Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1909-01-07

Wm9 Chairman Of the House Com mteseo on
Commerce In Conaresz, ie4l-2 He was agGiE
elected 70 me Maryland Legislature and was
speaker Of the House In 1876. Was appointed
sseresaEy Of the Navy is0, and aided In fit-
don ana DR.. Ksnss sscoSd Aret ae voyage.
40 hia death was provost Of the University OF
Hissoricai scsissS, chair man OF he Board d q
Trustees o. ne Ps.sSdy Ace6 s % B ssas
and % q Life Of William Writ
(Rsprint from the Llppineots edition OF 1884,
PREFACE.
The tale related in the following
pages refers TO o period In the his
tory Of Maryland, which has hereto
fore been involved Ia great OBSCURE
ty.-many Of the most important
records connected with 10 having
been lost 70 pu bile inspection 10 for
gotten repositories, where they have
crumbled away under the touch Of
time. To the perseveriDg research
Of the accomplished Librarian of the
State gentleman whose dauntless
antiquarian zeal and liberal scholar
ship are only surpassed by the en-
lightened judgment with which he
discharges the functions OF his Office
We are indebted for the rescue of the
remnant Of those memorials of by
gone days, from the Oblivion to which
the carelessness Of former genera
lions had consigned them. Many
were irrec0verable; aud was the fate
OF che gentleman referred 10, to see
them fall into dust at the moment
that the long estrangcd light first
glanced upon them.
To some Of those which have been
saved from this wreck. the author is
indebted for no small portion OF the
materials OF his story. In his en-
deaver 70 illustrate these passages
In the annals Of the State, IL ia proper
for him 70 say that he has aimed to
perform bis task with historical
fidelity. II he has set In harsher
lights than may be deemed chari-
table some OF the actors In these
scenes, or portrayed in lineaments
OF disparagement or extenuation, be-
y0nd their deserts, the partisans on
either side Ia that war Of intolerance
which disfigured the epoch OF this
tale, 10 was apart from his purpose.
AS native Of the State, he feels a
prompt sensibility 10 the fame of her
Catholic founders, and, though diff.
erinR from them In his faith, cherish
@ she remembrance OF their noble
endcavors 70 establish religious
freedom, with the affection due to
what he believes the most wisely
planned and honestly executed
scheme Of society which at that era,
% least, was 10 be found In the an mails
OF mankind. In the temper inspir-
Cd by this sentiment. these volumes
have been given TO the public, and
are now respectfully inscribed TO
TIE STATE OF MARYLAND. by one who
takes the deepest interest in what
ever concerns her present happiness
or ancient renown.
THE AUTHOR.
Baltimore. Dec. l, 1855.
CHAPTER /.
But ehoked with ssdges, works its woedy way:
Along thy glades solitary guest,
Tne Misunderstanding bittern guards its neat:
Amidst thy desert walks the lapwing dies,
ana slfee xner echoes with UNMARRIED cries
SUNK are thy towers In shapeless ruin an,
AND the long grass oertops the mould'rtng
The DESERTED VILLAGE
lt 10 now more than one hundred
and forty-four years since the
ancient capital OF Maryland was
shorn OF It's honors. by she removal
OF the public Offices, and along with
them, the public functionaries, 10
Annapolis. The date OF this removal
i think, is recorded as Of the year of
grace sixteen hundred and ninety
four. The port Of So. Mary's, up to
that epoch, from the frst settlement
OF the province, comprehendinQ
rather more than three score years.
had been the seat Of the Lord Pro
prietary's government. This little
city had grown up in hard-favored
times, which had their due affect in
leaving upon 10 the visible tokens of
Q stunted vegetation: 10 waxed gnarl-
ed and crooked, as 10 perked itself
upward through she tborny troubles |
Of It's existence. and might be liksn-
cd 70 the black jack, which yet re-
tains q. foothold in this region,
scrubby. tough and hardy mignon
OF the forest, whose elder day of |
Grabbed luxuriance affords G sour
comment upon the nurture OF its
youth.
Geographers are aware that the |
city OF St. Mary's stood on the left !
bank OF the river which now bears
the same name (though OF old il was
called Sc. George 81 aud which flows
into the Potomac OF the southern
extremity Of the state OF Maryland, |
on the western side Of the Cheese
peake Bay, as short distance west
ward form Point Lookout: but the
very spot whore the old city stood :
IL known only TO Q few,-for the
traces Of the early residence OF the
Proprietary government have nearly
faded away from the knowledge OF
this generation. An astute anti
quarian eye. however, may define !
Aha alta M shm Aawn hv Aha fa- aons