reading-room attached, with about fifteen thousand volumes, and is rapidly growing in the number of its books and in the favor of the public. At the State-House, which is an old and quaint edifice, used by both the Legislature and the Courts (for it will be remembered that Newport is both a county seat, and jointly with Providence the capital of the State), there is a painting of great value both from the subject and the artist. It is a full length portrait of Washington, by Gilbert Stuart, who made Newport his favorite home, and whose daughter still lives here. The painting was a present from the artist to the people of this town, and they justly prize a gift so rare and valuable. But why attempt to describe or even enumerate the points and objects of interest in a place where nearly every street in the town and acre of the surrounding country is historic ground, and radiant with the beauty of its scenery and adornments; where almost every spot you tread upon and many of the mansions that adorn the town, have a character and a record, and are associated with something of interest in the past or present? It is like mining in an inexhaustible field of gold, diamonds, and every kind of precious stone. But among the great number of interesting places, and especially historic ground, and as an exception to the many things that must be passed over, we cannot omit a brief reference to the monument of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry. This interesting memorial of the illustrious dead, may be found at the Island Cemetery, so-called, and of itself is worth a visit to Newport; not from the splendor of the monument itself, for it is a plain obelisk, which with the plinth or pedestal is only thirty-three feet high, and is exceeded in size and workmanship by many to be found in the private cemeteries of the country. It is noteworthy, because it speaks the deeds of a true hero, and recalls our most brilliant naval victory in the second war with Great Britain. As we stand here musing upon the scenes of the past, the gallant man, whose honored remains sleep beneath this monumental pile, seems to come up out of the dim shadows of the grave, and casting off the cerements of the dead and the dust and decay of his mortal part, to stand forth, as in life full of patriotic devotion and daring, ready to do and die for his country, surpassing in real deeds the ideal heroes of ancient or modern times. We behold him in the moment of his supreme triumph, exalted and transfigured as it were by the greatness of the occasion, as with uncovered head and waving sword, he passes in an open boat, unscathed by the flying missiles, from his own shattered flag-ship, to another that should serve him till the victory was made complete! No more honored dust rests in the precincts of any city-no more brilliant achievements with their glorious memories, are the priceless inheritance of any State. Both the Perrys, as well as General Greene, have been credited to Newport. They all lived here, and the remains of the former, as we have seen, rest here, and no doubt the people of this favored place, that has so much to be proud of, would gladly enjoy the credit that attaches to the birthplace of such illustrious men. But it belongs to other towns of the Commonwealth, and Newport wants only her own. General Nathaniel Greene, whose fame is second only to that of Washington, was born at Warwick; and Commodore Oliver H. Perry, "The hero of Lake Erie," and we believe his brother, Matthew C., "the deliverer of Japan," had their birth in the little village of Narraganset, in South Kingston. Rhode Island hath no prouder names, even in her own proud realm. While the admirers of Newport cannot claim for the scenery in its vicinity the grandeur and wild picturesqueness of mountain views, they can claim that they have a great amount of very beautiful landscape (this term we use in its broadest sense, including land and sea views), and that in places where land and water combine, it often rises to the picturesque and grand; that the ocean which everywhere speaks of the mysterious and illimitable, and is full of unwritten history, appears here to the best possible advantage, and, through the elevated location of the town, being in sight of every street and dwelling, whether seen in the quiet beauty of its calmer moods, as the waves gently kiss the shore, and its surgings are like heart-beats; or when lashed into fury by the storm, so that its waves run mountain high and its waters upheave as though lifted from the centre of the earth, and towering skyward rush headlong against the shore as if they would break through their rocky barrier and assert their dominion over the land-the view is always full of grandeur and sublimity. Who does not love to gaze at the "blue, blue sea" in calm or in storm? No wonder that the mind of Webster took in its grandest thoughts and drew its noblest