NEWPORT, a municipal borough and market-town of England, county of Salop, on the borders of Staffordshire, 16 miles E.N.E. of Shrewsbury, and 142 N.W. of London. It is a small town, and has a parish church, part of which is of the fifteenth century, and which would be very beautiful in the interior were it not for the brick side aisles which have been added in more recent times. There are also Roman Catholic and Independent churches, two free schools, two sets of almshouses, and a savings-bank. The
Newport only manufacture carried on here is that of stockings. Pop. (1851) 2906.
Newport, or Newport-Tip, a market-town of Ireland in the county of Tipperary, 11 miles N.N.E. of Limerick; has a parish church, a Roman Catholic church, a national school, and infantry barracks. Pop. (1851) 1114.
Newport, a seaport of the United States of North America, in the state of Rhode Island, is beautifully situated on the slope of a hill on the W. side of the island, 28 miles S. by E. of Providence. It is well built; and has recently been considerably improved in this respect. The principal buildings are—the state house, a brick edifice, having an octagonal cupola, and containing accommodation for the state legislature and courts of law; a library and Athenæum; a custom-house; a market-house; a masonic hall; an armoury; 15 churches of various denominations; and numerous fine hotels. Previously to the American Revolution, Newport was of great importance as a commercial city, and rivalled in that respect those of New York and Boston; but it suffered greatly during the war that followed that event; and, at its close, the population was reduced from 10,000 to 5500. The vessels belonging to the port in 1852 had an aggregate tonnage of 11,000 enrolled and licensed; of which 1851 tons were employed in the whale fishery, 3785 in the coasting trade, 560 in cod and mackerel fishing, and 255 in steam navigation. The vessels that entered in that year were 28, and their tonnage 4863; those that cleared were 20, and their tonnage 4337. The town has 7 banks, with an aggregate capital of L.130,000, and a savings-institution, whose deposits amount to L.60,791. There are also several woollen and cotton factories, and 5 newspaper offices, in the town. The assessed value of taxable property is about L.1,000,000. Newport, on account of its beautiful situation and mild climate, is a favourite summer resort, especially for visitors from the south. There is here a curious ancient structure of unknown origin, and equally mysterious in the purpose for which it was designed. It is a round building, 28½ feet high, and 23½ in diameter; and, in its lower part, it has 8 pillars about 10 feet in height. The walls are about 18 inches thick, and are pierced by 3 small loopholes. There is also a fireplace and chimney; but the roof and floors have disappeared. Some have supposed this to be a religious edifice, built by the Northmen; and others that the original settlers used it as a place of defence against the Indians; but these are mere conjectures, and no certain knowledge can be obtained about its origin or use. Pop. (1850) 9563; (1853) about 10,000.
Newport, a seaport of Wales, in the county of Pembrokeshire, on the slope of a hill near the mouth of the Nevern, 7 miles E.N.E. of Fishguard. The streets are mean and irregular; and the whole place has a very decayed appearance. In the neighbourhood there are some Druidical remains; and the town has the ruins of an old castle, built by the Normans in the thirteenth century, but afterwards destroyed by Llewelyn. Newport has an old parish church, and others belonging to Baptists, Independents, and Methodists, as well as several schools. Limekilns, malt-houses, carding and flour mills are in operation; and, by means of the harbour, which is secure, the export of slates, and the import of coal, timber, &c., is carried on. Pop. (1851) 1716.
Newport-Pagnell, a market-town of England, county of Buckingham, is situated near the confluence of the Ouse and Ousel, 48 miles N.N.W. of London. The latter river divides the town into two parts, and is crossed by an iron bridge, built in 1810. The parish church is a large ancient building, with a square tower and pinnacles. There are also Baptist, Independent, and Methodist churches; several schools; almshouses; a circulating library; and a savings-bank. The only manufacture here is that of lace, and even that is not so largely carried on as formerly; but there is some trade in corn, coal, and timber. Pop. (1851) 3312.
Newry, a parliamentary burgh and seaport of Ireland, on the borders of the counties of Down and Armagh, is beautifully situated in the valley traversed by the river of the same name, not far from its mouth in Carlingford Bay, 32 miles S.S.W. of Belfast, and 63 N. of Dublin. It consists of a fine square, and several good and well-paved streets lined with well-built and handsome houses chiefly of brick. The parish church is a fine modern building of early English architecture, with a tower and spire 190 feet high. There are also Presbyterian, Independent, Methodist, and Roman Catholic churches; a town-hall, court-house, two jails, custom-house, infantry barracks, assembly-room, fever hospital, dispensary, and workhouse. The manufactures are extensive, consisting of beer, brandy, leather, linen, cordage, cotton, glass, iron, brass, coaches, &c. The trade of the place is also considerable, especially in the export of butter, eggs, provisions, and cattle, and the import of coals, iron, &c. The river, which is here crossed by four stone bridges, admits vessels of 600 tons burden up to the town, and those of 1000 tons to within 6 miles of it. There is also a ship-canal leading to the sea, and a boat-canal to Lough Neagh, which is 32 miles distant. The number of ships registered at the port, 31st December 1856, was 114, and their tonnage 6648. In that year there entered the port coastwise, 793 sailing vessels, tonnage 47,495; and 254 steamers, tonnage 42,115. From the colonies, 16 sailing vessels, tonnage 7306; from foreign parts, 15 sailing vessels, tonnage 2535—in all, 824 sailing vessels, tonnage 57,336; and 254 steamers, tonnage 42,115. In the same year there cleared, coastwise, 278 sailing vessels, tonnage 15,111; and 250 steamers, tonnage 42,945; for the colonies, 5 sailing vessels, tonnage 2401; for foreign parts, 4 sailing vessels, tonnage 1962—in all, 287 sailing vessels, tonnage 19,474; and 250 steamers, tonnage 42,945. Steamers ply regularly twice a-week between this town and Liverpool, a distance of 153 miles. Newry is a place of great antiquity, and a Cistercian abbey was founded here in 1157 by Maurice M'Loughlin, king of Ireland. The name of the town is supposed to have been derived from the number of yew-trees which grew here, and two especially within the limits of the abbey which was called in Irish Na yar ("of the yew-trees"). After the Reformation, the abbey was granted to Sir Nicholas Bagnal, marshal of Ireland, who converted it into a dwelling-house, erected a church and castle, and rebuilt the town. Newry formerly sent two members to the Irish, and now sends one to the imperial Parliament. Pop. (1851) 13,191.
New South Shetland, a group of islands in the Antarctic Ocean, lying between S. Lat. 60.32 and 67.13, and W. Long. 44.53 and 68.15; about 600 miles S.S.E. of Cape Horn. They are twelve in number, and extend for a distance of 300 miles from N.N.E. to S.S.W., being bounded on the S. by a broad strait called Bransfield Strait, separating them from an extensive country which apparently lies near the S. pole. The islands are rocky and mountainous, having some peaks between 6000 and 7000 feet high. They are covered with snow for nearly the whole year, and the only vegetation that is found in these desolate regions consists of lichens and mosses, and some scanty grass, which appear in a few tracts of the islands in the warmest time of the year. They are of volcanic formation, and some of the mountains are covered with scoria and lava; while hot springs have been discovered rising from among the snow with a temperature of not less than 146°. The only animals that are found on these islands are sea-fowls, of which the albatross, the penguin, and the sea-cormorant are the principal. Whales and seals of different kinds are found in the seas; and the islands are frequently visited for the purpose of taking these animals. New South Shetland was discovered in 1819 by Captain Smith.