Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XII.djvu/342

330 and picturesque appearance. The “old stone mill,” whose origin and purpose were once a theme of much learned discussion, and which is still asserted by some antiquaries to have been built by the Northmen 500 years before the arrival of Columbus; the ruined Fort Louis, at the entrance of the harbor, and its surrounding rocks, called “the Dumplings;” Fort Adams, one of the most costly and extensive fortifications in the Union; the “Purgatory Rocks” and “Hanging Rocks;” the “Spouting Cave,” and “the Glen,” are the principal objects of interest. The beaches are excellent for bathing, and for promenades at low tide. Bellevue avenue, 2 m. long, and lined with villas, is at fashionable hours crowded with elegant equipages; and a fine drive, called the “Ocean drive,” has lately been laid out along the southern shore of the island. A favorite resort is Touro park, given to the town by Judah Touro, who was born here. The Jewish cemetery and synagogue are still carefully preserved through bequests left by him, although there are now no Jews to use them. The commerce of Newport is now very limited, and its manufactures are almost confined to a few cotton mills, a brass foundery, and lead works. The value of imports for the year ending June 30, 1874, was $11,135; of exports, $19,544; vessels belonging in the district on that date, 135, tonnage 8,660. The city is connected with Boston by the Old Colony railroad, and daily steamers from New York to Fall River, Mass., touch here.

—Newport was

settled in 1638 by 17 colonists from Roger Williams's party, headed by William Coddington. The settlers were early distinguished for their enterprise as merchants and navigators, and for their activity in the whaling business. As early as 1764 their trade with the West Indies employed 150 vessels, and 14,000 hhds. of molasses were annually imported, to be converted into rum for the African market. Some years before the Boston tea party the British armed sloop Liberty, stationed here to exact an odious tax, was burned in the harbor. During the revolution 8,000 British and Hessian troops were quartered on the town, and its commercial interests have never recovered from the injury which they inflicted. They destroyed 480 houses, robbed the library, then the finest except one in America, burned the shipping, cut down all the groves and orchards for fuel, and carried off the town records. Before this period Newport had been a favorite resort of men of science and letters, and was noted for the opulence and refinement of its inhabitants. Bishop (then Dean) Berkeley resided here 2½ years, and built a house which is still standing in the adjacent town of Middletown. It was here that he composed his celebrated work, the “Minute Philosopher.” Commodore O. H. Perry was born near Newport, and is buried there, with a monument to his memory. A bronze statue of his brother, Commodore M. O. Perry, a native of Newport, has lately been placed in Touro park. It is by J. Q. A. Ward, and has bass reliefs on the pedestal, representing Commodore Perry's exploits in Mexico, Japan, and elsewhere.  NEWPORT, a city of Campbell co., Kentucky, on the Ohio river, immediately above the mouth of the Licking, and opposite Cincinnati, 63 m. N. N. E. of Frankfort; pop. in 1850, 5,895; in 1860, 10,046; in 1870, 15,087. It is handsomely built on an elevated plain commanding a fine view, and is ornamented and made attractive by numerous shade trees. In the city and its suburbs are a large number of elegant residences. Communication with Cincinnati is maintained by a steam ferry and a splendid new iron bridge for ordinary travel and railroad trains. There is a suspension bridge over Licking river between Newport and Covington, and a street railroad running over this bridge and the Covington and Cincinnati bridge connects the three cities. A street railroad also connects Newport with the two villages of Dayton and Bellview, situated on the Ohio river above the town. The Louisville, Cincinnati, and Lexington railroad passes through the city. It is noted for its excellent schools. There are several large rolling mills, iron founderies, saw mills, and various manufactories. The city contains a bank, a United States arsenal and military post, a daily and weekly newspaper, and ten churches. The principal courts of the county are held here.  '''NEWPORT. I.''' A municipal and parliamentary borough and market town of 