
mitted an Honorary Member.
Resolved : That Richard K. Randolph, John Dennis, Dutee J."
Pearce, and Samuel Fowler Gardner, be admitted members of this
Company, in the rights of Jacob Dunnell, William M. Allston,
Richard Fairman, and Samuel Lopez, they having purchased their
respective rights.
A tax of one dollar was assessed on every share, in addition to
^ Dr. Jonathan Easton, who had been the President from 1809, was
a successful practitioner. Born August 6, 1747, he died March 13, 181 3.
He was of Quaker origin, and was highly respected in his profession.
He was an original Fellow of the Rhode Island Medical Society, and
was the first to introduce inoculation for small-pox into Newport, in
1772.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 119
the tax of one dollar annual tax, as directed by the rules and
regulations.
January 28, 1814. Resolved: That the following works be pur-
chased :
Arthur Young's Agricultural Work [Le Cultivateur Anglois,
Paris, 1800].
Agricultural Transactions of the Pennsylvania Society.
Agricultural Transactions of the New York Society.
Kirwan on Manure [Richard Kirwan, 1807].
Lay wick on Wool.
Duparty's Travels.
Ganganelli's Letters [Pope Clement XIV., London, 1777].
Bissett's Life of Burke [Robert Bisset, 1800].
Hamilton's Works [18 10].
Additional Works of Burke.
Mrs. Hay's Biography of Remarkable Women.
Sully's Memoirs [M. De L'Ecluse, 1805].
Resolved : That Buffon's Natural History, 9 vols., octavo [1791],
presented by William H. Vernon, be received and placed on the
shelves, on the conditions by him proposed, viz., " to be replaced to
him by a good set whenever he may require it."
January 23, 1815. Addison's works in 6 volumes [1811] were
purchased for $%, of John Johnson.
January 31, 181 5. The sum of $12^ was appropriated for books,
with w^hich sum Messrs. Waring, King and Hadwin were to pur-
chase the following books :
History of Ceylon [Robert Percival, 4to., 1803].
Bryan Edwards's Hispaniola.
Savary's [Anne-Jean-Marie-Rene] Letters [on Egypt, 1787].
Bartram's [William, 1792].
Voltaire's History Lewis XIV. [The age of Louis XIV., 1780].
I20 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
Johnson on Drainage [J. Johnston] ; also his work on Irri-
gation.
Curtis [WilHam] on Grapes [1812].
Bougainville [Lewis de, 1772], Voyages.
Robertson [William, D.D.], History of Scotland [the copy was
probably sold, for the one in the Library, 1773, was the gift of Capt.
Benjamin Peirce].
Robertson's America, 1778.
Plutarch's Lives [Langhorne translation, 1816].
Emporium of Arts and Sciences.
Smellie's [William] Natural Philosophy [Philosophy of Natural
History, 1808].
Home Tooke's Diversions.
September 27, 1815. No business was transacted at the annual
meeting, other than the election of officers, and adding the names
of Oliver H. Perry, John G. Whitehorne, and William C. Gardner
to the Donation Committee.
August 6, 1819. Voted: That the sum of eighty dollars be appro-
priated for books, under Benjamin Hazard, and Drs. Wearing and
King, who were to select books from a prepared list. The com-
mittee made the following selections, other books on the list having
been already purchased :
Nile's Register [1816-33, and of which the Library has 46
volumes].
Eustace's [John Chetwode] Travels [1806].
Clark's Travels [Edward Daniel, 18 17].
Davy's Works [Sir Humphry's Elements of Agricultural Chem-
istry, 1 8 19].
Woodville.
Cuvier [Essay on the Theory of the Earth, 18 18].
[No business, other than the election of officers, was transacted
at the annual meetings of 1816 and 18 1 7. At the annual meeting,
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, 121
September 30, 18 16, a committee was appointed to revise the
" Rules and Regulations," and were to report at an adjourned meet-
ing-]
October 17, 18 16. Resolved: That the amendments presented by
Benjamin Hazard be accepted, and that the Representatives of the
town be requested to have the same passed into an act at the next
meeting of the Legislature.
January 7, 1817. Resolved: That the thanks of the Directors, in
behalf of the Company, be presented to Mr. Charles B. King, for
his elegant portrait of Mr. Abraham Redwood, founder of this In-
stitution ; that Dr. King be a committee to procure a suitable frame
for the same, and have it placed in the Library room, and that the
Secretary transmit a copy of this vote to Mr. Charles B. King.
Resolved : That the Secretary be directed to write to Mr. Charles
Dudley, of Albany, respecting the tract of land presented to this
Institution by Solomon Southwick, Esq.,^^ to ascertain whether the
^^ It does not appear that anything was ever realized from the prop-
erty. Mr. Dudley, when applied to, wrote as follows, January 25,
1823:
'' On examination and search at the Comptroller's office, no charge
can be discovered against the lot of land conveyed by Solomon South-
wick, Esq., to the Redwood Library, viz., lot No. 29, of Township No.
50, Totten and Crossfield. The lands in that quarter of the State are
remote from settlements, and generally poor, and lot No. 29, has proba-
bly escaped taxation, either from its trifling value, or that it has been
considered as still belonging to the State,"
The following is a copy of the deed of gift to the Library, from Solo-
mon Southwick :
To all men to whom these presents shall come greeting :
Know ye. That I, Solomon Southwick, of the city of Albafty in the State
of New York, being desirous to advance the progress and extend the
benefits of learning and science, and also to contribute towards perpetu-
ating the memory of Henry Collins, Esq., a principal founder of the In-
9
122 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
same has been taxed or sold for taxes ; requesting him to redeem
the same, and, as the agent of the Institution, pay any taxes which
stitution hereinafter mentioned, and the hberal patron of my late revered
father, in his early life, in consideration thereof have given, granted,
alienated, enfeoffed and confirmed and by these presents do give, grant,
alien, enfeoff and confirm unto the Company of the Redwood Library, of
Newport, Rhode Island, their successors and assigns forever, that certain
piece or parcel of land lying in the countv of Essex, in the State of New
York distinguished as lot number twenty-nine of township number
fifty in Totten and Crossfield's purchase, said lot containing one hun-
dred and twenty acres (as by reference being had to the letters patent
dated the twenty-fourth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eleven, signed by Daniel B. Tompkins, Governor of
the said State of New York, and duly authenticated under the great seal
of the said State whereby the above-mentioned land is granted to me the
said Solomon Southwick, will more fully appear) together with all and
singular the rights, hereditaments and appurtenances to the same belong-
mg or in anywise appertaining, to have and to hold the above-described
and granted premises unto the said Company of the Redwood Library,
their successors and assigns as a good indefeasible estate of inheritance
forever. And I the said Solomon Southwick, for myself and my heirs do
hereby promise and agree to and with the said Company of the Redwood
Library, their successors and assigns that upon the request of the said
Company their successors and assigns, I will from time to time hereafter
make, do and execute, or cause to be made, done and executed all such
further or other reasonable acts, deeds, conveyances and assurances in the
law whatsoever, for the further, better and more perfect and absolute
granting and conveying and assuring the premises unto the said Com-
pany their successors and assigns, as by the said Company their successors
or assigns or any of their counsel learned in the law shall be reasonably
advised, devised and required. In \vitness whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and seal at Albany, this tenth day of September in the year of
our J^ord one thousand eight hundred and thirteen.
Signed, sealed and delivered in the S. SOUTHWICK [seal].
presence of
DiREK Ten Broeck,
John N. V. Yates.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 123
may hereafter accrue, and that the amount of moneys paid by him
shall be remitted in any way he may direct.
November i, 18 19. An additional sum of fifty dollars was appro-
priated for the purchase of books.
November 4, 18 19. The following books were ordered to be pur-
chased :
Mitford's History of Greece [18 18].
Leland's History of Ireland.
Bozman's History of Maryland [John Leeds, 181 1].
Ramsay's History of the Revolution [181 1].
Laing's History of Scotland.
Holmes's [AbielJ American Annals [1805].
Belknap's [Jeremy] History of New Hampshire [1794-7J.
Adams's [John] Correspondence with [Jonathan] Sewall.
July 20, 1820. Seventy dollars were appropriated for the purchase
of books, in the following order :
Sismundi's Italian Republics.
Sir John Froissart's Chronicles, translated by Thomas Johnes.
Communications of the Massachusetts Historical Society.
Humboldt's Travels [181 5].
Baron de Grimm: Historical and Literary Memoirs [1814].
Marmoutel's Memoirs [1807].
Madame de Sevigne, Letters to her Daughter and her Friends
[1811].
Memoirs of Madame de Maintenon [1806].
Works of Madame de Stael [18 18].
Gibbon's Miscellaneous Works [1796].
Abbe Raynai's Works [Translated by J. O. Justamond, 1783].
Mark Noble: Memoirs of Cromwell [1787].
[The Treasurer was ordered to pay the bills for books, from
August 6, 1 8 19, to date, to the amount of two hundred dollars.]
January 24, 1821. At a meeting of the Directors and the Book
124 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
Committee, at the residence of the President, Mr. Robert Stevens,
the following selection of books was made :
John Aikin's Life of Howard [1794].
Barthelemy's Travels in Italy [1802].
Jonathan Carver's Travels [Interior of North America, 1792].
Jefferson's Notes on the State of Virginia [1801].
John Moore's Travels in France [View of Society and Manners,
1803].
Madame Roland's Appeal to Impartial Posterity [1796].
Richard Cumberland's Memoirs [1806].
Sir Humphry Davy's Elements of Agricultural Chemistry
[1819].
WiUiam Smith's History of New York [18 14].
Hallam's History of the Middle Ages.
Prince Eugene's [of Savoy] Memoirs [181 1].
Malthus [Thomas Robert] on the Principles of Population
[1809].
Southey's Life of Nelson [18 14].
Southey's Life of Wesley [1820].
Botta's History of the War of Independence.
April 10, 1821. Resolved: That the Librarian be directed to
offer the use of the Library room to the Medical Society, when-
ever they may meet in this town for the purpose of transacting
their business.
July 20, 1 82 1. A further selection of books was made September
15th; the Book Committee were requested to procure the Journals
of the Federal Convention, published by authority of Congress ;
Secret Journals of the Old Congress ; Secret Debates and Proceed-
ings of the Federal Convention, 1787, by Judge Yates; Analectic
Magazine; and, not to make it too heavy, Paul's Letters to his
Kinsfolks.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 125
September 26, 182 1. Annual meeting. William Ellery, Moder-
ator. The officers elected were :
President. — Robert Stevens.
Directors. — Christopher Fowler, Edmund T. Waring, David King,
Benjamin Hazard, William Ellery.
Purchasing Committee. — William Turner, William H. Vernon,
William Crooke, Audley Clarke, Richard K. Randolph, William
Ennis.
Treasurer and Secretary. — Robert Rogers.
Resolved : That all the books belonging to the Library, shall be
on the shelves on the Tuesday previous to the annual meeting, in
each year, and that every proprietor who shall refuse or neglect to
return the book or books which may be out on their respective
shares, shall pay as a fine for such neglect or refusal, the sum of
twenty-five cents.
[At each meeting selections were made of books whenever the
funds warranted the outlay, and the rule, assessing a tax on absent
members, was rigidly enforced.]
Annual meeting. September 25, 1822. WiUiam Hunter, Mod-
erator.
Resolved : That the application of the Rhode Island Historical
Society, requesting the use of the Library as a deposit for the books
and manuscripts by them to be collected, be acceded to, and per-
mission for said deposit be granted, subject to the Rules and Regu-
lations of the Company, as to the right, manner and time of using
the Library room.
Resolved : That the collection of natural curiosities be no further
continued, and that the material already collected be removed from
the Library, and to be disposed of as a committee appointed and
the Directors may think proper ; said committee to consist of Ben-
jamin Hadwin, Christ. E. Robbins, and Nicholas G. Boss.
November 7, 1821. Resolved : That the books selected from the
126 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
lists voted on the 20th of July and 15th of September, be forthwith
purchased, together with the additional books voted at the last meet-
ing, with the portfolio offered by Mr. Thomas — Woodville's Medi-
cal Botany — a complete set of Scott's Poetical Works, Ramsay's
History of the United States, and the Debates of the Massachusetts
Convention, if to be procured at a discount of 40 per cent., and that
Robert Rogers be directed to draw one hundred dollars and remit
to Dr. Rogers/^ on account of said purchase.
September 23, 1823. Annual meeting. Christopher Fowler,
Moderator.
The committee appointed to remove the " Curiosities from the
North River " [bring them from there to Newport], reported that
they had performed that service.
The Auditing Committee reported they had examined the Treas-
urer's accounts and had found them correct.
Resolved: That no alteration, amendment or repeal of any of the
Rules and Regulations of this Company shall be made at anytime,
unless the same shall be brought forward in writing at a regular
meeting, and shall continue on file until the next regular meeting ;
then to be called up and acted upon.
May 14, 1824. Voted: That Christopher Fowler, David King
and Robert Rogers, be a sub-committee to purchase books, when
'^ Rev. William Rogers, D.D., was born in Newport, and removed
to Pennsylvania previous to the Revolution. For some time he was the
pastor of the First Baptist Church in Philadelphia. Subsequently, he was
Professor of Belles Lettres in the University of Pennsylvania. He was
the last surviving Chaplain of the Revolutionary army, and retained to
the last his love of constitutional liberty that marked those times. He
was also, at his death, the last surviving member of the class that gradu-
ated from Rhode Island College, at Warren, in 1759. He was licensed
to preach in the Second Baptist Church in this towji, when it was under
the charge of the venerable Gardiner Thurston. Dr. Rogers died in
Philadelphia, April 7, 1824, aged seventy-three years.
NE WPOR T, RHODE ISLAND. 1 2 7
to be procured on such terms as they may think advisable, and
such works as they suppose will meet with the approbation of the
Committee.
September 29, 1824. Annual meeting. William Ennis, Moder-
ator. Officers elected :
President. — Robert Stevens.
Directors. — Christopher Fowler, David King, Benjamin Hazard,
William EUery, William Ennis.
Book Committee. — William Turner, William Crooke, Audley
Clarke, Richard K. Randolph, William Hunter, Christopher E.
Robbins.
October 23, 1824. Voted: That Benjamin Hazard, and Christo-
pher E. Robbins be a committee to address a letter to Samuel
Brown, Esq., on the subject of the Redwood Library.
January 20, 1825. Voted: That the Secretary forthwith write to
Mr. William Ellery, and request him to call on Messrs. Wilder &
Campbell, and desire them to import the following books by the
first vessel :
Froissart's Chronicles, 12 vols., 8vo., £j /^s. od.
Schlegel [Augustus William] : Lectures on Dramatic Art and
Literature, £2 4.?. od.
Hamilton [William Gerard] on Parliamentary Logic, Zs. od.
The money to be remitted to Mr. Ellery in such way as he shall
direct, without delay.
January 28, 1825. Voted: That the Secretary transmit a vote of
thanks to Professor Channing for the liberal donation of books by
.him presented ; and to William S. Rogers for his agency therein.
Voted : That a committee be appointed to consider the best
means of carrying into effect the grant of the Lottery^^ made to the
^ There is no evidence that the Directors availed themselves of the
|)rivilege granted tlie Company to get up a lottery scheme for the benefit
of the Library.
128 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY.
Redwood Library, in 1 806, and that they make a report at the next
meeting of the Board.
January 28, 1825. Voted: That Benjamin Hazard and Christo-
pher E. Robbins be a committee to address a letter to Walter Chan-
ning, Esq., on the subject of the Library [probably to thank him
for his donation of books] ; and William Hunter, Esq., was to
write to Redwood Fisher, Esq., on the subject of the long-pending
donation, proffered by his father previous to his decease.
May 31, 1825. Voted : That the committee to consider the best
means of carrying into effect the grant of a lottery in 1 806, be con-
tinued.
September 28, 1825. Annual meeting. Voted: That Henry
Bull and William Ennis be a committee to confer with the Street
Commissioners on the necessity and propriety of mending the street
in front of the Library, from the corner of Mill Street to meet the
improvements made by the Committee on Mr. Touro's Legacy.
December 29, 1825. Voted: That the donation offered by Wil-
liam Marchant, Esq., of the Providence Gazette for a number of
years during the Revolutionary war, Pennsylvania Gazette, New-
port Mercury, and Newport Herald, be accepted, and that the
Secretary transmit a vote of thanks for the same.
Resolved : That the Directors of the Redwood Library Company
be empowered to grant the privileges of the Company, so far as
relates to the use of the books to such distinguished strangers or
liberal benefactors to the Library, as may be temporarily residing
in the town of Newport.
Resolved : That the Directors make such alterations in the char-
ter and By-laws as they may think requisite, and report at the next
general meeting. -
April II, 1826. Resolved: That Charles W. Morgan, Esq., a
Captain in the Navy of the United States, a distinguished stranger,
now residing in Newport, be admitted to the free use of the Library
• NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 129
during his residence here, subject to the Rules and Regulations of
the Institution.
[Captain Morgan made the following acknowledgment :]
To Robert Rogers, Esq.,
Secretary of the Redwood Library Society :
Sir : I have been favored by your very polite note of this morn-
ing, communicating a resolution by the President and Directors of
the Redwood Library, by which they have been pleased to allow
me the use of the books of that Institution. You will add an addi-
tional obligation to those I am already under by expressing to that
honorable body my warmest thanks for the favor conferred on me,
together with the assurance of my perfect consideration and respect.
Very respectfully
Sir, your obedient servant,
Charles W. Morgan.
Wednesday Morning, 15th.
September 18, 1826. Entry made by the Secretary:
By verbal instructions from a majority of the Directors, I made a
written communication to Colonel Joseph G. Totten and Colonel
Robert Y. Hayne, that they were admitted to the free use of the
Redwood Library, during their residence in the town of Newport,
subject to the Rules and Regulations of the Institution, to which
communication they respectively replied, acknowledging the favor
and politely accepted the same.
Robert Rogers,
Secretary.
Newport, September 26, 1826.
Mr. Robert Rogers,
Secretary of the Redivood Library.
Sir : Your letter, informing me that the Directors of the Red-
wood Library had granted me the free use thereof during my resi-
I30 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
dence in Newport, was duly received. In accepting the tender I
am fully sensible of the value of the privilege conferred, and am
much flattered by the delicacy of the compliment, and by the polite
terms in which you communicate it.
Very respectfully,
Your most obedient,
Joseph G. Totten.
Newport, September 21, 1826
Dear Sir :
I return herewith the books which, by the favor of Governor
Gibbs, I lately took out from the Redwood Library. I have just
received your letter, informing me that the privilege has been kindly
extended to me of taking out books during my stay in Newport.
You will be so good as to return my thanks to the gentlemen to
whom I am indebted for this privilege, which I highly value, and
of which I shall avail myself; and accept, sir, for yourself the
assurance of the respect and esteem of
Your most obedient servant,
Robert Y. Hayne.
R. Rogers, Esq.
New York, nth of November, 1826.
Robert Rogers, Esq.
Sir : The corporation of the city through their committee on the
Canal celebration, direct me to ask the Redwood Library Society
to accept a copy of Colden's Memoir of the grand Canal, connected
with an account of the celebration, commemorative of the comple-
tion of that great work. Excepting Mr. Colden's Memoir ^^ this
» — ' ■ — ■ — ■ — > ■
'* There is in this book — Colden's Account of the Opening of the
Erie Canal — under the head of Columbia College, a print — a very ordi-
nary lithograph — that cannot fail to interest every citizen of Newport
who is familiar with Malbone's painting of the PTours ; a picture that
Benjamin West said could not be excelled by any man in England. Mal-
bone described his picture as "the Past, Present and Coming Hours,"
three lovely female figures; the Past, slowly stepping forward, shows a sad,
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, 131
work will not probably be considered very interesting, but its value
is enhanced from the fact that it cannot \i^ purchased ; and I hope
it may not be diminished by coming through the hands of your
townsman.
P. W. Engs.
Newport, R. 1., November 27, 1827.
Mr p. W. Engs.
Sir: Your esteemed favor of the nth instant, by Mr. Pease, is
duly at hand. The Redwood Library Company feel themselves
highly honored by the distinguished mark of attention from the
corporation of New York, in the truly valuable donation of Colden's
Memoir, and grand Canal celebration, conveyed through their com-
mittee by your obliging attention, which will be carefully preserved in
their archives, as a perpetual memento of the present glory and
future greatness of the truly enterprising State of New York. The
Directors request me to tender through you their respects to the
Corporation, for this pleasing communication and acknowledg-
ment for the delicate manner in which you have made the same.
Respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
Robert Rogers,
Secretary.
September 27, 1826. Annual meeting. Resolved: That at this
and every subsequent meeting annually to be holden, the two mem-
regretful face, her right hand extending behind her, as if to hold to the
Present. The Present is in the full flush of perfect womanhood ; her left
hand gracefully raised to keep above her head a fluffy veil that floats
around her; the face has a calm, sweet repose, but the right hand is ex-
tended, as if to keep back the Future, a lovely, girlish face and figure,
that with laughing, roguish eyes, looks over the shoulder of the Present,
eager to take her place.
It has never been claimed that the design originated with Malbone, but
was the work of an English artist, S. Shelley, who called it '' The Hours."
In 1826 it was lithographed, following Shelley's treatment, for the students
of Columbia College, as the "Tenses" — past, present and future, and
was inserted in Colden's book.
132 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
bers of the Purchasing Committee, standing first upon the records
of the last annual meeting, shall be considered ineligible as members
for the current year. The following persons were elected :
Purchasing Committee?^ — Audley Clarke, Richard K. Randolph,
Christ. E. Robbins, David M. Coggeshall, Theophilus C. Dunn, and
Archibald Munro.
Resolved : That Theophilus C. Dunn, Christ. E. Robbins, Nich-
olas G. Boss, with the Secretary, be a committee to prepare
forthwith and have printed, a new catalogue of the books in the
Library.
The following letters are entered on the records of the annual
meetings of the Redwood Library Company by order of the Direc-
tors at their quarterly meeting, January 9, 1827.
September 26, 1827. David M. Coggeshall, Theophilus C. Dunn,
Charles Whitfield, Samuel Barker, Jr., and Joseph Martin were
elected the Purchasing Committee.
September 24, 1828. The following report of the Treasurer and
Librarian was ordered to be recorded :
The Treasurer reports that all the taxes assessed on the respec-
tive shares, 103 in number, September 27, 1827, and the fines then
due for detention of books to said September, 1827, have been paid.
That from the balance reported in the treasury,
There is due, payable ist October, Librarian's account,
And about $^ for reviews, .....
That the fines collected from Oct., 1827, to Oct., 1828,
To be charged in the respective accounts unpaid.
Whole sum for detention of books, .
'^ To record here the action of the Purchasing Committee from month
to month, would be giving in a broken and disconnected form simply the
titles of books purchased.
• ^34
81
1 1
60
5
00
5
00
II
20
. ^16
20
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 133
Whole number of books now on the shelves, 2450.
There has been expended in cash, since the revival of the Library in
1 8 10, the sum of ;^2I53.56, exclusive of what has been paid for bind-
ing and repairing books.
Voted : That the annual account, after being audited, shall in
future be laid before the proprietors at their annual meetings, in Sep-
tember.
Voted : That Robert Rogers and Charles Whitfield be appointed to
have an additional catalogue printed, of all the books added to the
Library, since the catalogue was printed in 18 16.
The following letter was received from Mr. Charles B. King, the
artist, who was a frequent benefactor to the Library :
Washington, April 21, 1829.
Gentlemen :
I sent to the exhibition of pictures at the Boston Athenaeum, two
portraits — an Ottoe chief and his wife, in their native costume, and
requested the agent, Mr. Jones, to send them to you as a present
from me. Should they not be in your possession, I think you had
better give the subjoined order to some gentleman going to Boston,
and obtain them. They are only eighteen inches high. Mr. Jones
wrote me a few weeks since that the packing was now ready.
Yours very respectfully,
Charles B. King.
To the Directors of the Redwood Library.
'34
ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
CHAPTER VII.
1 829- 1 847.
EPTEMBER 30, 1829. Annual meeting.
Voted : That the thanks of the Proprietors
be presented to Mr. Charles B. King, for his
donation of two paintings, and that the Secre-
tary communicate the same by letter.
Voted : That a compensation often dollars
be allowed and paid out of the Treasury, to
the Secretary, Robert Rogers, for preparing and furnishing a copy
for the Appendix^^ [Catalogue] for the press, and having the same
printed.
• September 29, 1830. The following letter was read:
Newport, September 27, 1830.
Gentlemen :
As the annual meeting of the Redwood Library will be on the
29th of this month, I take the opportunity to acknowledge the honor
the Proprietors have conferred on me in continuing me so long as
their President ; and as I am so unfortunate as to be deaf, and my
health being such as not to be able to attend to the duties as Presi-
dent, I now wish to resign the appointment which they have con-
ferred on me so long and appoint some person to perform the duties
^ The Appendix shows an increase of 873 volumes from April, 181 6,
to September, 1829.
Benjamin Hazard was appointed a committee to procure suitable frames
for the portraits.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 135
which are necessary as President; and it gives me much satisfac-
tion to find the prosperous situation the Library is now in, and of
my well wishes that it may so continue and increase.
I am with much respect
Your humble servant,
Robert Stevens.^
Voted: That the foregoing letter of resignation from our late
President be received, accepted and recorded ; and on motion of
Dutee J. Pearce, Esq., the following resolution was unanimously
adopted :
Voted : That the thanks of the Redwood Library Company be
presented by the Secretary to Robert Stevens, Esq., for his long and
faithful services during the time he has presided over this Institu-
tion, with an assurance that the Company will ever cherish a grate-
ful recollection of his services.
The following officers were then elected :
President, — David King.
Directors. — William Ennis, Audley Clarke, Benjamin Hazard,
Richard K. Randolph, Nathaniel S. Ruggles.
Purchasing Committee. — Dutee J. Pearce, Christ. E. Robbins,
, Theophilus C. Dunn, Archibald Munro, Charles Whitfield and
William Hunter.
Secretary and Treasurer. — Robert Rogers.
Voted : That all persons now holding shares in this Institution,
who have not heretofore been admitted, be and they are now ad-
mitted'as members thereof.
'^ During a long life Robert Stevens, the retiring President of the
Library, was deservedly esteemed for his industry, enterprise and integ-
rity. He had been called by his fellow-citizens to many responsible posi-
tions, and after the Revolution he served the town as a Representative to
the General Assembly. At the time of his death he was eighty-eight years
of age.
136 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
Voted: That Richard K. Randolph, Theophilus C. Dunn, and
Christopher E. Robbins be continued as a committee, with the ad-
dition of Benjamin Hazard, to revise and amend the By-Laws, and
to report at a special meeting when called by the President for that
purpose.
September 28, 1831. Voted: That Benjamin H. Tisdale* John
Williams, Jr., and George G. King be admitted members.
The committee to examine the books reported that many of the
books were much damaged, and recommended that steps be taken
to repair them.
The President presented the following letter from Robert Rogers,
Esq. :
Dr. D. King.
Sir : My advanced age and increasing debility, strongly remind
me that it would be incompatible with the repose requisite for my
declining years, to continue in the respective offices which I have
endeavored to discharge with fidelity for a long period, with a sole
view to promote and advance the interest of the excellent institution
of the Redwood Library. I shall therefore decline a reappoint-
ment, and doubt not the Proprietors will be able to select some per-
son who, (having the good of the establishment at heart) will dis-
charge the duties of his appointment with equal fidelity. The
strictest adherence to the excellent system, of fining for the deten-
tion of books, has undoubtedly proved peculiarly beneficial to the
preservation of the Library ; and, although I have been subjected
in several instances to unmerited abuse for a rigid tenacity, to this
rule, I earnestly recommend an inflexible attention to it. I annex
an accurate list of the fines incurred for the detention of books since
the last annual meeting, the accuracy of which I am ready to attest
to ; and which has been uniformly annexed to the annual bills of
the respective Proprietors, for the tax assessed each following year.
The balance, fe.37, as reported by the auditors, I am ready to pay
over to my successor in ofiFice, and likewise the papers and books.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 137
I shall with pleasure render any requisite assistance to my suc-
cessor or successors.
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
Robert Rogers."*'
Dr. David King,
President Redwood Library Company.
. The roof leaks very badly, and unless attended to without delay,
the beautiful ceiling will be spoiled.
Voted : That the foregoing letter of resignation from Robert
Rogers, Esq., our late Secretary, Treasurer and Librarian, be received,
accepted and recorded.
On motion of Dutee J. Pearce, Esq., the following resolution was
unanimously adopted :
Resolved: That the thanks of this Corporation be communicated
by the President thereof to Robert Rogers, Esq., for his long, faith-
ful and efficient services as Librarian, and the regrets of the Corpo-
ration that any circumstances should induce him to withhold his
services from them.
The officers elected were :
President. — David King.
Directors. — Robert Rogers, Audley Clarke, Benjamin Hazard,
Theophilus C. Dunn, Archibald Munro, Charles Whitfield.
Purchasing Committee, — Richard K. Randolph, Nathaniel S.
Ruggles, William Hunter, William G. Hammond, Samuel Barker.
^ Robert Rogers was the son of Rev. William Rogers, D.D. He was
born in Newport, April 18, 1758, and graduated at Brown University in
1 775. On leaving college he served in the war, and on his return opened
a successful classical school in Newport. For twenty years he was the
faithful and devoted Treasurer, Secretary and Librarian of the Library :
for nearly fifty years he was a member of the corporation of Brown Uni-
versity, and a Fellow of that Institution for four years. He died in New-
port, August 5, 1835.
10
138 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
Secretary and Treasurer. — George G. King.
September 30, 1831. Voted: That the roof of the Library be
repaired and shingled, and Nathaniel S. Ruggles was appointed a
committee to purchase the materials and superintend the work.
Mr. Benjamin Hazard reported that George Gibbs, Esq., had hired
the Directors' room, in the Library, for the purpose of depositing
his papers, etc., at the rate of ;^20 per year, to commence on the ist
of September, 1831.
January 24, 1832. Voted: That the President cause a letter to
be sent to Abraham Redwood, Esq., of London, thanking him in
the name of the Company, for the intended grant of the Redwood
estate to them, and requesting him to 'execute a legal conveyance
thereof.
Voted : That the Secretary prepare a writing proper for the
President to transmit to England for execution..
The account rendered for repairs on the Library building,
amounted to ;^ 140.66.
September 26, 1832. John H. Gilliat, George L Cook, Alex-
ander Swift and George W. Tilley were admitted members of the
Institution.
July 16, 1833. Voted : On a suggestion that it might be expe-
dient to move the fence back of the present line, the committee were
directed to suspend the repairs that had been voted, until after the
annual meeting.
The Secretary reported :
By instructions from a majority of the Directors, I made written
communications to the Hon. Charles J.Ingersol and Hon. Nathaniel
Silsbee, that they were admitted to the use of the Library during
their residence in the town of Newport. To these communications
they personally replied, and politely accepted the same.
George G. King,
Secretary,
MEWPOjRT, RHODE ISLAND. 139
Similar invitations were extended to Hon. Lemuel H. Arnold
[then Governor of the State of Rhode Island] and Sir Charles
Vaughan.
September 25, 1833. John A. H. Grace, Benjamin I. Cahoone,
Charles W. King, Harriet King and Robert Johnston were admitted
members.
[The report of the Committee on By-Laws was then taken up,
and after an animated discussion, several amendments were adopted.
The Rules and Regulations, as finally adopted, have already a place
in these annals.]
Resolved: That Messrs. Hazard and Randolph be a committee
to wait on Robert Johnston, Esq., and request him to prepare
a catalogue of the books belonging to the Library Company,
together with an historical sketch of the Institution and its
founders.
Voted unanimously : That the President and Directors be directed
to make application in behalf of the Company to the General
Assembly, at the October session, for an act authorizing the above-
mentioned change in the corporate name of the Institution.
Voted unanimously : That it is expedient that the first eighteen
articles of the Rules and Regulations, as now amended, together
with the Rules adopted by the annual meetings of September, 1812,
1822, 1825 and 1827, be embodied in the Act of Incorporation, and
that the President and Directors make application to the General
Assembly so to amend the Charter of the Company.
Voted : That the President and Directors be authorized and
empowered to appoint a committee to prepare a new catalogue
for publication, together with an historical sketch of the Insti-
tution.
Voted: That Messrs. Randolph, Hunter and Johnston be a com-
mittee to take into consideration the propriety of admitting to the
use of the Library, persons not members of the Institution, and to
I40 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
report at the next meeting of the Company such rules and regu-
lations on this subject as they may deem expedient to be adopted.
Voted : That the Directors attend to the repairs of the fence
in front of the Library, and that they be authorized to cause it to
be moved back from the present line, if they see good reason for
so doing.
David King was elected President.
Directors. — Robert Rogers, Audley Clarke, Benjamin Hazard,
Richard K. Randolph and Nathaniel S. Ruggles.
Purchasing Committee. — William G. Hammond, Joseph Martin,
Theophilus C. Dunn, Samuel Barker, Chris. E. Robbins, Robert
Johnston.
Secretary and Treasurer. — George G. King.
Special meeting. July 29, 1833. On motion of Mr. Randolph,
the following resolution was passed :
Resolved : That the Directors be authorized to cause the Library
to be opened every day in the week except Sundays, for such time
as they may think proper, and to admit strangers to use the books
in the Library during the hours in which it shall be kept open ;
provided the same can be done without expense to the Corporation ;
and provided, also, that the Directors take proper steps to prevent
the books from being injured.
Resolved : That the Directors be authorized to procure lectures
to be delivered in the Library room, by such gentlemen as they may
select.
October 24, 1833. Voted: That the President be empowered, in
behalf of the Directors and Company, to sign the petition to the
General Assembly, praying for the passage of an act to alter the
name of the Company and to amend the Charter.
Voted : That William C. Gibbs, Esq., be authorized to open a
subscription, for the purpose of procuring funds for flagging the
sidewalk in front of the Library, and that he be empowered, on
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 141
obtaining sufficient funds for the purpose, to cause the work to be
executed.
Voted : That Messrs. Randolph and Ruggles have the Library
fence repaired, and that they be authorized to move back the
front fence on a h'ne with Mr. GiUiat's [now the Ashhurst
estate].
February 19, 1834. Audley Clarke, Esq., having represented to
the Directors, that those interested in the books, etc., of George
Gibbs, now deposited in the Directors' room, no longer wished to
control the room, but only the privilege of having the books, etc.,
deposited there for the present, at a less price than that agreed upon
for the rent of the room, it was
Voted : That the books and papers belonging to the estate of
George Gibbs, and now deposited in the Directors' room in the
Library, be allowed to remain there at the rate of $\o per year,
from the ist of January, 1834, with the understanding that the room
may be used as formerly, for the purposes of the Company, who
shall not be responsible for said books and papers ; and with the
further understanding, that those having authority shall remove the
same as soon as convenient.
Voted : That the Librarian be authorized, upon the receipt of
any donations of books, etc., to the Company, to present the donor
an acknowledgment of the same in behalf of the Company, and
that such acknowledgments heretofore given by him be and the
same are approved.
Special meeting. July 15, 1834. Called for the purpose of taking
into consideration a proposed plan of public lectures, under the
auspices of the Institution, and also the report of the committee
appointed at the last annual meeting, to propose rules and regula-
tions for the admission to the use of the Library of persons not
members of the Institution.
142 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
[The followinfT is the report of the committee, and. is in the hand
writing of Mr. Robert Johnston :]
" The committee appointed at the annual meeting of the Red-
wood Library Company, to take into consideration the propriety of'
admitting to the Library persons not members of the Institution,
beg leave to report :
" That they consider the benefit arising from a Literary Institu-
tion ought to be diffused as evenly as possible, provided that they
do not interfere with the interests of the original proprietors ; the
committee therefore recommend that by extending the advantages
of the Library, by opening the doors to the strangers and visitors
of Newport, as well as to those who are not actually members, the
Institution, from the number of persons who will by this means be
interested in its welfare, instead of being depreciated, will be much
increased in value.
