REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF THE NARRAGANSETT TRIBE OF INDIANS. OFFICE COMMISSIONER OF THE INDIAN TRIBE. Dear Sir-In accordance with your communication, of November 24th, soliciting information relating to the Charlestown Indians, I have the honor to make the following REPORT: The number of persons at present claiming Indian descent, or regarding themselves as such, is one hundred and twenty-two. Of which number, fifty-two are males, and seventy are females. The whole number is divided into thirty-four families, with an average of about four members to the family. The greatest number in any one family, is eleven; and five families consist of only a single member each. In taking the average ages of the several families, I have designated them by numbers, as follows: The following table exhibits the degrees of consanguinity to the original Indian tribe, by number of family, and the number of persons in each family: The occupany is as follows: 75 occupy individual Indian land. Indian land formerly, or land of citizens held land owned by citizens of town. The quantity of Indian lands owned by individuals, taken principally by estimation, (some tracts having been surveyed,) amounts to 1,908 acres. Of this, 1,324 acres is timber and swamp land; and the remainder, 584 acres, is suitable for agricultural purposes. The amount of individual lands under cultivation the present year, in corn, oats, potatoes and garden vegetables, as given by the members, is sixty acres. The public lands, or those regarded as such, consist of the following tracts, and contain by estimation and survey, 777 acres, with the estimated value of each, per acre: Suitable for agricultural purposes, Timber and swamp land Amount of valuation Average value per acre Income of rents the present year 777 acres. 29 acres. 748 acres. $3,368 00 With regard to the tribe, as a community, they are evidently becoming more industrious, sober and moral; and in education, the pupils of the school, are making fair progress. Of the whole number of persons belonging to the tribe, (122,) twenty-eight can read and not write; forty can read and write; leaving fifty-four who can neither read nor write. Respectfully submitted by JOSEPH H. GRIFFIN, Commissioner of the Indian Tribe. His Excellency ELISHA DYER, Governor State Rhode Island. STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, Providence, February 14th, 1859. To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives : Gentlemen-Accompanying this, is the "Report of the Special Commissioners," appointed by this department, on the twenty-seventh day of October last, to visit and examine the Warwick Bank, in the county of Kent, and to which reference was made in a previous executive communication. The length of time which has elapsed, since this commission was first instituted, and the fact, that the bank has been transferred, for evidently fraudulent purposes intended during the existence of the commission, have been subjects of general surprise and remark. But a reference to that portion of their report, relating to the powers of these gentlemen, satisfactorily explains the cause of the delay, and their inability to prevent the consummation of a most reprehensible transaction; and one, which had been previously attempted, to the injury of the public at large, and more especially to the other banking institutions of this state, by compromising abroad the reputation and credit, necessary to their existence. The present law thus appears insufficient. And as this defect is very plainly indicated in the report herewith transmitted, your attention is respectfully directed to, and solicited for, its amendment. There are other important subjects referred to by these gentlemen, in connection with the discharge of their duty, which justifies the recommendation, that these papers should be printed, for the more general examination, by the members of this General Assembly. ELISHA DYER. REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMISSIONERS ON THE WARWICK BANK. To the Honorable General Assembly, January Session, A. D. 1859. The undersigned Special Commissioners, appointed by His Excellency the Governor, on the 27th of October last, to visit and examine the Warwick bank, in the county of Kent, for the purpose of ascertaining the state and condition thereof, and whether the same had been managed according to law,-in accordance with the requirements of 44th section of chapter 273 of an act relating to Banks and Institutions for Savings, respectfully REPORT: That the said Warwick bank was one of the old chartered banks, (so called,) no personal liability attaching to its stockholders for its indebtedness, and that while confined to legitimate banking, it was affording no adequate profits to its stockholders, and was therefore, the more liable to be sold out to irresponsible parties, in order to obtain a |