RESTRICTIONS ON COMMERCE.

43

and navigated by crews, of which the master and threefourths of the mariners should be English subjects, under the penalty of forfeiture of ship and cargo; that none but natural born subjects, or such as had been naturalized, should exercise the occupation of merchant, or factor, in any English settlement, under the penalty of forfeiture of goods and chattels; that no sugar, tobacco, cotton, wool, indigo, ginger, or woods used in dyeing, produced or manufactured in the colonies, should be shipped from them to any other country than England; and to secure the observance of this regulation, the owners were required, before sailing, to give bonds, with surety, for sums proportioned to the rate of their vessels. Other articles of merchandise were subsequently added to the list, as they became important to the colonial trade.

As some compensation to the colonies for these commercial restrictions, they were allowed the exclusive privilege of supplying England with tobacco, the cultivation of which was prohibited in England, Ireland, Guernsey, and Jersey. In 1663, the navigation act was enlarged, by prohibiting the importation of European commodities into the colonies, except in vessels laden in England, and navigated and manned according to the provisions already quoted.

This colonial system was considered highly conducive to the interests of England; and was, of course, popular in that country; but it was felt to be unjust and injurious to the colonists, and excited their indignation, as well as a determination to evade it in every possible way.

The Virginians, who had naturally expected distinguishing favours from the restored government, were highly exasperated at this selfish and cruel attack upon their prosperity. They remonstrated against it as a grievance, and petitioned for relief. But Charles, instead of listening to their request, enforced the act with the utmost rigour, by erecting forts on the banks of the principal rivers, and appointing vessels to cruise on the coast. Relief was sought by entering into a clandestine trade with the Dutch, on Hudson river. This, however, was of trifling importance. A conspiracy for throwing off the yoke of England, which has received the name of Birkenhead's plot, was entered into by some banished

What were the provisions of the navigation act ?-What was allowed to the colonists?-How was the colonial system regarded in England! How in America ?-What was done by the Virginians?-By Charles II?

44

DISCONTENT OF THE VIRGINIANS.

soldiers of Cromwell; but it was easily suppressed by the prudence of Sir William Berkeley, and the leaders were executed. (1663.)

The discontents growing out of the commercial restrictions, however, continued; and in 1675, a formidable rebellion broke out, under the conduct of Nathaniel Bacon, who, having been elected general of the colonial forces for terminating an Indian war, quarrelled with the governor and assembly about confirming his appointment by commission, and finally directed his forces against the government so successfully, that the governor was obliged to retire to Acomac, on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake. These high-handed measures were followed by a civil war, which lasted seven months, cost the province many valuable lives, and a large amount of property, and was only terminated by the sudden death of Bacon. His decease dispersed the insurgents, and a general amnesty restored peace to the colony.

The succeeding period in the history of Virginia is marked with few incidents of importance. The succession of the different governors, and the continuance of the commercial restrictions, are the only circumstances of note during the subsequent portion of the reign of Charles II and that of James II.

The revolution of the British government, which took place in 1688, was highly beneficial to Virginia, in common with the other American colonies. The new sovereigns, William and Mary, gave their patronage and their name to a college which had been projected in the preceding reign, and which is to this day one of the most respectable literary seminaries in the country.

The political freedom, which the revolution confirmed and established in England, extended many of its blessings to Virginia. The province became less dependent on the will of the sovereign; and although he had still the appointment of the governors, the influence of the colonial assemblies was sufficient to restrain those functionaries within such boundaries of authority as were requisite for the well being of the colony. Favouritism and religious intolerance disappeared; and a better understanding prevailed with the other provincial governments. The population had increased to upwards of 60,000 What was done by Birkenhead and others?-What is said of Bacon? -What ended his rebellion ?-How did his followers proceed after his death-What was the effect of the revolution of 1688, on the affairs of Virginia ?-What was the population ?

SETTLEMENT OF MARYLAND.

45

souls; and the increasing healthfulness of the settlements promised a still more rapid augmentation of their numbers. In 1688, the province contained forty-eight parishes, embracing upwards of 200,000 acres of appropriated land. Each parish contained a church, with a parsonage house and glebe attached; and each clergyman was by law assigned a salary of 16,000 pounds of tobacco. Episcopacy continued to be the established religion; but dissenters were increasing so rapidly, that before the American revolution they amounted to twothirds of the whole population. The statutes against them, though unrepealed, had become a dead letter.

CHAPTER IX.

SETTLEMENT OF MARYLAND.

By its second charter, Virginia included the whole territory which at present forms the state of Maryland. The country was explored by the Virginia settlers as early as 1621; a settlement was formed, and a trade with the Indians in furs established. An attempt was made to monopolise this trade, by William Clayborne, a man of active and turbulent disposition, who long exerted an extensive and injurious influence over the fortunes of the rising state.

