Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1837, by James Lucas & E. K. Deaver, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Maryland.

Lucas & Deaver, printers.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Cecilius, lord Baltimore, prepares for sending out a colony-The Virginians pe-

tition against his charter-Decision thereupon against them-Lord Baltimore

appoints his brother to conduct the colony-Their arrival in the Chesapeake―

Their reception by the Virginians-They explore the Patowmack-The gover-

nor fixes upon St. Mary's for the first settlement-Circumstances favorable to

them-Proceedings of the colonists after landing-Great harmony between

the natives and colonists-Interrupted by Clayborne and his party-The first

assembly called and held-Clayborne resorts to open military force-The lord

proprietor's instructions relative to grants of lands—Grants of small lots in the

town of St. Mary's-The nature of the first form of government of the colony

-An ordinance for that purpose-Proclamation in England against emigration

-The isle of Kent reduced to lord Baltimore's government-The county of

St. Mary's organized—An assembly of the province called-The second as-

sembly of the province meet-The assembly take into consideration the laws

sent in by the proprietor―The laws sent rejected-Courts of justice meet-

Proceedings therein against Clayborne's party-The inhabitants of the isle of

Kent refuse to submit-Governor Calvert proceeds with a military force against

them-Secretary Lewger authorised to hold the assembly-Act of attainder

against William Clayborne-Trial of Thomas Smith, one of Clayborne's men

-Inquiry by the assembly into the conduct of captain Cornwallis-Resolu-

tion of the assembly relative to servants-The assembly dissolved-The lord

proprietor refuses his assent to the laws enacted by the assembly-William

Clayborne's petition to the king in council, and order thereupon-The nature

of the provincial traffic with the Indians-Their coasting trade-Their trade

to Europe-The state of religion among the colonists-The nature of the ad-

ministration of justice with them,

CHAPTER II.

23

Lord Baltimore assents to the right of the assembly to originate laws-An as-

sembly of the province called—Their proceedings-The constitutional act for

establishing the house of assembly-The house sit as a court of justice, and

adjudge several cases civil and criminal-The general act, ordaining certain

laws for the government, to wit, for securing the rights of holy church-for

prescribing an oath of allegiance to his majesty-for securing the rights and

prerogatives of the lord proprietary-for securing the rights and liberties of the

people for the better administration of justice and conservation of the peace

-Some particular laws for the punishment of crimes-as for treasons, felonies,

and enormous offences-Laws for erecting courts of justice-A court of admi-

ralty-County courts-Court of Chancery-A pretorial court-The authority

and jurisdiction of justices of peace-the particular offences under their cog-

nizance-Inferior executive officers-the administration of justice in the isle

of Kent more particularly regulated—Oaths of office prescribed-Officers for the