THIS dissertation embodies the results of investigations
begun in the American History Seminary of Cornell Univer-
sity, under the guidance of Professor Moses Coit Tyler, and
completed in the School of Political Science of Columbia Uni-
versity, under Professor Herbert L. Osgood. The work was
undertaken in order to ascertain the facts of Rhode Island's
action from 1765 to 1790, and, if possible, to explain the fact
that Rhode Island so long delayed her ratification of the
Federal Constitution. The subject was suggested by read-
ing an address by Mr. Justice Horatio Rogers of the Su-
preme Bench of Rhode Island, on "Rhode Island and the
Federal Constitution."

The materials for such a study are in some directions
scanty. The printed sources used were largely found in the
libraries of Cornell and Columbia Universities. The manu-
script sources were found in the archives of the State of
Rhode Island, preserved in the State House at Providence,
and in the collection of the Rhode Island Historical Society.
Volumes of early laws were consulted at the Lenox Library,
New York City. Newspaper files which were of constant as-
sistance were found at the cabinet of the Rhode Island His-
torical Society, and at the rooms of the American Antiqua-
rian Society, Worcester, Mass. Citations have been made
of all authorities employed. Those to manuscripts are fre-
quently unsatisfactory, as many, especially in the state ar-
chives, are imperfectly paged.

Many thanks are due to Professor Moses Coit Tyler for

-v-