inspirations from the sea, vast, boundless-earth's fittest emblem of eternity! Such is the fertility and verdure of the island, the tasteful adornments of the town, the extent and richness of the ocean views, and the transcendent charms of the whole combined, that no one ever tires of the scenery at Newport. It is always pleasing, and grows upon the sight. it. It is known by the name of "The Bluffs," and is five miles in extent, following the windings of the shore. Most of the way the superb cottages of Bellevue avenue are in plain sight, some of them border upon it; and all the way by cross streets, or their being located directly upon the seashore, elegant cottages with their grounds highly adorned with shrubbery, flowers, lawns, etc., border upon and mingle their attractions with this fine walk. The shore itself, once rocky and irregular Boat-house Landing is a rugged, wild spot at the foot of Bellevue avenue, or rather a small street leading to it, where pleasure parties and fishermen go out upon the bay. Close by, a little to the left, as we face the sea, is what is called "Spouting Rock." It is a freak of nature, consisting of a small cave leading from the water, with an aperture in the top, through which, in a storm, or high waves, the water rushes to the height of sixty feet. Immediately bordering upon the town and rural suburbs of Newport there are not less than thirty miles of seashore that can be reached at almost any point by going a distance of from one to two miles. But our purpose in this connection was to describe that portion of it extending from the left of the Boat-House Landing to where the Bath Road, so-called, crosses the beach; or rather, to refer to it, for we have hot space to fully describe in the extreme, has been shaped and beautified so as to set off its natural and artificial attractions to the greatest advantage. Suffice it, that this walk has no equal at Newport; nor, as far as we know, in the country. As might be expected, it is thronged on all pleasant days in the warm season. A great improvement would be seats, and more shade along the graveled path. We have repeatedly alluded to the cottage system, the leading feature and crowning glory of Newport. It in fact overshadows everything else, and has probably checked the growth of the place. Though called cottages, many of them are large and spacious mansions, built in the highest style of architecture, and finished and furnished in the most expensive manner, single rooms costing as high as fifty thousand dollars. One cottage, that of Mr. Wetmore, of New York, is said to have cost, with its ornamentation, over a million of dollars. Yet there are many neat, plain residences here built for convenience and comfort, and arranged in good taste, at a moderate cost. The stranger is at once struck that the hotels of Newport are so few in number, and most of them so limited in size. There are two that remain open the year round. One of these we did not try; the other, the "Perry House," we did, and found it an excellent hotel, with good fare and most reasonable charges. It is located on Washington Square. The "Aquidneck," situated on Pelham street, near Touro Park, is a popular house, and remains open six months, although most of the summer hotels and boarding-houses are open but three or four months. While the Naval Academy was at Newport, during the war, the professors boarded here; and officials visiting the place make it their headquarters. 66 But the great hotel of the place, corresponding to the United States" at Atlantic City and the "Grand Union" at Saratoga, is the "Ocean House." It is nearly four hundred feet long, by an extreme width of nearly two hundred feet, and is five stories high. It can accommodate between four and five hundred. It stands upon elevated ground, and is most favorably located upon Bellevue avenue. The views from the halls and some of the rooms are charming, especially those that look out upon the water. The commanding prospect and fine panoramic view from the observatory, we have described elsewhere. The Messrs. Weaver are proprietors, one of whom, J. B. Weaver, is connected with the Everett House, at Union Square, New York. little of the coarse, ignorant, shoddy element. There is a great degree of intelligence and refinement among them, and not a few are persons of the finest culture, men of learning and genius who have a national fame. We have yet to learn that talent, learning, and character, are not duly respected by them. On the contrary, we are told that these are a passport to the best society Possibly the Newport people lay a little too much stress upon family distinction and even upon wealth. But if united with character or official eminence, they are a great incentive to effort, high tone, and manly, praiseworthy conduct. And who that can, does not take pride in these things, and lay stress upon family standing? Whenever the cottage