" In order to carry into effect the proposed plan, the committee
think it will be necessary to adopt the following regulations :
'' That the Library be opened every day except Sunday, from
ten o'clock in the morning to twelve, and from three in the after-
noon to sunset.
" That the exchange of books be made as at present, under the
superintendence of the Librarian.
" That strangers (visiting Newport) be admitted for the summer
season by paying ;^2.oo each.
"That a doorkeeper be engaged to attend the hall in the absence
of the Librarian.
" That gentlemen be requested to give gratuitously public lectures,
the proceeds to be applied to ulterior purposes."
Voted: That N. Biddle, Esq., Granville S. Patterson, M.D., of
Philadelphia, and ^General Duncan, of Illinois, be severally admitted
to the use of the Library during their stay in Newport.
September 23, 1834. The following list of books, forty-three vol-
umes, many of them exceedingly rare and valuable, was presented
to the Library by Mr. Robert Johnston, who had collected them
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 143
in and around Newport during the previous twelve months. The
names of the donors, so far as they are known, are given in itahcs.
The Great or Bishops' Bible. (Black letter.) 1572.
Les Pslaumes de David. 1607. — Etiennc Pascal Faisticau.
Thomas Shepard's Parable of the Ten Virgins. 1657. — Isaac Stall.
Some Fruits of Solitude. 1749. — George Efigs.
The Young Man's Best Instructor. 1748. — Isaac Chase.
Lazarus Riveri us: Praxis Medica. 1649. — Nicholas G, Boss.
Histoire de la Derniere Conspiration d'Angleterre. 1696. —
Nicholas G. Boss.
George Chalmers : Estimate of Comparative Strength of Great
Britain, etc. 1782. — Nicholas G. Boss.
Peter de la Primandaye : The French .Academie. 1589.
Sermons by the Dean of Down. 1750. — M?'. Thomas Waring.
Bishop [John] Wilkins : Principles and Duties of Natural Reli-
gion. 1734. — Ihomas Waring.
Charter of Rhode Island: edition of lydy .-^William Marchant.
Heinrich Zschokke's des Schweizerlands. 1834. — Isaiah Crooker.
Richard Baxter's Christian Directory. 1673. — Miss Susan F.
Spooner.
Edward Stillingfleet's Origines Sacrae. 1709. — Stephen Cahoonc.
The Geneva Translation of the New Testament. 1605. — George
Engs.
Knox's History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland.
1 644. — William Stevens.
Charter of Rhode Island: edition of 1744. — William Marchant.
La Bible, Londres. 1687. — Isaac Chase.
William Camden's History of the Princess Elizabeth, late Queen
of England. 1675. — Isaac Chase,
■John Everard's Gospel Treasury Opened. 1679. — Mr. House.
James Bent's New Marty rology : or the Bloody Assizes. 1689.
— Mr. House.
144 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY.
Charles Leslie's Short and Easy Method with the Deists. 1715.
— Miss Susan Lawton.
The Statutes at Large. Black Letter. 1684. — Edward IV.
Lawton.
George Fox's New England Firebrand Quenched. 1696. — Car-
penter Ward.
William Sewel's History of the Quakers. 1725. — Mrs. J. H.
Easton.
J. T^gidius Van Egmont : Travels Through Part of Europe, Asia
Minor, etc. 1759. — Carpenter Ward.
Collection of Swedish Poetry. 1767. — Nicholas G. Boss.
John Ray's Collection of English Proverbs. 1678. — Nicholas G.
Boss.
Joannes de Bussieres : Historia Universalis. 1678. — Nicholas G.
Boss.
Le Jardinier Francois. 1708. — Nicholas G. Boss.
A Geography on General History.
Thomas Parnell : Poems. Pope's edition. . 1738. — Nicholas G.
Boss.
Walter Harte : Poems on Several Occasions. 1739. — Nicholas
G. Boss,
Jacob Rodde : Russische Sprachlehre. I773- — Nicholas G. Boss.
Christopher Pezelius : Historicum Mellificum. 1628. — George C.
Mason,
Fredericus Hoffmannus : Opus de Methodo Medendi. 1668. —
George C. Mason.
Kerry's Bible. \6o%.—Mrs.J. H. Easton.
[It will be noticed that the name of the donor of the Bishops'
Bible is wanted. The Bible was undoubtedly presented by Mr.
Johnston, who with that dislike to any prominence being given to
his own name, simply entered it without alluding in any way to the
source from which it was derived. The Newport Mercury, in speak-
NEWFOKl\ RHODE ISLAND. 145
ing of the effort then beini;- made to atKaiicc the inUrcst of ihe
Library and increase its usefuhiess, tluis niakes iiuntion of this imk
edition of the Bible :]
'*We are given to understand that the proprietors of the Redwood
Library are making strenuous endeavors to repair the loss wliiih
the Library sustained from the ravages of war, and tin dissi-
pation of the choicest treasures, during the eventful period which
has marked the history of the country since this Library has hocii
in existence.
*' Although the laudable intention of the proprietors has been only
partially made known, yet several contributions of v^aluable books
have already been sent in by different gentlemen of Newport.
Among other presents to the Library, is a copy of the Great or
Bishops' Bible, in black letter. This exceedingly scarce and valu-
able copy of the Holy Scriptures was translated by the command of
Royal authority, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and produced
under the superintendence of Archbishop Parker, Primate of all
England. As this book is one of the oldest versions of the Scrip-
tures in this country, and as far as we can ascertain, the only copy
of so early a date (that in the Library of Harvard College being not
so old by six years) it may not be' uninteresting to give some brief
account of it. The book is printed in large folio, but has unfortu-
nately lost the commencement of the Old, and the latter part of the
New Testament ; consequently the title-page is wanting. This de-
fect, however, is abundantly supplied by the insertion of those de-
vices, marks and signs, which abound in the early specimens of
typography, and which sufficiently characterize the various editions
which first emanated from the press. Thus we find at the end of
the Pentateuch, the initials ' W. E.' for William Exon, a Bishop of
Exeter ; at the end of Samuel, ' R. E.' for Richard (Cox, Bishop of)
Ely, who was tutor to the pious Edward VI. The different digni-
taries of the church whose initials are thus appended to the sc\ eral
portions just enumerated, were the translators of those parts to
which these characters are attached. The whole Bible was distrib-
uted amongst fifteen persons, eight of whom were bishops, whence
the Bible obtained its name. After the different parts of the trans-
146 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
lation were completed, the whole was submitted to the inspe<:tion of
critics eminent for their biblical learning, and afterwards carefully
examined and finished by the Archbishop himself. This worthy
prelate (in opposition to the violence of party, the animosity of
bigotry, and the vindictiveness of puritanical feeling which assailed
him when living, nor ceased to attack him when dead, by calHng in
question the validity of his ordination, and abusing his memory)
devoted his time, employed his talents, and expended his means, like
Richard of Bury, in maintaining in his place at Lambeth, engravers,
printers and bookbinders, to produce and multiply copies of the
Scriptures, in a language understood by the people, and left this
proud monument of his taste, goodness and learning, to instruct the
ignorant, and inform the wise. Such was the estimation in which
this version of the Bible was held, that for forty years it was the one
made use of in the churches. The Epistles and the Gospels in the
Liturgy were continued according to the bishop's translation for
nearly a hundred years afterwards, and the Psalter in the Liturgy of
the Church of England, and the Episcopal Church of this country,
is the same to this day, as that in the church version of the Bishops'
Bible. In addition to this Psalter, there is also another version of
the Psalms in Roman characters, purporting to have been made
more directly from the' Hebrew ; this however seems to be inferior
to the former in many respects. The Archbishop, as if anticipating
the devastations of the times, or duly impressed with the truth of
the; motto of his armorial bearings, Mundus transit, has by various
devices supplied that information which the title-page and preface
would have furnished ; by these means he has proved to us the
identity of the edition, and secured to himself the glory of having
produced it. The initial letter of the Preface, ' into the New Testa-
ment ' is inserted on his own shield, which bears Gules three keys
erect, arms which he acquired from his father. On the garter which
surrounds the shield, are inserted ' M.' on one side, and ' P.' on the
other, for Matthew Parker. At the bottom of the arms outside the
garter, stands divided, the year 15-72, in which this great work was
produced, and under the foot of the great ' T.' is a curious inter-
lacing of ciphers, which by the few additional strokes which are
connected with the letter * M.^ distinctly conveys the Archbishop's
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 147
Christian and surname. The title-page of the New Testament,
which is without date, is a highly ornamented emblematical engrav-
ing in wood, adorned with figures of Faith and Charity ; the royal
arms of Elizabeth ingeniously supply the place of Hope. At the
lower part of the page is a tablet, with the supporters of the Tudor
arms on each side, containing a quotation from Romans.
** Most of the books of the Old Testament are adorned with an
illustrative design furnished by the various subjects of the book
which contains it, and several maps are introduced, which, though
rude, are tolerably accurate. The map preceding the Epistle to the
Romans is called, ' The Cart Cosmographie of the peregrinations or
journey of Sainte Paul.' There are likewise several useful tables of
contemporary * Empcrours, Kynges, and Deputies^ with the tymes and
years, and how long eveiy Ernperour rayned, as set foorth for the
better instruction of the gentle reader.' The initial letter of each
chapter is generally an ornamental capital, sometimes fancifully de-
signed, and sometimes the subject is drawn from the heathen
mythology ; thus in one place we see Pan figuring away with his
pipes ; in another Venus before Jupiter, and in a third, Neptune
gliding over the ocean, Ciirruqne volans dat lor a secnndo. There
are likewise several prologomena, numerous marginal explanaHons
and references. The chapters are subdivided by the first letters of
the alphabet, which are put on the margin after the manner of Car-
dinal Hugo, who first divided the Bible into chapters ; it also
observes the division of the chapters into verses, as first practiced
by Robert Stephens of Paris. To the Psalms is prefixed the pro-
logue of Saint Basil the Great, to this beautiful portion of Scripture.
The translation, though in some respects different from that of the
authorized version, is, for |:he most part very similar, and shows how
little was left to be done by the translators of King James's Bible ;
the variations are principally verbal, as the ' Songues ' of Solomon
is headed, ' The Ballet of Ballettes of Solomon &c^
" This valuable acquisition to the Library, is the gift of a gentle-
man of Newport, who met with it in New York, in a manner as sin-
gular as unexpected. By thus presenting it to the Library, he has
safely deposited it where it will be accessible to the scholar, the
divine, or whoever takes an interest in inve.stigating truth. Need we
148
ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
call on others to do likewise? We are aware that there are in the
town many old books, which, though comparatively useless to their
present possessors, would be exceedingly valuable were they added
to those works with which they are naturally connected, and put
within the reach of the curious inquirer. We understand that the
intention of the proprietors, to make the Institution not only worthy
of the town, but of the country, and commensurate with the ad-
vanced spirit of the age, the progress of science, and the march of
intellect, has been highly approved of. It remains with the public
to second these laudable endeavors."
September 24, 1835. At the annual meeting, the Treasurer re-
ported that the expenditures of the preceding year had amounted to
;^ 192.07^, as follows, viz.:
Books, etc., .
.
$"^9 75
Repairs on fence, .
.
107 66
Binding books.
.
8 61
Advertising, etc., .
•
5 00
Postage,
.
I 12^
Librarian's salary,
.
40 00
Commissions for cc
)llecting, .
9 93
$\g2 07 >^
Balance on hand, .
. « • •
. ^34 86>^
[Mr. Robert Rogers, who had some time before retired from his
active duties connected with the Library, now sent in his resignation
as a Director.]
Sir : My advanced age and feeble state of health remind n e that
my continuance as a Director of the Redwood Library is incompat-
able with its interests, being fully sensible that its important con-
cerns can be entrusted to more effective and energetic officers, who
will, or ought to appropriate their more youthful powers to promote
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 149
the interest of so valuable an Institution. You will please signify
to the proprietors at their annual meeting that I decline a re-elec-
tion ; but with ardent wishes for its continued increase and pros-
perity.
Your obedient servant,
Robert Rogers.
Tuesday, 23d September, 1834.
To Geo. G. King, Esq.
January 9, 1835. Voted : That the Secretary cause the deed of
the Redwood estate, recently received from Mr. Abraham Red-
wood to be recorded ; and that the Secretary extend to Mr. Redwood
the thanks of the Company for the above gift.
In April the Secretary made the following entry :
" By directions from a majority of the Directors, I informed
Robert Walsh, Esq., of Philadelphia, that he was admitted to the
use of the Library during his residence in Newport. Mr. Walsh
returned his thanks for the privilege, and accepted the same.
" Geo. G. King,
" Secretary.''
July 14, 1835. The Secretary presented the following communi-
cation from Robert Johnston, Esq., in relation to the donation of
books by the King of England to the Company :
Newport, Rhode Island, June 23, 1835.
To the President and Directors of the Redwood Library.
Gentlemen :
I beg leave to send you the Public Records of England, in 84
volumes, which have been obtained for the Redwood Library from
the Lords Commissioners and the Lord Chancellor Lyndhurst, in
consequence of my application to them, through the medium
of my friend and agent, Thomas Bland, Esq., 43 Bedford Row,
London.
I50 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
Annexed is a copy of the letter of C. P. Cooper, Esq., Secretary
of the Record Board, and an extract from Mr. Bland's communica-
tion to me on the subject, also a catalogue of the books, drawn up
by Mr. Walker, and published in the Newport Mercury^ which con-
tains a complete list of the works.
With every respect,
I am, gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
Robert Johnston.
Extract from Mr. Bland's letter to R. Johnston :
43 Bedford Row, London, 23d February, 1835,
My dear Sir :
I am in receipt of your letter of the 9th of January, and hasten
to answer it.
Having read the papers relating to the desired present from the
British Government to the Redwood Library, of the Publications of
the Records Commissioners, I called on Mr. Rich and explained
the matter to him. He informed me that Mr. Cooper, the Secretary,
had applied to him for the names of some of the principal Libra-
ries in the United States, as the King contemplated presenting the
works in question to some of them. Mr. Rich accordingly sent a
list of twenty, and was not a little surprised to find that each was to
have the same present. Under these circumstances, the request for
further copies of the works appeared a little unreasonable. How-
ever, I went with your letter to Lord Lyndhurst, and with the letter
addressed to the Commissioners, to Mr. Cooper. I also called on
Mr. Cooper, and pressed the matter as much as I could, when he
promised to lay your and my letter before the Board that very day.
The next morning I saw Mr. Cooper, and he assured me that in
about a fortnight I should have an official letter, stating that a copy
of each publication of the Commission remaining in print, should
be as soon as possible at my disposal for the Redwood Library.
He added that the present was not from the Commissioners, but
from the King, whose order must be obtained. When I get the
works I will forward them to the care of Aymar & Co. As soon
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 151
as I get a list of the works I will let you have it, for your catalogue.
Domesday Book and Rymer's Foedera are I fear out of print.
A day or two since I received a note from Lord Lyndhurst,
requesting me to see his Secretary, Mr. Winslow, from whom I
also had a communication. On seeing Mr. Winslow, he stated that
•he had Lord Lyndhurst's instructions to do all that was possible to
insure the accomplishment of your object. I of course reHeved
him of further trouble, stating what had passed with Mr. Cooper.
Mr. Winslow asked if Lord Lyndhurst should answer your letter.
I begged him to ask his Lordship to do so, and offered to forward
the letter ; this he promised to do. I am exceedingly pleased at
having been thus successful.
I have kept this letter for a day or two, and can now enclose a
letter from the Secretary to the Record Board.
With kind regards, etc.,
T. Bland.
K. Johnston, Esq , Newport, R. I.
New Boswell Court, Lincoln's Inn, February 23, 1835.
Sir:
I have the pleasure to inform you that the Record Board . have
directed a set of their publications to be forwarded to the Redwood
Library, in compliance with Mr. Johnston's letter.
I am sir,
Your obedient, humble servant,
C. P. Cooper.
Thomas Bland, Esq.,
43 Bedford Row, London.
The following is Mr. Walker's communication to the Newport
Mercury, referred to in Mr. Johnston's letter : .
" Magnificent Donation of Books, by the King of England to the
Redwood Library and Athenaeum in this Town.
" We have much pleasure in announcing the safe arrival of the
munificent donation of books by the King of England to the Red-
152 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
wood Library in this town. The whole collection, which is the
largest, we believe, that has been sent to this country, amounts to
eighty-four volumes, of which seventy-two are large folios and
twelve octavos. The entire set has been nearly thirty-five years in
the course of publication, and from the great demand for the dif-
ferent works of which it is composed, many of them have become
exceedingly scarce, and some of them are now out of print. The
reprinting of these valuable documents of history, law and govern-
ment was occasioned by an address of the British House of Com-
mons to George III. in 1800, requesting his Majesty to give direc-
tions for the better preservation, arrangement, and more convenient
use of the PubUc Records of the Kingdom. In this address they
promised, that they would cheerfully make good whatever extraor-
dinary expenses might be incurred by the direction of the King.
" A commission composed of the celebrated William Pitt, and
other eminent characters of the day, and subsequently of Fox,
the Archbishop of Canterbury, Canning, Earl Spencer, Mackin-
tosh, etc., was accordingly appointed. The King's printers were
put in requisition, and the cost, amounted to about ;^I200 for each
set. Of the manner, and fidelity with which the command of the
King, whose example has been nobly emulated by his son George
IV. and William IV. has been performed, we shall have occasion
to speak in a future article ; for the present we must content our-
selves with giving merely a list of the works :
" Works presented by order of King William and Queen Victoria
of England.
Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland. 11 vols., folio. 1814-24.
(Vol. I. wanting.)
Ancient Laws and Institutes of England. Folio. 1840.
Ancient Laws and Institutes of Wales. Folio. 1841.
Ancient Kalendars and Inventories of the Treasury of his Majesty's
Exchequer. 3 vols., 8vo. 1836.
Calendarium Inquisitionum post Mortem. 4 vols., folio. 1806-28.
Calendars of the Proceedings in Chancery. 3 vols., folio. 1827.
Catalogue of the Harleian Manuscripts in the British Museum.
4 vols., folio. 1808-12.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, 153
Catalogue of the Lansdowne Manuscripts in the British Museum.
Folio. 1 8 19.
Documents and Records illustrating the History of Scotland.
Vol. L, 8vo. 1837.
Domesday Book. 4 vols., folio. 1783.
Ducatus Lancastriae. A Calendar to Pleadings, etc. 3 vols.,
folk). 1823-34.
Excerpta e Rotulis Finium. 2 vols., 8vo. 1835-36.
Fines, sive Pedes Finium. Vol. I., 8vo. 1835.
Foedera, Conventiones, Litterae, etc. 6 vols., folio. 1816-30.
General Report of the Commissioners on Public Records. Folio.
1837.
Inquisitionum in Officio Rotulorum Cancellarise Hiberniae Reper-
torium. 2 v^ols., folio. 1826.
Inquisitionum Retornatarum Abbreviatio. 3 vols., folio. 1 8 1 1-16.
Nonarum Inquisitiones. Folio. 1807.
Parliamentary Writs. 4 vols., folio. 1827-34.
Placita de quo Warranto. Folio. 1818.
Placitorum Abbreviatio. Folio. 181 1.
Proceedings and Ordinances of the Privy Council of England.
7vols., 8vo. 1834-37.
Record of Caernarvon. Folio. 1838.
Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum. Folio. 18 18.
RotuH
Rotu
Rotuli de Oblatis et Finibus. 8vo. 1835,
Rotul
Chartarum. Vol. I., pars i, foHo. 1837.
Curiae Regis. 2 vols., 8vo. 1835.
Hundredorum. 2 vols., folio. 1 812.
RotuH Litterarum Clausarum. Vol. I., foHo. 1833.
Rotuli Litterarum Patentium. Vol. I., pars i, folio. 1835.
Rotuli Normanniae. Vol. I., 8vo. 1835.
RotuH Scotia. 2 vols., folio. 18 14.
Rotuli Selecti ad Res Anglicas et Hibernicas Spectantes. 8vo.
1834.
Rotulorum Originalium Abbreviatio. 2 vols., folio. 1 805.
Rotulorum Patentium et Clausorum Cancellariae Hiberniae Cal-
endarium. Vol. I., pars i, folio. 1828.
Rotulus Cancellarii. 8vo. 1833.
II
154 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
Rotulus Magnus Pipae. 8vo. 1833.
Sir H. Ellis's Introduction and Indexes to Domesday. 2 vols.,
8vo. • 1833.
Statutes of the Realm. 9 vols. With an Alphabetical and
Chronological Index, i vol. each, folio. 1810-22.
Testa de Nerill ; sive, Liber Fcedorum. Folio. 1807.
Valor Ecclesiasticus. 6 vols., folio. 1810-34."
Voted : That the thanks of the Company be presented to Robert
Johnston, Esq., for his agency in procuring the donation of the
Public Records of England ; and that the Secretary be a committee
to confer with him on the subject of presenting a suitable acknowl-
edgment therefor to the donor.
Voted: That the interest which Robert Johnston, Esq., has taken
in this Institution, as exhibited not only in this recent instance of
successful effort in its favor, but on other occasions, and in the dona-
tion of valuable books, etc., previously procured by him for the use
of this Company, entitles him to our thanks, and to the gratitude of
the friends of liberal institutions.
Voted : That the Secretary communicate to him this expression of
our consideration for his services.
The Secretary also presented a communication from Dr. Moore,
on the admission of Life Membership of the Company ; the con-
sideration of which was postponed to the annual meeting.
Voted : That the Librarian be authorized to appoint a Deputy
Librarian.
Voted : That Dr. Channing be admitted to the use of the Library
during his residence in Newport.
September 30, 1835. Annual meeting.
President. — David King.
Directors, — Audley Clarke, Benjamin Hazard, Richard K. Ran-
dolph, Charles Whitefield, and Samuel Barker.
Purchasing Committee. — Theophilus C. Dunn, Robert Johnston,
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 155
Adam S. Coe, Nathaniel S. Ruggles, Thomas Breese and Robert
P. Lee.
Secretary and Treasurer. — George G. King.
Voted: That the following gentlemen be elected Honorary Mem-
bers of this Institution, with the same privileges in the Library as
those enjoyed by the other members, viz. :
Lord Lyndhurst, Henry Agar Ellis, J. C. Cooper, Duke of North-
umberland, Thomas Bland, of England.
Baron Hottinguer,^ Dr. Edwards [W. F.], of Paris.
William Redwood, of Philadelphia.
Charles B. King, of Washington.
September 28, 1836. The following letter from the President was
read, received and ordered to be recorded :
To the Company of the Redwood Library and Athenceum.
Gentlemen :
The state of my health rendering me unable to discharge the
duties incumbent upon me in the situation I now hold as President
of your Institution, I take this opportunity to resign the same and
to decline any further nomination to that office.
With my warmest thanks for the regard which by this appoint-
ment on previous occasions you have been pleased to manifest
towards me, and with the strongest wishes for the continued and in-
creasing prosperity and usefulness of the Institution,
I have the honor to be
Your obedient servant,
David King.^^
Newport, September 28, 1836.
^ Baron Hottinguer was a Paris banker. His interest in the Redwood
Library grew out of his marriage to Martha Redwood, a descendant of
Abraham Redwood and Martha Coggeshall, his wife.
^■^ Dr. David King, born at Raynham, Mass., in 1774, entered Rhode
Island College, under President Manning, in 1792, and graduated under
156 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
Voted: That the thanks of this Corporation be communicated
by the Directors to Dr. David King, for his long and faithful ser-
vices to this Institution.
The following officers were elected :
President. — Audley Clarke.
Directors. — Benjamin Hazard, Richard K. Randolph, Charles
Whitfield, Samuel Barker, and George G. King.
Purchasing Committee. — Adam S. Coe, Nathaniel S. Ruggles,
Thomas Breese, Robert P. Lee, David M. Coggeshall, and Joseph
Martin.
Secretary. — George G. King.
Treasurer. — William A. Barber.
Resolved : That the vote heretofore passed, authorizing the clergy
to lake books out of the Library, is hereby repealed.
President Maxey, in 1796. He studied medicine under Dr. James
Thatcher, of Plymouth, Mass., whose known experience and professional
skill commanded an extensive practice.
Well-grounded in his profession, Dr. King came to Newport in 1799,
and made it known that he intended to settle here. Dr. Isaac Senter had
just died, and his library — a choice one for those days, and enriched with
the manuscript lectures of Ashley Cooper and others — came into the pos-
session of Dr. King. He was early interested in the discovery of Jenner,
and while facing popular prejudice, in 1800, vaccinated the first person
vaccinated in Rhode Island. He was an active member of the Rhode
Island Medical Society, and held the offices of Censor, Vice-President and
President. He also took a prominent part in the establishing of public
schools in Newport, and served as a member of the School Committee.
He was equally earnest in establishing the "Union Sunday-school;" and
the name of his son Edward, then twelve years of age, was the first entry
on the rolls, when a call for pupils was made. And these Annals show
how deep an interest he took in the Redwood Library ; from the time
that an effort was made, in 1810, to put it upon a better footing, until his
health failed to a degree that made it necessary for him to resign his office
as President. He was stricken with paralysis in 1834, and gradually failed
until November 14, 1836, when he died.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 157
A letter from J. G. Hottinguer, of Paris, was read, returning
thanks in behalf of his father, Baron Hottinguer, for the attention
bestowed on him in appointing him an honorary member of the
Institution, and in his behalf offering a contribution of one thousand
francs towards the restoration of the building; which sum the
Treasurer was authorized to receive and place in the savings bank
of this town. The Directors and Robert Johnston, Esq., were ap-
pointed a committee to answer the letter of Mons. Hottinguer, and
return him the thanks of the Company for the above donation.
Mr. Whitfield stated that he had taken possession of the Red-
wood house in April last, and had rented it at the rate of twenty
dollars per annum.
Voted : That application be made to the General Assembly, for
such alteration of the charter as that fifteen members shall consti-
tute a quorum for the transaction of business.
Voted : That the Directors be authorized in their discretion, to
procure a case for the Public Records of England.
William A. Barber was elected Librarian. ^
February 3, 1837. Voted: That Mr. Whitfield be a committee
to ascertain the expense of repairing the windows, and such other
parts of the Library as need repairs, and report to the Directors.
January 4, 1838. Charles B. King, of Washington, having pre-
sented to the Company a portrait of Columbus, it was voted : That
the Secretary return him the thanks of this Board for his valuable
donation.
June 7, 1838. The thanks of the Board were presented to Richard
R. Ward, Esq., of New York, for his donation to the Library, of the
" Antiquitates Americanae."
Voted : That Prof. Tucker be admitted to the use of the Library
during his residence here, and that the Secretary notify him accord-
ingly.
The Librarian was directed to inform Miss Gibbs that the
158 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
Directors' room is required for the use of the Library, and to
request her to cause the books now deposited there, belonging to
the estate of George Gibbs, to be removed.
September 26, 1838. Voted: That the "Redwood Estate," in
Spring Street, belonging to the Company, be sold at auction, or
otherwise, and on such terms as the Directors may order ; and that
the President and Directors be empowered to give and execute a
deed of the same, and affix the seal of the Company thereto.
Voted : That Henry Middleton, and others who have purchased
shares in the Institution since the last annual meeting, be admitted
members thereof
July 23, 1839. It appearing that Samuel Whitehorne, Stephen A.
Robinson, and Mary Anthony, have transferred their shares ; voted :
That the Secretary issue certificates to George Cozzens, Alexander
M. McGregor, and Noah White, to whom said shares have been
transferred. The Secretary was also to issue certificates to Rowden
C. J. Weston, Henry E. Turner, and Charles Mason, who had be-
come owners of shares. Henry Paul Beck, of Philadelphia, having
purchased a share for twenty-five dollars, he was also elected a
member.
September 25, 1839. Voted: That the Librarian hereafter make
a quarterly report to the Directors, of the books which he shall
ascertain to be missing from the Library.
Voted : That George G. King be a committee to invest the
money received on account of the Redwood estate, and also the
amount now on deposit in the savings bank, to the credit of this
Institution.
October 8, 1839. C- E. Robbins, Charles Whitfield, and George
G. King were instructed to make a new arrangement, and a new
catalogue of the books in the Library.
Voted : That Mr. King be a committee to receive from the ex-
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 159
ecutor of Hon. C. G. Champlin,^*" the donation of books by him
given to the Institution, and that the same be recorded in the book
of donations.
September 30, 1840. Voted: That the following be adopted as
permanent Rules and Regulations :
1. At every quarterly meeting of the Directors, the Librarian shall
make a true return, in Writing, of all fines received during the pre-
vious quarter, and of all fines incurred and not received, and the
measures taken by him for their collection.
2. The Directors, at least once a month, shall cause the Libra-
rian's books to be strictly examined, and shall see that he makes
faithful entries of all books taken out, and of all those that are re-
turned ; with the time of taking and returning ; and of all fines in-
curred by the detention or abuse of any of the books, or for any
breach of the laws of which it is his duty to take notice.
3. All books purchased for, or presented to the Library, shall be
immediately placed therein ; and for every day's detention of any
such books therefrom, either by the Librarian or by any other per-
son, Avith his knowledge, the Librarian shall be held responsible, and
shall pay twenty-five cents as a fine therefor. For each and every
other breach of his duty, the Librarian shall pay ten cents ; and all
fines incurred by him shall be deducted out of his pay. The num-
bers of reviews and magazines, or other books, and all pam-
phlets, shall be deemed to be books for the purposes of these reso-
lutions.
4. No book shall be taken out of the Library for the use of any
'"• Mr. Champlin had died in March of that year. He was the only
son of Christopher Champlin, was born in Newport, April 12, 1768, and
graduated at Harvard College. He was a Representative in Congress
from Rhode Island, in 1796, and a United States Senator in 1809. His
wife was Martha Ellery, daughter of Benjamin EUery and granddaughter
of Abraham Redwood. The books above referred to numbered thirty-
seven volumes, to which number Mrs. Champlin added fourteen volumes.
Mr. Champlin also bequeathed to the Library one hundred dollars.
i6o ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
boarding-house ; and for each and every breach of this rule the
offender shall pay a fine of one dollar ; and shall be denied the use
of the Library for the space of six months.
January 7, 184T. Voted: That a certificate be issued to John
Ward, he having purchased the share of Samuel Ward.
June 18, 1 841. Voted: That the Secretary be authorized to trans-
fer to James Barker a share in the Company^ for his note for twenty-
five dollars ; with the understanding that said note shall be can-
celled on the reconveyance to the Company of said share by said
Barker.
Voted : That said James Barker, on so becoming a member of the
Company, be appointed Librarian, with a salary of forty- two dollars
per annum, with the usual perquisites.^"^
September 27, 1841. The share of David King, deceased, having
been transferred to David King, the Secretary was directed to issue
a new certificate to David King.
September 29, 1841. John Ward, James Barker and David King
were admitted members.
The following officers were elected :
President. — Audley Clarke.
Directors. — Richard K. Randolph, Charles Whitfield, Robert J.
Taylor, David King and Edward W. Lawton.
Purchasing Committee. — Robert P. Lee, Henry E. Turner, Joseph
B. Weaver, Isaac Stevens, Nathan H. Gould, George G. King.
Secretary. — -Robert J. Taylor.
Treasurer and Librarian. — James Barker.
October 13, 1841. Voted: That Robert J. Taylor and David
King be a committee to prepare and have printed a catalogue of
the books in the Library, and Dr. King was requested to pre-
"^ The "perquisites" were the privilege of cutting and selling the
grass in the Library yard, on the Librarian's own account.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. i6i
pare an historical sketch of the Library, to be affixed to the cata-
logue.^'''
February 8, 1842. Voted: That the Secretary have certificates
and blanks printed, to the amount of five dollars ; and that the
Librarian have the reviews bound for the present in Boston.
Voted : That the Secretary issue new certificates to James M.
Sherman, Christopher G, Perry, Peleg Clarke, William A. Clarke,
John Stevens, Thomas B. Sherman, Charles E. Bell, James L. Mason,
and Zenas L. Hammond.
July 21, 1842. Voted : That the Treasurer be directed to sign a
premium note in behalf of this Corporation, as mortgagee of Clark
Burdick, who wished to renew a policy of insurance, issued by the
Providence Mutual Insurance Company, on a house belonging to
him in Thames Street ; which house is mortgaged as security for
money due to this Company, and that said Burdick be required to
assign the policy, for its further security.
September 28, 1842. Dr. King, Moderator.
C. G. Perry, Peleg Clarke, William A. Clarke, Charles E. Bell,
Zenas L. Hammond, J. Stevens, Thomas B. Buffum, J. L. Mason,
James M. Sherman, S. H. Cottrell, Thomas B. Sherman, were ad-
mitted members of the Corporation.
The Rules and Regulations adopted at the annual meeting, 1 840,
were repealed.
The Librarian was directed to put up a notice in the Library
of the receipt of the reviews; and also to cause a copy of the
Treasurer's account to be put up in a conspicuous place in the
Library.
Voted : That the Secretary, with C. G. Perry, be a committee to
present the thanks of the Corporation to N. H. Gould and William
^°^ The preparation of the catalogue was delayed, and it was not printed
until i860.
1 62 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
A. Clarke, for donations of books ; and to the committee and Mr.
Prioleau for their services in taking the catalogue.
Voted : That the Purchasing Committee be directed to purchase
with the donation of the late Hon. C. G. Champlin, viz., one hundred
dollars, some valuable standard works, and that the same be called
the " Champlin Donation."
Voted : That the Treasurer be authorized to receive 25 cents for
each catalogue, when they are ready for delivery.
February 21, 1843. Voted: That the Secretary be directed to
write to one of our members of Congress,^"* for copies of Congres-
*°* The Secretary, Mr, Robert J. Taylor, immediately wrote to Hon.
Robert B. Cranston, Representative from Rhode Island, on the subject,
who made application to the Department of State, and received the fol-
lowing reply :
Department of State, March i, 1843.
Hon. Robert B. Cranston,
House of Representatives.
Sir: The letter of Robert J. Taylor, Esq., left by you at the Depart-
ment, has been referred to the Secretary of- the Senate and the Clerk of
the House of Representatives — the resolution of Congress directing that
distribution of the American State Papers, making it the duty of those
officers to distribute the work.
I have the honor to be,
Sir, your obedient servant,
Daniel Webster.
Office of the Secretary of the Senate, U. S.
March 2, 1843.
Sir:
In reference to the letter of inquiry from Robert J. Taylor, Esq., Sec-
retary of the Redwood Library and Athenaeum, I can only state that the
joint resolution for the distribution of the American State Papers, pub-
lished by Gales & Seaton, limited the number of copies to be distributed
to colleges, etc., to 69, which number has long since been distributed to
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 163
sional documents, ordered to be distributed to public libraries and
athenaeums by an Act of Congress.
Voted : That Dr. David King be authorized to send copies of
the Catalogue to such institutions and persons as he may think,
proper.
The clergy of the town were to be allowed the use of the Library,
by invitation of the Directors.
August 26, 1843. It was stated at the Board, that Mr. Charles B.
King had offered to present to the Library ;^ioo, provided that the
Library will raise $100; the whole to be devoted to increasing the
Library. It was
Voted : That a subscription be opened immediately, and the Sec-
retary was directed to prepare a suitable paper.
Dr. King was directed to have the wall between the cornice and
the tops of the book-cases, painted or papered, as he might think
best.
September 27, 1843. Annual meeting. Audley Clarke, Moder-
ator.
Voted : That Augustus N. Littlefield, Thomas Williams and
William Ennis be admitted members.
Officers elected were :
President. — Audley Clarke.
Directors. — Charles Gyles, Charles Whitfield, David King, C. G.
Perry, and R. J. Taylor.
Purchasing Committee. — Nathan H. Gould, George B. King, Wil-
liam A. Clarke, Benjamin B. Howland, William Ennis.
the principal colleges in the several States, in a due proportion for each
State according to representation in Congress.
