,140 MARYLAND^ 



a senate, chosen by electors, who are elected by the freemen, every 

 fifth year, two from each county, and one from each of the cities of 

 Annapolis and Baltimore. The governor is elected by ballot, by the 

 senate and house of delegates; and cannot continue in office longer 

 than three years successively. All freemen above twenty-one years 

 of age, having a freehold of fifty acres, or property to the value of 

 thirty pounds, have a right of suffrage in the election of delegates, 

 which is performed viva voce. All persons appointed to any office of 

 profit and trust, arp to subscribe a declaration of their belief in the 

 Christian religion. The state is represented in the general congress 

 by two senators and nine representatives. 



Religion. ...The, Roman-catholics were the first settlers in Mary- 

 land, and are more numerous here than in all the other states. Be- 

 sides these there are Episcopalians, English, Scotch, and Irish Pres- 

 byterians, German Calvinists, German Lutherans, Friends, Baptists, 

 Methodists, Mennonists, Nicolites, or new Quakers; who all enjoy 

 liberty of conscience. The Presbyterians are supposed to be most 

 numerous 



Colleges. ...The seminaries of learning in this state are as follows : 

 Washington Academy, in Somerset county, which was instituted by 

 law in 1779. Washington College, instituted at Chester town in 

 Kent county in 1782. By a law enacted in 1787, a permanent fund 

 was granted to this institution, of 1250/. a year currency. St. John's 

 College was instituted in 1784, to which a permanent fund is assign- 

 ed of 175/. a year, j This college is to be at Annapolis, where a build- 

 ing is now prepared for it. Very liberal subscriptions were obtained 

 towards founding and carrying on these seminaries. The two colle- 

 ge s constitute one university, by the name of "The University of 

 Maryland," whereof the governor of the state for the time being is 

 chancellor, and the principal of one of them vice-chancellor. The 

 Roman-catholics have also erected a college at Georgetown on Po- 

 tomac river for the promotion of general literature In 1785 the 

 Methodists instituted a college at Abington in Harford county, by 

 the name of Cokesbury College, which has since been destroyed by 

 fire, ?nd never rebuilt. 



History. ...Maryland, like the provinces we have formerly de- 

 scribed, owes its settlement to religious considerations. As they, 

 however, were peopled by Protestants, Maryland was originally 

 planted by Roman-catholics. This sect, towards the close of Charles 

 the First's reign, was the object of great hatred to the bulk of the 

 English nation ; and the laws in force against the Papists were exe- 

 cuted with great severity. This in part arose from an opinion, that 

 the court was too favourably disposed towards this form of religion, 

 t is certain that many marks of favour were conferred on the Ro- 

 man-catholics. Lord Baltimore was one of the most eminent, in great 

 favour with the court, and on that account most odious to the gene- 

 rality of the English. This nobleman, in 1632, obtained a grant from 

 Charles of that country, which formerly was considered as a part of 

 Virginia, but was now called Maryland, in honour of Queen Henri- 

 etta Maria, daughter to Henry IV, of France, and spouse to king 

 Charles. The year following, about 200 popish families, some of 

 considerable distinction, embarked with lord Baltimore, to enter into 

 possession of this new territory. These settlers, who had that libe- 

 rality and good breeding which distinguish gentlemen of every reli- 

 gion, bought their lands at an easy price from the native Indians j 



