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proprietor was excluded from all share in the government. He was offered, and finally accepted, the sum of 570,000 dollars, in discharge of all quit-rents due from the inhabitants.

CHAPTER X.

MARYLAND.

DURING the reign of James the First, the laws against Roman Catholics were severe and the popular hatred was inveterate. Lord Baltimore, a distinguished member of that sect, resolved, in consequence, to remove from England to Virginia, believing that he might there enjoy his religious opinions, without violating the laws or incurring reproach. But the people among whom he came to reside, were almost as intolerant as those he had left, and he soon found it necessary to seek some other asylum.

Having ascertained that the territory on both sides of Chesapeake bay, was inhabited only by the natives, he conceived the project of planting there a colony for himself, and for all who might wish to retire from religious persecution. He explored the country, returned to England, obtained the assent of King Charles the First to a grant of territory, but died before the requisite formalities were completed.

Cecil, his eldest son, and heir to his estate and title, obtained for himself the grant intended for his father. To the new colony the name of Maryland was given, in honour of Henrietta Maria, the royal consort of Charles. The land conveyed being within the boundaries of Virginia, the planters in that province remonstrated against the grant. The king refusing to rescind it, Lord Baltimore made preparations to commence a settlement. He appointed his brother, Leonard Calvert, governor; who, near the close of the year 1633, sailed for America, accompanied by about two hundred emigrants, mostly Roman Catholics.

They arrived in February, 1634, at the mouth of the river Potomac. At a conference with the Indians who dwelt on the shore, they purchased Yoamaco, a considerable village, the site of which St. Mary's now occupies. By this measure, wise as well as just, the rightful proprietors of the soil were satisfied, convenient habitations and some cultivated land were obtained, and the first settlers were of course exempted from the miseries of famine, and from the diseases which it produces.

Other circumstances favoured the rapid population of the colony. The charter granted more ample privileges than had ever been conceded to a subject; the country was inviting; the natives were friendly; from the south churchmen drove puritans, from the north puritans drove churchmen, into her borders, where all were freely received, protected, and cherished.

The charter granted to the inhabitants the privilege of passing laws either by themselves or

representatives, without reserving to the crown, as had been done in all previous charters, the right to reject the laws só passed: At first, when the freemen were few in number, each attended in person, or authorized some other freeman, who chose to attend, to vote and act in his stead. The increase of population soon rendered it necessary to adopt a different mode of legislation. In 1639, an act was passed, constituting a "house of assembly," to be composed of such as should be chosen by the people, of such as should be summoned or appointed by the proprietor, and of the governor and secretary. These were to sit together, and the laws which they should enact were to possess the same validity, as though the proprietors and all the people had concurred in enacting them.

In 1650, a second alteration was made. The legislative body was divided into two branches, the delegates chosen by the people constituting the lower house, and the persons summoned by the proprietors, the upper house. It ought to be stated, for the honour of Lord Baltimore and his associates, that, while the catholics retained the ascendency in the province, the assembly passed no law abridging the liberty of conscience.

But this colony, as well as all the others, in the early period of their existence, was afflicted with intestine troubles. They were principally caused by one William Clayborne. While a member of the Virginia council he had obtained a license from the king, to traffic in those parts of America where no other person enjoyed the exclusive right

of trade. Under this license, he had made a small settlement on the island of Kent, and, when the grant was made to Lord Baltimore, refused to submit to his authority. He persuaded the natives that the "new comers were Spaniards, and enemies to the Virginians. An Indian war was the consequence, which continued several years, aud was productive of considerable distress.

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Clayborne was indicted and convicted of murder, piracy, and sedition; and fleeing from justice, his estate was confiscated. He applied to the king for redress, but after a full hearing, was dismissed without obtaining any order in his favour. When the civil war, between the king and parliament, began, he embraced the cause of the latter, returned to Maryland, and, by his intrigues fomented, in 1645, a rebellion against its rulers, who were attached to the royal cause. Calvert, the governor, was compelled to fly to Virginia, and the insurgents seized the reins of government. The next year, however, the revolt was suppressed and tranquillity restored.

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But after the parliament had triumphed over the king, they appointed commissioners for "reducing and governing the colonies within the bay of Chesapeake." Among these was Clayborne, the evil genius of Maryland. The proprietor, consenting to acknowledge the authority of parliament, was permitted to retain his station, but was unable to preserve tranquillity. The distractions of England, finding their way into the colony, occasioned a civil war, which ended in the discomfiture of the governor and Roman Catholics.

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The next assembly, which was entirely under the influence of the victorious party, ordained that persons professing the Catholic religion should not be considered within the protection of the laws. Thus were they ungratefully persecuted by men whom they had taken to their bosom, and in a colony which they had founded. Laws unfavourable to the quakers were also enacted; and here, as in England, the upper house was voted to be useless. At the restoration, in 1660, Philip Calvert was appointed governor, and the ancient order of things restored. The colony then contained about twelve thousand inhabitants.

In 1676, died Cecil, Lord Baltimore, the father of the province. For more than forty years, he had directed its affairs as proprietor, and displayed, in all his conduct, a benevolent heart and enlightened understanding. Although he lived in an age of bigotry, he was liberal in his opinions; and for all his exertions to contribute to the happiness of his fellow beings, he desired no reward but their gratitude. This reward he received. The records of the Maryland assembly contain frequent memorials of the respect and affection of the people. He was succeeded, as proprietor, by his eldest son, Charles, who had, for several years, been governor of the colony, and displayed the same amiable qualities which had rendered his father respected and beloved.

In the year 1689, the epoch of the revolution in England, the repose of Maryland was again dis-turbed. A rumour was artfully circulated, that the Catholics had leagued with the Indians to

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