I have the honor to be,
Sir, your obedient servant,
A. DiCKINS.
Hon. Robert B. Cranston,
House of Representatives, U. S.
1 64 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
Secretary. — Robert J. Taylor.
Treasurer and Libn^arian. — James Barker.
Voted : That the thanks of the Company be presented to Mr.
Charles B. King, for his liberal donation of ;^ioo.
Voted : That the Directors be requested to consider the expe-
diency of insuring the books and the building, and to have it done
if they think well of it. And also as to putting a chimney ^^ to the
building.
Voted : That trees be set in front of. the lot, on Bellevue
Street.^"'
The following was passed :
Whereas : It has been the practice of our predecessors, from time
to time, to associate such persons with themselves as Honorary
Members of this Institution as they deem an honor to it, we there-
fore hereby elect the following gentlemen such Honorary Mem-
bers, viz. :
Chancellor James Kent.
Judah Touro, Esq., of New Orleans.
R. JD. Shepard, Esq., of New Orleans.
Charles B. King, of Washington, D. C.
Rev. Salmon Wheaton, D.D., of Johnstown, N. Y.
Prof Benjamin Silliman, of New Haven.
Col. Arthur P. Hayne, of South Carolina.
Francis R. Weston, of South Carolina.
October 7, 1843. The Secretary and Mr. Whitfield were directed
to procure insurance on the Library building, not exceeding ;^2000,
and also ;^2000 on the books ; the books being valued at ;^4000.
*"^ There was no other way of warming the Library in winter, than by
a stove, with the pipe running out of a window.
^^ To the late Robert Johnston the Library was indebted for the superb
fern-leaf beech that adorns the ground, and is an ornament to the whole
neighborhood.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 165
The subject of erecting a chimney came up, and after some dis-
cussion was laid on the table.
December 12, 1843. -Voted: That J. E. Dawley be permitted
to subscribe to the Library, at $^ per annum, according to the Regu-
lations.
Voted : That the thanks of the Company be presented to Mr.
Charles B. King, for the portrait of Governor Coddington,^"^ painted
by him and presented to the Library. Dr. Perry was to procure a
frame for the portrait, and to pay the expense of transportation.
Dr. Perry was to pay Miss Jane Stuart dollars, for mate-
rials for her intended portrait of Rev. John Callender.
The Naturalists' Library, for the future, was not to be taken from
the Library, except by permission of a Director.
The following letter was read :
New Orleans, November 27, 1843.
Robert J. Taylor,
Secretary of the Redwood Library and Athenceum Company,
Newport.
Sir : I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 17th
ult, conveying to me a vote of the Redwood Library and Athe-
naeum Company, admitting me as an honorary member of that In-
stitution.
I have long since declined honors of any kind from my fellow-
men ; but in this case, coming from the place of my birth, a place
ever dear to me, I accept the honor of membership ; with an assur-
ance to you of my sincere wishes for the prosperity of the Redwood
Library, and of the town of Newport.
Sometime since I learned from my friend, R. D. Shepard, that
the portico of the building of the Library was in a rather dilapidated
state.
It was then my intention to have made a donation for the pur-
^"^ The portrait is a copy of the original of Governor Coddington, now
owned by the city, and hanging in the City Hall.
i66 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
pose of aiding in repairing it, and I now have much pleasure in ful-
fiUing that intention, by herewith annexing you a check on the
Atlas Bank in Boston for one thousand dollars, which the Company
will please receive and appropriate to that purpose — or any other
purpose they may deem most useful for the interest of the Library.
I have also been informed of the defective state of the sidewalk
from the head of Touro Street to the Library ; it would be pleasing
to me to know that the same were put in good order, by having the
sidewalks flagged and curbed, and the street graded. If the Com-
pany will undertake to have it done in a plain, substantial mariner,
I will with pleasure pay the cost, on being apprized of its amount.
I will be much obliged to you for not giving any publicity to the
above communication, and remain.
Very respectfully
Your obedient servant,
J. Touro.
The following resolutions were adopted unanimously :
The Directors of the Redwood Library and Athenaeum, having
received from Judah Touro, Esq., of New Orleans, a very munifi-
cent testimony of the liberal and devoted attachment with which he
regards the Institution and welfare of his native town, unanimously
adopt the following resolutions :
Resolved : That the thanks of this Board, and through them of
the Redwood Library and Athen^um, be presented to Mr. Touro,
for his late most-acceptable and well-applied donation, by which one
thousand dollars is appropriated by him to the repairs of the build-
ing in which the Library is kept.
Resolved : That it is by the example of citizens like Mr. Touro,
who in distant lands, and in the multitude and absorbing avocations
of trade, forget not the time-honored institutions of their native
Stale, that the welfare of our Hterary establishments is most highly
promoted ; not only by the acts of munificence themselves, but by
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 167
awakening and stimulating the attention of our resident citizens, to
the deserving institutions that have called them forth.
Resolved : That the Secretary of the Board cause a copy of these
resolutions to be sent to Mr. Touro.
Resolved : That Messrs. Whitfield and Perry and the Secretary,
be a committee to recommend the most proper plan for repairing
the building in a manner worthy of the Institution and the liberality
of Mr. Touro; and that they also confer with the proper authori-
ties of the town, respecting the repairs of the street, and to carry
out the wishes of Mr. Touro regarding the same. The committee
to report January 3, 1844.
January 3, 1844. Voted: That the hewn stone used in repairing
the portico shall be freestone.
A communication was read from Mr. R. P. Lee, stating that for
the better protection of the building from fire, he had, at the request
of Mr. Charles B. King, of Washington, D. C, prepared two ladders,
and that the expense of them would be about ;^I5.
Voted : That the bill for making the ladders be paid by the
Treasurer, and the ladders be placed in the Library.
Special meeting. March 26, 1844. Mr. Charles Gyles, Mod-
erator.
The death of Audley Clarke, Esq.,'"^ having been announced, it
was
Resolved : That the members of this corporation unite with the
great body of their fellow-citizens in lamenting the death of Audley
Clarke, Esq., late President of the Redwood Library and Athe-
^°' Audley Clarke. Amiable in disposition, affable in manners and
without reproach as a man of business ; was elected a Representative to
the General Assembly, in 1813, served five terms, and in 1816 was sent to
the State Senate. For twenty-five years he was President of the Bank of
Rhode Island, and held that position at the time of his death.
i68 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
naeum, as depriving us of the services and example of an upright
and valuable citizen, who, in whatever situation he was placed, ful-
filled with unvarying fidelity all the duties of life.
Resolved : That we hold in grateful recollection the interest at all
times manifested by our late President in the prosperity of this In-
stitution, and that we honor him for the uniform kindness, good
sense and urbanity with which he performed the duties of the office
to which the unanimous suffrage of this Company repeatedly called
him.
Resolved : That these resolutions be entered by the Secretary in
the books of this Company, and that Dr. C. G. Perry be a commit-
tee to communicate a copy thereof to the family of Mr. Clarke.
Mr. George G. King was unanimously elected President until the
annual meeting in September.
Voted : That the subject of an increase of the number of shares
be referred to a committee, consisting of the President, Mr. Dutee
J. Pearce and the Secretary ; to report at the annual meeting.
September 25, 1844. Annual meeting. The following persons
were admitted members of the corporation : Benjamin A. Mason,,
Walter Nichols, W. F. De Jongh, Ralph Lockwood, WiUiam
Gilpin.
The following officers were elected :
President. — George G. King.
Directors. — Charles Gyles, Charles Whitfield, David King, Chris.
G. Perry, and Nathaniel S. Ruggles.
Purchasing Committee. — William A. Clarke, B. B. Rowland, John
H. GilHat, WiUiam Ennis, William Hunter, D. M. Coggeshall.
Treasurer. — James Barker.
Secretary. — R. J. Taylor.
May 27, 1845. The Secretary was instructed to transmit to Au-
gustus Thorndike, Esq., an acknowledgment of the receipt of the
"Arts et Metiers " and other books, presented by him to this Institu-
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, 169
tion on the 21st inst., accompanied with our thanks for this very-
acceptable donation.
The Secretary was also to communicate to Mr. Thorndike our
grateful acknowledgment for the interest he has in other respects
manifested in the Institution, and particularly for his aid in improv-
ing the Library grounds.
The Librarian was authorized to have a scuttle cut into the
cellar.
September 24, 1845. The Librarian was directed not to let Dr.
Gallup take books from the Library, until he pays the fines now
due from him to the Company.
November 13, 1845. A certificate of membership was issued to
Silas Ward.
July 23, 1846. Share No. 68, belonging to the estate of Thomas
G. Pitman, was transferred to Milton Hall, and a new certificate was
issued.
September 29, 1846. The following letter was read:
To the Company of the Redwood Library anid AthencBum.
Gentlemen :
My proposed absence from town for the ensuing year will render
it out of my power to discharge any longer, the duties of President
of your Institution ; and I therefore take the opportunity to resign
that office, and to decline a re-election. In taking leave of the
Company, I beg to express my sincere thanks for the confidence
they have reposed in me, and my most ardent wishes for the con-
tinued and increasing prosperity of the Institution.
I am, gentlemen.
With great regard and respect.
Your obedient servant,
George G. King.
Newport, September 29, 1846.
12
170 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
At the annual meeting Hon. William Hunter was elected Presi-
dent to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. King.
January 2J, 1847. The Treasurer was authorized to hire from the
Merchants' Bank, a sufficient sum of money to pay the outstanding
bills, and that he take up the note so given, when the money is paid
by Mr. Burdick. [Purchase money for the Redwood estate.]
The share standing in the name of Henry Bull was directed to be
transferred to Miss Phoebe C. Bull.
The Secretar-y was instructed to publish semi-annually a list of
the donations to the Library.
Voted : That it is expedient to celebrate the centennial anniver-
sary of the adoption of the charter of the Company ; that the Hon.
William Hunter be requested to deliver an address on the occasion,
and that the President call a special meeting of the Company to
consider the subject.
Voted : That hereafter all transfers of shares be made in a book
for that purpose, kept by the Secretary, who must witness all such
transfers. The share belonging to the estate of the late Christo-
pher G. Champlin was to be transferred to Samuel Vernon.
The President and Messrs. C. G. Perry and David King were ap-
pointed a committee to make arrangements for the centennial cele-
bration.
July 22, 1847. A letter from Hon. Robert B. Cranston was
received, making it known that he had given the Library 3 vol-
umes of American Archives; 21 volumes of American State
Papers ; 27 volumes of Congressional Debates ; and i volume,
Jefferson Manual.
The thanks of the Directors were tendered to Mr. Cranston for
his liberal donation ; and the Secretary was directed to issue a cer-
tificate of membership to him, he having become the purchaser of
.share No. 52, owned by J. W. Sherman.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
171
CHAPTER VIII.
1847— 1861.
REPARATIONS for a proper observance of
the Centennial were at once made, and a
large and appreciative audience listened
with marked attention to tfie scholarly ora-
tion of Mr. Hunter, and the poem prepared
for the occasion by Rev. Charles T. Brooks.
Following the celebration these letters passed
between the Committee of Arrangements and the speakers of the
day. Mr. Hunter's oration has since been published by the New-
port Historical Society, and Mr. Brooks's poem, under the title of
" Aquidneck," has a place in his published works :
Newport, R. I., October 11, 1847.
Dear Sir:
At the late annual meeting of the Redwood Library and Athe-
naeum, we were appointed a committee to communicate to you the
subjoined resolutions, expressing its sense of the value of your dis-
course at the Centennial Celebration of the enactment of its Charter,
August 24, 1847, and to request a copy for the press. In making
this communication and request, as we now do, it gives us pleasure
to conform not only to the directions of the Company in this re-
spect, but to the very general desire manifested by our citizens, to
obtain your consent to its early publication.
We are with great regard and respect.
Your friends and fellow-citizens,
C. E. ROBBINS,
C. G. Perry,
Edward King,
N. H. Gould,
William Gilpin.
To Hon. William Hunter,
172 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
Here followed a copy of the resolution of September 29, 1847.
Messrs. Chris. E. Robbins, C. G. Perry, Edward King, N. H.
Gould and William Gilpin, Esqrs.
Gentlemen : I acknowledge the receipt of your polite note, as a
committee appointed by the Redwood Library and Athenaeum, re-
questing a copy of the discourse pronounced by me at the late Cen-
tennial Celebration. I say in reply that the copy of that discourse is
entirely at the service of the Company of the Redwood Library, and
that with many thanks for the kind language of the resolution accom-
panying your note, I remain, -
Gentlemen, with sentiments of friendship and regard.
Your obedient and faithful servant,
William Hunter.
Newport, October 12, 1847.
Newport, R. L, October 11, 1847.
Dear Sir :
At the annual meeting of the Company of the Redwood Library
and Athenaeum, we were appointed a committee to communicate the
subjoined resolutions, and to request a copy of the Poem delivered by
you, August 24, 1847, for the press.
It gives us pleasure to be the organ of the Company on this
occasion, and to hope that you will find it convenient to comply with
its requests.
We are with great regard and respect,
Your friends and fellow-citizens,
C. E. Robbins,
C. G. Perry,
Edward King,
' N. H. Gould,
William Gilpin.
To Rev, Charles T. Brooks.
Newport, R. I., October 11, 1847
Gentlemen :
I have been highly honored and gratified by the resolutions of
the Redwood Library Company, and by the very complimentary
manner in which you have communicated them.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 173
The Poem which I had the pleasure of preparing for the Com-
pany is at their disposal, whenever it may be called for, and the few
notes which may be necessary for the explanation of names and
allusions will be added immediately.
I remain your obHged
Friend and fellow-citizen,
Charles T. Brooks.
To Messrs. Chris. E. Robbins, Chris. G, Perry,
Edward King. N H. Gould, William Gilpin.
January 18, 1848. The share that had been held by Harriet Holt
was ordered to be transferred to Augustus Bush ; and April 14th a
new certificate was issued to Simon Newton, Jr., who had purchased
the share of Ralph Lockwood, and one to John Williams, who
had come into the possession of the share held by Isaac J.
Stevens.
September 27, 1848. James Barker having resigned as Librarian,
Christ. E. Robbins was chosen to fill the vacancy. The Secretary
was directed to prepare a letter of thanks, to be forwarded to Capt.
James Barker, for his efficient and faithful service as Librarian and
Treasurer.
Voted : That the salary of the Librarian be ;^50 per annum, with
the usual perquisites.
November 25, 1848. The share belonging to the late Robert
Stevens, was transferred to Francis Lawton ; and that of the late
Charles Whitfield to William C. Cozzens.
Resolved : That a supplementary catalogue of the books in the
Library be published ; and that C. G. Perry and C. E. Robbins be a
committee to arrange the books not contained in the printed cata-
logue, and cause them to be published by their titles in alphabetical
order. The Librarian was to open a subscription at the Library, for
the purpose of defraying the expense of the catalogue, to which each
proprietor was requested to contribute.
174 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
May 12, 1849. The following letter was received from the
Librarian :
To the President and Directors of the Redwood Library and Athe-
7iceum.
Gentlemen :
It being necessary under my recent appointment to remove to
the city of Providence, I can no longer retain the place you were so
good as to confer on me, and which has afforded me so many hours
of unmixed gratification. I therefore resign the office of your
Librarian, to take effect from and after this notice.
With great respect and regard,
Christopher E. Robbins.'"^
Newport, R. I., May 10, 1849.
May 24, 1849. Mr. Augustus Bush was elected Librarian.
August 9, 1849. Benjamin Newton, who had become the pur-
chaser of the share held by George Cozzens, was elected a member.
November 20, 1849. Mr. Thomas R. Hunter was made a mem-
ber, he having purchased the share that was held by Lloyd Min-
turn.
[Messrs. George Hall and the Librarian were made a Committee
to devise some better way to warm the building than the one on
which- they had heretofore relied for that purpose ; and it resulted
in building a chimney.}
December 11, 1849. At a special meeting of the Directors, the
following resolutions were adopted :
*"* Christopher E. Robbins was the son of Hon. Asher Robbins. His
father, who ably represented this State in Congress, gave much attention
to his education, and he was eminently fitted to have the charge of such
a library. He removed to Providence to enter upon his duties as Secre-
tary of State, to which office he had been appointed. He died July 23,
1855, aged sixty-two years.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 175
Resolved : That in the recent death of Hon. WilHam Hunter,"*^
this Board is sensible of the loss of an associate who has ever ex-
hibited a deep interest in the welfare of this Institution, and who,
while exercising the duties of President, during the past two years,
had materially promoted its progress.
Resolved : That we have heard the announcement of the death
of our late President, if possible, with the greater regret, because we
knew that he was engaged in the composition of a great philosoph-
ical work, which, if time had been spared to him for its completion,
would have served to adorn the literature of the country, and to
reflect honor upon Rhode Island, his native State.
Resolved : That we lament the loss of a citizen distinguished by
his extensive acquisitions in different departments of learning, and
by successful exhibitions in various spheres of action. Eminent as
a lawyer, an orator and a statesman, devoting his manhood with
"" William Hunter was born in Newport, in November, 1774, and
died here December 3, 1849. ^^ ^^^ the son and youngest child of Dr.
William Hunter and Deborah Malbone, daughter of Godfrey Malbone,
his wife.
Mr. Hunter graduated at Brown University, in 1791, began the study
of medicine in London, under his kinsman, the distinguished Dr. John
Hunter, and relinquished it for the law, under Arthur Murphy, who was
not only a learned practitioner, but also a ripe scholar, and who fostered
in his pupil that love of the classics which distinguished his scholastic
days. Well grounded in his profession, he returned to Newport, and at
the age of twenty- one began a successful career. He ably represented his
native town in the General Assembly, and was then sent to the Senate of
the United States, where he was recognized as a statesman and orator.
In 1834 he was appointed Charge to Brazil, which appointment was
raised to a full mission in 1842. In 1844 he retired and returned to New-
port. His interest in Rhode Island, and her institutions, was never
allowed to flag, and to him the honor was assigned of delivering the Cen-
tennial Address, at the Centennial Celebration of the Library, in 1847 5
which address, as already stated, has been published in the Newport His-
toricdl Magazine.
176 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
marked sendees to his country, and to the State, of whose history
he was proud, and ever exhibiting in his courtly manners, his bril-
Hant conversation, his Hterary tastes, his classical eloquence — the
union of the cultivated gentleman and the accomplished scholar.
Resolved : That we deeply sympathize with his relatives and
friends in their afflicting bereavement.
Resolved : That these resolutions, signed by the President pro
tern,, and the Secretary, be published in the newspapers, and that a
copy of the same, as expressive of our sympathy, be transmitted to
the family of the deceased.
March ii, 1852. The share of Charles E. Hammett was trans-
ferred to George H. Calvert.
February 18, 1854. The Treasurer stated that he had received
certain documents from the executors of the late Judah Touro, of
New Orleans, informing him that Mr. Touro had left to this Insti-
tution a legacy of three thousand dollars, accompanied with a power
of attorney to be signed by some person authorized by the Board
to receive the money. .
Voted : That David King, President of the Institution, be author-
ized to receive from the executors of the late Judah Touro, of New
Orleans, the legacy bequeathed by him to the Redwood Library
and Athenaeum.
May 15, 1854. The transfer of shares to Andrew Robeson, from
James W. Lyon, and to D. J. Gould by Isaac Gould, was approved.
September 30, 1854. The Treasurer was to advertise, that the
sum of three thousand dollars, left by Mr. Touro to this Institution,
would be let on landed property used for agricultural purposes ; the
interest to be paid semi-annually.
February 21, 1850. Sarah Rowland, who had purchased the share
of Thomas Oman, and John Ward, who had become the owner of
Thomas Riddell's share, were admitted members.
A special meeting was called for March 5th, at which time Dr.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 177
David King was elected President, to fill the vacancy caused by the
death of Mr. Hunter.
September 21, 185 I. The Librarian reported that 103 books had
been added by purchase during the preceding year, and 26 had been
presented. The whole number in the Library was 6306.
December 18, 185 1. The following transfers were made:
Estate of Silas Ward to Benjamin Finch : estate of William Ennis
to Charles D. Hammett ; Harvey Session to O. C. Turner ; Phebe
C. Bull to William B. Lawrence, and Charles E. Bell to John T.
Bush.
[September 26, 1855. From this time the Library seems to have
had a new birth, and one of the happy results of the movement then
made, was the adoption of a systematic method of keeping a record
of the doings of the Corporators and Directors, and their several
committees. The confusion growing out of the old method — one
book in which the doings of the proprietors were recorded, another
for the Directors, and one for the Directors and Purchasing Com-
mittee, with entries so run together and so encroaching upon each
other, as to require the closest attention to sift out what was done
and what was really accomplished. In this confusion there is an
absence of any record of the annual meetings, from 185 i to 1855,
when a new record book was opened, and from which the following
facts connected with the history of the Library are drawn.]
At the annual meeting, September 26, 1855 (after the election of
officers and the transaction of routine business, of which, by the way,
there is no entry), Mr. William C. Cozzens suggested that an earnest
effort should be made " to place the Library on a more useful, popu-
lar and substantial basis," and urged the advantages that would
accrue from the issuing of new stock, the opening of the Library
daily and increasing its attraction ; declaring it to be his belief that
the sum often thousand dollars could be raised if a determined and
organized effort were made to secure that amount. It resulted in
178 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
the appointing of William C. Cozzens, David King, Robert J. Taylor,
Charles H. Russell, A. H. Dumont, Peleg Clarke, and Augustus
Bush, a committee " to consider the best means of increasing the
efficiency and enlarging the usefulness of the Library."
At the adjourned meeting, October lo, 1855, the attendance was
more general than had previously been known. The committee in
their report, after dwelling on the importance of contributing to the
growth and prosperity of the Library, went on to say they were con-
vinced " that it is necessary to enlarge the Library building, to raise
a fund to pay for the same, and for the purchase of all suitable
modern and popular works ; to add a reading-room, and to open the
Institution daily; which may be done in various ways, but the com-
mittee recommend as most feasible, in their judgment, an increase of
four hundred new shares, at the nominal value of twenty-five dol-
lars each ; thus raising the sum of ten thousand dollars. To effect
so desirable an end, it will be necessary to appeal to the philanthro-
pist, as well as to those immediately interested ; presenting to them,
in the form of a circular, a report of the present actual condition of
the Library — its resources, its prospects and what is proposed to be
effected, and asking for an unlimited subscription of shares, at the
above-named price, exempt from yearly taxation on all shares save
one, except when used, and pledging the subscribers that the Com-
pany will not offer any more shares or stock while any of those sub-
scribing for more than one share for this object may hold them, and
wish to dispose of such surplus, which may be done by them in such
manner as they may think best."
The committee went on to say :
" There are now only about one hundred proprietors of one share
each ; and taking the highest rate at which any share has been sold,
say twenty-five dollars, it would amount to about twenty-five hun-
dred dollars. Now let us look at the other side, continued Mr.
Cozzens :
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 179
The property of the Library consists of the Library
building and the lot on which it stands, worth at
least, ;^ 10,000 00
8000 volumes, and the collection of paintings, . . 10,000 00
Cash invested, at interest, . . . . • , • 3,000 00
Cash in hand, about, . . . . . . . 250 00
Making a total of 1^23,250 00
** Thus it will be seen, in offering for sale four hundred shares at
twenty-five dollars each, ev^ery new subscriber will get the worth of
his money, besides, coming into the copartnership, they reaHze an
equal share of the benefits in the property on hand ; and the original
stockholders will realize with them, in the advantages of the accu-
mulated resources, which the sale of four hundred new shares will
produce."
The report, offered by the chairman, Mr. William C. Cozzens,
closes with these words :
" The committee do not hesitate to recommend that immediate
action be had towards accomplishing the measures projected, and
respectfully submit the enclosed resolutions : first, for the amend-
ment of the Charter, and second, for increasing the stock, and that
committees be appointed to carry the views of the Company into*
effect as soon as possible."
The report of the committee was adopted, and the following reso-
lutions were passed with great unanimity :
" I. That it is expedient to raise the sum of ten thousand -dollars
to promote the usefulness of the Institution.
" 2. That Thomas R. Hunter, R. B. Cranston, and William B.
Lawrence, be a committee to procure, from the General Assembly,
ahiendments to the Charter, empowering the Company to elect, at
their annual meetings, eleven Directors instead of five; and entitling
a proprietor to vote on more than one share held by him, but re-
i8o AN.VALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
stricting him to five votes, whatever the number of shares held
by him.
" 3. That David King, W. B. Lawrence, WiUiam C. Cozzens,
A. H. Dumont, Charles H. Russell, Peleg Clarke, William S. Wet-
more, and George H. Calvert, be a committee to draw up a circular
exhibiting the condition and resources of the Institution, presenting
the proposed plan for improving the Redwood Library and Athe-
naeum, and the terms of admission to its prospective privileges."
This committee was empowered to solicit subscriptions to the
stock of the Company, upon the conditions of the proposed plan,
to the >amount of four hundred shares, at twenty-five dollars per
share.
The amendments to the Charter were made by the General As-
sembly of Rhode Island, at the January Sessions, 1856.
A printed circular was distributed, by the committee appointed
for that purpose, among the citizens and visitors of the town, in
July, 1 856. The subscription was immediately opened upon the fol-
lowing conditions, as presented in the circular :
" I . Subscribers shall pay for the number of shares affixed to their
names at the rate of twenty-five dollars per share ; provided that no
part of the subscription be required unless the whole number of four
hundred shares be subscribed for before the annual meeting of the
Company in September, 1857.
" 2. No tax shall be levied on more than one share held by each
member, unless a larger number be used by such member.
" 3. Each share shall entitle a member to the uses and privileges
of the Library and reading room, and to the right of voting at the
meetings of the Corporation, according to the provisions of the
Charter and By-laws.
"4. No proprietor, at the meetings of the Corporation, shall have
more than five votes in his own right, however great the number of
shares held by him."
January 29, 1856. The Treasurer was to have the books insured
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. i8i
for four thousand dollars, with two thousand dollars on the build-
ing. The city was allowed to place a reservoir in the Library yard
[corner of Redwood Street and Bellevue Avenue] under the direc-
tion of Peleg Clarke and Augustus N, Littlefield.
June 6, 1856. The subject of printing a new catalogue was brought
up and indefinitely postponed.
September 24, 1856. Annual meeting. The following report was
made to the Corporation by Dr. David King, the President :
" The law of the Corporation, which requires the Directors to
make an annual report of their proceedings, and to recommend such
measures as they may think advisable to the Company, is a wise pro-
vision, calculated to promote the interests of the Institution. To
insure, however, to the utmost their utility, these reports should be
written, and recorded from year to year on the Company's books.
Unfortunately, the annual statements of the Directors of this Insti-
tution have, with the exception of that of the year 1854-55, been
merely verbal statements, and consequently perishable. The pro-
prietors of the Library are deprived of a series of reports, which, if
written and recorded, would have exhibited in detail everj^ point of
interest in the progress of this Institution, for upwards of one hun-
dred years.
" Immediately after the last annual meeting of the proprietors, the
Board of Directors elected Augustus Bush as Librarian, with a salary
of fifty dollars per annum, with the usual perquisites on money col-
lected. At a subsequent meeting, June, 1856, they increased his
salary to the rate of seventy-five dollars per annum, for the six
months ending September 24, 1856.
" Agreeably to instructions given by the Corporation, the Direc-
tors have caused book-cases to be erected, parallel with the original
cases.
" The books have been examined by the Librarian within the past
week, under the direction of a committee appointed by the Corpora-
tion. The whole number of volumes in the Library, at the last
annual report, was 7017. During the present year there have been
added 118 volumes by purchase, viz., 4 quartos, 59 octavos, and 55
r82 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
duodecimos, and by donations 74 volumes. The whole number,
therefore, added to the Library in the past year, is 192 volumes.
The present number is 7109.
" The Library during the past year has been opened from May to
October, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, from 3 to 5 p.m. ;
other months, on Tuesdays and Saturdays, from 2 to 4 p.m.
" The whole number of proprietors now amounts to 112. In past
times there has been considerable fluctuations in the number. In
1 77 1 there were 102 proprietors; in 1 809 there were 50; in August,
1816, 94; in September, 1843, there were 103.
" The Directors do not point to the increase of the Library, or to
the accession of new proprietors since the last annual meeting, as
the just criterion of our prosperity. They can congratulate the
proprietors on the incontestable evidence of an increased public in-
terest in the welfare of the Institution. The citizens of Newport,
for years past, have regarded the Institution with pride, as an indi-
cation in the community of refinement of taste, and of an apprecia-
tion of intellectual culture. The proprietors themselves, convinced
that the Library might be made more efficient as an instrument of
intellectual cultivation to the public, generously adopted, at the last
annual meeting, and several subsequent meetings, certain prelimi-
nary measures necessary for the accomplishment of the important
object, in accordance with the instructions given by the Company.
Two several committees during the past year, have obtained from
the Legislature of the State important amendments to the Charter ;
and have drawn up and issued a circular to the public, embracing
proposals for improving the Redwood Library and Athenaeum.
Though no actual subscription for the new issue of shares has taken
place, yet the Directors feel confident that the whole number of four
hundred shares will be subscribed for before the annual meeting, in
September, 1857. The committee appointed by the Corporation to
issue a circular and to obtain subscriptions for shares, have, un-
doubtedly, felt some embarrassment in applying for aid to men of
liberality and wealth. To enable that committee to accomplish the
object of their appointment, the Directors would earnestly recom-
mend, as a necessary preliminary measure, a subscription by each
proprietor for one share of the new issue. The sum of twenty-five
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 183
dollars is as dust in the balance, compared with the immense benefit
thus accruing to the Institution, and to the individual himself.
" It is rare to find an individual who does not regard a public
library as a public ornament, who does not acknowledge books to
be * wealth in poverty, liberty in bondage, health in sickness, society
in solitude.' By a strange inconsistency in human nature, it is not
rare, however, to find an individual who fails to give these two
honest opinions the color and stamp of truth.
" The above-proposed subscription for the purpose of enabling
the Institution to meet the wants of the public, is one of those pro-
per occasions on which every man's right feeling should consider
it his duty and his pleasure to do his part. It is to be hoped that
the remembrance of the generosity which marked the origin of the
Institution, and of the numerous liberal benefactions since conferred
upon it, will, instead of no action, prompt every proprietor to
responsive efforts in its behalf It must be recollected that even
the munificence of Redwood would not have resulted in the found-
ing of a Library, unless he had the good fortune to have met with
generous co-operators among our ancestors — men who on the
instant subscribed upwards of ^5000, R. I. currency, for the erec-
tion of a Library building. In the preface to the first catalogue of
the Library, written probably by Dr. Stiles^'* and published in New-
port in 1764, we find the following remarks on the origin and pur-
pose of the Institution :
" * The generous Abraham Redwood, Esq., of Newport, on Rhode
Island, sensible of the distinguished favor whereby heaven had
blessed him with an ample fortune, proposed to acknowledge it by
a design which could be only the generous effect of a grateful niind,
the improving the place of his residence in knowledge and virtue,
that from the inhabitants some revenue of honor might return and
be paid to the donor of all mercies. To accomplish this happy end,
he freely and without a prompter, devoted and paid down five hun-
"^ This is clearly an error. The quotation is a part of the preamble to
the laws, etc., drawn up at a meeting of the Directors, March 25, 1750 —
five years before Rev. Dr. Stiles came to Newport.
1 84 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
dred pounds, sterling, for purchasing a library of all arts and
sciences, put under the most prudent limitation and restriction
whereunto the curious impatient inquiries after resolution of doubts,
and the bewildered ignorant might freely repair for discovery and
demonstration to the one, and true knowledge and satisfaction to
the other ; nay, to inform the mind in both, in order to reform the
practice. Now to conduct this design to the best advantage, he
proposed to form a Company of some of the best repute and char-
acter, who might join in consultation upon the most suitable
method, to bring so important a project to a happy issue ; and those
gentlemen, seeing the beneficial consequences that would accrue,
not only to the town, but to the confines around, in diffusing light
and truth to places far and wide, came readily into the proposal ;
and well knowing that nothing of that nature can be carried on
without method and order, nor any society subsist without agreeing
to some rules, whereunto everyone, in turn, must submit, they ob-
tained from the Government a charter, by which they are incorpo-
rated, and empowered in a social capacity to name their laws.'
" They, the men who took a leading part in Newport in 1 747,
established an institution in harmony with the political and social
condition of the community of that day. This Institution, which
has conferred invaluable benefits on successive generations, has de-
scended to us — not merely to be preserved in its pristine state, but
to be enlarged in correspondence with our improved social and
political condition — to be adapted to the wants of the rising race —
to the existing feelings, passions and intelligence of the age. It is
to be presumed, therefore, that every proprietor who, in the lan-
guage of Dr. Stiles, has any doubts to resolve, or feels, even in the
slightest degree ' bewildered or ignorant on any one point in any
one art or science, will with satisfaction and delight subscribe for an
additional share in the Library, and contribute thus to renew and
embellish this ancient fountain of truth, which for so many years,
has spread abroad knowledge and virtue within our confines.'
" The Directors also recommended a new catalogue of the books,
to be carefully and properly made ; as a catalogue is not only an
index of the condition of the Library, but of the intelligence which
superintends it. They recommend that the historical preface be
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
185
brought up to the present time; the books to be alphabetically
arranged, the titles to be given in full, with the size and date and
place of publication.
" By order and in behalf of the Directors,
" David King, President.
"Newport, R I., September 24, 1856."
Though, in obtaining subscriptions, the Committee were aided by
the well-known fact, that the existing property of the Institution
possessed the value of twenty- three thousand dollars, and by the
very liberal offer of Charles H. Russell, Esq.. to take one thousand
dollars of the new stock, they failed to make up the required sum
often thousand dollars by September, 1857. In August, 1858, the
depressing effects of the financial crisis of 1857 having been suc-
ceeded by a comparative state of prosperity, the subscriptions for
the Library stock were resumed, and by the efforts of a sub-com-
mittee, consisting of Messrs. W. C. Cozzens, William B. Lawrence,
and John T. Bush, the whole stock was taken by September 20,
1858.
The following is a list of the subscriptions, most of which were
procured by the exertions of William C. Cozzens, Esq. :
Charles H. Russell,
40.
shares, .
. ^1000
Edward King,
. 20
«
500
William S. Wetmore,
20
«
500
Sidney Brooks,
10
<<
250
James Lenox,
10
<<
250
Delancey Kane,
8
(i
200
William H. King, .
8
Miss Ida Mason, .
• •
50
George H. Norman,
50
W.W.Tucker, .
50
E. H. Schermerhorn, .
25
W. P. Pepper,
25
Mrs. William Gammell,
100
Mrs. Catherine L. Wolfe,
50
J. Smith Bryce, . .
50
George C. Mason, . . . .
25
F. W. Tilton and friend,
40
Miss Ellen Townsend, .
►
200
Mrs. Gardner Brewer, .
•
50
Carried forward, .....
;^26i5
364
ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
Brought forward, ....
. . ;^26i5
L. P. Morton,
. . 25
Admiral A. L. Case, ....
25
Mrs. Richard Baker, ....
... 50
Edward F. Newton, .
10
Charles Lyman, . . .
50
Henry H. Swinburne, . . .
10
;^2785
Subscriptions on Condition that the Sum of ;^8ooo be Raised this Year
(1877)..
Joseph J. Cooke, . . . . . . , $\^o
T. W. Higginson and others, .... 75
Henry W. Cooke, ....... 50
Subscriptions on Condition that the Whole Debt is Liquidated,
VV iiiiciiii jr%.. \_/icii is.\-, ....
Dr. David King, .....
' ' 133
David King, Jr., . . . . .
100
John Foster, . . . ...
ICX)
Theodore W. Gibbs,
lob
T. Bayley Myers,
50
F. W. Tilton, . . ...
20
S. W. Macy, . . . . .
25
Subscriptions on Condition that ;^5000 is Raised.
