“What induced your father to leave Ireland and settle at Newport?” “That reason was my father’s secret, your Honor, and not mine.” “Well, my lad, return to your station, and whatever may be your change of condition hereafter, I hope you will continue to do your duty faithfully till you shall be discharged.” “Your Honor may rely on that!” The foregoing anecdote was told by De Courcy, many years after, to Captain Benjamin Pearce of Rhode Island who dined with him at Kinsale. The Baron always entertained great affection for Newport, his native place. It is told of him that no Rhode Islander ever, to his knowledge, came within fifty miles of his residence without being invited to partake of his hospitality. To Captain Beard of Newport his former commander, he annually sent a cask of rare old wine. For years the people of Newport took a special interest in all that concerned their distinguished townsman, The Right Honorable Thomas de Courcy, Lord Baron Kinsale. INTERESTING REMINISCENCES OF NEWPORT, R. I. Edward Thurston writing from Newport, R. I., March 5, 1767, to James Coggeshall informs the latter that “Mac Gee the baker has failed.” Mac Gee was, no doubt, quite an important personage in the community. Under date of November 15, 1764, is recorded at Newport the marriage of “John Robinson of Ireland and Mary Cawdry of Newport.” Rev. Ezra Stiles performed the ceremony. Richard Field, a native of Dublin, Ireland, resided in Newport. He died in 1769. Another prominent Newport family were the Dillons. James Dillon was a native of the County Roscommon. His wife died at Newport in 1799 and was laid away in Trinity churchyard. Thomas Green advertised in the Newport _Mercury_, August, 1772, that he had for sale Irish poplins, sheetings, and other goods. He also announces “Lately come to hand, a trunk of choice Irish linens.” In May, 1793, Thomas Green & Son advertise in the _Mercury_ that “at the sign of the buck, near the red market” they have for sale, Irish linens and muslins “at 14½d. and upward.” In the _Mercury_ of April 27, 1772, appears a legal notice regarding “the estate of Edward Keeney, late of Newport, shipwright, deceased.” Students of Irish names will recognize in Keeney a typical one. Moses M. Hays, a Hebrew, advertises under date of August 3, 1772, that he has, among other goods, “a few barrels of Irish beef for sale.” That is, beef from Ireland.