PREFACE.

MR. HUNTER has well remarked, in his eloquent Oration, that “the feeling which in the individual is selfish vanity, diffused and generalised by a community, becomes patriotism," and that “the people of Rhode-Island have a peculiar right to indulge in a State pride." This right will be admitted when it is remembered that in the history of the race, Rhode-Island presents the first instance of a State founded on the broad principles of spiritual freedom, without which, political freedom is but a mockery. Athens was a Democracy when Socrates drank the hemlock, and Rome had scarcely relinquished her title of The Republic, when in one of her provinces, the populace shouted " Crucify him! crucify him!"

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Neither Greece, Rome, nor the nations of modern Europe had grasped the sublime idea of intellectual liberty, and the glory of founding the first State on this principle remained for an obscure exile on the shores of Narraganset Bay. An eloquent historian has said, "If Copernicus is held in perpetual reverence because, on his death-bed, he published to the world that the sun is the centre of our system, if the genius of Newton has been almost adored for dissecting a ray of light and weighing heavenly bodies as in a balance, let there be for the name of Roger Williams at least, some humble place among those who have advanced moral science, and made themselves benefactors of mankind."

But if we reverence the names of those who have read for us the mysteries of the visible heavens, shall we not reverence more, him who would unbind the fetters that for centuries have cramped the human mind, and shackled the conscience, that connecting link between God and man, and open for us the avenues to the very Heaven of heavens? We say, then, let there be for the name of Roger Williams an exalted place,—an illuminated page in the history of Humanity.

Rhode-Island has proved herself worthy of her illustrious founder. In the revolutionary struggle, she was first in the field-and renounced her allegiance to Great-Britain two months before the Declaration of Independence by Congress. The idea of a navy was first suggested in her General Assembly; she furnished two of of the four ships that composed the first American fleet,-many of the officers, and the first and only Admiral. And we need not say how the gallant Perry and his brave Newport followers, sustained on Lake Erie, the honor of that which their fathers had so well begun.

It was thought that the floating literature of Rhode-Island contained much that was worthy of preservation; and to give to such passages a "local habitation," has been the object of this publica

tion.

From circumstances that could not be controlled, many distinguished names have been omitted; and it is believed that another year, a similar and equally interesting collection might be prepared. To THE CITIZENS OF RHODE-ISLAND THIS VOLUME IS RE

SPECTFULLY DEDICATED, BY THE

Providence, Dec. 1, 1840.

EDITOR.

THE RHODE-ISLAND BOOK.

INTRODUCTION TO WHATCHEER.

A POEM.

BY THE HON. JOB DURFEE.

(Addressed to the Rev. Romeo Elton.)

WHAT time, dear ELTON, we were wont to rove,
From classic Brown along fair Seekonk's vale,
And in the murmurs of his storied cove,

Hear barbarous voices still our Founder hail;
E'en then my bosom with young rapture strove
To give to deathless verse the exile's tale,
And every ripple's moan, or breeze's sigh,
Brought back whole centuries as it murmured by.

But soon the brittle dream of youth was gone,
And different labors to our lots were given :

You, at the shrine of peace and glory shone;

Sublime your toils, for still your theme was heaven