Miss Annie Hunter, ;^ioo
William P. Sheffield, 100
Frederic Tompkins, . . . , . . 35
Hamilton B. Tompkins, ..... 75
October 8, 1877. Voted: That the Library be opened and
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
365
lighted on Friday evening, and the Directors be present, to receive
the Essex Institute, of Salem, Mass.
October 15, 1877. The subject of confining the expenditures of
the Library to its income demanded, as it had long done, the closest
attention of the Board. The special committee appointed at the
previous meeting, to take up the matter anew, reported :
The income of the Library from all sources is ;^i695,36.
It is recommended that the fallowing sums be appropriated for
the expenses of the Library, exclusive of salaries, for the ensuing
year.
Advertising,
. $Z 00
Fuel, .
. 54 00
Post-Office, .
. 10 CX)
Express.
. 10 00
Printing,
. 50 00
Binding,
. 60 00
Newspapers,
• . . 33 00
Gas, .
. 30 CX)
Repairs and incidentals,
. 50 00
Cleaning,
• • • ' •
. 10 00
Interest,
• • • •
• • • •
. 300 00
Total,
$6\^ QO
Balance of receipts over expenses (exclusive of salaries), ;^ioSo.36.
It is recommended that no assistant be employed for the ensuing
year, and that ^1080 be paid to the Librarian, with the understand-
ing that an effort be made to increase the sum by private subscrip-
tion, for the present year, to the amount previously paid, viz., $\200,
It is further recommended that the Library be open from 10 a.m.
to 6 P.M., thus closing an hour earlier than at present.
366 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
November 12, 1877. On motion of Mr. Tilton the salary of the
Librarian was fixed at $\2QO.
January 14, 1878. On motion of Dr. Turner, a special vote of
thanks was sent to Mr. Wetmore, for the gift of book-eases, both
for the large room and the Directors' room.
Dr. Turner also offered the following :
Resolved: That we deeply deplore the decease of our late asso-
ciate, Dr. Austin L. Sands, and recognize in that afflictive dispensa-
tion the rupture of relations with ourselves of the most cordial and
harmonious character.
Resolved : That we heartily sympathize with his bereaved family
in their grief.
Re.solved : That we will attend his funeral as a body, and that the
President be requested to transmit to the family of the deceased a
copy of these resolutions.
March 11, 1878. The following resolution, offered by Dr. King,
was adopted :
Resolved : That the Directors of the Redwood Library institute
some time during the coming summer, a loan exhibition ; and that
the time and arrangement of it, and everything appertaining to the
exhibition be intrusted to a committee.
By a vote of the Board the whole matter was placed in the hands
of Dr. King.
June I, 1878. Special meeting. Governor Van Zandt offered the
following resolutions, which were adopted :
Whereas : The Board of Directors of the Redwood Library and
Athenaeum, have heard with sorrow of the decease of Captain
Augustus N. Littlefield,^** for more than twenty years a Director in
^'* Captain Littlefield was born in Newport, in 1802, and when
fifteen years of age was sent to sea, as a cabin boy. He rose rapidly in
his calling, and while still a young man, was placed in command of ships
owned by Newport merchants — Governor Collins, the Whitehouses, and
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 367
this Institution, and industriously and intelligently devoted to its
best interests ; therefore,
Resolved : That the Board desire to express their high apprecia-
tion of his services and character as a citizen and a man, and to
spread upon the record the memory of his generous benefactions
and labors to promote the usefulness of the Institution.
Resolved : That the Board of Directors will attend his funeral,
and the Secretary is requested to forward a copy of these resolu-
tions to his family, and cause them to be published in the Newport
papers, and that the Library be closed during the hours of the
funeral services.
June 10, 1878. The President was requested to invite the Essex
Institute, of Salem, Mass., who were expected to make an excursion
to Newport, to meet the Directors and proprietors in the Library on
the evening of June 28th. When they arrived they were received
with an address of welcome from President Brinley, followed by a
poem from Rev. C. T. Brooks. Dr. Wheatland replied ; and re-
marks were made by Hon. William P. Sheffield, and Rev. Mr.
Bolles, of Salem.
July 22, 1878. The following letters were read :
Hon. Francis Brinley,
President of Redwood Library.
Dear Sir : I beg to offer for the acceptance of the Redwood
Captain Stephen T. Northam. In 1847 ^^ had accumulated enough to
allow him to retire, and here he made his residence. He was a Director
in the Bank of Rhode Island, President of the Marine Society, a Vestry-
man in Zion Church, and, as seen above, "a Director in the Redwood
Library. Lacking opportunities to become familiar with books in his
youth, he was alive to the importance of education, and it was a satisfac-
tion to him to see the Library grow and extend its influence. He had
outlived both wife and children, and when he died he was the last of
his family. He bequeathed to the Library the sum of one thousand
dollars.
368 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
Library Company, the painting lately placed in their building, and
which is known as the " Calling of Matthew," being the central figure
from a group of that name at Rome.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
Charles W. Stearns.
Redwood Library, August 14, 1878.
My Dear Sir:
At a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Redwood Library
and Athen^um, held yesterday, I was requested to present to you
their grateful recognition of the kindness which prompted you to
donate to the Library the valuable copy of the central figure in the
painting at Rome, known as " The Calling of Matthew." It imparts
a fresh attraction to our gallery of art, while it has the charm of re-
calling the memory of a lady, who was so widely known and
esteemed, as was the lamented Mrs. Stearns.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
Francis Brinley,
President.
Dr. Stearns.
September 25, 1878. Annual meeting. The officers then serving
were re-elected.
The Company returned thanks to the Belleyue Avenue Dramatic
Club, of Newport, for the generous gift of two hundred dollars, re-
ceived from Mr. Wilson Eyre, the proceeds of a dramatic enter-
tainment at the Opera House, for the benefit of the Library.
Additions to the Library, by purchase during the
year, . . . . . . . . .187
Additions to the Library, by gift, . . . .341
binding, ... 4
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 369
Whole number in the Library, September ist, 22,701 volumes.
One hundred and seventeen pamphlets given in the course of the
year. Circulation, 8931.
The Directors, in their annual report, are led to say :
" From the perplexities incident to a depressed state of trade, and
the general subsidence of the value of property, the Redwood
Library cannot claim to have been entirely exempt, inasmuch as
these untoward events checked the anticipated influx of contribu-
tions to our treasury. It therefore became the duty of the Directors
to bring the current expenses within the .limited income at their
command for general purposes. This has been effected by prac-
ticing an economy so rigid, that it approaches the verge of parsi-
mony. Accordingly, our indefatigable Librarian was deprived of
an assistant ; the use of the large furnace was discontinued ; the
Library closed at evening ; our subscription to sundry news-
papers withdrawn, and the binding of pamphlets and disfigured
books suspended.
" And here the Directors represent that a prime necessity of the
Library, is the creation of a permanent fund, the interest to be
exclusively appropriated to the binding of books and pamphlets."
October 14, 1878. On motion of Dr. King:
Resolved : That the Directors feel the importance of making an
honest effort for the payment of the debt of the Library ; unwilling
that a debt incurred by them should be entailed on their suc-
cessors.
Resolved : That in consequence of such views entertained by us,
that we the Directors will pay in addition to our yearly subscriptions
for this year, five dollars towards the liquidation of the debt.
December 8, 1878. The following letter was read by the Sec-
retary :
370 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
Providence, R. I., 25 College Street,
15th November, 1878.
Sir:
In behalf of Mrs. Susan C. Bowen, of East Greenwich, I have
forwarded to your address, a plate of Oriental porcelain, once owned
by the founder of the Redwood Library.
Mrs. Bowen desires that you will acquaint the Trustees of the
Library with her gift to the Institution. The plate was purchased by
my grandfather, the late Captain Samuel Packard, of Providence and
North Kingston (Boston Neck), at the sale of certain effects of
Abraham Redwood, in Newport. There were originally two dozen,
forming part of a dessert service, and a dozen soup plates, of a dif-
ferent type of decoration. Of the former eighteen remain, and of
the latter only two.
The ware is what is known as the " King-te-Chin," and the deco-
ration is remarkably beautiful. The white enamel used so freely is
rarely seen, save on porcelain of great antiquity. I have several
hung as plaques that have been greatly admired by connoisseurs of
ceramics.
I am,
Yours very truly,
William Shaw Bowen.
* Newport, December 10, 1878.
William Shaw Bowen, Esq.
My Dear Sir : I beg leave to inform you, that at the monthly
meeting of the Directors of the Redwood Library and Athenaeum,
holden yesterday afternoon, it was unanimously voted : That the
President acknowledge the receipt of the plate of Oriental porcelain,
once owned by Abraham Redwood, the founder of this Library,
given through you by Mrs. Susan C. Bowen, of East Greenwich,
and present their thanks. I have written to Mrs. Bowen, expressing
our great obligations.
Very respectfully,
Francis Brinley,,
President.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 371
December 10, 1878. At a special meeting of the Company,
called agreeably to the requirements of the charter, to consider the
propriety of adopting a corporate seal for the Company, on the 9th
of December, 1878, the President offered the following preamble
and resolution, which were adopted :
Whereas : The committee heretofore appointed by the Directors,
to procure a device for a seal for the corporation of the Redwood
Library and Athenaeum reported in favor of a seal, representing in
the centre the front and side of this building, and in a circle around
the edge, the name and place of the Institution, and in which seal
is engraved the date of incorporation, 1747, and the date of the erec-
tion of this building, 1748, which seal and its press were the unso-
licited gift of George H. Norman, Esq., of Newport; therefore
Resolved : That the Company hereby adopt said seal as that of
this corporation, and request the President so to inform Mr. Nor-
man, and to express their high appreciation of this thoughtful and
most acceptable present.
January 13, 1879. In compliance with the instructions of the
Board, President Brinley addressed the following letter to Isaac P.
Hazard, Esq. :
Redwood Library, January 15, 1879.
Isaac P. Hazard.
My Dear Sir : At the regular monthly meeting of the Directors
of the Redwood Library and Athenaeum, holden on Monday, the
13th instant, it was unanimously voted: That the thanks of the
Directors be tendered by the President, to Isaac P. Hazard, of New-
port, for his liberal and most acceptable donation of one hundred
dollars to the funds of the Company.
I comply with the above vote with great pleasure, as it gives me
an opportunity to manifest my personal recognition of your kind
interest in the Library, and to express the hope that you, in your
372 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
solicitude, may feel a glow of satisfaction in knowing that your op-
portune gift is cordially appreciated.
Very respectfully,
Your friend and obedient servant,
Francis Brinley,
President.
February lo, 1879. The following letters were read, and the
President was instructed to reply to them :
To the Trustees of the Redwood Library.
Gentlemen :
If you consider it worthy of a place in your reading-room, will
you permit me to offer you the painting placed on deposit with you
in December last.
It is a copy of part of a large picture in the Academy in Venice,
painted by Bonifazio, and known as " The Rich Man's Feast."
The part copied is the centre of the picture, which is known as
the " Concert." In the original the rich man is seated on the left
of the group shown in the copy, while on the right Lazarus appears,
begging for the crumbs. The copy does not do justice to the origi-
nal, which is deemed one of the finest pictures in Venice.
Such as it is, however, it may aid to adorn your walls, and give
some pleasure to those who use your rooms. If so, I shall be more
than paid by your acceptance of it.
I remain, gentlemen.
Very truly yours,
Thatcher M. Adams.
February 10, 1879, Newport, R. I.
My Dear Sir:
At a meeting of the Directors of the Redwood Library and Athe-
naeum, held yesterday afternoon, it was unanimously voted : That
the President communicate to Thatcher M. Adams, Esq., of New
York, the thanks of the Board of Directors, for his valuable gift of
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 373
a copy of part of a large picture in the Academy in Venice, painted
by Bonifazio, and known as " The Rich Man's Feast."
I comply with the wish of the Directors with great pleasure, and
beg to assure you that we all entertain a high regard for your
kindness and liberality, in adding this beautiful work to our gallery
of art.
Very respectfully.
Your obedient servant,
Fran'cis Brinley,
President.
The Secretary had reported the gift of a portrait of Christopher
Fry, of Newport, from Rowland R. Hazard ; the receipt of which
Mr. Brinley acknowledged. The President was also requested to
acknowledge the receipt of fifty dollars, from Mrs. Charlotte Tomp-
kins, for the binding of books, which he did, as follows :
Newport, February 11, 1879.
Mrs. Tompkins.
Dear Madam: I am requested by the Directors of the Redwood
Library and Athenaeum, to express their grateful appreciation of
your liberal donation of fifty dollars, to be used for the binding of
books. Many of our volumes have become dilapidated, from con-
stant or hard usage, and I cannot but hope that your graceful recog-
nition of the fact will stimulate others to follow so good and thought-
ful a precedent.
Very respectfully,
' * Your obedient servant,
Francis Brinley,
President.
April 14, 1879. The death of Mr. Robert M. Mason, a member
of the Board, having been announced, the following resolutions were
offered and adopted :
Resolved : That the intelligence of the death of our valued asso-
374 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
date, Robert M. Mason, which occurred so soon after his arrival in
a far distant southern State, whither he went not only for his own
health, but at the promptings of paternal affection, is received by
the Directors of the Redwood Library and Athenaeum with
mingled emotions of awe and respect.
Resolved : That regard for his memory requires us to make per-
manent in our records, an expression of our high estimate of his
urbanity, moral rectitude, considerate judgment, good desires, in-
terest in all benevolent purposes, and his religious convictions,
which shone so conspicuously when the announcement was made
to his unexpected ear, that for him the gate of life everlasting was
about to open.
Resolved : That an attested copy of these resolutions be commu-
nicated to the family of the deceased, with the assurance of our
sympathy in their bereavement.
May 12, 1879. -^t ^^^ meeting it was made known that Mr.
Joseph J. Cooke, of Providence, a warm friend of the Institution,
had presented to the Library an accurate manuscript copy of the
very rare tract, printed in London, in 1647, for William Codding-
ton : " A Demonstration of True Love unto you, the Rulers of the
Colony of the Massachusetts in New England;" for which gift the
thanks of the Board were extended to the donor.
It was quite a coincidence that the name of Coddington was
brought to the notice of the Board, from another source, at the same
meeting, as here appears :
QuiNCY, Mass., May 4, 1879.
To LIBRARIAN OF ReDWOOD LIBRARY.
Dear Sir : Herewith I send you a copy of a local history of
Quincy for the Redwood Library, You may not be aware that
William Coddington was once a large land owner in this town, and
that one of the streets and school district is still known by his name.
He was also the town's first benefactor, having deeded to it a tract
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 375
of land, an account of which you will find on page 315 of this
volume. This history — in the preparation -oi which, by the way, I
had no part, has therefore a remote local interest in connection with
Newport, which induces me to place a copy on the shelves of your
Library. In cataloguing the book, please see that references are
made to it under the title of *' Coddington.'J
I am, etc.,
Charles F. Adams, Jr.
[June 9, 1879. ^^ invitation was extended to the American Insti-
tute for the Insane, and the Trustees of the" Butler Hospital for the
Insane, with their guests, then holding a meeting in Providence, to
visit the Library ; they having arranged for an excursion to Newport
on the 13th of that month.]
August 10, 1879. On motion of Mr. Mason, it was
Voted : That the thanks of this Board be extended to Rev.
Charles T. Brooks, for the interesting lectures that he has recently
delivered in the Library building, for the benefit of the Library, and
that he be invited to add to their number, when it shall be his
pleasure to do so.
Mr. Brooks was very earnest in his efforts to relieve the Library
from debt, and to this end he prepared a paper, signed by the Presi-
dent, to be put into circulation :
'* Redwood Library.
** This ancient and venerable Institution is sorely straitened in its
operations by a debt of four thousand dollars. It is confidently
believed that it has friends enough in the community, citizens and
summer residents, if their strength could be combined, able and
willing, very soon to remove this hindrance to its progress and pros-
perity. With a view to effect this, the undersigned agree to give
the sum afifixed to their names, payable when the amount subscribed
shall equal the debt. The gift of one hundred dollars shall entitle
one to a Life Membership.
" Francis Brinley,
''President:'
376 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
September 24, 1879. Annual meeting. The following officers
were elected :
President. — Francis Brinley.
Vice-President. — Charles T. Brooks.
Directors. — William H. Ashhurst, John T. Bush, Samuel W.
Butler, William A. Clarke, Henry H. Fay, George W. Gibbs, Wil-
liam Gilpin, David King, Le Roy King, Job T. Langley, Seth W.
Macy, Charles H. Malcom, Henry G. Marquand, George C. Mason,
Daniel Parish, Jr., William P. Sheffield, Frederick W. Tilton, Henry
E. Turner, Hamilton B. Tompkins, C. C. Van Zandt.
Treasurer. — Job T. Langley.
5"^<:r^/^rj/, — Benjamin H. Rhoades.
On motion of Dr. King,
Resolved : That all persons who have in the past, or who may
hereafter pay into the treasury the sum of one hundred dollars for
the benefit of the Library, shall become and enjoy the privileges of
Life Membership.
A vote was also passed, on the motion of Dr. King: That the
portrait of George W. Gibbs, Esq., be requested of him, to be per-
petually preserved in the Library, to be placed on our walls with
that of Redwood and the other benefactors of the Library.
During the year there had been added to the Library :
Volumes.
By purchase, . . ... . . . .182
By gift, . . . . . . . . .183
By binding, 34
The whole number of volumes in the Library to date, is 22,566.
Eighty-nine pamphlets have been given to the Library.
The books in circulation during the year, 8290, embraced the
following subjects :
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND,
377
Agriculture, botany and horticulture,
40
Arts — fine,
59
Biography, ....
. 632
Fiction and juveniles.
• 4707
Geography and explorations.
. 465
History, ....
. 574
Greek and Latin classics,
8
Law and politics, .
20
Literature, essays, etc., .
. 492
Periodicals, .
627
Philosophy — mental.
•
26
" moral,
.
13
Poetry and the drama, .
. 248
Science, ....
.
• 174
Theology, ....
.
■ .
. 174
May 17, 1880. The Librarian read a letter from Dr. C. A. Greene,
about a leaf missing from the old Latin Bible, of 1487, telling the
way in which it came into his possession, while practicing medicine
in Providence, in 1848, when it was given to him by a student in
Brown University, '* who perhaps cut it out." The doctor proposed
visiting Newport the coming June, and would probably bring the
leaf with him.
Dr. King, then in England, through the Secretary, made this
proposition to the Board — " to petition the British Commissioners
to continue the series of British State Papers. The Library Com-
pany, to effect this purpose must pass certain resolutions, with a
preamble, detailing what the Government have already deposited,
and at what time (since then no State Paper has been received by
the Redwood Library and Athenaeum), that they appeal to the
Commissioners appointed for that purpose- for a continuance of the
Publications, to a Library that is frequented in the course of the
year by citizens from every part of our wide-spread Republic, etc,
25
378 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
" Having these resolutions with their appointment of me as their
accredited agent in London, the whole fortified by the certificate of
Governor Van Zandt, I can petition the Commissioners with some
probability of a favorable result."
In response to the above, it was
Resolved : That the President, the Rev. Charles T. Brooks, and
Hon. Henry H. Fay, be a committee to transmit the following reso-
lution to Dr. David King, one of our Directors, now in England,
that he may communicate it to the appropriate department of the
British Government.
Resolved : That " the Directors of the Redwood Library and
Athenaeum are under great obligation to the Commissioners of the
British Government for valuable donations to the Library, and
respectfully request them to continue the presentation of the series
of British State Papers.
The application was to be made by Messrs. Brinley, Fay, and
Brooks.
August 9, 1880. The Librarian having stated that Dr. C. A.
Greene, of Lancaster, Penn., had visited the Library, but had not
returned the leaf missing from the old Latin Bible, of 1487, on
motion of Dr. Turner, Rev. Dr. Malcom was requested to write to
Dr. Greene on the subject.
September 29, 1880. Annual meeting. The officers of the pre-
vious year were re-elected.
The number of books in the Library is now 23,660, including :
By purchase, ........ 203
By gift, 332
Added by binding, 12
Among the ^nost valuable books given to the Library are " Wil-
son's American Ornithology," in 6 volumes, from Madame Marius
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
379
Panon, a descendant from Abraham Redwood; " Second Geological
Survey of Pennsylvania," in 32 volumes, from Hon. Horatio Gates
Jones; 19 volumes from Rev. Charles T. Brooks; 124 from Joseph
J. Cooke, of Providence, and Francis L. Ogden, 15 volumes.
The number of books circulated during the year was 7932. In
addition to the above there are as many volumes read or consulted
within the Library as are taken away for perusal.
The most noteworthy event during the year was the payment of
the balance of the debt incurred by the enlargement of the edifice,
and the addition of a portico to its easterly side. This was effected
through the liberality of a few of its judicious friends, whose names
and contributions are here given :
Agassiz, Alexander,
. ;^ioo
Astor, John J.,
2(X)
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley,
100
Baker, Mary B., .
100
Baker, Mrs. Richard, .
100
Bancroft, George, .
100
Beach, C. Nichols,
100
Bennett, J. G., . . .
100
Bryce, J. Smith, .
50
Clarke, William A.,
• 133
Cooke, Joseph J., .
100
Cornell, Richard, .
50
Cushman, Mrs. Emma C,
10
Foster, John,
150
Gibbs, George W.,
500
Gibbs, Theodore K.,
100
Hunter, Anna F., .
100
Carried forward,
$2093
38o
ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY.
Brought forward, .
• .
.
;^2093
Keene, James R., .
■
200
King, Dr. David, .
.
100
King, David, Jr,, .
.
100
Le Roy, Daniel, .
.
100
Lorillard, Pierre, .
.
100
Low, Seth, .
100
Lyman, Charles, .
.
50
Macy, Seth W., .
.
25
Marquand, H. G., .
•
200
Ogden, Francis L.,
100
Paine, John, .
•
100
Phoenix, S. Whitney,
200
Pierson, J. Frederic,
20
Pierson, Mrs. S. A.,
20
Rives, William C,
100
Rogers, Fairman, .
100
Rogers, Prof. William B.,
20
Sheffield, William P., Jr.,
100
Stevens, Frederic W., .
100
Stout, Francis A., .
100
Terrill, Dr. George,
20
Tompkins, Hamilton B.,
75
Tompkins, Frederic,
35
Travers, William R.,
50
Tucker, William W.,
50
Tuckerman, Joseph,
200
Wales, George W.,
50
Wharton, Joseph, .
100
Wolfe, Catherine L.,
100
;^47o8
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 381
The above in addition to the amount raised in 1877, and given
on page 433. The report goes on to say :
This Hberates the Library from its burden of debt. It is all im-
portant to keep it so ; but this cannot be, as things are, without
resorting to a most stringent, and therefore, in some respects, an
inconvenient economy. Our main sources of income for general
purposes are :
First. — The annual tax established by vote of the Company.
Experience has solidified it into a fixed fact, that an annual tax of
over five dollars would not be endured. There are now two hun-
dred and ten of these taxable twenty-five dollar shares, as they are
usually designated :
210 shares at ^5.00, should yield, . . . ;^I050 00
The ;^5.00 tax includes that of ;^i.oo, which by
the charter must be laid at the annual meet-
ing, for " the purchase of books," and there-
fore we deduct . . . . . . 210 00
$^\o 00
Second. — The interest on the " special shares,"
or ;^ 100 shares, as they are called, $5859.56,
at 5 per cent., . . . . . . 292 97
Third. — The interest on Captain Littlefield's
legacy of ;^ 1 000, 60 00
Fourth. — From temporary subscribers, say . 200 00
Fifth. — Droppings into the Treasury from all
sources, some of them, like the subscriptions
of summer visitors, being very uncertain, . 100 00
Thus there are but . . . . $\^g2 97
at the disposal of the Company for its current expenses, or annual
382 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
support; an amount which, it must be seen, is insufficient for the
yearly cost of maintaining the Library in working order.
Seeing this the Directors
Voted : That it is expedient to create a fund, to be designated
" The General Fund of the Redwood Library for Current Ex-
penses," of which said fund, neither the principal nor the interest
thereof, nor any portion of either of them, shall be appropriated or
used for buying, binding or repairing books, periodicals, pamphlets,
or newspapers, or for the purchase of works of art, but the net
annual interest of said fund shall be used only for the payment of
the annual, regular and usual expenses necessary for the manage-
ment of the Library.
December 24, 1880. Special meeting. The death of Mr.
Rhoades, the Librarian, having been announced by the President,
the following resolutions were adopted :
Resolved : That in the death of the late Benjamin H. Rhoades,
Esq., we deplore the loss in our community of the modest Chris-
tian, the true gentleman and the refined scholar.
Resolved: That his modest and unassuming nature shed a grace
over his intellect; which last, indeed, was equal to all occasions in
his calling.
Resolved : That his presence will be especially missed as our
Librarian, for which his university education prepared him, and to
which his later studies tended to perfect him according to an ideal
model in his own mind.
Resolved : That we will attend- his funeral in a body ; and that a
copy of these resolutions be transmitted to his family, with an ex-
pression of our deepest sympathy in their severe affliction.
January 7, 1881. Special meeting. Mr. John T. Bush, a member
of the Board, having died :
Resolved : That in the death of Mr. John T. Bush, while in com-
mon with our whole community, we deplore the loss of a fellow
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 383
citizen of rare uprightness, generosity, and public spirit, as members
of this Institution land of its Board of Directors, we shall sadly miss
the presence of a wise counsellor, an efficient worker and a valued
friend.
Resolved : That the tender sympathies of this Board are respect-
fully extended to the family of our departed associate, with the
assurance of our grateful sense of his long and faithful service, his
eminent worth and his stimulating example.
Resolved: That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the family
of our late brother, and that as a body we will attend his funeral.
January 22, 1881. Mr. Benjamin F. Thurston was elected Libra-
rian, with a salary of $800 per annum. He was also to serve as
Secretary to the Board of Directors. Mr. Horace E. Armington,
Jr., was elected Assistant Librarian, at a salary of ;^200 per annum.
February 14, 1881. Rev. Mr. Brooks read a letter from Dr. H.
R. Storer, giving an account of the examination and arrangement
by the latter, of the Papal medals belonging to the Library; where-
upon it was
Voted: That the thanks of the Board be extended to Dr.
Storer, for his care and attention in examining and arranging the
medals, and that he be informed of this action by the Secretary.
April 8, 1 88 1. The following resolutions on the death of Dr. S.
W. Butler, offered by Rev. Mr. Brooks, were adopted :
Whereas : We are again called to bow to the will of the Supreme
Disposer, in removing from our earthly society another esteemed
and valued associate. Dr. Samuel W. Butler,
Resolved: That in the death of Dr. Butler, while in common
with our whole community we mourn the loss of a kindly and
faithful physician, a courteous Christian gentleman, and a citizen
who, for a generation, had been ardently devoted to the social and
educational interests of our city, as members and Directors of this
Institution, we shall sorely miss the countenance and co-operation
384 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
of one who, for many years, has been, in word and work, an assidu-
ous officer and friend of the Library, and has left a memory which
will ever temper our sorrow over his loss with gratitude for his ser-
vice and example.
Resolved : That our sincere sympathy is respectfully tendered to
the family of our late associate.
July II, 1 88 1. Dr. King offered the following resolutions, which
were unanimously adapted :
Resolved : That this association receives the intelligence of the
death of Joseph J. Cooke, Esq.,^'^^ at his residence, in Elmwood, with
the deepest regret, as involving the loss of an accomplished and
valuable member.
Resolved : That during the several past years of his citizenship
in Newport, this Association has received marked benefit from his
wise counsel and from his large, liberal and practical views bearing
on subjects connected with the interests of this Institution,
Resolved : That some of the most valuable works on our shelves
will remain to attest his literary taste and his sterling interest in the
great object of this Association.
Resolved: That his numerous and important benefactions to our
^"^ President Brinley, in his annual report, thus referred to Mr. Cooke :
"It is not our custom to pass resolutions on the death of a stockholder
in the Redwood Library unless he was one of its officers. The death of
Joseph J. Cooke seemed to justify a deviation from this custom. A few
years ago he purchased an estate in Newport, where he resided part of
each year. His knowledge and love of books naturally led him to take
deep interest in the Redwood Library, which he manifested by frequent
and valuable contributions of works of value. The last one was a fine
edition of the works of Sir William Jones, in thirteen volutnes octavo ;
while just before his death he voluntarily sent from Providence his dona-
tion to the proposed ' Special Fund for the General Purposes ' of the
Library. ' '
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 385
Library have impressed us with a grateful sense of the Hberality and
generosity which characterized his mind.
Resolved : That these resolutions be entered on our records,
published in the public prints, and transmitted to the family of the
deceased.
August 8, 1 88 1. Miss Sarah F. Turner presented to the Library
the portrait of Captain Daniel Turner, U. S. N.
Dr. David King, when presenting it on her behalf, made the fol-
lowing remarks :
Mr. President :
I have been requested by Miss Sarah F. Turner to present to the
Redwood Library and Athenaeum, the portrait of her brother,
Daniel Turner, Esq., late a Captain in the United States Navy and
a citizen of Newport, Rhode Island. Daniel Turner, as I knew him
as a familiar friend, was an intelligent and well-informed gentleman
in Newport society. He was an accomplished naval officer, and
known to be an expert in every department of his profession.
He was born in New Jersey in 1795. His early boyhood was
passed in Newport, where he imbibed that fondness for the sea
which led him to select the navy as his pursuit in life. He was
early attached to Newport, with whose interests he, and his family
in subsequent life, became in a degree identified. It was from New-
port that he entered the navy in 1808, though availing himself of
the right and privilege of his native State, New Jersey. From New-
port he accompanied Captain Oliver Hazard Perry with a large
number of Rhode Islanders to the shores of Lake P>ie. In the
battle on that lake fought on the lOth of September, 1813, by Com-
modore Perry, Lieutenant Turner was the commander of the Cale-
donia. He took the place assigned to him by Perry, opposite the
Hunter and near the Lawrence. Though the wind was light dur-
ing the battie, which lasted for three hours, it was surprising to
Lieutenant Turner, as well as the other commanders, that Captain
E^lliot, of the Niagara, did not find occasion in the course of the first
two hours, to arrive in the position determined for him by Commo-
386 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
dore Perry previously to the battle. It was not owing to the un-
skilfulness of her crew, for the Niagara was one of the best-
appointed ships in the American fleet; as is proved by her success-
ful manceuvering under Perry's management. Before Perry came
on board she was an inert body floating on the water, but at a dis-
tance from the enemy's fleet ; and apparently, unable to inflict any
considerable injury on the enemy. But under the command of
Perry the Niagara became a thing of life ; and in close quarters,
poured into the Detroit and Queen Charlotte, the Lady Prevost,
and the Little Belt, those deadly broadsides, those sharp and de-
structive fires of grape and cannister which induced their quick sur-
render, and gave to the American arms the ever memorable victory.
After the conquest the captain of the British fleet, Robert Heriot
Barclay, a distinguished commander in Nelson's fleet at Trafalgar,
was astonished at the youth of his antagonists. He particularly
noticed Lieutenant Turner; seeing that he was a mere boy, he
remarked to Commodore Perry : " If your boys can fight so well,
what may we not expect from your men ? " Commodore Perry, in
his letter to the Secretary of the Navy, dated at Put-in-Bay, Septem-
ber 13, 1813, says that " Lieutenant Turner, commanding the Cale-
donia, brought that vessel into action in the most able manner ; and
is an officer that in all situations may be relied on."
Such a character, early given to • him by his brave and heroic
commander. Perry, he maintained through life. His various naval
services to his country, from 1813 to 1850, were distinguished in
their performance by signal skill, efficiency and judgment. He was
always the man to be depended on in any difficult emergency. At
his death he ranked the eighteenth on the list of captains in the
United States Navy. He died suddenly at Philadelphia in February,
1850, at the age of fifty-five. His loss was deeply deplored by his
friends and his country.
Voted : That the gift of the portrait of Captain Daniel Turner be
accepted ; that it be placed on the walls by the side of that of Com-
modore Oliver Hazard Perry, and that the thanks of the Association
be tendered to the donor.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 387
September 12, 1881. On motion of Mr. Tompkins a committee
was appointed to prepare a circular, to be used in the acknowledg-
ment of gifts, to the Library.
Mr. Tompkins also moved that the Librarian be instructed to
report to the Board of Directors, at its regular meetings, all books,
with the names of the persons holding them, that had been out of
the Library more than two months ; and that a blank be prepared,
to be filled out and sent to delinquents, by the Librarian.
388
ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
CHAPTER XIII.
1881— 1884.
ACANCIES in the Board of Directors were
filled by the election of George W. Wales/^^
and James E. Mauran. The other officers
of the Company were re-elected, September
28, 1881.
Number of books in the Library,
Including added by purchase during the year,
" by gift, . ...
" " by binding,
Pamphlets given during the year,
Number of books circulated.
23,994
174
5
38
7,833
October 18, 1881. James E. Mauran was appointed to assist the
President in the general supervision of the property of the Com-
pany, and Dr. King and Mr. Mauran were appointed to prepare a
catalogue of the books in the Library.^"
^"^ The two admirable marble busts, of Ariosto and Dante, that have a
conspicuous place in the Library, were the gift of Mr. George W. Wales,
a warm friend of the Institution.
^'^^ The committee to prepare a catalogue of the Library, in any manner
that commended itself to their judgment. A scientific catalogue was
recognized as a difficult and costly undertaking. Dr. King had died
before he could accomplish what he had in view, and all that Mr. Mauran
could undertake was to cause a copy of the last printed catalogue to be
J)M//'d J6rL
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390 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
Whereas, by the will of the all-wise Father we have been called
again to mourn the loss of a singularly beloved and honored asso-
ciate ;
Resolved : That in the death of Dr. David King, while in com-
mon with the whole community we sorely feel the void left by the
taking out of this world of a good physician, an accomplished
scholar, a public-spirited citizen and a kindly neighbor and Chris-
tian gentleman— as members and Directors of the Redwood Library
Company, we shall long miss a wise counsellor, an ardent and inde-
fatigable worker; whose voice and pen, hand and heart, were
unweariedly devoted to the interests of this Institution, with whose
fortunes in dark and in bright days, he had been for so many years
identified, and whose name will ever stand high on the roll of its
benefactors, and be associated with all our best remembrances of its
struggles and success.
Resolved : That the Library be closed on the day of the funeral,
after* 1 2 o'clock m.
Resolved : That we will attend the funeral in a body.
Resolved : That a copy of these resolutions be transmitted to the
the Society of the Cincinnati in Rhode Island. He was President of the
Rhode Island Board of Health, from its foundation in 1877, and was
greatly interested in its work ; and to the Redwood Library, its President
for ten years, he was most devoted. It was a great source of gratification
to him to see it widen its scope and increase in usefulness. At his death,
as has been seen in these records, he was most liberal to the Library in
the gift of books, and the fund he left to increase its stores of books, is
doing the work for which it \te designed.
To Trinity Church, of which he was a most consistent and earnest
member, Dr. King was strongly attached, and for years in its counsels he
held a guiding hand. In 1837 he married Sarah Gibbs Wheaton, daughter
of Rev. Salmon Wheaton, D.D., who only survived him a few months.
Two sons and four daughters survive him, and one son died of wounds
received, in 1861, in the battle of Bull Run.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, 391
family of our deceased associate, with the expression of our heart-
felt sympathy in their bereavement.
June 14, 1882. Some misunderstanding having occured between
the Board of Directors, and Mr. Thurston, the Librarian, as to the
duties of the Librarian and the number of hours he was expected
to be in the Library, attending to his official duties, and he having
tendered his resignation, it was voted to lay the resignation on the
table. The President and Mr. Tilton were instructed to make
known to the Librarian the views of the Board, and to express the
hope that he would continue to fill the position of Librarian, at
least for the present. The Library hours to the ist of October,
were to be from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and the Librarian and his assistant
were each to be allowed to be absent daily two and one-half hours
from the Library.
