The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-03-17

der vi. This line of hundred leagues,
however, did not satisfy Portugal, and
consequently commission was appoint
ed, of three members from each country
with plenipotentiary power, who carried
the line 270 degrees further west, a most
fortunate circumstance for Portugal, as
by accidental discovery in 1899 Brazil tell
to her lot, lying as it did within the lines
given.
As soon as the success of Columbus
became known, and the existence of an
other world became determined, we find
Henry VII sending out an expedition
under the direction of the CabOts, and
securing for himself title under the
law of nations, to the Atlantic coast of
North America, which was afterward
covered with English colonies. But dur
ing the sixteenth century, when Spain
was extending her American. empire,
there was general apathy and I'M ivity
on the part of the English in regard to
colonization of America During the
sixteenth century Germany, Holland,
Switzerland and England were agitated
by religious discussion, controversy and
persecution, so that any line of policy in
regard to colonization indicated by
Henry VII. and Henry VIII. was quick
submerged in the wild waters of relig
ious excitement 1t was not until the
subject of religion had been settled,
when the Protestant Church of England,
with Protestant doctrines, had been
definitely established in the days of Eliz-
abeth and James l., that the English
people turned their attention to the
Western World. Then began the Protes-
tant settlements in the domain of the
vast territory which the Pope, by the au-
thority granted in the blessed Peter, had
given to Spain.
In the second lecture we find an inter
esting comparison of the charters of the
different colonies. The third contains
an analysis of the Maryland charters and
of the characters of the first and second
Lords Baltimore. The father, George
Calver, first Lord Baltimore was born
about 1880. In early manhood he en-
tered political life AID was honored by
James |. with many proofs of his conf
dence. He had always an eye to bust
ness, so that there was hardly a foreign
enterprise prosecuted in which he had
not an interest, colonization being a
speciality with him. He was one of the
original associates of the Virginia Com
pany and continued so until 1920. In 1909
and 1914 he put money in tho East India
Company. In 1922 he was member of
the New England Company. In 1920 he
bought an extensive plantation in New
foundland which he.named Avalon, and
in 1923 secured a charter for this, Great,
ing it province and giving him almost
royal honors and prerogatives. In the
year 1882 we find him obtaining the prov
ince of Maryland, though dying before
the gift was finally completed. In 1921
the king granted him 23OO acres of land
in Ireland. which he endeavored to colo
nize. All these transactions indicate
that he was business man of great en-
terprise and business intelligence. 1t is
sometimes claimed that he sought to es-
tablish colony in Maryland as a refuge
for the members of his church and relig-
ious faith and on this account an attempt
has been made to Iglorify him and lift
him up aboye the narrow views that be-
Titled the whole religiousImind of that
day. But for over twenty years he had
been engaged in this very business of
colonization. In 1920 he bought estates
as we have seen, for which he secured
patent in 1923, year and more before
he avowed any change in religion and
adopted the Catholic faith, and yet the
charters of Avalon and Maryland are
nearly identical. The second Lord Balti-
more entered into his inheritance at the
age of 26. He conducted the affairs of
the colony of Maryland with good judy
ment and sound policy. "When we re-
member that he had mixed multitude
to govern as we'll as to conciliate, null.
titude composed of all classes and con-
ditions of life, in part the high-toned
and spirited, and in part the very refuse
of England, with those of every inter-
vening condition, when we remember all
this also that he had the members of his
own church to restrain, lest they should
succeed in their claims which would
have crushed his own rights, as well as
excite tumult among the colonsts;
when we remember all this, and yet see
how successfully he conducted his whole
administration through AZ years, we can
but admire the wisdom of the man. The
charter under which this colony flour
ished was wonderfully drawn up. 1t
created an empire with an empire. 1t
gave most extensive firmness to the head
of the government. 1t made Maryland
practically free from Great Britain from
the beginning. 1t did not attempt to en-
joy its full freedom, for often the people
found it convenient to limit the extensive
prerogatives of the proprietary by claim
ing the rights and privileges of liege sub
jects of England.
The sixth lecture is largely devoted to
a discussion of the much yaunted and