breeze from almost every point of the compass;
so that in all the hot months it is one of the
most comfortable places of residence any where
to be found. On this account, it has long been a
favorite place of fashionable resort, especially
for visitors from the south. Within a few years
past, a number of large and splendid hotels have
been erected, affording the best accommodations
that could be desired for all who come; so that,
in this respect, Newport is now the rival of Sar-
atoga itself.

The largest of these establishments are the
Ocean House, situated at the S. end of Bellevue
Street; the Atlantic House, at the head of Pelham
Street; and the Bellevue House, having its most
extensive front on Catharine Street. The Ocean
House was first built in 1843, by a company,
which has since been incorporated by the legis-
lature of Rhode Island. In August, 1845, this
edifice was entirely burnt to the ground; and
in the following autumn and winter, it was re-
built with great additions to its extent and
splendor. These are the most extensive estab-
lishments, for the entertainment of company, in
town ; but there are a number of others, where
boarders are handsomely accommodated, and for
a few weeks in summer they are all generally
filled.

Newport is rendered attractive not only by its
cool and salubrious climate, but also by several
objects of curious interest to the lovers of anti-
quarian research ; its splendid beaches, adapted
in the highest degree to the luxury of surf bath-
ing ; its abundant means of enjoyment for those
who are fond of the pleasures of sailing or
fishing in its secure and capacious bay and har-
bor; and the many beautiful rides over the
area of the island in the rear of the town, upon
roads of the finest description, and amidst the
beautiful shrubbery and verdure, which its rich
soil and moistened atmosphere sustain in fresh
luxuriance.

Among the antiquities of Newport is what is
commonly called the Old Stone Mill; which
is one of the very few works of human structure
in our country, the origin and design of which
are involved in impenetrable mystery. That it
may have been once fitted up and used for a mill,
is perhaps probable, from the fact that it is men-
tioned in the will of Governor Benedict Arnold,
who, in 1657, succeeded to Roger Williams in
the government of Rhode Island, as “my old
stone-built wind mill; '' but that the structure
wa? originally intended for such a purpose, is
what few, considering its peculiar configuration
and unknown antiquity, will be able to believe.
There is no record, nor any traditionary legend,
worthy of credit, to satisfy inquiry concerning
the date, design, or artificers of this curious edi-
fice. These points have occasioned much specu-
lation ; but all has been vain as to any satisfac-
tory result.

This building, which, besides the above name,
is frequently called the Old Tower, and the
Newport Ruin, is a circular tower, 23j feet in
diameter, and 28£ feet high, composed of irregu-
lar, rough stones, said to bear no affinity to the
rocks of the island. The body of this building
is elevated upon 8 round pillars of the same
material, arches being turned between the pillars.
The height of these pillars is about 10 feet. The
walls of the tower above are 18 inches thick,
having one narrow loophole on the N., one on
83
the W., and one on the S. sides. On the E. side
is a fireplace, with its flue in the wall. The
roof and floors, if any it had, were of perishable
materials, and are gone, leaving the interior
open to the sky. It stands on a vacant lot upon
the hill, a little E. of Spring Street, and between
Pelham and Mill Streets. It has been supposed,
by some, to have been built by the Northmen for
a religious use; others have maintained that it
was reared by the early inhabitants, as a place of
refuge and defence against the Indians. The
former of these hypotheses is of course conjec-
tural, and the latter seems intrinsically improb-
able.