June 16, 1882. Mr. H. E. Armington, Jr., tendered his resigna-
tion as assistant, on the ground that his salary was wholly inade-
quate to the services required ; and it having been ascertained that
a rise in the salary, from two hundred dollars to four hundred dol-
lars per annum, would be satisfactory to him ; it was voted that he
should be paid at that rate after that date.
July 10, 1882. On the reading of the following letter, the Presi-
dent was requested to acknowledge its receipt :
Newport, July 8, 1882.
Dear Sir :
In consequence of a want felt of more books of the day for light
reading than can be had at the Redwood Library, Mrs. William F.
Weld, of Philadelphia, has requested me to forward you a check
for one thousand dollars, of which the income only is to be invested
in new books from time to time, keeping it in your accounts as the
William F. Weld fund, as more may some time be added to it.
Yours truly,
William G. Weld.
392 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
If you would prefer a good R. R. first mortgage bond at par,
bearing six per cent., say about twenty years to run, I will furnish it.
To this letter the following answers were returned :
Dear Sir :
At a regular meeting of the Directors of the Redwood Library,
the Treasurer presented your letter of July 8th, to him, in which
you state that Mrs. William F. Weld, of Philadelphia, proposes to
give one thousand dollars to the Library. Whereupon it was voted
that the President express to Mrs. Weld their grateful acknowledg-
ment for her thoughtful liberality. That duty I shall perform with
very great pleasure. The opinion of the Directors was that it was
best to comply with your suggestion that they receive such a R. R.
first mortgage bond as you described, rather than a check, as it
would be a good investment.
Very respectfully.
Your obedient servant,
Francis Brinley.
My Dear Madam:
At a regular meeting of the Directors of the Redwood Library,
held this afternoon, it was announced that you very kindly propose
to present the liberal sum of one thousand dollars, the income of
which should be devoted to the purchase of "books of the day for
light reading." It was therefore unanimously voted that the Presi-
dent communicate to Mrs. Weld their high appreciation of her gen-
erous donation, and that it be kept and called as " The William F.
Weld Book Fund " forever.
Permit me, dear madam, to express my personal gratification in
presenting to you the vote of the Directors of the Institution over
which I have the honor to preside.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
Francis Brinley.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 393
July 15, 1882. The following communication from the executrix
and executor of the will of the late Dr. King, was received :
Newport, June 29, 1882.
To the President and Directors of the Redwood Library and
AthencBum, Newport.
Gentlemen :
The first clause of the will of the late David King, is as follows :
" I give and bequeath to the corporation of the Redwood Library
and Athenaeum in Newport such books — medical, classical, etc. —
in my private library, as I shall designate, upon condition that the
said books shall be kept together, and so that it may be distin-
guished from other books in the said Redwood Library, and be
known as the King Collection, and be preserved as a memorial of
my late honored father, the late David King, M.D., formerly, from
1799 to 1836, a faithful physician of this city. I also give and be-
queath to the said Redwood Library and Atliena^um Corporation
the sum of two thousand dollars, to be by said corporation safely
invested till the whole sum, by the addition of the annual interest
to the original bequest, shall amount to four thousand dollars, and
then to remain a perpetual fund, the income thereof to be annually
applied to the purchase of medical, classical or historical books, to
be added by the said corporation to ' the King Collection ' herein
designated, and in keeping in repair the books embraced in the said
collection."
By a codicil to the will of which the above is a copy of the first
clause, the following appears of record :
" I hereby so far modify the first clause of my will, made January
the fifth, 1876, as to direct the executrix and executor of said will
to designate the books that shall be given to the Redwood Library
to constitute the nucleus of 'the King Collection,' in the Redwood
Library.
26
394 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
In the third clause of the will the following appears of record,
viz. :
" I give the foregoing bequests in the first, second and third
clauses to the respectively-named associations or companies of
Newport, in trust and confidence that they will faithfully carry out
my design ; but should any or either of the companies aforesaid
refuse the trust designated to them, or should any or either of them
violate the terms or design of said trust designated to them, then I
direct my executors or heirs to recover said property by suit or
otherwise, as property belonging to my estate, and inheritable by
my heirs. Any bequest refused will of course revert to my estate,
and be by them distributed according to the provisions of this my
last will and testament."
At your convenience will you please advise me if you accept the
bequests on the terms named, and if so will you please designate
the exact position in the Library building that you will appropriate
for ** the King Collection." We propose to make the nucleus of the
King Collection of books of from six hundred to eight hundred
volumes; we are of the opinion that the testator intended that the
books forming the collection should always remain in the Library
building.
We are very respectfully,
Your obedient servants,
Sarah G. King,
David King,
As Executrix and Executor of the
zvill of the late David King.
Resolution of the Board of Directors passed July 15, 1882.
Whereas : It appears by a communication signed by Sarah G.
King, executrix, and David King, executor of the last will and tes-
tament of David King, M.D., deceased, and a codicil thereto, dated
at Newport, June 29, 1882, and directed to the President and the
Directors of the Corporation of the Redwood Library and Athe-
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 395
naeum, that said David King " gave and bequeathed " certain books
and the sum of two thousand dollars to said Library upon condi-
tions expressed in said will as represented ; therefore,
Resolved : That said bequest and trust be received by the Red-
wood Library upon the terms and conditions therein specified.
Resolved : That the Secretary be directed to place upon the
records the communication from the executrix and executor of the
will of the late Dr. King, and the resolutions of the Board of
Directors.
Resolved : That the Secretary transmit an attested copy of this
preamble and resolutions to the executrix and executor of the will
of said Dr. David King.
At the close of the official year, President Brinley, in his annual
report, declined a re-election in these words :
"The preparation of this report afforded me an early opportunity
to make known through the members of the Board of Directors
my desire not to be considered a candidate for re-election as Presi-
dent.
" I have been connected officially with the Institution for more than
a decade — four years as a Director, one year as Vice-President, and
at seven successive annual elections have been unanimously chosen
President. For these multiplied honors I am most grateful. The
memory of the kindness and confidence of the proprietors, and of
the courtesy and aid of the Directors and the Librarians will be
deeply engraved on my mind.
" On my entering upon the duties of President the Library was
encumbered and hampered by a heavy debt, growing out of the
enlargement of this edifice. From that burden it has been relieved
by friends whose love for the old Redwood Library time had not
chilled.
" On retiring from office I have the supreme satisfaction of
knowing that I leave the Institution free from debt. That it may
be enabled so to continue must be the ardent desire of every one
who recognizes in its origin an interesting event in the literary his-
396 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
tory of Rhode Island, and who believes that its neglect and conse-
quent decadence would mar the fair fame of Newport."
September 27, 1882. Annual meeting. Vice-President Brooks,
on taking the chair, having announced that the Hon. Francis Brinley
declined to be again elected as President of the Company, the fol-
lowing resolutions were unanimously adopted :
Resolutions of Respect and Gratitude to Hon. Francis Brinley.
Resolved: That while we find ourselve^ compelled to accept the
resignation of our honored President, it is with extreme reluctance
and sincere regret that we bid this farewell, in his official capacity,
to one who during his term of seven years has with such eminent
conscientiousness and ability administered the affairs of this Insti-
tution, instant in season and out of season, with a zeal and ardor
which the physical deprivation of later years had, if possible, rather
increased than impaired; who with such uniform urbanity and
grace has presided over our deliberations, and on all occasions with
such earnestness and eloquence advocated the claims of the Library
to public regard.
Resolved: That the memory of these services and of his per-
sonal kindness will ever be gratefully cherished by us, and we trust
that this assurance may add one more to the many rays of light
that cheer him in his outward darkness, and we close with heartfelt
wishes for his health and happiness.
Rev. Charles T, Brooks was unanimously elected President, but
declined to serve on the ground that his health did not warrant his
doing so.
The following choice of officers was then made:
President. — James Eddy Mauran.
Vice-President, — Charles T. Brooks.
Directors. — William H. Ashhurst, William A. Clarke, Henry H.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 397
Fay, George W. Gibbs, William Gilpin, David King, Le Roy King,
Job T. Langley, Seth W. Macy, George F. Crandall, Henry G.
Marquand, George. C. Mason, James E. Mauran, William P. Shef-
field, Frederick W. Tilton, Henry E. Turner, Hamilton B. Tomp-
kins, Charles C. Van Zandt, George W. Wales, George Gordon
King.
Treasurer. — Job T. Langley.
Secretary. — William P. Sheffield, Jr.
Mr. Wales gave notice that at the next annual meeting, he would
offer an amendment to the Constitution, reducing the number of
Directors to fifteen.
October 9, 1882. A committee, appointed by the chair — Messrs.
Marquand, Crandall, Gilpin, Ashhurst, and G. G. King — was to take
into consideration the appointing of a Librarian, and report at the
next monthly meeting.
October 30, 1882. Mr. Marquand, of the Special Committee on
the Selection of a Librarian, reported :
To the President and Directors of the Redwood Library and Athe-
ficBtwt, Nezvport :
Your committee, to whom was referred the question of nomi-
nating suitable candidates for Librarian, would respectfully report,
that they have carefully considered the qualifications of the two
prominent applicants, and find that both are sufficiently qualified to
discharge the duties, and suggest the names of Risbrough H. Til-
ley and B. F. Thurston, as nominees for such position. The com-
mittee has received informal applications from two parties living in
other cities, but they incline to the opinion that it would be
desirable to confine the vote of the Board to residents of New-
port.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the committee.
H. G. Marquand,
Chairman,
Newport, October 16, 1882.
398 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
A ballot was then taken, resulting in the election of Mr. B. F.
Thurston. The salary was fixed at twelve hundred dollars per
annum, and the Librarian was to provide and pay an assistant, who
was to be approved of by the Directors. At the following meeting
of the Board, the Librarian offered the name of H. E. Armington,
as assistant, which met with the approval of the Board.
January 8, 1883. The Treasurer reported that he had received
two bonds, of one thousand dollars each, of the Houston and Texas
Central Railroad, from the executor of the last will and testament
of David King, deceased ; and that the President and Treasurer had
given a receipt and discharge therefor; that with the bonds he
received the following letter :
December 30, 1882.
Knickerbocker Club, 309 Fifth Avenue,
J. T. Langley, Esq.
Treasurer Redwood Library and Athenaeum, Newport.
Dear Sir : I have instructed Messrs. Chase and Higginson to
send you by registered mail, two bonds of one thousand dollars
each, of the Houston and Texas Central 2d mortgage 8 per cent. ;
the bonds I have purchased at 1 19^, and I merely ask from the
Library a receipt signed by the President and Secretary, for two
thousand dollars in full payment of the legacy of two thousand dol-
lars left them by the late David King. Please address me at No. 8
Washington Place, New York.
Your obedient servant,
David King,
Executor, Estate of late D. King.
To this letter the Treasurer reported that he had replied in appro-
priate terms, thanking Mr. King and enclosing a receipt for the
same, signed by the President and Treasurer in behalf of the
Library. The action of the President and Secretary in signing a
receipt for the above legacy, had the approval of the Board.
The President presented the following letter from the Librarian :
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 399
Newport, R, I., January 8, 1883.
To the President and Directors of tJie Redwood Library :
Realizing my need of a more thorough and complete knowledge
of matters relating to library methods and management, and believ-
ing that this can best be gained by a wider experience and a more
systematic training, I respectfully request that leave of absence be
granted me for months ; that time to be spent by me in
visiting other and prominent libraries, and in obtaining such infor-
mation and training as shall increase my usefulness as a Librarian ;
the Library work to be carried on in my absence by Mr. Arming-
ton, and an assistant, to be provided by me.
Respectfully,
Benjamin F. Thurston.
Upon consultation with Mr. Thurston, it was voted : That he
should have leav^e of absence for two months, for the above
purpose.
The President, Mr. Crandall and Captain Macy were instructed
to visit owTiers of shares who were delinquent in paying taxes, and
see what they had to offer in extenuation.
March 12, 1883. The Special Committee on Delinquent Share-
holders reported :
To the President and Directors of tlie Redwood Library and Athe-
ncBum^ Nezvport, R. L :
The undersigned, your committee, appointed at the regular meet-
ing, in December, 1S82, to ascertain the number of delinquent
shareholders and report thereon, together with such recommenda-
tions as we thought proper for the welfare of the Librar}\
The number of delinquent taxpayers we find to be forty-eight,
not including the tax assessed in September, 1882. The aggregate
amount due from said delinquents is seven hundred and seventy-five
dollars.
Upon a careful examination we find that twenty-seven of said
delinquents are enjoying the privileges of the Library^ without con-
400 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
tributing to its support. Your committee have also ascertained
that several of the shareholders who are in arrears, would prefer to
surrender their certificates for a receipted bill of all charges against
them. We therefore recommend that the Librarian be directed to
present in person each resident shareholder with a bill of all
charges, and in the event of their inability or refusal to pay, request
such to surrender their certificates upon the tender of a receipted
bill of all demands. To the non-resident shareholders, we recom-
mend that the Librarian write to each, demand payment or forward
their certificates, as they may elect. If after the expired time named
in Article XIL of the Charter, no response is received, then declare
said shares forfeited, in accordance with the provisions of said
Article XIL
We further recommend that the Librarian be directed to refuse
the privileges of the Library. to all delinquents, after personal demand
has been made, as aforesaid, with the single end in view, to do jus-
tice to those shareholders who always meet their taxes promptly.
James Eddy Mauran,
George F. Crandall,
S. W. Macy,
Committee.
The report was received, and the Librarian was instructed to col-
lect dues from all delinquent shareholders.
A communication from the executors of the will of the late
Joseph J. Cooke was presented by the President, calling attention
to the coming auction sale of books, under the eighth clause of the
Cooke will, as follows :
" Eighth. I give and bequeath to the Redwood Library and Athe-
naeum, of the city of Newport, and the Athenaeum and Brown Uni-
versity, etc., .... the sum of five thousand dollars each ; provided
that the same shall be used in payment for bills of any books which
may be sold to them by auction by my executors or their succes-
sors, of any sale thereof, but not otherwise."
It was voted : That the President be authorized to employ such
NEWPORT. RHODE ISLAND, 401
agent as he thinks proper, to purchase books for the Library at the
coming sale on Tuesday and the following days ; and that the Presi-
dent be further authorized to make a suitable acknowledgment of
the communication received from the executors of Mr. Joseph J.
Cooke, deceased ; and to accept the terms of said provision in behalf
of the Library.
Upon the presentation by the President, of a copy of the last will
and testament of the late Rev. Dr. Alexander G. Mercer, in and by
the third section of said will, it being provided among other things:
" I give and bequeath to the Redwood Library, Newport, for the
establishment of a case or compartment of books, one thousand
dollars ; " it was resolved : That James E. Mauran and Job T. Lang-
ley be and hereby are appointed a committee to receive the legacy
of one thousand dollars, bequeathed to this Corporation by Section
in. of the last will and testament of the late Rev. Alexander G.
Mercer, deceased, and to give a receipt thereof, and the said legacy
is hereby accepted for the purposes therein expressed.
Upon the announcement from the President, of a valuable gift of
old china ^^^ and silverware, in a cabinet, to the Library, by Miss
Ellen Townsend, it was
Voted : That the Library accept the donation of Miss Townsend,
and that the President express to Miss Townsend the thanks of the
Company for the same.
April 9, 1883. It having been announced that the legacy to the
'■^^ The old china formerly belonged to the Easton and Townsend fami-
lies. It has also been enriched by a gift of Redwood china, a tankard,
teapot, can, porringer, two tablespoons and small spoon, and pickle-fork,
of silver, manufactured in this town, by Samuel Vernon, a silversmith of
high repute.
Miss Townsend also presented a card-table and two very old waiters, of
the finest mahogany.
402 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
Library had been received from the estate of the late Dr. Mercer,
the matter was referred to the Book Committee, with power to
expend the money.
The President stated that the shelf-room occupied by the Newport
Historical Society was now needed for books ; it was voted to
advise the Historical Society that some other place must be provided
for its collection.
A letter from the Newport Medical Society, requesting permis-
sion to deposit some of their books in the Library building, was
referred to Messrs. Crandall and Gilpin. This committee, at the
next meeting, reported adversely to the application, on the ground
that the Library was already crowded for shelf-room.
May 14, 1883. It was moved and seconded that the President
should be authorized to confer with the Newport Historical Society,
with refeiisnce to removing their collection from the Library, and to
report at the next meeting.
The point of order having been raised, whether the President had
a right to vote upon a viva voce vote, and the chair ruling in favor
of such right, it was decided by the Board in the negative. The
house being called on the original motion, there was a tie, Messrs.
Ashhurst, Macy, Crandall, Mauran and Tompkins voting nay, and
Messrs. Gilpin, David King, Tilton, Turner and George Gordon
King voting aye. It was then moved to reconsider the vote passed
at the previous meeting with reference to the Newport Historical
Society, which motion was lost.
June II, 1883. A committee from the Newport Historical So-
ciety— Messrs. Lucius D. Davis, Rev. Dr. Thayer and Mr. J. M. K.
Southwick — were permitted to address the Board with reference to
the recent action in regard to the Newport Historical Society;
whereupon it was
Voted : That all proceedings taken in reference to the removal of
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 403
the books and papers of that Society be vacated ; and that any fur-
ther discussion of the matter be postponed to the meeting of the
Board in October. Meanwhile it was
Voted, on motion of Mr. Mason : That the Librarian and his
assistant be required to afford the Historical Society every facility
in the use of the Library for its lectures and meetings, in proper
hours.
June 16, 1883. A special meeting, called to take action on the
death of Rev. Charles T. Brooks ; at which meeting the following
resolutions were unanimously adopted :
Whereas : The Great Disposer of all things temporal and eternal,
who is the God and Father of us all, and in whose hands are life
and death, having, in His wise Providence, removed from us by
death our late associate, the Rev. Charles T. Brooks:
We, the surviving members of the Board of Directors of the Red-
wood Library and Athenaeum, deeply and sincerely sympathize
with the family and relatives of our late associate in this their great
loss :
That this Institution has lost one of its most active and useful
members. That his place at our Board cannot easily be filled :
That the memory of his gentle manners, his kind and courteous
expression of opinion, his firmness in doing always what was right,
his disinterested and wise counsel, will long remain with us who
have been for a long time officially and personally connected and
associated with him :
That this preamble and resolutions be entered upon our records,
and that the Secretary be requested to send a copy thereof to the
family of the deceased.
June 21, 1883. The following letter was read from the Presi-
dent :
404 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
To the Board of Directors of the Company of the Redwood Library
and Athencemn :
I hereby resign the office of President and Director of the above-
named Company.
Respectfully,
James Eddy Mauran.
June 1 8, 1883.
Voted : That the resignation of Mr. Mauran be received, placed
on file and referred to the next annual meeting.
A committee, consisting of Dr. Henry E. Turner and Mr. George
Gordon King, were appointed to direct the affairs of the Library, as
a monthly committee, until the next regular meeting of the Board.
The following Act of the General Assembly of the State of Rhode
Island was read and received:
State of Rhode Island, etc.
In General Assembly, January Session, A.D. 1883.
An Act in amendment of the Act to Incorporate the Redwood
Library, passed at the October session, A.D. 1790.
// is enacted by the General Assembly, as follows :
Section i. The annual meeting of the Redwood Library Com-
pany in the town of Newport shall hereafter be held on the third
Wednesday in August instead of the third Wednesday in Septem-
ber, as heretofore.
It was voted to accept the above amendment of the charter.
Mr. George F. Crandall's resignation as a member of the Board
was received and referred to the annual meeting.
A communication was read from Dr. Horatio R. Storer, on be-
half of the Newport Medical Society, calling attention to the ap-
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 405
preaching meeting of the Superintendents of the American Hospi-
tals for the Insane, and suggesting that the Board of Directors
extend to them an invitation to visit the Library ; which communi-
cation was referred to the monthly committee, to take such action
as they might think proper.
July 9, 1883. The thanks of the Medical Society were extended
to the Board, for the courtesy that had been shown their guests.
The letter from the Society was accompanied by a catalogue of the
medical works in the Library, from the same Society ; thereupon it
was
Voted : That the thanks of the Board of Directors be tendered to
the Newport Medical Society, for the use of their catalogue of the
medical works in the Redwood Library, and that the Librarian be
requested to make a copy of the same for the use of the Library.
Messrs. Turner, Mason and George Gordon King were a commit-
tee to prepare the annual report of the Directors; and Messrs. Tur-
ner and King were continued as the monthly committee.
August 13, 1883. The chairman of the Book Committee was
directed to apply for the account of the purchase of books at the
Cooke sale.
August 15, 1883. Annual meeting. Hon. Francis Brinley was
chosen chairman.
It was voted to accept the amendment to the Charter.
" Through the munificence of the late Joseph J. Cooke, who
bequeathed $5000 to the Library, in books, to be purchased at the
sale of his library; 715 valuable books have been acquired, to be
added to at a future sale. And by a liberal provision in the will of
our late associate, Dr. David King, 487 volumes have been added —
about one-half the number expected, which at a future time will be
increased by the income of a fund given by him for that purpose.
The books from the Cooke sale were purchased through the kind-
4o6
ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
ness of John R. Bartlett, Esq., and there still remains unexpended
the sum of ;^2402.49, ready for future use.
" The books from the King sale were very valuable ; the bill for
the purchase of 38 volumes amounting to ;^574.38. This remark-
ably high cost was quite unexpected, and was owing to 14 bound
volumes of old Newport Mercurys, which paper had never before
been offered at public sale. The dates range from 1758 to 1792.
The volumes are richly bound and could not be duplicated. They
are perhaps the most important accessions of the year, and with the
volumes owned by the Library (from 1795 to date) constitute a
most valuable set of historic papers. The remainder of the afore-
said books are well worth having. Mr. David King advanced ;$250
to assist in the purchase. The balance came from Mrs. William F.
Weld, Mr. Marquand and others. The Company has thus become
the possessor of a precious set of literary variety, without any outlay
from its own well-known limited resources."
The following tables indicate the growth of the Library by gift
and purchase, and the extent and special character of the circula-
tion during a period of eleven months (September i, 1882, to August
1,1883):
Number of volumes, September i, 1882,
Added by purchase, .
Added by purchase (King sale), .
Added by gift, ....
Added by gift (King bequest).
Added by gift (Cooke bequest), .
Added by binding periodicals, .
Number of volumes, August i, 1883,
24,470
86
38
254
487
713
5
26,053
Number of pamphlets added by gift, .
211
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
407
Circulation,
Agriculture, botany and horticulture,
Biography, .
Fiction and juveniles, .
Fine arts, .
History,
Law and politics,
Literature, essays, etc.,
Periodicals, bound,
Periodicals, in numbers,
Philosophy, mental and moral,
Poetry and drama.
Science, ....
Theology and ecclesiastic history,
Travels, discoveries, etc..
Total circulation,
20
605
4090
91
622
40
615
323
1025
23
191
185
92
354
8276
"The Directors feel called upon to direct the attention of the
stockholders and friends of the Library to the inadequacy of the
income now received, which can be applied to current expenses, to
the wants of the establishment.
** The plan inaugurated some time since to secure a fund of ten
thousand dollars, or more, for incidental expenses, has so far been
partially successful ; the shares subscribed being conditional on the
whole amount being made up. The Directors urge that the stock-
holders may devise some measure by which the resources of the
Library can be put on a more liberal footing, assuring them, at the
same time, that nothing but the most rigid economy (it might be
said niggardly), has enabled them to make both ends meet.
" It is painful to the Directors to acknowledge that while they
take the utmost pride in the possession of the oldest and most valu-
4o8 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
able Library, of its class, and one better known and more widely
appreciated than any other in the country, they are constantly
humiliated by the necessity of apologizing for defects, growing out
of its limited means."
The following officers were elected :
President. — Henry E. Turner.
Vice-President. — William Gilpin.
Directors. — William H. Ashhurst, William A. Clarke, Henry H.
Fay, George W. Gibbs, David King, Le Roy King, George Gordon
King, Job T. Langley, Seth W. Macy, Henry G. Marquand, George
C. Mason, William P. Sheffield, Frederic W. Tilton, Hamilton B.
Tompkins, Charles C. Van Zandt, George W. Wales.
Treasurer. — Job T. Langley.
Secretary. — William P. Sheffield, Jr.
September lo, 1883. At a meeting of the Board, the following
standing committees were chosen:
On Books.
William Gilpin, F. W. Tilton,
George G. King, George C. Mason.
On Finance.
William A. Clarke, Seth W. Macy,
Job T. Langley, Hamilton B. Tompkins.
David King.
On Pictures and Statuary.
Henry H. Fay, Henry G. Marquand,
George W. Wales.
On Auditing of Accounts.
William Gilpin, George C. Mason.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 409
On Repairs.
William H. Ashhurst, George C. Mason,
S. W. Macy.
On By-Laws and Regulations.
William P. Sheffield, Charles C. Van Zandt.
On Expenditures.
Le Roy King, Frederic W. Tilton.
Mr. Gilpin reported that he had obtained a list of the books pur-
chased by the Library at the last sale of books at the Joseph J.
Cooke sale, and that the Library had still unexpended of its legacy
of ;^50oo the sum of ;^2402.49.
Among the notable accessions from this source, at the first sale,
the following are worthy of mention : Lamb's Works, large paper
copy, 5 vols., octavo, half morocco ; Hooker's Garden Ferns (64
colored plates); Works of Rabelais, 2 vols., octavo, London, 1708
— unique illustrated copy, with Picart's series of plates inserted ;
Planche's Cyclopaedia of Costume, 4to; Forster's Dickens, 3 vols.,
in tree-calf; The Naval Chronicle, 40 vols., 8vo., London, 1799-
1818, half calf; Ackerman's Repository of Arts, 40 vols., 8vo., Lon-
don, 18 10-1828, with colored plates, hand painted; Thurloe's State
Papers, 7 vols., folio, Amsterdam, 1723-33, with plates; Gary's
English Atlas, 4to., London, 1787; Cuvier's Animal Kingdom, 16
vols., 4to., London, 1827-30, with 800 plates ; Lodge's Portraits of
Illustrious Personages of Great Britain, 4to., 6 vols., London, 1823-
32, half vellum, plates on India paper; Arabian Nights' Entertain-
ments, 3 vols., 8vo., in tree-calf; Chalmers's University of Oxford,
8vo., 1810; Rawlinson's Herodotus, 4 vols., 8vo. ; CEuvres de Mira-
beau, 9 vols., 8vo. ; Knight's Gallery of Portraits, 7 vols., 8vo. ;
Hervey's Naval History of Great Britain, 5 vols., with plates.
27
410 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
The Book Committee were authorized to spend to the amount of
;^iooo at the next sale, to take place October 1st, making such
selections as they deemed best for the interest of the Library.
Mr, Benjamin F. Thurston was elected Librarian, upon the same
salary and provisions as to employing of an assistant.
December lo, 1883. The Librarian, who had attended the auc-
tion sales of the library of the late Joseph J. Cooke, in the interest
of the Library, made a verbal report, that the Library had expended
its legacy of ;^5C)00 and obtained many valuable works.
The policy pursued by the Library at this sale was a conserva-
tive one, the aim being to secure as far as possible works of stan-
dard literary value, such as will increase the everyday working
resources of the Library — to add to the material already possessed
as many volumes as possible of the greatest possible working value.
Accordingly, no attempt was made to secure works valuable solely,
or largely, for their age, rarity, or special edition, and fancy prices
were in every case carefully avoided. The collection comprises,
however, works of great value, even for the collector, many of them
in rich and elegant bindings, and others enriched by fine plates and
engravings.
Among the works secured there may be mentioned :
In biography — Cunningham's Eminent and Illustrious English-
men, 8 vols.; Dictionaire Universel, Historique, etc., 20 vols.; Life
of Oliver Cromwell, London, 1731, rare; Farneworth's Sixtus the
Fifth, Dublin, 1766; Heber's Jeremy Taylor, 2 vols.; Jones's Adam
Clarke ; Ladvocat's Dictionaire Historique — Portratif, 2 vols., Paris,
1760; Maccall's Foreign Biographies, 2 vols.; Mahon's Louis,
Prince of Conde ; Mavor's British Nepos, portraits ; Nugent's John
Hampden, etc. ; D'Oyley's Archbishop Bancroft, 2 vols. ; Le Popu-
laire Pantheon, 3 vols. ; Penn's Sir William Penn, 2 vols. ; Prior's
Edmund Malone; Drake's Brief Memoir of Sir Walter Raleigh;
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 411
Rosenberg's Jenny Lind ; Rycaut's Pope's London, 1704; Scott's
Eminent Novelists and Dramatists ; Johnson's John Selden, etc. ;
Kenny's Life and Genius of Shakespeare; Mrs. Shelley's Eminent
French Writers, 2 vols ; Stanton's .Reforms and Reformers ; Me-
moirs of the Duke of Sully, 4 vols. ; White's Swedenborg ; Wal-
ton's Lives of Donne, Wotton, Hooker, Herbert and Sanderson, 2
vols. ; Watson and Tytler's Songstresses of Scotland, 2 vols.; Wat-
son's Philip Second and Philip Third, 3 vols., London, 1778 ; Lady
Weigall's Princess Charlotte of Wales ; Wilde's Closing Years of
Dean Swift's Life ; George Howard's Wolsey, the Cardinal, etc. ;
Wraxall's Caroline Matilda, Queen of Denmark and Norway, 3
vols. ; Lord Byron's Last Journey to Greece, etc., and Putnam's
Home Cyclopaedia of Biography.
In history — Lettres, Originales, de Mirabeau, pendant les annees
1777-80, 4 vols., Paris, 1792; Malcom's Manners and Customs of
London, to 1700; Hozier's Seven Weeks' War ; Munsell's Every-
day Book of History and Chronology ; Planta's Helvetic Confed-
eracy, 2 vols., London, 1800; Riley's Annals of Rogers de Hove-
den, 732-1201, 2 vols. ; Rowland's English Constitution ; Statistical
Account of Roxburyshire; Logan's Manners, Customs and Antiqui-
ties of Scotland ; Secret Memoirs of the Court of Petersburg, reigns
of Catherine IL and Paul L, Philadelphia, 1802; Sharpe's Egypt to
A.D. 640, 2 vols.; Smith's Ancient History of the East; Spon's
City and State of Geneva, folio, London, 1687; Stevenson's Wars
of the English in France, reign of Henry VL ; Thirlwall's Greece,
2 vols.; Tillotson's Palestine, Egypt and Syria, 350 engravings;
Tooke's Russia, 2 vols., London, 1800; Wilkinson's Ancient
Egyptians, 2 vols., 500 woodcuts ; Baillie's Letters and Journals —
England and Scotland, 1637- 1662, 2 vols., Edinburgh, 1775 ;
Dixon's White Conquest, 2 vols.
In theology and ecclesiastical history — Cook's Church of Scot-
land, 3 vols., Edinburgh, 1815 ; Milner's Church of Christ, 8 vols.,
412 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
London, 1810; Samuel Parr's Works , etc., 8 vols., large paper;
Priestley's Christian Church, 2 vols., Northumberland, 1803;
Southey's Book of the Church, 2 vols. ; Stanley's Lectures on the
Church in Scotland ; Strachey's Jewish History and Politics ; Thie-
baud's Gentilism ; Well's Historical Geography of the Old and New
Testament, 2 vols., Oxford, 18 19.
In sciences — Mantell's Geology of Sussex, 42 plates, London,
1822 ; Prichard's Physical History of Mankind, 2 vols., colored
plates Siebold's Anatomy of the Invertebrata ; White's Natural
History of Selbourne; Fy'fe's Anatomy of the Human Body, 2 vols.,
plates ; Herschell's Outlines of Astronomy.
In poetry and the drama — Macaulay's Lays of Ancient Rome,
fine edition; Dryden's Dramatic Works, 6 vols., London, 1725;
Meilan's Telemachus, from the French of Fenelon, 4 vols., illus-
trated, London, 1776; Morley's King and the Commons Cavalier
and Puritan Song; Musarum Deliciae, 1656, Wit Restored, 1658,
Wits Recreation, 1640, 2 vols., tree calf, reprint; Parton's Humor-
ous Poetry of the English Language ; Works of Peter Pindar, 5
vols., London, 1794; Schiller's Poems and Ballads, translated by
Lord Lytton, 2 vols., elegant edition ; Lamb's Specimens of English
Dramatic Poets.
In travel, etc. — The Modern Traveller, 29 vols. ; Morell's Alge-
ria ; Mrs. Shelley's Germany and Italy, 2 vols. ; Wilson's Pelew
Islands, large paper, London, 1788.
Among works of reference — The Edinburgh Gazetteer, 6 vols.
Harper's Universal Gazetteer ; Lempiere's Bibliotheca Classica
Rennell's Bengal Atlas, folio, 1781 ; Gazetteer of Scotland, 2 vols.
Treasury of Bible Knowledge ; Findley's Classical Atlas.
In Shakespeariana — Stevens and Malone's edition of Shakes-
peare's Plays, 8 vols., gilt calf, fine copy ; Ingleby's Views of the
Shakespeare Controversy ; Poems of Shakespeare ; Retzsch's Out-
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 413
lines to Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Macbeth, and
Othello, 4 vols., Leipsic, 1828-42.
Among art works — Payne's Universum, or Pictorial World, 3
vols., quarto ; Pictorial Half-Hours, 2 vols., quarto ; Pinelli's Etch-
ings (27) of Italian Manners and Costumes, folio, Rome, 1844;
Sauvan's Picturesque Tour of the Seine, quarto ; Scenes in Italy,
colored sketches ; Tennyson's Enoch Arden, illustrated by Billings ;
Finden's Views of Harbors of Great Britain, quarto ; West Gallery
of Pictures, engraved in Outlines by Moses, quarto ; Brooke's
Winter Scenes in Lapland, folio ; Neale's Illustrations of Fonthill
Abbey, plates on India paper, quarto, large paper.
In architecture — Shaw's Architectural Sketches from the Conti-
nent, 100 large plates of famous buildings in France, Italy and Ger-
many, folio ; Sloane's Designs for Public and Private Buildings,
folio; Ware's Complete Body of Architecture, over 100 fine copper-
plates, folio, London, 1756; Unedited Antiquities of Attica, jj
plates, folio, London, 1833.
In general literature — Les Essais de Montaigne, 3 vols., London,
1781 ; Autograph of Caleb Gushing; Works of John Moore, 7
vols.; Moore's Odes of Anacreon, Philadelphia, 1805; Maximes
et Reflexions Morales de Rochefoucauld, in three languages, Paris,
1828.
Among miscellaneous works — The Eclectic Magazine, 39 vols. ;
Kelley's Proverbs of all Nations ; Munsell's Paper and Paper-
Making^ Murray's Manual of Mythology, 35 plates ; Palgrave's
Truths and Fictions of the Middle Ages, tree calf; Phillips's Auto-
graphic Album, 470 fac similes ; Pictures and Stories (The Saturday
Journal); The Origin of Printing, London, 1776; Quarle's Em-
blems, plates, Bristol, 1808 ; Repton's Landscape Gardening, colored
plates, quarto ; Scheuchzer's Physique Sacree, on Histoire-Naturelle
de la Bible, 715 engraved copper-plates, 4 vols., folio, Amsterdam,
1732 ; Somers's Judgment of Whole Kingdoms and Nations, octavo.
414 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
Newport, R. L, reprinted and sold by Solomon Southwick in Queen
Street in 1774; Symes's Embassy to the Kingdom of Ava, maps
and plates, 3 vols., London, 1800; Transactions of the Horticultural
Society of London, 1820-30, colored plates, 7 vols., quarto;
Tweedie's Rivers and Lakes of Scripture, colored engravings ;
Walker's Manly Exercises ; Barclay's Apology for the True Chris-
tian Divinity, duodecimo, red levant morocco, gilt extra, Newport,
R. I., printed by James Franklin, 1729; Brydge's Population and
Riches of Nations, and Recollections of Foreign Travel, etc., 3 vols.;
Autograph of Robert Southey ; Miller's Brief Retrospect of the
Eighteenth Century, 3 vols., London, 1805.
