Name. Charles I. of England (in his patent to ford Baltimore, in 1632) gave the name of Maryland to this territory, in honor of his wife, Henrietta Maria, daughter of Henry the great of France and Navarre. It was then taken from Virginia.

History. This territory was originally included in the patent of the South-Virginia company, and considered as a part of Virginia, till June 20, 1632, when the patent was granted to Ceciliùs Calvert, lord of Baltimore, in Ireland. The proprietor offered 50 acres in fee to every emigrant, and gave equal privileges to all classes of Christians.

In 1634, the first colony, consisting of 200 Roman Catholics, planted itself on the north side of the Potowmac, at a place called St. Mary's. The first legislature was convened at St. Mary's in 1638, which divided the territory into baronies and manors, and passed a variety of laws. The next year the legislature passed a law establishing the house of assembly.

In 1642 a colony from Maryland took possession of the Schuylkill; but were immediately dispossessed by the Dutch from NewNetherlands. Owing to the intrigues of one Claiborne, the province was this year engaged in a calamitous Indian war.

In 1645 Claiborne raised a rebellion, and drove Calvert from the province.

The constitution of Maryland was settled in 1650; the legislature divided into two houses; and the province into three counties. Parliament violently assumed the government in 1652, and entrusted it to commissioners. A second insurrection took place in 1656, headed by one Fendal; and two years afterwards the commissioners surrendered to him the government. The next year the upper house of assembly was dissolved.

The government, in 1662, reverted to lord Baltimore; who reassumed the administration and established a mint.

The assembly encouraged the importation of negro slaves, in 1671. Maryland resisted the encroachments of parliament in 1769; and, in 1775, was forward in promoting the revolution; but did not sign the articles of confederation till 1781. The present constitution of the state was formed in August, 1776.

Religion. The number of Episcopalian churches in 1811 was 30, and of clergymen 35. The Presbyterians are believed to be more numerous. The Roman Catholics were the first settlers; and there are more of them in Maryland than in all the other states. The other denominations are Methodists, German Lutherans and Calvinists, Baptists, Friends, Mennonists, Nicolites, and Swedenborgians.

Government. The legislature is styled the general assembly, and consists of a senate and house of delegates. The senate is chosen by electors, who are elected by the freemen, (on the first Monday in September) every fifth year, two from a county and one from each of the cities of Annapolis and Baltimore. The electors meet at Annapolis, a fortnight after they are chosen; and elect, by ballot, 9 senators from the western shore, and 6 from the eastern; who hold their station 5 years. They must be 25 years of age; have resided the preceding 3 years in the state; and be worth above 1000l. The delegates are chosen annually on the first Monday in October. Four are sent by each county; and two from each of the two cities. They must be 21 years of age, residents in the county, or city, during the preceding year, and worth above 500%. The assembly meets annually on the first Monday in November. The privilege of voting is possessed by all white persons, who are 21 years of age, and have paid taxes. The governor is chosen annually, on the second Monday in November, by a joint ballot of both houses; and, on the same day, an executive council of 5 persons is chosen in the same manner, for the same time; who must have the same qualifications as senators. The governor must be 25 years of age, a resident the preceding 5 years, and worth 50001. of which 10007. must be freehold estate. He cannot be chosen but 3 years successively.

Population. The number of inhabitants was in the year

208,649 whites

1790103,036 slaves 319,728

8,043 free bl.

235,117 whites 1810 111,502 slaves

380,546

33,927 free bl.

Maryland is entitled to 9 representatives to congress.

In the two first national enumerations Maryland was the 6th state in point of population; and, in the third, the 8th. The increase of white inhabitants in the last 10 years was 18,791, or 8 per cent. and that of the blacks, 20,207, or 16 per cent.

Militia. The militia of this state amount to about 30,000, consisting of able bodied men, between 18 and 45, and organized in the manner they are in the other states.

Finances. The funds of Maryland on the first of November, 1811, amounted to $1,721,852.

The state, in 1804, recovered, in the court of chancery in England, a claim, amounting to about $800,000. Its funds are so large, that no state tax is imposed on the personal or landed property of the citizens.

Manners and Customs. The inhabitants, except in the populous towns, live on their plantations. They are made up of various nations of many different religious sentiments; few general observations, therefore, of a characteristical kind will apply. They owe little money as a state, and are willing and able to discharge their debts. Their credit is very good; and although they have so great a proportion of slaves, and possess a share of that pride that ever grows on slavery, yet a number of influential gentlemen have evinced their humanity and their disposition to abolish so disreputable a traffic, by forming themselves into a society for the abolition of negro slavery.

Literature. There are three college in this state, viz. Washington college, in Kent county; St. John's college, at Annapolis. These two colleges are well endowed and flourishing, and constitute, "The University of Maryland." The French Catholics have a college at Baltimore, with 70 or 80 students.

Washington academy, in Somerset county, is well endowed. Provision is made for free schools in most of the counties; though some are entirely neglected, and very few carried on with any success.

The legislature of this sate has lately appropriated $25,000 per annum for the encouragement and support of schools.

