New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-02-20

sorry ard are unwilling to believe. II 10 much
10 be desired that some competent hand wced
furnish a concise but full and impartial stats-
ueut Of the relative merits az TO this matter
Of Ceeilius Lord Baltimore and Roger
Williams. and of the colonists Of Maryland
and those of Rhode Island. We have, at present
neither time nor space to 20 into this subjects bat
Mr.. Davis, il he will extend bis researches from
the archives OF Marya 20 those of Rhode Island,
will find that American Freedom had two day.
stars, and that the one which rose over Rhode
Island was not only much the brighter, but also
much the more persistent of the two. That Of
Rhode Island was real star which from its frss
appearance continued TO shine till it was loe' In the
dsy-break OF the American revolution That Of
MARYLAND was little more than meteor, now ap-
pearing and now vanishing aud soon lost IN th'ea
fog which lasted till the day-break already 'fe
ken OF.
OF Mr.. Daviss historical merits, we have cny
10 .sy that though his familiarity with the Old
records of Maryland is manifest; yet we DO as
acc that he has added any facts Of the slightes
historical interest 70 those already made paohc By
the industrious Bosnian and other Maryland hisic-
rians. The field is narrow, and it has been pretty
well CLEANED. The only exception when we nave
10 make of new matter of interest discoyerabe u
this volume is the statement which, though Mr..
Davis speaks of it as having been thousand times
asserted, We do not remember to have seen before
in print: THAT the blood of aboriginal chiefs is now
represented by the Brents, by the Goldsboroughs,
and by many other of our most distinguished fan-
lilies" and some of the details as TO manner
contained in tie following passsge-the best IN the
book. and which shows that Mr.. Davis can write
if he chooses with concise simplicity and elegance:
Under that mild form Of the feudal poity, which
from the fst prevailed in Maryland our ancestors ned
their lands as gin from the proprietary bore Wiling
allegiance. and paid very small rent Iner uue m
deed for all practical purposes, was equiValeht os
fee simple. little tract was given 10 each emgrani
and an addition quantity for every person ne nad
brought, or subsequently transported Tracts OF e.
thousand acres and upward were erected INTO hanon
under the proprietary, with the right gwen 70 the oe
of these limited territories to hold courts baron al
couIts-leet And we have the recorded eVdehced
the fact that upon St. Gabriels, and st. Cementsk
was exercised. The lord proprietary also, who bed
the whole province, by fealty Of the English crovs
pledged himself to deliver, every year " on Iussday
In Easter week at the royal castle of Windsor "two
Indian arrows and fifth of all the go d and silver
which might be " found.
TIE Government, in every essential particular was
a monarchy OF this, the charter is sufficient evi-
dence. Ii is true the proprietary was a subject Of the
English crown. But, under the feutal state OF society,
il was not unusal for prince to hold hls teroyot
another Scotland was once hef OF Engandi and
King John a vassal OF the Pope of Rome But no
powers were ever exercised with a more substantial
regard for the welfare of the coonss And practcsi
liberty did exist at the very foundation OF the colony
The privy councillors, and the lords OF manon
2..I 10. If
formed the class, IN which we ma the germ Q, .
nobility Below them, was considerable number
of planters who bore the title Of gentemen--as
large a class in Maryland, as in any other Angie
American colony-and the greater part oil them,
during the first twenty years, probably Roman CathV-
lies. Upon the small msnors, those held by the colo,
nsts were the tenants usually styled eeholders and
suitors and who unlike the gentlemen, rarely had the
prefix of Mr..
Three kinds of servitude prevailed, but all Of them
mild in their character, and honorable in high de-
gree to the master. Many emigrants, who had come
under an indenture. performed faithful service, and
then received their discharge, with comfortable oul-
fit few Indians also were held in state of sayery;
and negro slaves, although not many OF them were
introduced during the earliest period OF our history.
Subsequently TO the Protestant Revolution, conyce
from Euglend, it is certain were imported.
No towns of any commercial importance arose dur
ing the first sixty years St. Mays was never large
ard the only edifce of any pretcnsion was the STATE
House. The foundation of Annapolis was laid. That
city, then called landingJ and the one projected upon
South River were erected into ports of entry in 1888;
and the Eastern Shore were the little towns OF New
Yarmouth and York-the former upon branch OF the
Chester the latter is supposed upon some part 1.-THE
Wye But the necessity for many towns did not thenex'
ist The most striking feature upon the face Of society
was the plantations. Upon them were held some Oh
our eariest courts and councils. Hardly home or
tenement not approached by water; and our
Governors, Privy Councillors and County Cont Judges
were all Of them planters. The principal planters
were also the merchants who traded with London ana
the other great ports of England; and the large plants
tOns with their group of storehouses and other build
ings assumed the appearance and performed the once
OF little towns.
The currency of the province presents q good
key to the state Of society. In some contracts
none required. There was simply barter,9
an exchange Of one commodity for another. In
commercial transactions, a little English or ~
ropean coin was occasionally used. In the trsde
with the Indians for beaver.skins and other valuable
Articles the peake and the roanoke obtained tree GU
cuation; and good deal OF this kind OF currency vu
held by the coOnists. There was also a provineid
coin, consisting of silver, and issued by the proprietary
of various denominations, las greats, sxpences enc
shillings) having upon one SIDE his lordshps arm,
with the motto Cresctte ct Muhiplicamini upon The
other his image, with the circumscription CGcsa1
Dominus Ierre-Marte, &C.. being equal In finenes
to English sterling, and Of the same standard thougo
somewhat less in weight Specimens OF this cunou
money are preserved, very little OF which, there
reason to believe, coined tobacco being tte
most currency Of the Province, and one pound
of it, in 1850, worth about three-pence OF Enghs
money.
Our ancestors generally sat upon stools and form.
dined without forks but made free use OF the NAPKIN
and paid especial attention to the furnitare OF th0
bed-chambers The walls aso of their principal rooun
were wainscoted And they kept great deal OF neh
and massive silver plate upon which were carved ~
arms of their own ancestry. Tea and coffee t6g
rarely If ever tasted Sugar they sometimes had. b&
freely did they drink both cider and sack. And thas
isfrequent mention Of the silver sack cup StrongPase
and sack, il would seem, were their fayorite dnnsh
They had also eyery variety of fruit, both Tor ue