The third and last sale of the Cooke Library was held in New
York on December 3-8. There remained still to the credit of the
ten libraries made beneficiaries by the will of Mr. Cooke more than
twenty thousand dollars, and the necessity of expending this amount
in order to secure the full benefit of the several bequests, together
with the great value of many of the lots offered, forced prices to a
much higher figure than at either of the previous sales. Redwood
Library adhered, as far as possible, to the policy pursued at the
October sale, and endeavored to obtain works of standard working
value, and such as are best adapted to the needs of the Library.
Nearly five hundred volumes were secured, including several of
special interest and importance to Newport and its immediate
vicinity. Most prominent among these, and perhaps tlje most
important purchase of the sale, is the " Order Book of the Revolu-
tion— Rhode Island." This is a folio manuscript, finely bound in
purple turkey morocco, containing military orders dated at Head-
quarters, Newport, Providence, Tiverton, Swansey, Little Compton,
etc., in 1778, the year in which was fought the battle of Rhode
Island. The manuscript is in the handwriting of Josiah Fletcher,
then an adjutant in a Massachusetts regiment, but contains the* auto-
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 415
graphs of several other officers, including that of Major-General
Sullivan, in command of the American forces during the battle.
Appended is a certificate giving a history of the order book, and a
receipt for one hundred dollars, for which it was purchased by Mr.
Gooke. Redwood was fortunate enough to secure this unique and
valuable document, which relates almost entirely to Newport county,
for fifty-five dollars.
Among the other works of interest and value secured at the
recent sale are the following :
General History.
Bartlett's United States of America, 7 vols. ; Carrington's Battles
of the American Revolution ; Coffin's Battle of the American Revo-
lution ; Coffin's Battle of Breed's Hill ; Convention of Delegates
from the New England States at Boston, August 3-9, 1780 — their
Proceedings, with Notes, by F. B. Hough ; J. Fenimore Cooper's
Battle of Lake Erie ; Dawson's Assault on Stony Point, by General
Anthony Wayne ; De Costa's Northmen in Maine ; De Forest's
Indians of Connecticut; Operations of the French Fleet under
Count De Grasse in 1781-82 ; Drake's Witchcraft Delusion in New
England, 3 vols. ; French's Historical Collections of Louisiana and
Florida; Lion Gardiner's Pequot War, quarto; Salina Hale's
United States ; Hennepin's Description of Louisiana, by J. G. Shea ;
Herrera's General History of the Vast Continent and Islands of
America, 6 vols., octavo, London, 1725 ; Hinton's History and
Topography of the United States, with additions and correc-
tions by S. L. Knapp and Rev. J. O. Choules, 2 vols., quarto ;
Kidder's Boston Massacre ; Kidder's First New Hampshire Regi-
ment in the Revolution; Kidder's Military Operations in Eastern
Maine and Nova Scotia; Kip's Early Jesuit Missions in North
America; Lechford's Plain Dealing, or News from New England,
London, 1642 (reprinted, Boston, 1872); Marshall's History of the
41 6 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
Colonies Planted by the English on the Continent of North America,
etc., Philadelphia, 1824; Minot's Insurrections in Massachusetts in
1786, Boston, 1810; Murphy's Voyage of Verrazzano ; Williams-
burg, Virginia, Orderly Book, 1776, quarto; Ruttenber's Indian
Tribes of Hudson's River; Affecting Narrative of the Unfortunate
Voyage and Catastrophe of His Majesty's Ship Wager, etc., Lon-
don, 1 751; Otis's Rights of the Colonies Asserted and Proved,
London, 1765 ; Otis's Vindication of the British Colonies, Boston,
1769; New York Historical Society, Publication Fund Series, 3
vols. ; Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Publication Fund Series,
9 vols., 14 portraits; Acts and Resolves of the General Assembly
of the State of Rhode Island, from October, 1798, to February,
181 3, 4 vols., folio; Sherwood's Comic History of the United
States; Smith's New England Trials, reprint of the first edition of
1620; quarto, Cambridge, 1873 ; Spencer's United States, illustrated,
3 vols., quarto ; Staples's Documentary History of the Destruction
of the Gaspee; Stone's Invasion of Canada in 1775, quarto; Sulli-
van's Public Men of the Revolution; Upham's Lectures on Witch-
craft ; Viscount Vaux's Mauritius, maps and charts, quarto, Lon-
don, 1801 ; Governor Winthrop's Journal of Transactions, etc., in
Massachusetts, 1630-1644, octavo, Hartford, 1790; Duyckinck's
National History of the War for the Union, etc., steel engravings, 3
vols., quarto, in numbers as published ; Granger's Biographical
History of England from Egbert to the Revolution, 6 vols, in 3 ;
Noble's Biographical History of England from the Revolution to
the End of the Reign of George I. (continuation of the preceding,
bound uniform), 3 vols. ; Heckewelder's Indian Nations of Pennsyl-
vania and Neighboring States ; M'Cullough's Concise History of
the United States to 1795, map, Philadelphia, 1797; Sismondi's
Crusade against the Albigenses; Maryland Historical Society, Pub-
lication Fund Series, 9 pamphlets, uncut ; Henderson's Brazil, 28
plates, quarto ; History of the British Dominions in North America
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 417
in 1497 to 1763, quarto, London, 1773; Inquiry into the Present
State of the British Navy, etc., London, 181 5 ; Moore's Notes on
the History of Slavery in Massachusetts ; Moore's Notes on the
Employment of Negroes in the American Army of the Revolution ;
Moore's Indian Wars of the United States ; Niles Principles and
Acts of the Revolution.
Local Histories (Town, County and State).
Barnes's Settlement and Early History of Albany ; S. A. Drake's
Middlesex County, Massachusetts, containing histories of eveiy city
and town in the county, and general history of the county, 2 vols.,
quarto, Boston, 1880; Dunlap's New Netherlands, 2 vols. ; Hazard's
Annals of Pennsylvania ; HoUister's Connecticut, 2 vols. ; Hollo-
way's Kansas ; Hough's Papers Relating to Pemaquid, Maine, etc. ;
Hough's Papers Relating to the Island of Nantucket, etc. ; Hough's
Lewis County, New York, 22 portraits ; Howe and Barber's His-
torical Collections of the State of New York ; Edwards's Illinois ;
Daggett's Attleborough, Massachusetts ; Stone's Beverly, Massa-
chusetts ; Johnstone's Bristol and Bremen, Maine ; Stiles's City of
Brooklyn, 3 vols., illustrated ; Masten's Cohoes, New York ; Wor-
thington's Dedham, Ma.ssachu setts ; Emerson's Douglas, Massachu-
setts ; Pierce's Grafton, Massachusetts, with Genealogies ; Chase's
Haverhill, Massachusetts, Cowley's Lowell, Massachusetts ; Potter's
Manchester, New Hampshire ; Baylies's New Plymouth, 2 vols. ;
Hall's Norwalk, Connecticut ; Willis's Portland, Maine ; Week's
Salisbury, Vermont ; Ward's Shrewsbury, Massachusetts ; Simond's
South Boston; Huntington's Stamford, Connecticut ; Richardson's
Woonsocket, Rhode Island ; Neill's Minnesota, engravings, quarto ;
Mulford's Civil and Political History of New Jersey; Proud's Penn-
sylvania, 2 vols., Philadelphia, 1797; Stone's Poetry and History of
Wyoming ; Watson's Pioneer Hi.story of the Champlin Valley ;
Watson's County of Essex, New York ; Williamson's State of
418 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
Maine, 2 vols. ; Austin's Massachusetts, 7 portraits ; Bridgman's
Copp's Hill Epitaphs ; Benjamin Franklin's Historical Review of
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 18 12.
Biography.
Nehemiah Adam's John Eliot ; Sir John Barrow's Richard Earl
Howe (fac-similes of letters of George HI. and Lord Howe); Bar-
nard's Educational Biography, Memoirs of Teachers, Educators,
etc. ; Bartlett's Memoirs of Rhode Island Officers Engaged in the
Service of their Country During the Great Rebellion, quarto ;
Brown's Rufus Choate ; Sir Arthur Helps's Las Casas, " The Apos-
tle of the Indies;" William Gammell's Alexis Caswell ; Woodman's
Paul Coffin (contains journal of tour in Rhode Island) ; John Esten
Cooke's Robert E. Lee ; Crosby's Abraham Lincoln ; Dixon's Wil-
liam Penn ; Ellis's Jared Sparks, 15 portraits ; Frothingham's Joseph
Warren ; Memorial of Henry D. Gilpin ; Hudson's Jemima Wilkin-
son, duodecimo; Geneva, New York, 1821 ; Johnson's Nathaniel
Greene, 2 vols., quarto, Charleston, 1822; Knapp's Aaron Burr;
Lanman's Biographical Annals of the Civil Government of the
United States During its First Century ; Samuel Mather's Very
Reverend and Learned Cotton Mather, Boston, 1729; Memorial
Biographies of the New England Historic- Genealogical Society;
Moore's Governors of New Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay ;
Park's Samuel Hopkins ; Parton's Thomas Jefferson ; Harrison's
Life and Writings of John Howard Payne; Pond's Increase Mather
and Sir William Phipps ; Memoir of Commodore David D. Porter ;
Read's Henry Hudson; Rogers's New American Biographical Dic-
tionary, etc., Easton, Pennsylvania, 1824; Life of William Scoresby ;
Stone's Sir William Johnsort, 2 vols. ; White's Samuel Slater, the
Father of American Manufacturers; Wilson's Biography of Ameri-
can Military and Naval Heroes, 2 vols. ; Life and Letters of Gov-
ernor Winthrop, of Massachusetts ; Brevoort's Verrazano, the Navi-
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, 419
gator ; Hawksley's Jonathan Edwards, compiled originally by
Samuel Hopkins, London, 181 5; Moore's Ethan Allen; Literary
Life of James K. Paulding; Deborah Sampson, the Female Soldier
in the Revolution ; Lives of John Tyler, John Randolph and John
C. Calhoun, bound together ; Wood's Historical and Biographical
Memoirs.
Genealogies.
Whitmore's American Genealogist; Durrie's Bibliographia Gen-
ealogica Americana ; Allen and Winter Families ; Bergen Family ;
Brainerd Family, by David Dudley Field ; Chapman Family ; Chip-
man Lineage; Descendants of Hugh Clark, of Watertown, Mass.,
1640-1866; Crosby Family; Dawson Family Records; Hadley
Families, or Early Settlers of Hatfield, South Hadley, Amherst and
Granby ; Huntington Family; Descendants of William Hutchinson
and Thomas Oliver, by W. H. Whitmore ; Janes Family ; Lawrence
Family ; Morgan Family ; Mowry Family ; Mudge Family ; Preston
Family.
Washingtoniana.
Aaron Bancroft's Life of Washington, 2 vols., 24mo., Boston,
1826; Edmond's Washington, 2 vols.; Frost's Pictorial Life of
Washington ; Griswold and Lossing's Washington, numerous steel
engravings, 10 vols. ; Weem's Washington, engravings, etc. ; Wash-
ington and His Generals, 16 portraits on steel, 2 vols. ; Hough's
Memorials of the Death of Washington, 2 vols. ; Last Will and
Testament of Washington, Philadelphia, 1800; Memory of Wash-
ington, etc., duodecimo, full purple levant, gilt extra, Newport,
R. L, 1800; Washington's Official Letters to the American Con-
gress (during the Revolution), 2 vols., London, 1795; Snowden^s
Medals of Washington, etc., in the Museum of the Mint, 79 fac-
simile engravings.
420 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
Travel.
Grosier's China, Tartary, etc., map and copper-plates, 2 vols., half
vellum, London, 1788; Thompson's Southern Africa, illustrated,
quarto, vellum; Anderson's Hawaiian Islands; Arctic Experiences;
Marquis de Chastellux'.s Travels in North America in 1780-82, 2
vols., half blue morocco, London, 1787; Coffin's Our New Way
Round the World ; Personal Narrative of the First Voyage of
Columbus to America, from MSS. recently discovered in Spain ;
Drake's New Universal Collection of Voyages and Travels, folio,
London, 1770; Lamont's Yachting in the Arctic Seas, plates, half
vellum.
Miscellaneous.
Ninety-one characteristic Portraits collected by Lavater, quarto ; .
Poetical Works of Fitz-Greene Halleck and Joseph Rodman Drake,
steel engravings; Gessner's New Idylles, numerous copper-plates,
London, 1776; Vindication of the Captors of Major Andre; Auto-
graphs, etc., collected by J. Cross, 2 vols. ; Poems of George Ban-
croft; John R. Bartlett's Progress of Ethnology; Benjamin Bass's
Speedy Return to God, assisted and pressed in a plain discourse, the
substance of which was delivered at Newport on Rhode Island, small
duodecimo, Boston, 1726; Letters from Buenos Ayres and Chili,
engravings, pictorial binding, London, 18 19; Catalogue of the
Library of Rev. J. O. Choules, D.D. ; John Cotton's Keyes to the
Kingdom of Heaven, etc., quarto, London, 1644; Durfee's Williams
College; EUis's Aims and Purposes of the Founders of Massachu-
setts; Freneau's Poems Relating to the American Revolution; John
Hancock's Oration in Boston, March 5, 1774, octavo, Newport,
R. I., 1774; Hart's Female Prose Writers of America; Hooker's
Flora Boreali Americana, 238 copper-plates, 2 vols., quarto ; Samuel
Hopkins's Inquiry into the Nature of True Holiness, octavo, New-
port, R. I., 1772; Stevens's Colonial Records of the New York
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 421
Chamber of Commerce, 1768-84, portraits, plans, etc.; Ward's Sim-
ple Cobbler, of Aggawam in America, reprint, Boston, 1843 ; Gray's
Botany of Wilkes's United States Exploring Expedition, quarto,
with folio atlas of 100 plates, 2 vols. ; Letters of Roger Williams,
edited by J. R. Bartlett for the Narragansett Club ; Willis's Current
Notes, a series of articles on Antiquities, Biography, History, etc., 7
vols, in 3, quarto; Journal of the Cruise of the Privateer Brig
Yankee, 18 12, folio ; Arctic News, fac-simile of Newspaper published
on board H. M. S. Resolute in search of Sir John Franklin, atlas
folio ; Twenty-two outline engravings by H. R. Selous, illustrative
of Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, with Life of Bunyan, oblong folio ;
Burns's Poems, etc., fac-simile reprint of original edition of 1786,
Newport, R. L, 1870; Fugitive Scottish Poetry, Edinburgh, 161 3,
reprint, 1823; Milton's Paradise Lost, duodecimo, London, 1678;
Observations on the Petitions from Various Merchants of Rhode
Island to Congress, etc., small quarto, Newport, R. I., 1803; Ovid's
Metamorphoses in Latin and English, etc., illustrated by Picart, etc.,
2 vols., folio, Amsterdam, 1732; Historical Map of Pennsylvania,
showing Indian names of streams, villages, sites of old forts, etc. ;
Illustrations to Poetical Works of Sir Walter Scott, 40 steel engrav-
ings ; Hall's Forty Etchings, from sketches in North America,
quarto ; Knickerbocker Gallery, 48 portraits on steel.
At the first sale in March last there was expended ;^2597.5i ; in
October, $673.05, and at the concluding sale, ;^ 1728.48. The
Library thus secures the full amount of the original bequest of
$5000, save the small balance of 96 cents unexpended. The number
of volumes purchased in March was 715, in October 621, and in
December 476. It will thus be seen that Redwood has within the
year received an accession of more th^n 1800 volumes, many of
them of exceeding interest and value, and the importance of this
42 2 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
addition to the resources of the Institution can hardly be over-
estimated.
March lo, 1884. Mr. Fay read the following report:
Newport, December 31, 1883.
To the President of the Redwood Library.
Sir: We beg to advise having procured subscriptions from the
following persons, for the purpose of defraying the cost of two new
book-cases, some matting, and for cleaning in the building :
Mrs. Edward King, Messrs. George W. Wales, John Foster,
George Peabody Wetmore, and W. G. Weld, each $2^ ; Mr. H. G.
Marquand, ^20; A Friend, ;^io; and Mr. David King, ;^32.05 ; in
all, ;^ 1 87.05.
Independently of ourselves, we should be glad if the other sub-
scribers receive some official acknowledgment of their gifts, the
book-cases and matting being now in place, and paid for.
We are, sir,
Your obedient servants,
George W. Wales,
David King,
Committee,
Voted : The Directors of the Redwood Library and Athenaeum,
in behalf of the Corporation, gratefully acknowledge the gift of the
new book-cases, now placed in the east hall of the Library building,
the donation of Mrs. Edward King, and Messrs. George W. Wales,
John Foster, George Peabody Wetmore, William G. Weld, Henry
G. Marquand, David King ; and also the gift of floor matting, for
use in the old halls, from the same donors.
Resolved : That the acknowledgment of these gifts be entered
upon our records, and a copy of this resolution and acknowledg-
ment be forwarded to each of the donors, as a slight token of our
appreciation of their generosity, and for the interest which they
have always taken in the prosperity of the Library.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 423
May 20, 1 884. Special meeting, called to take action on the death
of Hon. Seth W. Macy, which had been announced to the Board.
On motion of Mr. Sheffield the following preamble and resolutions
were adopted :
"Whereas, the Honorable Seth W. Macy, who had long been a
devoted friend of this Institution and a member of this Board of
Directors, was on Sunday morning last removed from this life, and
we, his associates in the Board of Directors, are now convened to
give expression of our appreciation of the merits of our deceased
associate, and to take such action in reference to his obsequies as
we may deem to be appropriate to the occasion ;
" We do hereby resolve : That it is with unfeigned sorrow that
we have received the intelligence which makes it certain that we are
no more to be enlightened by the wisdom, to be sustained by the
judgment, or to be encouraged by the hopefulness of our late
lamented associate, whose undeviating devotion to the best interests
of this Institution made him a cherished member of this Board,
whose presence was always desired and whose conduct here has
always been honorable to himself and beneficial to this Corporation ;
That in behalf of the Redwood Library we acknowledge the debt
of gratitude this Institution owes for the vigilant watchfulness, the *
resolute purpose and energetic action of our late associate in pro-
moting the welfare of this Institution, and in making it subserve the
charitable object of its foundation ; That as a further mark of respect
for our late associate, the Directors of the Redwood Library will
attend the funeral of the deceased on Wednesday, the 21st instant,
and that the Library be closed on the day of the funeral after one
o'clock P.M., and that a copy of this preamble and resolutions be
taken to the family of the deceased by the President and Secretary,
who are requested to express to them the condolence and sympathy
of this Board in their bereavement."
424
ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY, '
CHAPTER XIV.
1884— 1890.
Y the report of the Directors, it was shown at
the annual meeting, September, 1884, that
the additions through the year were as
follows :
By gift 165 volumes, by purchase 142
volumes, and by purchase under Mr.
Cooke's bequest 1097 volumes, making the
whole number in the Library 24,457. Pamphlets given during the
year, 235.
" Wire screens have not only been placed by Mr. David King, on
• the cases in the north wing, which contain the books given by the
late Dr. King ; but also to all cases in the original Library room and
the reading rooms ; these last through the liberality of Messrs. Le
Roy and George Gordon King."
Among the gifts of the year was an original bust of Gilbert
Stuart, in bronze by Brower, a work of great merit, presented by Mr.
David King.
At the election of officers, the old Board were re-elected.
The standing committees were:
On Books.
George Gordon King,
William Gilpin,
George C. Mason,
F. W. Tilton.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 425
On Finance.
William A. Clarke, Le Roy King,
David King, Job T. Langley,
Hamilton B. Tompkins.
On Pictures and Statuary.
Henry H, Fay, Henry G. Marquand.
George W. Wales.
On Auditing Accounts.
William Gilpin, George C. Mason.
On Repairs.
William H. Ashhurst, George G. King,
George C. Mason.
On By-Laws and Regulations.
William P. Sheffield, Charles C. Van Zandt.
On Expenditures.
Le Roy King, F. W. Tilton.
Messrs. William Gilpin, George C. Mason and Le Roy King
were appointed a committee to present the names of suitable can-
didates for the office of Librarian, to report at an adjourned
meeting.
Adjourned meeting. September 20, 1884. The committee ap-
pointed to offer the names of candidates for the office of Librarian,
reported in favor of the selection of Mr. Richard Bliss, who was
believed to have all the proper qualifications ; and he was chosen as
Librarian, upon the same terms that the late Librarian was em-
28
426
ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
ployed, viz. : twelve hundred dollars per year, and he to employ his
assistant.
The thanks of the Board were presented to Mr. William W.
Tucker, in behalf of the Corporation, for his liberal gift towards
making needed repairs on the Library building.
December 15, 1884. Mr. Le Roy King, of the Committee to
Solicit Subscriptions to the General Current Expense Fund, pre-
sented the report of the committee, as follows :
To the Directors of the Redwood Library and Athenceum :
Gentlemen :
The committee to solicit subscriptions for a General Current Ex-
pense Fund, respectfully presents its report of moneys paid to the
Treasurer, and beg to be released from further duty in the matter :
Contributions to the General Current Expense Fund.
Mrs. J. C. Brown, ;^200 00
J N. Brown, .
100 00
J. S. Bryce,
50 00
Joseph J. Cooke,
100 00
William A. Clarke, .
100 00
John Foster, .
. 1,000 00
F. 0. French, .
100 00
A Friend,
100 00
David King,
150 00
Mrs. Edward King, .
. 1,000 oc
George G. King,
250 00
Mary Le Roy King,
. 200 00
Le Roy King, .
200 00
Daniel Le Roy,
50 00
H. G. Marquand,
. 3,000 00
Miss E. F. Mason, .
. •
500 00
Miss I. M. Mason, .
500 00
Carried forward, ....
. $7,600 00
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 427
Brought forward, ;^7,6oo 00
Mrs. Perry, lOO 00
Enoch Pratt, ....... 100 00
S. M. Pratt, 100 00
W. C. Rives, . . . . . .' . 100 00
J. G. Rosengarten, . . . . . . 10 00
F. W. Stevens, 200 00
A. P. Stokes, ....... 100 00
W. P. Sheffield, . . • . . . 100 00
Alfred Smith, 200 00
W. K. Thorn, . . . . . . . 250 00
D. Torrence, ....... 100 00
S. J. Torrence, 100 00
H. B. Tompkins, ...... 100 00
F. Wharton, . . . . . . . 50 00
C. W. Wharton, ...... 100 CX)
G. W. Wales, ....... 100 00
G. P. Wetmore, . . . . . . 500 00
Dividends, Savings Bank De-
posit, $2(^\ 25
Interest on Bonds (Gift of H. G.
Marquand), . . . . 190 00
Interest on Bonds (Gift of Mrs.
E. King), .... 30 00
511 25
Total, ;^io,42i 25
Henry G. Marquand,
Le Roy King,
George G. Mason,
Cornmiitee.
Voted : That the above report be received and spread upon the
records, and that the committee be discharged; and it was further.
Voted : That the thanks of the Board be extended to the com-
mittee for their efficient service in procuring the subscriptions.
428 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
June 20, 1885. Special meeting, when the following resolutions
were unanimously adopted :
Resolved : That in the decease of our friend and associate, Wil-
liam H. Ashhurst, Esq., the Directors of the Redwood Library
recognize a dispensation which deprives them of a most estimable
and valued colleague, and the Library of a conscientious and faith-
ful official, and one whose interest and solicitude for the best welfare
of the Institution were of great benefit to it and whose amiable and
gentle character endeared him to all who knew him.
Resolved : That the expression of our warmest sympathy be ten-
dered to his family, and that a copy of these resolutions be presented
to them.
Resolved; That these resolutions be published in each of the
local papers.
August 19, 1885. Annual meeting. The retiring officers were
re-elected, with Hon. Francis Brinley to fill the vacancy caused by
the death of Mr. Ashhurst.
The Librarian reported :
No. of volumes in the Library, Aug. 19, 1884,
. 27,457
" " added by purchase,
207
" donation, .
392
" " " binding periodicals.
36
No. of volumes in the Library, Aug. 15, 1885, 28,092
No. of pamphlets added, . . . . '. 255
Among the more important gifts to the Library may be men-
tioned a set of the new edition of Kent's Commentaries, from Mrs.
William H. Ashhurst ; Mason's Reminiscences of Newport, from
Mr. G. C. Mason ; the handsome catalogue of the library of George
Gordon King, from Mr. G. G. King; the Proceedings of the Massa-
chusetts Historical Society for 1884-85, and Vol. X. of the Collec-
tions of the same Society, from Miss Ellen Mason ; Vol. HI. of
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND,
429
Sibley's Harvard Graduates, from Dr. Samuel A. Green, of Boston ;
and Dexter's Biographical Sketches of the Graduates of Yale Col-
lege, from Hon, George Peabody Wetmore. Among the important
purchases attention should be called to a subscription to the hand-
some and valuable translation of Dury's History of Rome, six sec-
tions of which have already been received.
The following table shows a slight increase in the number of
volumes in circulation this year over that of last, though it falls de-
cidedly below that for 1882 and 1883. The large increase in the
circulation for those years may be explained by the considerable
accession of books from the King and Cooke bequests, and by the
fact that at that time more than three books were allowed to be
taken out at a time by one person. When, in 1884, the rule was
made, limiting the number of books issued to any one person to
three, the circulation naturally fell off largely. The gain reported
this year is probably the gain which may reasonably be expected to
accompany the growth of the Library. It is interesting to note,
however, that, cceieris paribus, the circulation increases in proportion
to the number of books annually added, and not in proportion to
the size of the Library :
Ciradation,
1880, . 7932
1881,
1882,
1883,
1884,
1885,
7833
9383
8376
7644
7851
As regards the character of the circulation it will be seen from
the subjoined table that, as usual, fiction occupies by far the most
prominent place. This is more remarkable since the Library now
adds comparatively few books of this class to its shelves. Further-
more, many of the most popular works of fiction and juvenile books
have been so much worn that it was found necessary early in the
year to remove them from the shelves till they could be bound.
Notwithstanding these drawbacks the circulation of fiction and
juveniles during the past year was sixty-one per cent, of the whole
430
ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
circulation ; and assuming that one-third of the magazines taken
out was for the sake of the current novels contained in them, the
percentage rises to about seventy. It must be remembered, how-
ever, that in Newport the Library is used most during the summer
months when so many of the inhabitants of the larger cities are
gathered here, and consequently caution must be used in making
generaHzations based upon this large percentage of light reading.
Next to the novels and magazines, in point of popularity, comes
biography, closely followed by history and description of travels.
A larger circulation in the departments of the fine and mechanical
arts, sociology and science would undoubtedly have been seen had
the book funds been sufficient to enable the committee not only to
purchase all the desirable new books in these classes, but to supply
deficiencies caused by a similar lack in past years. An estimate
made to ascertain the proportion of old to new books in circulation
reveals the fact that over sixty per cent, of the total circulation, ex-
clusive of fiction and the magazines, was of books purchased within
a year.
Fiction and Juveniles, ....
4814
Magazines (bound, 272; numbers, 528),
800
Biography, ......
713
Description and Travels,
451
Historyj
427
Literature, . . . . . .
228
Essays and Collected Works,
144
Poetry and Drama, . . . .
59
Letters and Oratory,
. 25
Science,
i •
131
Religion and Ecclesiastical History,
•
85
Fine arts,
>
49
General, ......
• 15
Architecture,
. 15
Graphic, . . . .
10
Plastic,
• 9
Carried forward, ....
i •
7698
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND,
431
Brought forward, .
. 7698
Mechanic arts, . . .
6
Recreative arts, ....
3
Greek and Latin classics,
49
Philosophy,
17
Sociology,
14
Rural economy and horticulture, .
II
Medicine, .....
9
Philology,
8
Unclassified,
6
Total,
7821
October 12, 1885. The portrait of Paul Mumford, bequeathed to
the Library by the will of Miss Avis C. Mumford, deceased, was
presented to the Library by her executor ; was received, and assigned
a place on the walls of the Library.
Mr. Mason stated to the Board, that Mr. George Gordon King
had offered to make certain needed repairs upon the exterior and
interior of the building ; whereupon it was voted that the offer of
Mr. King be gratefully accepted by the Board. This was more
fully touched upon by President Turner in the annual report :
" The improvement has been accomplished through the instru-
mentality of George Gordon King, Esq., whose generosity mani-
fested itself in furnishing means by which the Library buildings
have been thoroughly renovated and repaired, and painted both out-
side and in, and a handsome and substantial iron fence built. Mr.
King has also erected a gallery on the west side of the middle hall,
capable of containing about two thousand volumes.
" These expenditures Mr. King devoted to the use of the Library,
as a tribute to the memory of his deceased brother, Alexander
Mercer King ; and the Directors have deemed it proper and have
accordingly given to this gallery the name of the "Alexander
Mercer King Memorial Gallery."
" The Directors feel that they cannot too warmly express their
432 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
sense of the obligation under which the Society and its individual
members are placed by Mr. King's thoughtful munificence, or too
highly praise the public spirit which prompted his action."
January ii, 1886. Mr. Mason, of the Committee on Repairs,
reported that the repairs upon the building had been completed ;
that the Library building was in thorough order, from the roof to
the cellar ; that a new gallery had been added to the middle room,
and the interior had been suitably painted. The report was received
and was ordered to be recorded, and the same committee was
requested to make such expenditures as were deemed necessary,
to put back the books in their places, and prepare the Library for
re-open ing."°
Voted : That Mr. Mason be a committee to alter and add to the
memorial tablet on the west wall of the Library building, which sets
forth the date of erection and enlargement of the building, and the
name of the architects, so that the same shall include the date of
the last additional wing [1875], and Mr. Mason's name as its
architect.
On motion of Mr. Fay, the following resolutions were adopted :
Whereas, the Library building, which had for several years
urgently needed repairs and suffered great detriment from their
^^" It was voted to close the Library for a few weeks, while the work
was going on.
The value of the *' improvements " can hardly be over-estimated. To
them much of the present attractiveness of the reading-room is due. The
walls and ceiling were given a warm. tone — a combination of pleasing and
contrasting colors — the light, from artistic brackets and chandelier, was
more diffused, the tables were re-arranged, and noise from a foot-fall was
deadened by heavy matting. It has done more than aught else to draw
to the reading-room, daily, many persons who find it pleasant to gather
where the surroundings are so attractive ; and where they find the tables
supplied with the latest products of the press, and the leading journals of
the day.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 433
postponement, has now, through the liberality of Mr. George
Gordon King, been placed in perfect order from roof to cellar,
thoroughly cleaned, painted, both inside and out, and enlarged in
its accommodation for books by an additional gallery ;
Resolved: ist. That the generosity of Mr. King, guided by his
knowledge of the wants of the Library, and an earnest interest in
its welfare, has taken the most practical form possible to preserve,
perpetuate and extend its usefulness, by enhancing its attractions
and increasing its advantages.
2d. That in conformity to the desire of Mr. King, that this munifi-
cent and needed work should stand as a memorial of his brother,
the late Alexander Mercer King, we not only render to him our
thanks for his opportune and thoughtful liberality, but also place
upon our records the fact that it is such a memorial of one
whose worth was appreciated fully by us, as by all those who
knew him.
3d. That the new gallery, which has so greatly enlarged the
capacity of the Library and added to its convenience, shall be, and
hereby is, designated the Alexander Mercer King Memorial
Gallery.
4th. That as the many instances of liberality on the part of Mr.
King and other members of his family in the past, have demon-
strated their abiding interest in the welfare of the Redwood Library,
we shall strive to manifest our appreciation by a renewed energy in
developing its usefulness, and by so devoting our best efforts to the
advancement of its interests, that we may transmit to our succes-
sors an institution that shall, in the future as in the past, entitle it to
the regard of all who are interested in the cultivation of literature
and mental improvements in this community.
March 8, 1886. It was made known to the Board that the Library
was to have the collection of books left by Judge Emott, of Pough-
keepsie, N. Y.
434 ANNALS OP THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
The following clause in the will of Judge Emott, deceased,
admitted to probate, September 22, 1884, being read:
" I ith. Subject to the selection and bequest, I give all my books
not herein specifically bequeathed, to the city of Poughkeepsie, for
the benefit of its public library, and to be placed therein ; provided
and on condition that said city, within eighteen months after this
will is proved, provide and apply to the purchase of books for said
library, or accommodations for the same, the sum of five thousand
dollars in addition to any and all ordinary and annual appropria-
tions or receipts.
"If said city shall neglect or decline to provide and expend said
sum as aforesaid, then I give said books to the Redwood Library,
in Newport, Rhode Island, the town which was the birthplace of
my mother, Hester W. Crary." ^^^
It was voted : That Messrs. Henry H. Fay and Hamilton B.
Tompkins be a committee to receive the books donated to the Red-
*'^ As Judge Emott was a resident of a distant city, and was not famil-
liarly known in Newport, it is but fitting that some mention of him here,
than the above, should have a place in these annals.
''James Emott was born in 1823. He was the son of the Hon. James
Emott, of Poughkeepsie, New York, a man of high distinction as a law-
yer, and who had occupied with honor and distinction seats in the State
and National Legislatures, and was the first County Judge of Duchess
County, and afterwards a Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of
New York ; he also held high position as an honorable and accomplished
business man, and was at his decease President of the ancient Duchess
County Bank. His death occurred in 1850.
*' His wife, Hester Crary, a lady of remarkable sweetness of character,
and of most exemplary Christian life, was a native of Newport, and was
the daughter of Archibald Crary, who was Colonel of a Rhode Island
regiment in the Continental line of the American army of the Revolu-
tion, though ia native of Connecticut (viz., ist Battalion, 1777), who had
been a resident of East Greenwich before and during the Revolution, and
was afterward domiciled in Newport and was a well-known and highly-
esteemed citizen of this town, and was a member of the Society of Cin-
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 435
wood Library by the last will and testament of James Emott, late
of Poughkeepsie, deceased, and to receipt for and discharge the ex-
ecutor of said will therefor, and to take such action and incur such
expense as may be necessary to place the said donation in the
Library,
cinnati in Rhode Island, and from 1800 to 181 1 Vice-President of that
body.
** Under the careful guidance of his father, the youth made rapid pro-
gress in study, and at the age of fifteen years he entered the sophomore
class of Columbia College. He was a diligent student, and made such
good use of his advantages that, on the expiration of his three years' term
he graduated with the highest honors of his class.
" In 1850 the father died, and the son succeeded him as President of
the old Duchess County Bank ; this position he held until his death.
When Poughkeepsie became a city he was honored by being elected its
first Mayor, and in 1855 he was nominated by the Republican party and
elected as Justice of the Supreme Court for the Second Judicial District,
being then thirty-two years of age. Eight years later, in 1863, having
served part of this term with great acceptance as Judge of Appeals, he
retired from the bench and assumed the practice of law in the city of New
York.
"Up to 1870 he pursued his professional avocations, mingling them
with all other good works as occasion offered, with great earnestness and
diligence. Soon after that time his health began to yield to the too great
demands upon him, and yet he persisted until near his end in painful
struggles to answer all the requirements of his position.
"Judge Emott was deeply interested in the Union cause, and was
chiefly instrumental in sending to the front the first regiment from Duchess
County, and never, to his death, ceased to regret that the solicitations of
his friends had dissuaded him from abandoning his important duties at
home and taking the field.
" He was a devout member of the Episcopal Church, and a profound
theological student and reasoner. On this point Mr. Satterlee's paper is
copious, and our space will not permit our following the subject.
" The sentiment which led Judge Emott to present his library to this
Institution as a memento of his respect for the memory of his mother, is
one which all must admire as creditable to himself and a just tribute to
her exalted character."
436 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
May lo, 1886. Mr. Fay, from the special committee to whom
was referred the bequest of Judge Emott, reported that he had
received a letter from the executor of Judge Emott's will, stating
that he was ready to deliver the books to the Library, and was
anxious that they should have them boxed and removed from the
house before June ist, if conv^enient. It was thereupon
Voted : That Mr. Tompkins, of the committee, be requested to
go to Poughkeepsie, to attend to the boxing and removal of the
books.