system shall disappear, or become essentially modified, society here will become more cosmopolitan-more like Saratoga and similar watering-places. But who will say that this would be an improvement on the present order of things? We know of no place that has greater resources for entertaining amusements than Newport. In addition to the games of croquet, ten pins, "hops," music, etc., common to all summer resorts, there are the finest drives and most delightful walks here almost in the world. The beautiful residences and grounds, the fields covered with verdure and fruitfulness, and the unequaled combination of sea and land views, make these walks and drives enjoyable and healthful in the highest degree. As to the facilities for gunning, fishing, rowing, sailing, and the like, there is no limit to them, excep one's power of endurance and capacity to enjoy. There are tiers of smooth, accessible rocks, which A great deal of superlative nonsense has been afford the best of fishing, and ladies can angle with written respecting the aristocracy and exclusive-hook and line without the aid of an expert, or the ness of Newport, and the extravagance and fashion of Saratoga. The truth is, this town has a great amount of wealth, both among its own citizens and the cottage residents, including quite a number of millionaires, and wealth will always assert itself in some form. The rich will have fine equipages, costly houses, rich furniture, and expensive, stylish dress. The poor, or those in moderate circumstances, cannot imitate them, nor receive and return their visits, because, if nothing else prevented, they have not the means. Thus, the difference in circumstances draws the lines and makes the distinctions to a great extent. Among the rich people of Newport there is very presence, shall we say interference? of gentlemen, Some sixty kinds of fish are taken in the waters of Narraganset Bay. The libraries, of course, afford every facility for those who are fond of reading for amusement or instruction. This watering-place is yearly growing in favor with our countrymen at large, as they learn more of its merits; it is becoming more national and cosmopolitan, increasing numbers are coming from distant parts of the country, and this feature will grow more and more with the future. Formerly great numbers came here from the South, and they were considered among the best patrons and most welcome visitors. Their money was easily ac ་ of development, we think will be a combination | signs that it is to become a large town and the of the two, not to do away with private cottages, but to accommodate transient visitors in the best manner. We see the beginning of this movement, which looms up in the future, in the "Cliff Hotel," and the "Cliff cottages," where the cottage and hotel systems are happily combined. That Newport has a bright and brilliant future we have no doubt. Before the Revolution, and in the days of commercial prosperity, the population numbered about nine thousand; afterwards it declined to about eight thousand, where it remained for many years. Lately it has gone up chief of American watering-places; or, according Pride of New England and pearl of the sea, ARCHITECTURAL PROGRESS, AS SEEN IN THE RELIGIOUS EDIFICES OF THE WORLD. BY REV. WILLIAM BLACKWOOD, D.D., LL.D. VI. EARLY ENGLISH, DECORATED AND PERPENDICULAR ECCLESIASTICAL ARCHITECTURE. TOWARDS the reign of Stephen in England, a change in the form of the arch began to appear in church architecture. The semicircular began to into disuse. The question as to the person by whom the pointed 'arch was first adopted, and the land in which it was first used, has led to intermi give way to the pointed arch, and at the same nable discussion; and it is hopeless to expect that time, instead of a massive heavy pillar, a shaft these matters shall ever be settled. The wellcomparatively slender with several smaller col-known Mr. Britton has collected more than fifty umns surrounding it was adopted. These modifications being introduced into England about the year A.D. 1200, led to the use of the term "Early English," as the designation of the style thus introduced, as distinguished from the heavy Norman that had preceded it, and from the later forms which came to be known as the "Decorated" and the Perpendicular." About the same time the pointed arch began to prevail in other countries, and in a brief period the semicircular arch fell 46 theories or opinions concerning the person, the date, the country or the circumstances connected with the origin of the pointed arch. It has been called "the German manner;" it has been traced through Spain to the Saracens and to England from France. The intersection of Norman arches, as seen on exteriors or interiors on wall surfaces, the interlacing of the branches of trees in a forest, have had their advocates; and Mr. Payne Knight holds that "the pointed was the original arch, of |