Chief Towns. BALTIMORE is the largest town in Maryland ; and the third in population, and the fourth in commercial importance, in the United States. It stands at the head of Patapsco bay, which sets up 18 miles N. W. from the Chesapeak. The situation of the town is low, and but moderately healthy. A creek falls into the head of the bay, dividing the town into two parts; the eastern and smallest of which is called the Old town. Four bridges are thrown over this creek. Many of the houses are well built. The population, in 1790, was 13,503; in 1800, 26,514; and in 1810, in the city 35,583, of whom 7686 were blacks; and in the precincts 10,972, of whom 2657 were blacks; total in the city and precincts 46,555, of whom 36,212 were whites, and 10,343 blacks. A considerable number of the inhabitants are French emigrants from Cape François, and many of them are Europeans. The commerce of Baltimore is very extensive, and is carried on with all parts of

the world. The exports in 1798, amounted to more than $12,000,000; and in 1805, the tons of shipping were 72,210. The Baltimore bank has a capital of $300,000. Lat. 39 21 N. long. 77 48 W.

ANNAPOLIS is 30 miles S. of Baltimore, on the S. bank of the Severn river, a small distance from its mouth. The statehouse is a noble edifice, and stands in the centre of the city. From this point the streets diverge in every direction, like the radii of a circle.

FREDERICKTOWN is a fine flourishing inland town, of upwards of 300 houses, built principally of brick and stone, and mostly on one broad street. It has 7 płaces of worship, beside other public buildings.

ELKTON is situated near the head of Chesapeak bay, on a small river, which bears the name of the town. It enjoys great advantages from the carrying trade between Baltimore and Philadelphia. The tide waters extend to this town.

Inland Navigation. A part of the Delaware and Chesapeak canai is to be in Maryland. The canals to improve the Potowmac are also undertaken by a company incorporated by the states of Maryland and Virginia. Chesapeak bay and the Susquehannah completely divide the state: the Potowmac is its southwestern boundary, and has been rendered navigable to the Shenandoah; so that no part of the state east of the Blue Ridge is more than 30 miles from navigable waters. Many of the creeks and arms of the Chesapeak are also navigable 20 or 30 miles into the country.

Manufactures. Wheat is manufactured into flour in Frederick County (where there are 80 grist mills) to a great extent. Here are also two glass works, two iron works, two furnaces, two paper mills, and 400 stills, which make vast quantities of rye whiskey; some single distilleries produce 12,000 gallons a year.

Commerce. The exports from Maryland, in 1779, amounted to $16,299,609; in 1804, to $9,151,939; and, in 1810, to $6,489,018. Flour is the staple of the state. Tobacco is also a most important article. The other exports are pig iron, lumber, maize to a considerable amount, and beans, pork, and flax seed in smaller quantities. The aggregate tonnage of this state, in 1805, was 108,040 tons, and in 1810, 153,786.

Face of the Country. The land, in the counties on the eastern shore of the Chesapeak, is generally level and low; and, in many places covered with stagnant water. On the western shore, the land, between the bay and the lowest falls of the rivers, is in great part level and free from stones. From these falls to the Blue Ridge, the country is successively uneven, hilly, and mountainous. It continues of this latter description thence to the western limit of the state. There are, however, several fine vallies between the western mountains along the course of the Youhiogany.

Soil and Agriculture. The soil of the good land in Maryland is of such a nature and quality as to produce from 12 to 16 bushels of wheat, or from 20 to 30 bushels of Indian corn per acre. Ten bushels of wheat, and 15 bushels of corn per acre are the annual average crops in the state at large.

Wheat and tobacco are the staple commodities.

Two articles are said to be peculiar to Maryland; the genuine white wheat which grows in Kent, Queen Ann's, and Talbot coun ties, on the eastern shore, and which degenerates in other places; and the bright kite's foot tobacco, which is produced on the Patuxent below Elkridge in Prince George's county.

Rivers. The Potowmac is the whole southwestern boundary of Maryland. The Susquehannah runs in the state about 16 miles, emptying at Havre de Grace. The Youhiogany flows near the western line of the state, running in it a northerly course of 40 miles. These have already been described.

The Patuxent rises a little N. of the parallel of Baltimore, and about 30 miles W. of that town. It runs S. E. and S. about 110 miles, to the Chesapeak, emptying between Drum and Cedar points. It admits vessels of 250 tons to Nottingham, 46 miles, and boats to Queen Ann, 14 miles farther.

The Patapsco heads in the northern part of the state, and runs S. and S. E. to Elkridge landing; where it falls down a moderate precipice, and, turning eastwardly, spreads into a broad stream, like a bay. It falls into Patapsco bay, at Whetstone point, about two miles below Baltimore, and is navigable to Elkridge landing, eight miles.

On the eastern shore the Pocomoke rises in Cypress swamp, and runs. S. and S. W. 40 miles, to Pocomoke bay.

The Wicomico runs S. W. about 20 miles.

The Nanticoke rises in the ridge of the peninsula, in Delaware; and runs S. S. W. 25 miles in that state, and 30 in Maryland. It is the largest river between the two bays.

The Choptank rises on the border of the same state, in the same ridge, and runs S. by W. 30 miles, and W. by N. 15. It is a broad navigable stream.

Chester and Sassafras rivers, flow north of the Choptank.

Elk river rises in Chester county, Pennsylvania, and runs E. of S. 22 miles to Elkton, where it receives the Little Elk from the N W. Thence it runs S. W. 13 miles to the Chesapeak, the whole of which it is navigable for vessels drawing 12 feet water.

Bays. Nearly two thirds of the length of the Chesapeak lies in Maryland. The creeks connected with it are nothing but branches of the Chesapeak from 10 to 20 miles long, with a little stream of fresh water flowing into the head of each. The largest of these bays on the western shore are Patapsco bay, and the mouth of Pa tuxent river.

Mountains. The various ridges of the Allegany mountains cross the western and narrow parts of this state.

Mineralogy. Iron ore, of an excellent quality is found in plenty in many parts of the state. Two beds of coal have been opened within a mile of the city of Baltimore.