June 14, 1886. The Librarian reported that Governor Wetmore
had offered to put up a case for books, capable of holding nine hun-
dred volumes, subject to the condition that no books bequeathed
should occupy the case, but that it should be for the free use of the
Library ; which offer was accepted.
August 9, 1886. Mr. Fay, of the committee to receive the be-
quest of Judge James Emott, reported that they had performed the
duties assigned to them, and upon their recommendation, it was
Voted : " The Directors of the Redwood Library, having received
from the executors of the will of the late Judge James Emott, of
Poughkeepsie, New York, the fine Library bequeathed by him to
this Institution as a memorial of his mother, Hester W, Crary, who
was born in this city, desire to place upon record their thorough
appreciation of this large and valuable addition to our collection of
books, and their acknowledgment of the courtesy received from the
executors, in the arrangements for the transfer of the bequest.
•* The memory of Judge Emott's mother is still revered by those
of our aged citizens who remembered her, and this generous gift
from her son will cause his name to be gratefully recalled ; not only
by those who were accustomed to meet him in his occasional visits
to Newport, but also by a still larger number of lovers of good read-
ing who frequent the Library, and will be benefited by the increase
in its facilities for usefulness."
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
437
The Librarian said in his annual report :
Although the greater part of this accession is still unready for
circulation, the books have been roughly classified in order to ex-
hibit their character, which is shown in the subjoined table. It will
there be seen that more than half of this bequest consists of works
of history, biography and belles-lettres. These are all standard
works in excellent condition — many of them being in fine bindings
— and will unquestionably add largely to the resources of the
Library. In so carefully and judiciously selected a library as Judge
Emott's it is of course likely that there will be many works which
will duplicate the volumes now on our shelves ; but the duplicates
will be mainly those which are most needed by our patrons, and
consequently those most in demand. Until these new books are
shelved it will be impossible to tell exactly how many duplicate
volumes there may be among them.
Classification of the Emott Bequest
.
History, .
.
721
Biography, .
441
Religio'us and ecclesiastical literature, .
.
175
Description. and travel, . . . . .
.
149
English literature:
Collected works and essays, .
268
Correspondence and speeches.
45
Poetry and the drama, . . . .
126
Fiction,
100
539
Foreign literature, ......
47
Greek and Latin classics, . . . .
158
Literary history, . . . . .
15
Philosophy, . . . . . .
30
Art and archaeology, . . . .
57
Sociology, . . . . . .
35
Medicine, .......
Carried forward, ....
10
2377
438
ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
Brought forward, .
• • • •
. 2377
Jurisprudence,
• • * • .
23
Natural science,
• • • .
20
Philology,
• • • •
26
Periodicals (bound),
• • • •
. 304
Miscellaneous,
• • • •
108
Total,
. 2858
Number of volumes in the Library, August 15,
1885, 28,092
Number of volumes added by purchase, . . 298
•Number of volumes added by donation, . . 336
Number of volumes added by Emott bequest, . 2,858
Number of volumes added by binding periodicals, 1 16
Total in the Library, August 18, 1886, . . 31,700
Pamphlets added, ....... 234
Odd numbers of magazines added, . . . 721
•
"That the renovation of the interior of the building, making it
a much more attractive place for reading and study, has been appre-
ciated by the patrons of the Library, is fully shown in the marked
increase in the number of frequenters of the Library, which has
been many times greater this year than last.
Total Circulation,
1880, 7932
1881, . . . 7833
1882, 9383
1883, %n6
1884, ......... 7644
1885, . . . . . . •. . . 7851
1886, . . 6833
" As regards the extra-mural circulation, it will be seen that, as
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
439
usual, works of fiction enormously outnumber those of any other
department; the proportion for nine months of this year being
48.25 per cent, of the whole. The cause which contributes largely
to this unusually high percentage was mentioned in the report for
the preceding year. In other departments the figures show an
actual increase in circulation in works relating to history, belles-
lettres and poetry, philosophy, and particularly in religious and
ecclesiastical literature. Of course this increase may not indicate
any actual change in the popular taste, but may be owing mainly to
the character of the works purchased in these departments.
Fiction and juveniles, . . . .
3297
Periodicals (bound volumes), .
246
Periodicals (numbers), . . . .
823
Biography,
•
571
History, .....
. 549
Description and travel, . . . .
. 354
Collected works and essays, .
.
226
Poetry and the drama, .
115
Greek and Latin classics.
. 87
Literary history, ....
53
Religious and ecclesiastical history.
.
. 215
Science, ......
129
Art and archaeology.
. 48
Philosophy, ......
34
Miscellaneous, ....
86
Total,
. 6833
Dr. Henry E. Turner declined a re-election as President and Mr.
William Gilpin as Vice-President. The following officers were then
elected :
President, — Le Roy King.
Vice-President, — Henry H. Fay.
Directors, — Francis Brinley, William A. Clarke, George W.
Gibbs, William Gilpin, David King, George G. King, Job T. Lang-
440 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
ley, Henry G. Marquand, George C. Mason, William P. Sheffield,
William P. Sheffield, Jr., Frederic W. Tilton, Hamilton B. Tomp-
kins, Henry E. Turner, Charles C. Van Zandt, George W.
Wales.
Treasurer, — Job T. Langley.
Secretary, — William P. Sheffield, Jr.
STANDING COMMITTEES.
On Books.
George G. King, George C. Mason,
William Gilpin, F. W. Tilton.
On Finance.
Williarn A. Clarke, Henry E. Turner,
David King, Job T, Langley,
Hamilton B. Tompkins.
On Pictures and Statuary.
Henry H. Fay, Henry G. Marquand,
George W. Wales.
On Auditing Accounts.
William Gilpin, George C. Mason.
On Repairs.
George C. Mason, George G. King,
William P. Sheffield, Jr.
On By-Laws and Regulations.
William P. Sheffield, Charles C. Van Zandt,
Francis Brinley.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 441
On Expenditures.
Henry E. Turner, F. W. Tilton,
William P. Sheffield, Jr.
April II, 1887. The Treasurer reported that he had received the
sum of ;^952.50, being the amount of a legacy of ;^iooo, less a suc-
cession tax of ^^47.50, from the estate of Madame Charlotte
Panon,"'^ of Paris ; which sum by orders of the Directors was de-
posited in the Newport Savings Bank, to the credit of the " General
Current Expense Fund."
May 7, 1887. The death of Mr. William A. Clarke, a member of
the Board, having been announced, Mr. Brinley offered the follow-
ing resolutions, which were unanimously adopted :
" Resolved : That the death of the venerable William A. Clarke
deprives the Redwood Library and Athenaeum of the services of an
associate whose official connection with the Library possibly ante-
dates that of any living member of its government.
" His special interest in this Corporation and a few other local
associations was of a twofold origin, partly inherited from his
father, whose memory he ever tenderly cherished, and partly from
his conviction that those institutions were essential to the prosperity
of Newport.
" His happiness seemed to rest upon a triple foundation : first, the
serenity of his bachelor home, which was under the parental roof
where he lived and died ; second, his unswerving attention to the
duties incident to the fiscal trusts confided to him ; and third, the
«
*^^ Madame Panon, who was a lineal descendant of Abraham Redwood,
was the daughter of Abraham Redwood Ellery and the widow of Marias
Panon. During the latter years of her life she had resided in Paris.
Her remains were brought to Newport and deposited in the Island
Cemetery.
29
442 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
ministrations of the Unitarian Church, in whose doctrines he had an
enthusiastic faith.
" Resolved : That as his characteristics always leaned to virtue's
side, it is fit and proper that the Directors of the Redwood Library
and Athenaeum should place on record a testimony of their appre-
ciation of the honorable career of their departed associate.
" Resolved : That a certified copy of these resolutions be sent by
the Secretary to Mr. Henry A. Clarke, Newport, R. I., and to Mr.
Dumont Clarke, of New York city, they being nephews to our
deceased friend, and also that copies be furnished for publication in
the Newport Daily News and Newport Mercury y
June 13, 1887. The death of Mr. Job T. Langley, a member of
the Board, and the efficient Treasurer, having been announced, the
following resolutions were unanimously adopted :
" Whereas, Job T. Langley, a Director and long the Treasurer of
this Corporation, has in the providence of God been removed from
this life since the last meeting of this Board, and it is fitting and
appropriate that we should take such action as may appear to be
proper, expressive of our appreciation of the services to this Library
of our deceased associate ;
'* It is .therefore Resolved : That in the decease of Mr. Langley
this Board of Directors recognize the loss to this Institution of a
conscientious, faithful and efficient officer, who as Treasurer and
Director has uprightly and wisely discharged all the duties which
devolved upon him, and the members of this Board have been
deprived of a highly respected and useful associate.
" Resolved : That a copy of this preamble and resolutions be
placed upon the records, and that a copy thereof, signed by
the President and Secretary, be transmitted to the widow of the
deceased."
On motion of Mr Fay, it was voted that the Board attend the
funeral of Mr. Langley, and that the Library be closed from eleven
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 443
o'clock until four o'clock, on the day of the funeral, as a mark of
respect to the memory of the deceased.
Mr. George Gordon King was elected Treasurer of the Corpora-
tion until the annual meeting.
It was voted: That the gift of Mr. Henry G. Marquand [three
hundred dollars], for the purpose of binding books, be gratefully
acknowledged by the Board.
July II, 1887. The hospitalities of the Library were extended to
the Society of the Cincinnati during the approaching [triennial]
session in this city.
August 17, 1887. Annual meeting. Mr. George W. Wales
declined to serve longer as a Director, to the regret of the Com-
pany.
The following officers for the year ensuing were elected :
President.-^— \.Q Roy King.
Vice-President. — Henry H. Fay.
Directors, — Francis Brinley, George W. Gibbs, Theodore K.
Gibbs, William Gilpin, David King, George G. King, Henry G.
Marquand, George C. Mason, William P. Sheffield, William P. Shef-
field, Jr., Frederic W. Tilton, Hamilton B. Tompkins, Henry E.
Turner, Charles C. Van Zandt.
Treasurer, — George Gordon King.
Secretary, — William P. Sheffield, Jr.
standing committees.
On Books.
George G. King, George C. Mason,
William Gilpin, ' F. W. Tilton.
On Finance.
David King, Henry E. Turner,
Hamilton B. Tompkins.
444 ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
On Pictures and Statuary.
Henry H. Fay, Henry G. Marquand,
Theodore K. Gibbs.
On Auditing Accounts.
William Gilpin, George C. Mason.
On Repairs.
George C. Mason, George G. King,
William P. Sheffield, Jr.
On By-Laws and Regulations.
William P. Sheffield, Charles C. Van Zandt,
Francis Brinley.
On Expenditures.
Henry E. Turner, F. W. Tilton,
Wilham P. Sheffield, Jr.
The following table shows the growth of the Library during the
past year :
Number of volumes in the Library, Aug. 17, 1886, 31,700
" " added by purchase, . . 279
donation,
" " " exchange of dupli
cates, .
Total in the Library, August 17, 1887,
Pamphlets added, .....
Odd numbers of periodicals added,
307
32,288
344
107
The Librarian gave the following information in his report :
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
445
" The liberal policy in the purchase of books maintained by the
book committee during the past year has been justified by the
largely increased circulation, which, as shown by the subjoined
table, considerably exceeds that of any previous year of which we
have record. Had it not been for the unavoidable limitation to the
purchase of books during the past three months, alluded to above,
the figures for the annual circulation would have been still higher.
This increase is particularly gratifying as showing a greater interest
in the Library and an elevation in the general taste of the readers,
since all the books bought were, thanks to the care and discrimina-
tion of the Book Committee, of the higher and better class of litera-
ture. The use of books within the Library has shown a propor-
tionate increase, though no record has been kept of the number
thus used. While a large part of the extra-mural circulation has
been in the department of fiction and juveniles, and in periodicals,
which are largely taken out for the sake of the fiction contained
therein, there has yet been a notable increase in other departments,
particularly in biography, essays, poetry and literary history. One
of the principal causes of this increase in biographical and literary
subjects has undoubtedly been the courses of study pursued last
winter by the Nineteenth Century, Half Hour and Unity Clubs.
As might be expected, fiction forms the larger part of the circula-
tion, it being fifty-six per cent, of the whole.
" The subjoined table gives the number of volumes in each de-
partment issued during the year ; and as a result of a new system
of charging introduced last January, it is possible to give the circu-
lation in each department for each month since then.
Comparative Circulation.
1880,
1881,
1882,
1883,
1884,
1885,
1886,
1887,
• 7932
■ 7833
• 9383
8376
7644
• 7851
6833
• 9534
446
ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
Circulation by Departments.
Philosophy, .....
42
Religion and Ecclesiastical History,
159
Biography,
781
History, . .
555
Description and Travels,
. 348
Social and Political Science, .
45
Natural Science, ....
91
Useful Arts (including Medicine), .
10
Fine Arts and Archaeology, .
53
Literature :
Collected Works and Essays,
362
Classical Writers, . . . .
71
Periodicals (bound volumes), .
. 435
Periodicals (numbers).
751
Letters, .....
61
Speeches and Lectures, .
14
Fiction and Juveniles, .
5389
Poetry and Drama,
197
Literary History, . . . . .
120
Language, .....
II
Miscellaneous, . .
39
Total,
9534
" Notwithstanding the additional shelf-room afforded by the erec-
tion of the new shelves mentioned in the report for last year, the
Library is in some departments still somewhat crowded ; one of the
new cases in the East Room being entirely filled with United States
Government publications to the detriment of some other depart-
ments which are more used and for which this case is really needed.
Recognizing the desirability of more shelf-room for the proper
accommodation of our books. Governor G. P. Wetmore, tq whose
liberality the Library was largely indebted last year, has offered to
contribute one hundred dollars toward the construction of a gallery
on the east side of the reading-room, similar to the one built by Mr.
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 447
G. G. King year before last. The hope is expressed that Mr. Wet-
more's generous offer may be supplemented by contributions from
others, so that this desirable addition to our shelf-room may be
made during the coming autumn or winter.
" Last winter, after more than a year's experience with the old
system of book charging, the Librarian became convinced that it
was entirely inadequate to the needs of the Library, and early in
January a change was made to a combined ledger and slip system.
This system is similar to that used at Harvard College and some
other Libraries in the country. The books are charged on slips,
which are dated by stamp, and thrown into a box to be posted in
the ledger whenever the assistant has time. After posting, the slips
are arranged alphabetically by the title or class-mark in a box with
movable divisions for each week. When the books are rdturned
the slips are taken from their places, dated again and put into the
box to be crossed off from the ledger, or posted again in case of
renewal, later in the day. Of course the charges and discharges
for each day are made before the work of the succeeding day begins.
The disadvantage of this system is that it takes a little longer to
find the slips of books returned than it did to turn to the ledger
page and cross them off. The advantages on the other hand, which
largely outweigh this disadvantage, are that the slips show where
any given book is, when it is overdue, and how many books are in
circulation at any given time ; while the ledger account shows the
number of books each person has, and what books they have had.
" So great has been the inconvenience occasioned by the yearly
increasing number of sight-seers and excursionists who crowd the
Library, especially in the summer months, to the interruption of the
work of the Librarian and his assistant, and to the annoyance of the
readers and students in the Library, that it was found necessary to
limit the time during which visitors, unless accompanied by or bear-
ing a note of introduction from a proprietor, could be admitted.
Accordingly, by a vote of the Directors at their monthly meeting in
July, the hours for visitors were put at from 12 o'clock m. to 2
o'clock P.M. The beneficial effect of this restriction is already
shown in the increased quiet of the Library and reading-room and
in the presence of a larger number of readers."
448
ANNALS OF THE REDWOOD LIBRARY,
George Gordon King, Treasurer, in Account with the
Redwood Library and Athen/eum.
1887. Dr.
July II. To balance from former Treasurer's account, ....
" 12. " cash interest from Littlefield Fund for one year, .
" 12, " " 6 mo, int. Marquand Fund, Cairo, Ark. and Tex. bond,
" 12. '' " " " " St. Louis & Iron Mt. bonds,
" 12. " " " M. A. King Fund, Milvv., Lake Shore &W.bd.,
" 12. " " 3 mo. int. W. F. Weld Fund, Atch., Col. & Pacific bond
" 12. " " for I tax, ....
(( J ^ a t< u
'' 13. " subscriptions, ....
" 13. " cash for fines, ....
'< 25. " " 6 mo. int. J. C. Brown Book Fund,
" 25. " " " W. S. Rogers Book Fund,
'' 25! " " " Robert Rogers Book Fund,
" 25. " " " George G. King Book Fund,
" 25, " " " Special Preferred Share Fund
" 25. " " " Current Expense Fund,
Aug. I. *' "3 taxes, .
" I. " '* subscriptions,
" I. " " fines, .
" 2. " " fines, .
" 2. " "■ taxes, .
*' 2. " " subscriptions,
" 2. " " sale of share,
LIST OF FUNDS.
I U. S. bond, 4^ "per cent., Littlefield Fund, $1,000 00
Deposit in Savings Bank of Newport, George G. King Book Fund, .
'• " " " Robert Rogers Book 'Fund, .
" « " " W. S. Rogers Book Fund,
" « '' " J. Carter Brown Book Fund, .
1 mortgage bond, Atchison, Colorado and Pacific Railroad, 6 per cent.,
W. F. Weld Book Fund, 1,000 00
2 mortgage bonds, Houston and Texas Railroad, 8 per cent., D. King
Book Fund, . 2,000 00
Deposit in Savings Bank of Newport, D. King Book Fund, . . . 356 84
« " " " Special l^referred Share Fund, . 5,946 56
" " " " General Current Expense Fund, . 7,766 76
1 mortgage bond, Cairo, Arkansas and Texas Railroad, 7 per cent.. General
Current Expense Fund, 1,000 00
2 mortgage bonds, St. Louis and Iron Mountain Railroad, 5 per cent., Gen-
eral Current Expense Fund, . . 2,000 00
I mortgage bond, Milwaukee, Lake Shore and Western Railroad, 6 per
cent,. General Current Expense Fund, 1,000 00
%20 79
45 00
35 00
50 00
30 00
15 00
5 00
5 00
55 00
3 74
100 00
80 00
20 00
20 00
118 92
136 28
15 00
22 00
2 61
3 31
75 00
50 00
5 00
5912 65
1,000 00
1,000 00
4,000 00
5,000 00
tZZPIo 16
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
449
1887.
July 13.
■ Bound up together.
Hales on Tar Water. 3
5o6 APPENDIX.
Law.
Vols.
Hales' s History of the Common Law.
Jacob's Statute Law Common-placed.
Bohnn's Introduction to the Laws of England.
English Lawyer.
Hawkin's Summary of the Crown Law. 2
Abridgment of Coke's Institute.
The Law of Evidence.
Trials per Pais.
Nelson's Justice. 2
Higgs's Justice. 2
Compleat Sheriff.
Forster's Laws Relating to the Customs, &c.
Treatise of Naval Trade and Commerce. 2
Reports and Rules in K.'s Bench and Com. Pleas. 2
History of the Court of Common Pleas.
Laws, &c., of the Admiralty. 2
Clarke's Practice of the Admiralty.
Historical View of the Exchequer.
Doctor and Student.
Tenant's Law.
Tancred's Essay for a Regulation of the Law.
Compleat Constable.
Spavan's Puffendorf. 2
Select Trials in the Old Bailey. 4
Natural History, Mathematics, &c.
Woodward's Natural History of the Earth.
of Fossils.
Whiston's Theory of the Earth.
Burnet's Theory of the. Earth. 2
Keill's Examination of Burnet and Whiston.
Newton's Philosophy, bv Motte. 2
System of the World.
Universal Arithmetic. :
Bishop Wilkins's Mathematical Works.
Dale's Philosophical Conversations. 3
Pointer's Account of the Weather.
APPENDIX, 507
Vols.
Keill's Introduction to Natural Philosophy.
to Astronomy.
Gregory's Elements of Astronomy. ' 2
Whiston's Astronomical Lectures.
Mathematical Lectures.
Costar's Progress of Astronomy.
Figure of the Earth Determined.
Martyn's Memoirs of the Academy of Science. 5
Martin's Philosophical Grammar.
Philological Library.
Trigonometer's Guide. 2
Decimal Arithmetic.
Harris's Trigonometry. i2mo.
Varenius's Geography. 2
New Geographical Dictionary.
Gordon's Geographical Grammar.
Keill an^i Stone's Euclid. 2
Tacquet's Euclid, by Whiston.
Pardie's Geometry.
Gregory's Geometry.
Well's Mathematics. 3
Ward's Mathematics. 2
De la Hire's Conic Sections.
Witty on the Sphere.
Harris's Use of the Globes.
Wilson's Navigation.
Hauxley's Navigation. 2
Pilots' Theory of Working Ships.
Wingate's Arithmetic.
Hill's Arithmetic, by Hatton.
Ditton's Fluxions.
Leybourn's Dialling. i2mo.
Wilson's Surveying.
Langley's Measuring.
Shortcliffe's Gauging.
MuUer's Fortification. 2
Ditton's Perspective.
Taylor's Perspective.
Baker's Microscope Made Easy.
5o8 APPENDIX.
Vols.
Motte's Mechanical Powers.
Hauksbee's Experiments.
Clare's Motion of Fluids.
Cortes's Hydrostatical, &c., Lectures.
Arts, Liberal and Mechanical.
British Merchant. • 3
La Motte on Poetry and Painting. i2mo.
Fresnoy's Art of Painting, by Dryden.
Bland's Military Discipline.
Plan for a National Militia.
Robbins's Gunnery.
Goulon on the Attack and Defence.
Kent's Grammar of Heraldry.
Dictionarium Polygraphicum. 2
Smith's Carpenter's Companion.
Builder's Dictionary. 2
Review of Buildings In and About London.
Fires Improved, by Desaguliers. i2mo.
Bradley on the Four Elements.
Gentleman and Farmer's Guide.
on Husbandry and Gardening. 2
Smith's Memoirs of Wool. 2
Ellis's Modern Husbandman. 5
Practical Farmer. (Bound up with Methods of Improv-
ing, &c.)
Method of Improving Barren, &c., Lands.
Thicknesse on Foreign Vegetables.
Miller's Gardener's Calandar.
Compleat Planter and Cyderist.
Thorley's Natural History of Bees. (Bound up with Pointer on the
Columbarian, or the Pigeon House. Weather.)
(Bound up with Method of Improving, &c.)
Bracken's Farriery Improved. i2mo. 2
Sportman's Dictionary. 2
London and Country Brewer.
Smith's Compleat Body of Distilling.
Bailey's Household Dictionary.
APPENDIX. 509
Vols.
Cramer's Art of Assaying Metals.
Watson on Electricity.
Freke, Wilson and Neale on ditto.
Holder's Ground of Harmony.
Malcolm on Miisick.
Bonhour's Arts of Logic and Rhetoric.
Criticism.
Farnaby's Rhetoric. .
Watts's Logic and Supplement. 2
Brown's Procedure of the Understanding.
Divine Analogy.
Rollin's Method of Studying the Belles Lettres. 4
Boswell's Method of Study. 2
Fresury on Studying History.
New Method of Learning Greek. 2
Ascham's Schoolmaster.
Buffier's French Grammar.
Kelly's French Idioms.
Italian Grammar.
Portuguese Grammar.
Dialogues on Education. 2
Constable on Style.
Dyche's English Dictionary.
Miscellanies, Politics^ dr'e.
Ray's Proverbs.
Jones's 900 Epitaphs.
Hibernicus's Letters. 2
Gay's Fables. 2
Operas, Plays, &c.
Young's Works. 2
Thomson's Works. 2
Pope and Warburton's Shakespear. 8
Upton's Observations on Shakespear.
Bruyere's Works. 2
Kerr's Memoirs. ^
Boyer's Ingenious Companion.
Macky's Memoirs.
5IO APPENDIX.
Vols.
Gedde's Miscellaneous Tracts. 4
Memoirs of the Family of the Boyles.
Sir Thomas More's Utopia.
■■ — Life.
Seidell's Table Talk.
Cambray on Eloquence.
Characters and Criticisms.
Fontaine's Tales and Novels.
Fables and Tales, French and English.
Enquiry into the Life of Homer.
Kennet's Lives of the Greek Poets.
Middleton's Life of Cicero. 3
Observations on Cicero's Life.
Lives of the Princes of Orange.
Jebb's Life of the Earl of Leicester.
Sir Thomas Bodley's Remains.
Mallet's Life of Sir Francis Bacon.
Lord Halifax's Poems and Speeches, &c.
Miscellanies.
D. of Wharton's Works. 2
Parliamentary Debates. 21
London Magazine. 17 vols, to 1748, inclusive.
Republic of Letters. 18
Works of the Learned. 14
Books in Duodecimo.
Addison's Works. 4
Pretorius Arbiter.
Adventures of Joseph Andrews. 2
Art of Pleasing in Conversation. 2
Ashby's Young Analyst's Exercise.
Bedford's Horae Mathematicae Vacuae.
Bellamy's Phaedrus.
Biblia Sacra Castellionis. 4
Biographia Classica. • 2
Blackwell's Sacred Classics. 2
Introduction to the Classics.
Blackerby's Justice. 2
APPENDIX. 511
Vols.
Bohours's Ingenious Sayings.
Boethius, by Lord Preston.
Brightland's English Grammar.
British Apollo. 3
Brown's Justin.
Burnet's Travels.
Byshe's Art of Poetry. 2
Cambray's Fables and Dialogues.
Existence of God.
Campbell's London Tradesman.
Child on Trade.
Dr. Clarke's Grotius.
Clarke's Essay on Study.
Education.
Cockman's TuUy's Offices.
Companion to the Theatre. 2
Compleat English Tradesman. 2
Cooke's Hesiod.
Comaro on Long Life, &c. (Bound up with Smith on Health.)
Croxal's ^sop.
Crusius's Lives of the Roman Poets. 2
Dacier's Plato. 2
Dart's TibuUus. 8vo.
Derham's Artificial Clockmaker.
Digby's Quintus Curtius. 2
Discourse on Trade, by Carey.
Dryden's Virgil, 3
Juvenal and Persius.
Fables.
Felton on the Classics.
L. Florus, in English.
Fontenelle's Plurality of Worlds.
Dialogues of the Dead.
Forbes's Thoughts on Religion,
Fuller's Introduction ad Prudentiam. 2
Sapientiam. 2
Garth's Ovid's Metamorphoses. 2
Dispensary and Key.
Gay's Poems. 2
512 APPENDIX.
Vols.
Gee on Trade and Navigation.
Gentleman's Library.
Religion.
Gentleman Accomptant.
Glover's Leonidas.
Greenwood's English Grammar.
Guardian. 2
Hales's Contemplation. > 3
History of Lewis XIV. 3
Marr. 2
Buccaniers of America. 2
Massinella. 8vo.
Horace, by Mr. Francis. 4
Hubner's Historical Companion.
Hughes's Poems. 2
Human Prudence.
Huygens's Caelestial Worlds.
Jewish Spy. 5
Interest of Scotland Considered.
Kirby's English Grammar.
King's History of the Heathen Gods.
Lady's Library. 3
Travel into Spain. 2
Lord Lansdown's Works. 3
Law's Serious Call.
Christian Perfection.
Lemery on Food, by Hay.
Life of King William III.
Duke of Marlborough.
Prince Ekigene.
Prince Charles of Lorrain.
the Emperor Theodosius.
Osmond the Great. , 2
Memoirs of Cardinal de Retz. 4
Manwaring's Institute of Learning.
Milton's Paradise Lost and Regained. 2
Miscellaneous Poems, by Dryden. 6
Moral Essays, by Mess. Port Royal. 4
Morgan's Mahometism Exposed, 2
APPENDIX. 513
Vols.
Motteiix's Don Quixote. 4
Continuation of Don Quixote. 2
Odes of Horace.
Orations of Demosthenes. English.
Ovid's Epistles.
Pastor Fido. Italian and English.
Persian Letters and Continuation.
Poems publish' d by Ralph.
Polite Epistolary Correspondent.
Pomfret's Poems.
Pope's Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. 11
Works. 9
Crousaz's Examination of Pope's Essay.
Warburton's Answer to Crousaz.
Present State of France. 2
Prior's Poems. 2
Reflections on the Grandeur, &c., of the Romans.
Review of Cromwell's Life.
Robinson on Food, &c.
Row's Lucan. 2
— Miscellaneous Works. 2
Spectator. 8
Salmon's Modern Gazetteer.
Scougal's Works.
Stanhope's Thomas a Kempis.
Steele's Plays.
Suetonius, by Hughes.
Tatler. 4
Telemachus. French and English. 2
Tooke's Pantheon.
Tour Through Great Britain. 4
Trapp's Popery Truly Stated.
Travels of Cyrus.
Turkish Spy. 8
Vernon's Compleat Counting House.
Voiture's Works. 2
Voltaire's Letters.
Universal Pocket Book.
Waller's Works, by Fenton.
514 APPENDIX.
Watts's Horae Lyricae.
Strength, &c., of Human Reason.
Wellwood's Memoirs.
World in Miniature.
The following " List of Books " is attached to the Catalogue published
in 1764. The names of the donors, so far as known, have been inserted,
and are in italics.
BOOKS GIVEN BY SEVERAL GENTLEMEN.
Books in Folio.
Vols.
Account of the Charity to French Prisoners.
Ayliffe's Roman Civil Law.
Baxter's Practical Works. 4 vols. Dr. Thomas Moffatt and others.
Beaumont and Fletcher's Plays.
Bellarmini Disputationes. Henry Collins.
Biblia Sacra Tremellii Junii and Bezae.
Chambers's Dictionary. 2
Chaucer's Works. Thomas Ward.
Domat's Civil Law. 2
Forbesii Instructiones Historico-Theologicae.
Bishop Racket's Sermons.
Herodotus, Gr. and Lat. Thomas Ward.
Homeri quae extant omnia, Gr. and Lat. Thomas Ward.
Hughes's History of Barbadoes.
Justini Martyris Opera, Gr. and Lat.
Knolles's History of the Turks. Francis Willett.
Kersey's Algebra, in Four Books, 1673. Edward Scott.
Leybourn's Cursus Mathematicus, English.
Maignan Perspectiva Horaria.
Minshew's Spanish and English Dictionary.
Plinii Naturalis Historia. Dr. John Brett.
Purchas' Pilgrims. Francis Willett.
Rhodogini Antiquae Lectiones, Edward Scott.
Rambler. 3
Stackhouse's History of the Bible. 2
Spencer's Works. Thomas Ward.
APPENDIX. 515
Vols.
Vossii Epistolae.
Xenoponte's Opera, Gr. and Lat. Thomas Ward,
Books in Quarto.
Biblia Sacra Venetiis, A. U. 1487. Dr. John Brett.
Bissett's Theory and Construction of Fortifications.
Caneparius de Atramentis.
Collection of Tracts — Observations Concerning the Original of
Government, and four other Tracts.
Coloniae Anglicanae Illustratse, Vol. ist.
Culveri Hist. Epitome. Dr, Thomas Brett.
Descarte's Opera Philosophica.
Gilbert de Magnete.
Gorge's History of America. Francis Willett.
Howard's Collection of Letters.
Malcom's Treatise on Arithmetic.
Dr. Middleton's Works.
Molyneux's Dioptricks. Joseph Harrison.
Neal's History of the Puritans. Thomas Ward. 2
Ordonnances de la Marine, Fr.
Sherwin's Mathematical Tables.
Taylor on the Epistles to the Romans.
Treatise wrote in Hebrew, by D. Nieto.
Vossii Aristarchus five de Arte Gram. Dr. John Brett. 2
de Historicus Latinis. Dr. John Brett.
de Philosophorum Sectis. Dr. John Brett.
Whiston's Chronology of the Old Testament, and Harmony of the
Evangelists.
Books in Octavo, &c.
Addison's Works.
Anatomia. P. Ver Heyen.
Barclay on Education.
Bennet's Abridgment of the London Cases.
Biblia Hebraica. Editio Accuratissima. 2
Lord Bolingbroke on the Study and Use of History. 2
Buchanan's Poemata.
Calvini Institutio. Thomas Ward.
5i6 APPENDIX.
Vols.
Cartesii Iter per Mundura.
Commandine's Euclid.
Club in a Dialogue.
Dionysii Orbis Descriptio. Thomas Ward.
Discourses, by the Bishop of London. 4 copies.
Douglass's Summary, Historical and Political. The Author.
Erasmi CoUoquia.
Euripidis Tragediae Duae, Gr. and Lat.
Gentleman's Magazine, 1738.
Grey's Hudibras. 2
Hervey's Discourse of the Small-Pox.
Herodiani Historiarum Libri Octo.
High German Doctor. i
History of the House of Douglas and Angus. 2
Hoadly on Civil Government.
Hollerii Comment, in Aphorismos Hippocratis.
Huarte's Trial of Wits. Edward Scott.
Johnson's Grammatical Commentaries.
Journey through England and Scotland. 3
Keill, Introductio ad Veram Astronomiam. Thomas Ward.
Leland's View of the Deistical Writers. Rev. Dr. MacSparran. 2
Lardner's Credibility of the Gospel History. The Author.
Letters from the Dead to the Living.
Lexicon Manuale Graeco-Latinum. - .
Lewis's Parthian Empire.
List of Society of Arts, &c.
Miscellanies, by Dr. Swift and others.
Mottley's History of Peter L, Emperor of Russia. 3
Neal's History of New England. 2
Plutarch's Lives, with Dacier's Notes. 8
Rowe's Supplement to Plutarch's Lives.
Pooles Nullity of the Romish Faith.
Pope's Homer's Iliad, bound up in 3 vols.
Odyssey. 5
Letters. 2
Baron de PoUnitz's Memoirs. 4
Potter's Antiquities of Greece. Edward Scott. 2
Roderick Random. 2
Rohault's Physica.
APPENDIX. 517
Vols.
Clarke's Rohault. 2
Senecae Rhetorius and Philosophi Opera. Thomas Ward.
Shuckford's Connection. 3
Travels of the Jesuits, by Mr. Lockman. 2
Turner's Surgery. Vol. ist.
Virgilii Opera in Usum Delphini.
Dr. Young's Night Thoughts.
Pamphlets.
Observations on a Book entitled An Introductory Discourse to a
Larger Work.
Dodwell's Free Answer to Dr. Middleton's Free Enquiry. Rev. James
MacSparran, D.D.
Toll's Defence of Dr. Middleton's Free Enquiry. Pev. Dr. Mac-
Sparran.
Church's Second Vindication of the Miraculous Power. Rev. Dr.
Mac Spartan.
Remarks on Two Pamphlets against Dr. Middleton's Introductory
Discourse. Rev. Dr. MacSparran.
Court Register.
Twenty-three Gentleman's Magazines, A. 1736 and 1737.
Twelve Philadelphia Magazines.
INDEX.
