August 23d, 1819, at the age of thirty-four, he died of yellow fever, at Port Spain in the Island of Trinidad.  His remains were brought to Newport in a government ship, and were interred December 4th. 1826.  They were conducted to their final resting place by a funeral cortege such as up to that time had never been equalled and since that time has here never been surpassed.

This is but a glance at the man, and the event to which we are here to-day to rear this tribute of our gratitude.  There are other names and other figures that come up to view in the memory and gather around the name of Perry, of men who were efficient auxiliaries in the conflict, shared the dangers, and participated in the glory of the battle of Lake Erie, and who are inseparably connected with that event.

Turner, Taylor, Champlin, Almy, Breese, Brownell, and the acting fleet surgeon Parsons were from Rhode Island; Forest, Brook, Stevens, Hambleton, Yarnell and others not less distinguished, were from other states; and the gallant commander of the northwest-army, and his comrades in arms, whom Perry accompanied to the field on the 5th of October, in the battle of the Thames, where Perry’s victory was made complete by driving the organized forces of the enemy from upper Canada, are deserving of our remembrance to-day.

[Illustration:  THE NEW STATUE OF COMMODORE PERRY.]

To your Excellency the Governor, representing the people of Rhode
Island; To your Honor, the Mayor, representing the people of Newport:—­

The Committee charged with the duty of providing and erecting this statue of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, has performed the work committed to it, and through you dedicate it to the people of the State, and of this city you represent, as the result of its labors.  It is not for the committee to comment upon the statue which has been formed and erected under its direction, but with great satisfaction the artist’s finished work is submitted to the candid criticism of all who are capable of forming an intelligent judgment upon its merits.  Take the statue for those whom you represent, let it be kept as a cherished treasure by the people of the State at large, and especially by the people of the city of Newport.  Let no vandal hand deface the monumental bronze.  Let it stand defying the wastes of time and the power of the elements, keeping pace with history in its march through coming ages in recalling to each succeeding generation the man and the event which this statue is designed to commemorate, ever inspiring ihe young to patriotism, and solacing the aged with the reflection that a grateful people properly appreciate and appropriately reward their benefactors.  Let the ideal Perry shadow the passer by and from its high pedestal apparently cast a glance at each beholder, which shall penetrate and permeate his mind and heart, and possess him completely with the noble and generous purpose, and lofty soul which animated Perry on the occasion which the artist has undertaken to represent him.