He had come out from England as a surveyor in 1621, and had sustained important offices in Virginia till 1629, when he was employed to survey the Chesapeake Bay. The information which he obtained in executing this undertaking, induced him to form a company in England for trading with the Indians; and he obtained a royal license, giving him the direction of an expedition for this purpose, in 1631. Under these auspices, trading establishments were formed on Kent Island, in Maryland, and also near the mouth of the Susquehannah. Clayborne's authority was confirmed by a commission from the government of Virginia, and that colony claimed the advantages which were expected to result from commer

In what state was Maryland originally included ?-What was done in 1621-Who was William Clayborne ?-How was he employed in 1629?-In 1631 --Where did he form trading establishments?-Under what colonial government did he act?

46

CHARTER OF MARYLAND.

cial speculation, extending far to the north of the present limits of the state of Virginia.

But a distinct colony was now formed on her borders under the auspices of the Calvert family. Sir George Calvert, a Roman Catholic nobleman, of enlarged capacity and liberal views, had become interested in American colonisation. He had spent a large amount of time and money in unsuccessful attempts to form settlements on Newfoundland. In 1628, he visited Virginia; but was deterred from settling within its limits by the intolerance of the colonial government towards his religious opinions. He therefore turned his attention to the country beyond the Potomac; and, finding it at the disposal of the King of England, he easily obtained from him a charter for colonising it. This charter was of a liberal character, affording ample guarantees for the freedom of the colonists, and the rights and privileges of the proprietary. The boundaries which it prescribed were the Atlantic Ocean, the fortieth parallel of north latitude, the meridian of the western fountain of the Potomac, the river itself from its mouth to its source, and a line drawn due east from Watkin's Point to the ocean. The name given to the new colony was Maryland, in honour of Henrietta Maria, daughter of Henry IV of France, and wife of Charles I of England.

The charter assigned the country to Calvert, Lord Baltimore, his heirs and assigns, as absolute lord and proprietary, on payment of a feudal rent of two Indian arrows and one-fifth of all gold and silver ore which might be discovered. The right of legislation was given to the emigrants who should settle on the soil. They were also protected from injury by the proprietary, to their lives, liberty, or estates.

Although Sir George Calvert was a Roman Catholic, he allowed the most perfect religious liberty to the colonists under his charter; and Maryland was the first state in the world in which complete religious freedom was enjoyed. All English subjects, without distinction, were allowed equal rights in respect to property and religious and civil franchises. A royal exemption from English

Under whose auspices was a distinct colony formed ?-Who was Sir George Calvert?-What prevented his settling in Virginia?-For what country did he obtain a charter ?-From whom?-What did it afford ?— What were the boundaries of the new colony ?-What was its name?What were the terms of the charter 1-What religious rights were allowed by Calvert ?-What is observed of Maryland?

SETTLEMENT OF ST. ARY'S.

47

taxation was another singular privilege obtained by Lord Baltimore for the people of his colony. All the extraor dinary features of his charter owe their origin to the political foresight and sagacity of this remarkable man.

Before the patent was executed, Sir George Calvert died, and was succeeded by his son, Cecil Calvert, the second Lord Baltimore; who became the proprietor of Maryland, and transmitted his proprietary rights to many generations of his heirs.

Virginia remonstrated against what she considered an infringement of her rights and an invasion of her territory; but the remonstrance was disregarded at court; and in November, 1633, Leonard Calvert, the brother of Lord Baltimore, sailed from England with about two hundred Roman Catholics, for America. He arrived in February, of the following year, at Point Comfort, in Virginia, and was courteously received by the governor, Harvey. From this Point, he sailed up the Potomac to the Indian town of Piscataqua, nearly opposite Mount Vernon; the chieftain of which told him he might use his own discretion about settling in his country." Calvert, however, chose a site lower down the river, at the Indian town of Yoacomoco, on the St. Mary's river, which he named St. George's river. The Indians were induced, by presents, to give them up half the town, and promise the abandoment of the whole after harvest. Quiet possession of the place was accordingly taken by the colonists, and the town was named St. Mary's.

The Indians now entered into a permanent treaty with the settlers; their women taught the wives of the English to make bread of maize, and the men instructed their visiters in the arts of the chase. The ground being already tilled, and a supply of food and cattle from Virginia being always within reach, the province advanced rapidly in wealth and industry. In six months it had increased more than Virginia had done in as many years. The proprietary was liberal in his disbursements; spending forty thousand pounds in the first two years.

In 1635, the first colonial assembly was convened, and passed laws for protecting its rights against the encroachments of Clayborne. He had made an attack on the colonists on one of the rivers near the isle of Kent; but

Who was his successor?-What was done by Virginia ?-Who was sent out with the settlers under the charter of Maryland ?-Where did he arrive?-Where did he settle ?-What is said of the Indians ?-Of the increase of the colony ?—Of the proprietary}