Adams, Brooks, 465
Adams, John, 23
Adams, Thatcher M., 372
Adams, C. F., Jr., 375
Adlam, Samuel, 203, 204
Agassiz, Alexander, 379
Allen, W. S. N., 187
Allston, William M., 95, 118
Allston, Washington, 229, 258, 358
Allston, John E., 357
Almon, Andrew B., 464
Almy, John, 77
Anderson, Elbert J., 187, 313
Anthony, Henry B., 327
Armington, H. E , 383, 391, 398
Arnold, Benedict, 10, 357
Arnold, Lemuel H., 139
Ashhurst, William H., 314, 329, 350, 355,
396, 402, 428
Astor, John J., 379
Atkinson, James, 187
Auchmuty, R. N., 76
Auchmuty, S. O., 95
Ayrault, Daniel, 46
Ayrault, Stephen, 38, 50, 60, 61, 63, 66, 69,
71, 72, 75
Barreda, F. L., 189
Beach, Rev. John, 43
Beach, C.N., 379
Beauregard, General, 339
Beck, Henry Paul, 158, 185, 202, 204
Belmont, August, 313
Bennett, J. G., 379
Berkeley, Dean, 9, 12, 25, 26, 28, 190
Berry, R. P., 187
Biddle, Niciiohia, 142
Bisset. Rev. George, 55, 63, 65
Blake, George S., 222
Bland, Thomas, 149, ]51, 155
Bliss, Rev. William, 76
Bliss, Richard, 425, 456, 457, 465, 468
Bliss, William H., 187
Bolles, Rev. Mr., 367
Borden, Richard, 47, 194
Boss, John L., 83, 95, 105, 106, 112, 115
Boss, Nicholas G., 125, 132, 143, 144
Bours, Peter, 12, 15, 34, 41, 44, 47, 49 •
Bours, John, 51, 54, 57, 58, 60, 61, 71, 72, 75,
76, 78, 80, 81, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89
Bowen, William Shaw, 370
Bowen, Jonathan, 83
Bowler, Charles, 34
Bradley, Rev. Mr., 85
Breese, William G.. 185
Breese, Thomas, 155, 156
Breese, Saunders, 95
Brenton, Jahleel, 50
Brett, Dr. John, 11
Brewer, Mrs. Gardner, 363
Brinley, Edward L., 185
Brinley, Francis, 299, 322, 331, 333, 336,
341, 347, 350, 358, 362, 363, 367, 376, 396,
428, 439, 441, 451, 457
Brooks, Sidney, 185, 189,204, 207, 211,219,
220, 221, 244, 245, 266, -286, 294, 298, 300,
313, 316, 322, 324, 333, 336, 347, 350, 351,
355
Brooks, Rev. Charles T., 171, 172, 220, 223.
227, 242, 247, 264, 266, 268, 289, 296, 298,
301, 322, 350, 367, 375, 377, 379, 396,
403
Brownell, Thomas, 187
Brown, Daniel, 25
Browne, Rev. Marmaduke, 51
Browne, Arthur, 51
520
INDEX.
Brown, Joliu Carter, 274, 276,277,281,307,
313, 322, 331. 339
Brown, Mrs. J. C, 363
Brown, Samuel, 127, 362
Brown, J. N., 426
Brown, John A., 185, 289
Brunsen, Rev. Mr., 85
Bryce, J. S., 363, 379, 426
Buffum, Thomas B., 161, 362
Bull, John, 45, 187
Bull, Henry, 95, 128, 170, 186
Bull, Phebe C, 170, 177
Burdick, C. H., 325
Burdick, Clark, 170
Burrill, Joseph, 71, 75
Burnside, General, 283
Burroughs, George, 187
Burroughs, W. G., 95
Bush, Thomas, 95
Bush, Augustus, 173, 174, 178
Bush, John T., 177, 186, 190, 204, 223, 228,
239, 266, 275, 285, 287, 298, 386, 347, 350,
355, 376, 382
Butler, Dr. S. W., 186, 329, 333, 350, 355,
363, 376, 383.
•
Cahoone, James, 71, 75
Cahoone, Benjamin J., 139
Cahoone, Stephen, 9, 78, 86, 87, 93, 143
Callender, Rev. John, 12, 19, 24, 25, 27, 34
Callender, Mary, 21
Calvert, George H., 178, 180
Carey, John, Jr., 189
Carpenter, Hezekiah, 17
Case, P. G. & Co., 325, 3.36
Case, A. L., 364
Case, Dr. B. W., 83
Caswell, Philip, 314
Chaloner, Walter, 34
Chaloner, John, 34, 42
Cliamplin, Christoplier, 71, 75
Cliamplin, George, 71, 75
Champlin, C. G., 95. 118, 159, 162, 170
Chandler, J. W., 314
Clianning, William, QQt, 72
Channing, John, 59
Channing, W. F., 134, 314
Channing, William E., 61
Channing, Walter, 95, 105, 111, 115, 127,
128
Channing, Rev. George C, 264
Chase, Gilbert, 95
Chase, Isaac, 143
Chauncey, H., Jr., 186
Checkley, J., Jr., 23
Chesbrough, D., 45, 49, 50, 52, 54, 56, 57, 58,
60
Clap, Rev. Nathaniel, 23, 24, 27
Clarke, Rev. John, 10
Clarke, Ethan, 78
Clarke, Audley, 83, 95, 125, 127, 132, 135,
137, 140, 141, 154, 156, 160, 163, 167, 357
Clarke, William A., 161, 162, 163, 168, 263,
266, 297, 298, 312, 315, 322, 333, 350, 355,
357, 364, 376, 379, 396, 426, 439, 441
Clarke, Peleg, 161, 178, 180, 181, 186, 189,
204, 219, 223, 228, 241
Clarke, Dumont, 200, 205, 442, 465
Clarke, Henry A., 442, 465
Clarke, Right Rev. T. M., 347
Coddington, William, 165
Coe, Adam S., 155, 156
Coggeshall, John, 71, 75
Coggeshall, Billings, 77
Coggeshall, William, 57
Coggeshall, Thomas, 38, 76, 189
Coggeshall, David M., 95, 132, 156, 168
Cogswell, Dr., 190, 198, 219, 221
Coit, B. W., 187
Collins, John, 34, 50, 75
Collins, Henry, 11, 12, 23, 26, 34, 37, 41, 42,
44, 48, 49, 50, 51, 107, 195
Condy, Jeremy, 13, 24
Congdon, J. C, 187
Cook, Henry W., 362, 364
Cooke, Joseph J., 353, 357, 362, 364, 374, 379,
384, 400, 405, 410, 426
Cook, Clark, 95
Cook. George I., 138
Cooper, J. C, 150, 151, 155
Coolidge, T. Jefferson, 189
Cornell, Richard, 187, 245, 266, 275, 285,
287, 294, 298, 313, 322, 333, 363, 379
Cornell, Gideon, 34
Cottrell, Silas H., 161
Cozzens, William C, 173, 177, 178, 180, 186,
189, 194, 195, 202, 204, 216, 220, 223, 224,
230, 239, 241, 243, 245, 247, 253, 258, 266,
270, 294, 298, 311, 315, 318, 320, 329, 333,
337
INDEX,
521
Cozzens, John H., 187, 455
Cozzens, George, 158, 174, 190, 195, 204,
220, 245, 246, 266, 299
Cozzens, Matthew, 50
Cozzens, Charles, 51
Cranston, Henry Y., 95
Cranston, R. B., 170, 179
Cranston. William H., 187
Crooke, Robert, 34, 71, 75
Crooke, William, 76, 86, 88, 125, 127
Crooker, Isaiah, 143
Curtis, George William, 239
dishing, T. R, 363
Cushman, Mi"S. Emma C, 379
Cutler, Rev. Timothy, 25
Davis, Dr. Charles, 363
Davis, L. D., 402
Dawley, J. E., 165
De Blois, Stephen, 59, 71, 75, 95
Dehon, Rt. Rev. Theodore, 85
De Jongh, W. F., 168
Dennis, John, 34, 77, 83, 118
Dennis, J. D., 187
Dexter, H. S., 95
Dickens, A., 163
Dumont, Rev. A. H., 178, ISO, 187, 190,
194, 196, 203, 204, 215, 216, 220, 223
Dunbar, William. 34
Duncan, Alexander, 189
Duncan, George, 142
Duncan, James, 38
Dunn, Theophilus C, 132, 135, 136, 137,
154. 220, 224, 245, 266, 294, 298, 302,
307
Dunn, Thomas, 362
Dunnell, Jacob, 95, 118
Earl, John, Jr., 83, 95
Easton, Edward, 83, 95
Easton, Mrs. .!. H., 144
Easton, Dr. Jonathan, ^, 71, 72,75, 76,78,
79. 81, 83, 85, 89. 97, 105, 106, 115, 118
Eddy, Rev. Michael, 85
Edwards, Dr. William F., 155
Eldred, John. .38, 75, 187
Ellery, William, 22, 34, 125, 127
Ellery, Christopher, 66
Ellery, Benjamin, 22, 71, 75
Ellery, William, Jr., 95, 97, 110, 219
Ellis, H. A., 155
Emott, Judge James, 433
Emmons, A. B., 351, 356, 458, 464, 469
Engs, Samuel, 186, 263, 266, 285, 289, 298,
315, 322, :}30
Engs, Creorge, 143
Engs, P. W.. 131
Ennis, William, 95, 125, 127, 128, 135, 163,
■ 168, 177
Eyre, Wilson, 368
Eyres, Rev. Nichohus, 43
Fairman, Richard, 95, 118
Faisnean, E. P., 143
Faxson, .John, 76
Fay, Henry H., 322, 330, 345, 350, 355, 376,
377, 398, 433, 434, 439, 442
Fearing, Henry S., 314
Feke, Robert, 27
Feke, Charles, 95
Finch, Benjamin, 177
Fisher, Redwood, 128
Flagg, Ebenezer, 27, 48, 50
Flagg, Collins, 52,. 77
Fl udder, William, 187
Ford, John R.. 189, 256
Foster, John. 189, 314, 364, .379, 422, 426
Foster, William E., 24
Fowler, Christopher, 83, 85, 95, 96, 105,
110, 111, 115, 118, 125, 126, 127
Fi-anklin, James, 54
French, Francis O., 426
French, J. R., 327
Fry, Christopher, 373
Gage, General, 29
Gallup, Dr., 169
Gammell, Mrs. William, ,346, 363
Gardiner, John, 46. 52, 59
Gardiner, Walter, 78
Gardiner, Benjamin, 95
Gardner, W. C. 120
Gardner, Martha R., 88
Gardner, S. F., 95. 118 . ^ ^^/ (^ /
Gibbs, George, 38, 71, 75 ' J
Gibbs, George W..4ilPr 1-44^ -W)^ A, 288,
291, 293, 294, 297, 299. :U)1, 310, 311, 313,
322, a50, 355, 376, 379, 397, 408, 439, 451,
458. 464
Gibbs, William C, 140, 204, 219, 259, 307
- n'^
34
522
INDEX.
Gib»)s, Theodore K., 3G4, 379, 464
Gibbs, Miss Sarah, 157, 259
Gibbes, E. M., 186
Gibson, Eev. John, 77
Gilliat, John H., 138, 141, 168
Gilpin, J. B., 95, 116, 117
Gilpin, William, 168, 171, 299, 322, 333, 350,
355, 357, 376, 397, 408, 409, 424, 425, 439,
451, 458, 464
Glover, Albert. 358
Goddard, T. P. I., 340
Goffe, Augustus, 188
Gould ing, George, 18
Gould, N. H., 160, 163, 171, 186, 245, 266,
298, 316, 329, 347, 350,-355
Gould, David J., 176, 186, 237, 357
Grace, J. A. H., 139
Grant, Sueton, 18, 20
Green, Rev. Caleb, 71, 75, 81, 85
Green, Dr. C. A., 377, 378
Greene, G. W., 188
Greenleaf, Stephen, 38
Griswold, J. N. A., 295, 313
Guild, R. A., 199
Gyles, Charles, 95, 163, 167. 168
Hadwin, Benjamin, 76, 87, 97, 105, 115, 118,
125
Hall, George, 174
Hall, Samuel, 54
Hall, Milton, 169
Hammett, George A., 253, 256, 263, 266,
269, 271, 283, 285, 286, 289, 295, 298, 315,
316
Hammett, Charles E., Jr., 20, 455
Hammett, Charles E., 176
Hammett, Charles D., 177
Hammond, W. G., 138, 189, 204
Hammond, Z. L., 161
Hamdan, James, 42
Hargill, , 53
Harrison, Joseph, 25, 34, 35, 41, 44
Harris(m, Peter, 25, 36, 42, 280
Hart, Naph., 50
Hart, Abraham, 34
Hart, J. M., 186
Hasey, Jacob, 30
Hatch, A. S., 314
Hayne, A. B., 164
Hayne, R. Y., 129
Hazard, George, 78
Hazard, Benjamin, 79, 86, 87, 88, 89, 105,
106, 111, 115, 117, 121, 125, 127, 128, 134,
135, 136, 137, 138, 140, 154, 156
Hazard & Caswell, 186
Hazard, Enoch, 95
Hazard, James L., 188
Hazard, B. A., 188
Hazard, B of T. G., 362
Hazard, Isaac P., 186, 313, 371
Hazard, John A. of T. G., 188
Hazard, George A., 188
Hendren, Paris, 38, 79
Higginson, T W., 249, 315, 322, 350. 353,
355, 360, 362, 3()4
Hoffman, L. M., 189
Holmes, Abiel, 111
Holmes, Samuel, 34
Holloway, D. W., 188
Holt, Frank H., 456
Hone, R. S., 295
Honyman, Eev. James, 10, 12, 18, 25, 31,
32, 34, 37, 44
Honyman, James, 13, 17, 38, 51, 54, 60, 63
Honyman, Francis, 44
Honey, Samuel R., 355, 362
Hopkins, Stephen, 17, 24,25
Hopkins, Stephen T., 188
Hopkins, Rev. Samuel, D.D., 56, 76
Hoppin, H. B., 186. 220, 223, 239, 245, 253,
266, 277, 281, 289, 298, 311, 314, 315, 322,
330
Hoskin, Charles C, 95, 96
Hottinguer, Baron, 155, 157, 207
House. Mr., 143
Howard, Martin, 42, 45, 46, 59
Howland, B. B., 163, 168
Howlaud, Thomas, 47, 71, 75
Howland, Sarah, 176
Hudson, Henry J., 83, 95
Hudson, Henry G., 95
Humphreys, Dr. E. R., 287, 289
Hunter, Thomas R., 174, 179, 186
Hunter, Miss A. F., 364, 379
Hunter, Charles, 187, 289, 314
Hunter, William, 27, 71, 75, 81, 85, 86, 88,
89, 105, 106, 110, 111, 112, 118, 125, 127,
128, 135, 137, 168, 170, 175
Hunter, Dr. William, 59
Hunter, Miss Rebecca, 449
\
INDEX.
523
Hunt, R. M., 271, 272, 274, 289, 320, 322,
328
Hunt, Mrs. R. M., 354
Ingersol, C. J., 138
Irish, Mrs. Mary, 188
Ives, Robert H., 186, 251, 252, 255, 313, 332,
336, 340, 346
Jacob, Josepli, 12, 21, 34, 37, 49, 50, 51, 54,
60,63
Jackson, Henry, 188
Jepsou, John, 34, 77
Jewett, Professor, 190, 198,219
Joachinsou, P. J., 188
Johnson, Rev. Samuel, 25
Johnson, John, 95
Johnstone, Robert, 11, 139, 142, 144, 149,
154,156
Johnston, Augustus, 45
Jones, Horatio G.,379
Jones, G. Wimberly, 186
Kane, De Lancy, 185
Keene, James R., 380
Kelley, Rev. Erasmus, 57
Kennedy, Robert L., 313
Kent, Chancellor James, 164
Kernochan, F., 314
Kinsley, R. B., 186
King, Charles B., 58, 121, 133, 134, 155,
157, 163, 164, 165, 167, 185, 195, 197, 203,
219. 227, 228, 233, 244. 253, 291
King, David (1), 60, 95, 97, 98, 105, 106,
112, 113, 115, 116, 117, 118, 125, 126, 127,
135, 137, 140, 154, 15.5, 156, 160
King, David (2), 95, 160, 16.3, 168, 170, 176,
177, 178, 180, 181, 189, 194, 195, 19(j, 202,
215, 280, 314, 336, 342, 350, 352, 355, 357,
360, 364, 366, 368, 376, 377, 378, 380, 388,
393, 405
King, David (3), 364, 380, 394, 397, 398,
402, 408, 422, 424, 458, 464
King, George G., 136, 138, 140, 149, 155,
156, 158, 160, 163, 168, 169, ia5, 195, 204,
205, 212, 218, 220, 223, 224, 227, 230, 239,
244, 24.5. 252, 253, 254, 266, 268, 270, 275,
288, 289, 293, 295, 297,^01, 428, 431, 439,
447, 448. 451, 455
King, Edward, 171, 185, 219, 237, 242, 245,
248, 266, 275, 276, 281, 294, 297, 302, 313,
322, 333, 334, 3.36, 347, 422, 426
King, William H., 185
King, George Gordon, 362, 397, 402, 404,
40.5, 408, 422, 426, 443, 458. 464
King, Le Roy, 360, 362, 376, ,397, 408, 422,
425, 426, 427, 439, 443, 4.50, 4.58, 463, 464
King, Alexander Mercer, 37, 431, 433, 466
King, Clarence, .362
King, Mrs. Harriet, 1.39
King, Mrs. Edward, 362
King, Mrs. Sarah Gibbs, 394
King, Miss Elise S., 362
King, Miss Mary Le Roy, 426
King, Samuel, Jr., 95
King, Rufus, 321
Langley, Job T., 330, 355, 376, 397, 408, 439,
442
Lawton, Robert, 95
Lawton, Francis, 173
Lawton, Susan, 144
Lawton, Edward W., 161
Lawton, Charles E., 188
Lawton. George P., 353
Lawton, Polly, 3.53
Lawton, Gideon, 188
Lawrence, Wiliam B., 177,
190, 219
Lawrence, S. A., 205, 241
Leaming, Rev. James, 38, 45
Ledyard, Henry, 263, 266, 272,
28.5, 287, 288, 289, 291, 293, 291,
307, 314, .322, 328, 330, 331
Lee, Robert P., 155, 156, 160, 167
Lee, Henry, Jr., 242
Lenox, James, 185, 219, 220, 243, 24.5, 246,
256, 293, 345
Le Roy, Daniel, 362, 380, 426
Leverett, Rev. William C, 188
Littlefield, William, 9.5, 96
Littlefield, Mrs. Martha, 262
Littlefield, A. N., 163, 181, 186,
220, 223, 227, 241, 245, 247, 248,
289, 294, 298, 302, 314, 320, 3,50,
366
Lopez, Moses, 38
Lopez, Samuel, 118
Lock wood. Ralph, 168, 173
179, 180, 185,
274, 275,
295, 297,
189, 204,
266, 287,
355, 363,
524
INDEX,
Lorillard, Pierre, 380
Low, A. A., 294, 313
Low, Seth, 380
Lyman, Charles F., 364, 380
Lyndon, Josias, 41, 50, 54, 55, 56, 76
Lyndhurst, Lord, 19, 149, 155
Lyon, Joseph M., 188
Lj^on, James W., 176
Macomh, Aexander, 234
Macy, S. W., 299, 314, 329, 333, 347, 350,
355, 357, 364, 376, 380, 397, 400, 402, 408,
423
Maitland, Robert L., 186
Malbone, Godfrey, 50
Malbone, Godfrey, Jr., 34
Malbone, John, 50, 66, 71, 75
Malbone, Evan, 42
Malbone, Thomas, 44, 50
Malcom, Eev. C. H., 220, 224, 227, 245, 264,
266, 277, 282, 298, 322, 334
Mann, John P., 88, 97, 105, 112, 114, 115,
118
Marchant, Henry, 52, 54, 67, 71, 75, 76, 78,
79
Marchant, William, 106, 117, 128, 143
Mardenbrough, G. W., 114
Marquand, H. G., 283, 376, 380, 397, 408,
422, 426, 427, 440, 443, 450, 456, 458, 464,
467, 468
Martin, Joseph, 130, 140, 156
Martin, Simeon, 95, 118
Martin, Edward, 95
Martin, G. W., 95
Maseres, Francis, 56
Mason, Earl P., 186, 314
Mason, Daniel, 71, 75
Mason, George C. (2), 190, 204, 205, 220,
222, 223, 224, 227, 231, 232, 233, 245, 247,
248, 250, 253, 258, 262, 266, 268, 275, 277,
282, 287, 289, 296, 298, 300, 333, 335, 345,
350, 355, 360, 363, 376, 397, 403, 405, 408,
424, 425, 427, 428, 431, 432, 440, 443, 449,
450, 458, 460
Mason, George C. (1), 144
Mason, Benjamin A., 168, 188
Mason, James L., 161
Mason, Charles, 158
Mason, Robert M., 186, 294, 313, 336, 347,
355, 362, 373
Mason, Miss Ellen F„ 363, 426, 427
Mason, Miss Ida M., 363, 426
Matthews, Nathan, 294
Matteson, G. W. R., 340
Mauran, J. E., 322, 388, 396, 397, 400, 404,
456
Mawdsley, John, 59, 63
McSparran, Rev. James, 25
Mein, John, 95, 97, 105, 111, 112
Melvill, David, 42, 58
Melville, Samuel R., 188
Mendes, Rev. A. P., 47
Mercer, Rev. A. G., D.D., 401
Mercer, William N., 186, 219, 220, 245, 246,
266,298,337,341
Messer, William, 188
Middleton, Henry A., 158, 186
Mixter, Charles, 187
Moffatt, Dr. Thomas, 11, 20, 25, 27, 42, 44,
45, 49, 51
Moore, C. C, 188
Moorey Henry, 83, 95
Morgan, E. D., 294, 313
Morgan, C. W., 128
Morris, Henry, 355
Morton, Levi P., 294, 364
Mozier, James, 242
Mumford, Nathaniel, 58
Mumford, Paul, 431
Munro, Archibald, 135, 137
Munro, Josiah S., 188
Myers, Col. T. B., 308, 364
Newton, Simeon, Jr., 173
Newton, Benj., 174
Newton, William, 186
Newton, Edward F., 364
Newton, John B., 363
Nichols, Walter, 95, 168
Norman, George H., 314, 363, 371
Norman, Stephen H., 322
Norris, William, 239, 314
Northam, Stephen T., 95, 367
Northam, Edward F., 449
Northam, Robert E., 450
Northumberland, Duke of, 155
Ogden, Edward, 187
Ogden, C. E., 188
Ogden, F. L„ 379, 380
INDEX,
525
Ogilvie, James, 91, 90, 112
Olmsted, C. H., 190
Oman, Thomas, 176
Paine, John, 187, 380
Panon, Mrs. M., 308, 314, 379, 441
Parkman, G. F., 186, 289
Parish, Daniel, Jr., 347, 350, 355, 376
Parkinson, C. B., 314
Parmenter, A., 205
Parsons, Dr. Usher, 188
Patten, Rev. Wm., D.D., 76, 78, 80, 81, 85,
86, 312
Patten, Joseph H., 312
Patterson, G. S., 142
Paul, William, 38, 42, 44, 46, 49
Peabody, George, 205, 209, 210, 219
Pearce, Dutee J., 118, 134, 157, 168
Pearson, John, 188
Peckham, Samuel S., 188
Peckham, A. T., 188
Peckham, Felix, 188
Peckham, Job A., 188
Peckham, Wm. G., 188
Peckham, T. P., 336
Pell, Duncan C, 188, 219, 220, 221, 223, 245,
262, 266, 275, 281, 288, 289, 294, 295, 314
Pell, Mrs. Walden, 314
Pepper, Dr. Wm., 363
Perry, Oliver H., 120, 386
Perry, C. G., 161, 163, 165, 167, 168, 170,
171, 173
Perry, Mrs. Fi-ances, 427
Phiuney, Theo. W., 189
Phoenix, S. W., 380
Piersou, J. Frederic, 380
Pierson, Mrs. S. A., 380
Pinnegar, Wm., 38
Pitman, Thos. G., 83, 169
Plumb, J. B., 189
Pollen, Rev. Thomas, 45
Popple, George, Jr., 188
Porter, Mi-s. Mary, 186
Post, Edwin A., 294
Potter, Thomas, 76
Powei; Samuel, 322, 334
Pratt, H. C, 262
Pratt, Enoch, 427
Pratt, S. M., 427
Price, John, Jr., 95
Pringle, J. J., 189
Priolcan, Mr., 162
Purssord, John, 206, 209, 213, 216, 218, 219
Randolph, R. K., 118, 125, 123, 132, 135,
136. 1.37, 140, 141, 154, 15(>, 160
Ray, Robert, 177, 294, 313
Redwood, Abraham, 12, 27, 31, 33, 34, 35,
37, 38, 41, 44, 48, 49, 51, 56,57, 60, 63, 66,
67, 107, 121, 137, 183, 247
Redwood, Abraham (England), 149, 206,
207
Redwood, Abraham, Jr., 53
Redwood, Wm., 55, 63, 155
Redwood, Jonas L., 48, 54, 61 ,
Reed, Martin, 15
Reed, Thomas F., 246
Rhoades, B. H., 198, 217, 218, 220, 224, 225,
245, 246, 299, 322, 336, 350, 355, 376, 382
Rhodes, Christopher, 95, 186
Rhodes, James T., 186, 263, 266, 294, 299,
314, 322, 325
Rhodes, Simeon, 38
Richardson, Jacob, 58, QQ, 71, 75, 79.
Richmond, P. O., 95
Rives, Wm. C, 380, 427
Rivera, Jacob R., 47, 71, 75, 77
Robeson, Andrew, 114, 176. 186, 220, 223,
325
Robbius, Asher, 25
Robbins, V.. E., 125, 127, 128, 132, 135, 136,
140, 156, 171, 173, 174
Robinson, Thomas, 28
Robinson, Joseph Jacob, 71, 75, 76, 78, 79
Robinson, Dr. James, 468
Robinson, Matthew, 34,38
Robinson, Robert, 95
Robinson, S. A., 158
Rodman, Thomas, 50
Rodman, John, 115
Rodman, Samuel, 34
Rodman, Walter, 46
Rodman, Joseph, 55
Rogers. Wm. S., 127, 316, 317
Rogers, Gharles, 358
Rogers, Robert, 91, 97, 105, 115, 118, 125,
126, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 140, 148. 358
Rogers, Rev. Wm., 126
Rogers, Daniel, 313
Rogers, Fairmao, 380
526
INDEX.
Rogers, Prof. W. B., 380
Rogers, Mrs. Maria D'Wolf, 306
Rome, George, 27
Roseugarten, J. G., 427
Rousmauier & Barber, 111
Ruggles, N. S., 135, 138, 140, 141, 155, 156,
158
Rumreil, Thomas, 55, 59
Russell, C. H., 178, 180, 185, 189, 203, 204,
211, 219, 220, 224, 232, 241, 245, 250, 264,
266, 270, 289. 294. 297, 298, 313, 320, 329,
333, 334, 336, 345, 350, 351, 355
Russell, Wm. H., 186
Russmeyer, Rev. A. L., 56
Sands, A. L., 307, 322, 350, 355, 366
Satterlee, R. S., 195
Sayer, Joshua, 30
Sayer, Miss Eliza K., 188
Schermerhorri, E. H., 363
Scott, Edward, 12, 15, 21, 34, 37, 41, 42, 44,
45, 47, 49, 50, 51, 54, 449
Scott, John, 71, 75
Seabury, Rt. Rev. S., 15
Seabury, T. M., 187, 363
Sears, David, 185, 189, 219, 220, 245, 256,
266, 288, 294, 298, 301, 307
Searing, Rev. James, 12, 18, 24, 37, 41, 44,
45
Shaw, Josiah C, 95
Sheffield, Wm. P., 186, 202, 204, 216, 220,
224, 242, 244, 247, 249, 253, 261, 266, 270,
275, 280, 285, 289, 298, 314, 321, 350, 355,
360, 363, 367, 376, 397, 408, 427, 440, 443,
451, 458, 464
Sheffield, W. P., Jr., 380, 397, 408, 440, 443,
451, 458, 464
Sheldon, Frederic, 314
Shepard, R. D., 164
Sherburne, Benj ., 42
Sherman, E. A., 188
Sherman, J. K., 95
Sherman, J. W,, 170
Sherman, T. B., 161
Sigourney, Mrs. S. H., 221
Silliman, G. S., 95
Silliman, Benj., 164
Silsbee, Nath'l, 138
Slocum, M. C, 188
Smibert, John, 25
Smith, W. H., 188
Smith, Nathan, 294
Smith, Rev. Wm., 15, 76
Smith, Rev. Frederick, 76
Smith, Alfred, 186, 250, 314, 327
Snell, George, 36
Southwick, Solomon, 54, 59, 75, 118, 121
Southwick, J. M. K., 402
Spencer, M. W., 188
Spooner, Susan F., 143
Staigg, R. M., 187
Stall, Isaac, 143
Stanton, R. H., 188
Stearns, C. W., 368
Sterne, John, 83
Stevens, Isaac, 160, 173
Stevens, Wm., 143, 188
Stevens, Robert, 30, 38, 50, 52. 53, 54, 66,
71, 72, 75, 81, 85, 88,89, 105, 115, 118, 125,
127, 135, 173
Stevens, John, 112, 161
Stevens, F. W., 380, 427
Stevens, B. F., 467
Stevens, Mrs. F. W., 363
Stiles, Rev. Ezra, 18, 25, 45, 46, 49, 51, 52,
55, 56, 57, 60, 183
Stoddard, Robert, 42
Stoddard, William, 38
Stokes, A. P., 427
Storer, H. R., 383, 404
Story, Joseph, 303
Stout, F. A., 380
Stuart, Gilbert, 25, 221, 262
Stuart, Miss Jane, 165, 247
Swift, Alex., 138
Swinburne, Daniel T., 188
Swinburne, W. J., 189
Swinburne, H. H., 364
Sylvester, Joseph, 23, 59
Taggart, Henry, 37
Talmage, Temperance, 20
Taylor, Nicholas, 83, 95
Taylor, Robert, J., 160, 163, 164, 168, 178,
189, 190, 204, 220, 223, 246, 263, 266, 268,
289, 298, 312 •
Taylor, Robert, 95
Taylor, George H., 218
Tayloi^ Thomas T., 51, 52
Taylor, James, 95
INDEX.
527
Taylor, Wm. R., 358
Teany, Rev. Mr., 86
Terrill, Dr. Geo., 380
Tew, Sarah, 83
Thayer, Rev. Thatcher, D.T)., 306, 316, 330,
334, 402
Thomliuson, John, 35, 38
Thorn, W. K., 427
Thorndike, Mrs. J. P., 294
Thorndike, Augustus, 168, 169
Thurston, Charles M., 95
Thurston, Wm. H., 189
Thurston, Dr. Jonathan, 30, 34
Thurston, Peleg, 38, 76
Thurston, E., 53, 54, 57, 63, 71, 75, 78
Thurston, J. R,, 76
Thurston, B. F., 200, 383, 391, 397, 398, 399,
410
Thurston, Rev. Gardiner, 50, 76
Tiffany, George, 189
Tiffany, Henry, 186
Tilley, B. J., 189
Tilley, R. H., 397
Tilley, G. W., 138
Tillinghast, Nicholas P., 66, 71, 72, 75, 79
Tillinghast, W., 62
Tillinghast, John, 34, 37, 41, 44, 49, 50,
51, 54
Tilton, F. W., 350, 355, 363, 364, 376, 391,
397, 402, 408, 424, 440, 443, 451, 458, 464 »
Tisdale, B. H., 136.
Tompkins, Frederic, 269, 313, 362, 364, 380
Tompkins, Hamilton B., 269, 312, 322, 360,
362, 364, 376, 380, 387, 397, 402, 408, 427,
439, 440, 443, 456, 458, 464
Tompkins, Mrs. Charlotte, 373
Tompkins, Tillinghast, 187
Tompkins, Mrs. M. E., 362
Torrance, Daniel, 427
Torrance, S. J., 427
Totten, .Joseph G., 129
Touro, Judah, 166, 176
Tower, Levi, 95, 97
Towle, Rev. S., 97
Townsend, Nathan, Jr., 11, 15
Townsend, Solomon, 42, 47, 49, 50
Townsend, John F., 95
Townsend, Christopher, 187
Townsend, Miss Ellen F., 315, 362, 401
Travers, W. R., 380
Trevett, Eleazer. 30
Tucker, Wm. W., 363, 426
Tucker, Professor, 1.57
Tuckerman, H. T., 219, 342, 354
Tuckerman, .Joseph, 380
Tuckerman, Mrs. .Joseph, 342
Tuckerman, Alfred, 464
Turner, Dr. Wm., 95, 10.5, 106, 110, 115,
116, 125, 127
Turner, Dr. H. E., 158, 160, 204, 220, 224,
227, 245, 259, 261, 266, 271, 295, 298, 334,
350, 3.55, 360, 376, 397, 402, 404, 405, 408.
439, 440, 443, 451, 456, 458, 464
Turner, Oliver C, 177
Tweedy, Edmund, 187, 294, 314
Tweedy, John, 38
Tyler, George F., 294
Underwood, C. W., 188
Updike, Daniel, 12, 38
Updike, Wilkins, 15
Updike, Daniel E., Ill
Uphara, Edward, 42
Van Ness, Mrs. Mary, 232, 238
Van Rensselaer, H. C, 187
Van Rensselaer, Alex., 187, 314
Van Zandt, C. C, 245, 266, 29.5, 298, 301,
322, 334, 348, 350, 355, 376, 378, 397, 408,
440, 443, 451
Vaughan, Sir Charles, 139
Vernon, Samuel, 30
Vernon, Samuel, .Jr., 85
Vernon, Thomas, 44, 46, 49, 51, 54, 57, 58.
63,71
Vernon, William, 66, 71, 75, 76, 78, 79, 81,
84, 115
Vernon, Wm. H., 86, 87, 88, 89, 97, 118, 119,
125
Vernon, Samuel B., 170
Vinton, Rev. Francis, D.D., 239
Vose, J. W., 189
Wales, George W., 380, 388, 397, 408, 422,
427, 440, 443
Walker, Dr. W. J., 253. 256, 262
Walker, Mr., 151
Walsh. Robert, 149
Wanton, Gideon, 33, 34, .50, 71. 75
Wanton, Joseph, 34, 77
528
INDEX.
Wanton, George, 37, 77, 83, 117
Wanton, Philip, 38, 50
Ward, Thomas, 11, 12, 18, 25, 33, 34, 37, 38,
42, 44
Ward, Richard, 18, 25
Ward, Henry, 44, 71, 75
Ward, Samuel, 18, 25, 52, 78, 160
Ward, Carpenter, 144
Ward, Richard R., 157
Ward, Rev. John, 86, 160
Ward, Silas, 177
Waring, Thomas, 143
Waring, Dr. E. T., 105, 106, 110, 115, 116,
117, 125
Waterhouse, Dr. Benjamin, 21, 27
Waterhouse, Mrs. L., 221
Waterman, Christopher, 43
Watson, J. J., 189
Weaver, Joseph B,, 160
Webb, Rev. Mr., 97
Webster, Daniel, 162
Weld, W. G., 391, 422
Weld, Mrs. W. F., 391
Weston, F. R., 164
Weston, R. C. J., 158
Wetmore, W. S., 180, 185, 189, 194, 204, 220,
236
Wetmore, George Peabody, 307, 313, 322,
350, 355, 366, 422, 427, 429, 447
Wetmore, Samuel, 187, 316
Wetmore, William B., 316
Wharton, Joseph, 380
Wharton, F., 427
Wharton, C. W., 427
Wheatland, Dr., 367
Wheaton, Rev. Salmon, D.D., 164
Wheeler, Rev. Willard, 57
Whipple, Joseph, 34, 41
Whitfield, Charles, 132, 133, 135, 137, 154,
156, 157, 158, 161, 163 164, 167. 168. 173
Whitehorne, Samuel, 95, 158
Whitehorne, John G., 83, 95, 120
White, Noah, 158
Wick ham, Samuel, 17, 34, 37, 41
Wickham, Benjamin, 38
Wickham, Thomas, 46, 63, 71, 75, 78, 81, 85,
89, 96, 97
Wickham, Thomas, Jr., 55
Wightman, B., 95
Wilbor, Job B., 189
Wilder & Campbell, 83
Willet, Francis, 43
Williams, John, 136, 173
Willing, W. G., 362
Winthrop, Benjamin R., 189
Winthrop, C. P., 218
Wolf, Miss C. L., 363, 380
Wood, Sarah, 83
Wormeley, Miss K. P., 314
Wright, H. A., 187, 194
Yates. Samuel, 71, 75, 79
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