RHODE-ISLAND, one of the smallest of the United States of America, not exceeding 47 miles in length and 37 in breadth, is bounded on the N. and E. by the province of Massachusetts; on the S. by the Atlantic, and on the W. by Connecticut. Its area is 1580 square miles. It is divided into five counties, viz. Newport, Providence, Washington, Bristol, and Kent, which are subdivided into 30 townships, containing 76,931 inhabitants in 1810, of whom 108 were slaves. This state is intersected by rivers in all directions; and the winters in the maritime parts of it are milder than in
the interior of the country. The summers are delightful, and the climate is considered to be more salubrious than any other in the United States. The rivers and bays teem with fish of different kinds, and it is generally allowed by travellers, that Newport is the best fish market in the world. This state produces rye, barley, oats, maize, and in some places wheat sufficient for home consumption. Cyder is made here for exportation; and it abounds with grasses, fruits, and culinary roots and plants, all of an excellent quality. The north-western parts are but thinly inhabited, and more rocky and barren than the rest of the state. There are extensive dairies in some parts of it, which produce butter and cheese of the best quality, and in large quantities for exportation. Iron ore is found in great abundance in many parts of the state; and the iron-works on Patuxet river, 12 miles from Providence, are supplied with ore from a bed about four miles and a half distant, where a variety of ores, curious stones, and ochres, are also met with; and there is a copper mine mixed with iron in the township of Cumberland. Here also lime stone abounds, and coal has lately been found. The chief towns of the state are Providence and Newport; the former contained 10,071, and the latter 7907 inhabitants in 1810. The slave-trade, which was a source of wealth to many, has been happily abolished. Bristol carries on a considerable trade to Africa, the West Indies, and different parts of the United States: but the inhabitants of the prosperous town of Providence have in their hands the greatest part of the commerce; the tonnage of this place in 1815 was 18,538 tons. The common exports are flax-seed, timber, horses, cattle, beef, pork, fish, poultry, onions, butter, cheese, barley, grain, spirits, cotton and linen goods. The imports consist of West India and European goods, and logwood is brought from the bay of Honduras. At the different ports of this state more than 600 vessels enter and clear out annually. The amount of exports in 1810 was 1,331,576 dollars, and in 1817 it was 950,467 dollars. At Providence there are various cotton manufactories, the produce of which is sent to the southern states; but the manufactures of bar and sheet iron, steel, nail-roads, and nails, implements of husbandry, stoves, pots, &c. are the most extensive. The whole amount of manufactures in 1810 was 3,079,556 dollars. The value of lands and houses in this state in 1799 was 11,066,357 dollars, and in 1814 the value was 21,567,020 dollars. The average value of lands per acre, including buildings, was 39 dollars. The constitution of the state is founded on the charter granted in 1663 by Charles II.; and the revolution made no effectual change on the form of government. The legislature consists of two branches; a senate composed of ten members, besides a governor and deputy-governor, and a house of representatives. The members of the legislature are chosen twice a year, and there are two sessions of this body annually. So little has the civil authority to do with religion here, that no contract between a minister and a society is of any force, for which reason a great number of sects have always been found here; yet it is said that the sabbath, and all religious institutions are more neglected in this, than in any other of the New England states. The Baptists and Congregationalists are the most numerous sects. But there are besides a considerable number of Quakers,
Episcopalian, Moravian, and Jews. There were no less than 28 banks in this state in 1818.