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ANNALS OF ANNAPOLIS.

CHAPTER I.

Cecilius, Lord Baltimore, prepares for sending out a Colony-Ap. points his brother to conduct it-They depart from Cowes-Arrive in the Chesapeake-Sail up the Potomac-Fix upon St. Mary's for the first settlement-Reception by the Natives-Father Andrew White-Town of St. Mary's-The Capital of the Province-An Assembly called-Act of Virginia against dissenting MinistersThe Puritans leave Virginia-Take refuge in Maryland-And settle at Providence, now Annapolis-Oath of Fidelity-Mr. Thos. Greene appointed governor in the absence of Governor William Stone-He proclaims the Prince of Wales-The inhabitants of Providence prefer the dominion of the Commonwealth-Governor Stone returns-Calls an Assembly-The Puritans refuse to attendGovernor Stone visits Providence-Returns Burgesses to the Assembly-They attend-Providence organized into a County, called Anne Arundel-Murders committed by the Indians-Susquehanock Indians-Preparations against the Indians.

1632.

CECILIUS CALVERT, Lord Baron of Baltimore, having succeeded to the proprietary rights of his father, George Calvert, and having obtained possession of the charter* for the government of the province of Maryland, made his preparations for planting this colony. These preparations were begun in June, 1632.

The royal grant was given on condition that 'two Indian arrows of those parts' should be delivered at Windsor Castle, every year, on Tuesday, in Easter-week: and also, the fifth part of all the gold and silver which might be found within the province.

The difficulty of procuring and furnishing a sufficient number of colonists, with the necessary conveniences to enable them permanently to form their colony, caused some delay before their departure from England.

1633.

It was not until this year that the colonists were ready to embark on their voyage, and Lord Baltimore, who had originally designed to accompany them in person, changed his mind, and appointed his brother, Leonard Calvert, Esquire, to go in his stead, in the character of governor, or lieutenant-general.

On the 22d of November, 1633, they sailed from Cowes, in the Isle of Wight, and on the 24th of February, 1634, arrived off Point Comfort in Virginia. After entering the Potomac and sailing up

1634. that river about fourteen leagues, they came to an island called 'Heron Island,' and anchored under another neighbouring isle, to which they gave the name of 'St. Clements.' Here the governor landed, and setting up a cross, in the Roman Catholic manner, took formal possession of the country; 'for our Saviour and for our sovereign lord the king of England.' But the governor on reflection thinking it would not be advisable to settle so high up the river, in the infancy of the colony, determined to seek for a settlement further down. He, therefore, returned down the Potomac, taking captain Fleet with him. They proceeded to a small river on the north side of the Potomac, within four or five leagues of its mouth, which the governor called 'St. George's river.' Sailing up this river about four leagues, they came to an Indian town, called by the natives Yoamaco, from whence the tribe here inhabiting, was called 'Yoamacoes. The governor

having landed here, entered into a treaty with the Werowance, or chief of the tribe-who, with the natives, agreed to leave the whole town to the English, as soon as they could gather their corn; and which they faithfully performed. The governor then, on the 27th of March, 1634, caused the colonists to land, and according to the agreement, took possession of the town, which they named 'St. Mary's.'

Being thus favourably received by the Indian inhabitants, whose affections they had the good fortune to conciliate by the liberality of their conduct, they were soon enabled to purchase extensive tracts on the mostmoderate terms, and to settle their lands to the best advantage, without fear of molestation from the original possessors.

The following interesting article, The Pilgrims of Maryland,' taken from the Metropolitan Catholic Almanac,' for the year 1840, is here given for the gratification of the curious antiquarian. It is considered not to be out of place here to state that the general assembly of Maryland, at its December session of 1836, made a liberal appropriation for the purpose of procuring from Rome a transcript of the Narrative of Father Andrew White, which is deemed important to the elucidation of the early history of our state; and that the services of a distinguished gentleman of the order of the Jesuits, now in Rome, are kindly promised to obtain it for the library of the state.

THE PILGRIMS OF MARYLAND.

The student of American history must ever regret that so little has been done to furnish the particulars of the first settlement and early transactions of Maryland, by such as having been actors in those scenes, could have supplied the loss of the early records, destroyed in Ingle and Claiborne's rebellion, about ten years after the landing in 1634. Had Maryland been equally fortunate with her sister colonies, in the possession of her early records, she had not wanted an enlightened and impartial historian to present to the world the enterprizing and honourable actions, as she has with a masterly pen exhibited the just and liberal principles which distinguished the founders of this province.

Mr. McMahon, with a taste and industry worthy of his genius, has culled from the mouldering and neglected records in the archives of the state, all that they possessed of interest on this subject. The subsequent publication by the State, of the history of Maryland from its settlement to 1660, by Bozman, exhibits that patient and laborious scholar, after having devoted years of toil to his favourite work, unable to elucidate many important events, or to pourtray the characters of conspicuous individuals, for the want of authentic materials.

A gleam of hope remains that among the letters of the missionaries of the society of Jesus, who first preached the gospel in Maryland, may be found much interesting matter for a history of the early days of that state.

Enlightened scholars of every nation and creed have long appreciated those charming volumes, Lettres Edi

fiantes et Curieuses, which by their communications on civil and natural history, geography, astronomy, &c. &c. have added so much to the stores of learning, while their edifying accounts of religion have delighted all who esteem true virtue and admire the heroism of the soldiers of Christ.

A young American clergyman,* of the society of Jesus, while pursuing his studies at Rome, found in the archives of that distinguished body, various letters similar to those collected in Lettres Edifiantes, written by Father Andrew White, and other priests, who accompanied the first settlers of Maryland. He brought with him copious extracts from these documents, which having been accidently seen by John Bozman Kerr, Esquire, an active member of the house of delegates in this state, and an accomplished scholar, that gentleman proposed that the legislature should take measures to procure all the information on the early history of Maryland, which might be found in the archives of the Jesuits. A resolution was adopted, which, it is hoped, will result in producing important materials for the future historian.

The following abridgment of the extracts from Father White, contains many particulars, which, though not of great importance, are interesting to the curious, having never before been published. His descriptions of various countries and their productions, which are very particular in the original, are in most cases omitted here. The paper from which these extracts were made, is in Latin, in the archives of the society of Jesus, at Rome. It appears to have been written from the city of St. Mary's, within about a month after the The late Rev. William McSherry.

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