At the corner of Spring and Pelham Streets, still stands the residence of General Prescott, who was carried away prisoner by his opponents, they having rowed down in whale-boats from Providence for the attack.Rochambeau, our French ally, lodged lower down in Mary Street.In the tower of Trinity, one can read the epitaph of the unfortunate Chevalier de Ternay, commander of the sea forces, whose body lies near by.Many years later his relative, the Duc de Noailles, when Minister to this country, had this simple tablet repaired and made a visit to the spot.
A long period of prosperity followed the Revolution, during which Newport grew and flourished.Our pious and God-fearing "forbears,"having secured personal and religious liberty, proceeded to inaugurate a most successful and remunerative trade in rum and slaves.It was a triangular transaction and yielded a three-fold profit.The simple population of that day, numbering less than ten thousand souls, possessed twenty distilleries; finding it a physical impossibility to drink ALL the rum, they conceived the happy thought of sending the surplus across to the coast of Africa, where it appears to have been much appreciated by the native chiefs, who eagerly exchanged the pick of their loyal subjects for that liquid.These poor brutes were taken to the West Indies and exchanged for sugar, laden with which, the vessels returned to Newport.
Having introduced the dusky chieftains to the charms of delirium tremens and their subjects to life-long slavery, one can almost see these pious deacons proceeding to church to offer up thanks for the return of their successful vessels.Alas! even "the best laid schemes of mice and men" come to an end.The War of 1812, the opening of the Erie Canal and sundry railways struck a blow at Newport commerce, from which it never recovered.The city sank into oblivion, and for over thirty years not a house was built there.