Book:B-jJ3t:aacT ANNAI.S OF 7363 mM ,jt BY THOMAS W. GRIFFITH. ^ Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1833, by Thomas W. Griffith, in the Clerk-'a office of the District Court of Maryland. BALTIMORE: PRINTED BY WILLIAM WOODDY, .Yo. 6 S. Calvert street. 1833. .B/Gf8r^ A^^M<>s>m ^AmmmiL L HE inhabitants of Maryland, much attached to the proprietary Government, had violently opposed the establishment of Crom wells' usurpation amongst them, so that Cecilius, lord Baltimore, anticipated a retroces- sion of the Government of the province, and furnished Capt. Josias Fendall w^ith a commission to receive and govern it in 1657. This gentleman had been very active in the civil com- motions of the Country, and formed a party, which, af- ter they had got the province the next year, assumed the government of it, and he accepted a nevv^ commis- sion from them, independent of the proprietary, the year after. The Governor then exerted his authority by send- ing Col. Nathaniel Utie, who had been instrumental to his elevation and was made one of his Council, to warn the Dutch from New Castle, which being within the 40th. deg. of N. Lat. was part of the territory of Maryland granted to lord Baltimore; and the same year, that is in 1659, issued patents for lands in Balti- more County, wll^h he then erected, to Col. Utie and others. 4 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1660. Upon the restoration of Charles the 2nd. Philip Cal- vert Esq. who had acted as Secretary of the province for some time, was appointed by his Brother, justly of- fended with Fendalls' treachery, to the office of Gover- nor, and on the 20th July 1661, captain Thomas How- ell, captain Thomas Stockett and Messrs. Thomas Pow- ell, Henry Stockett and John Taylor, stiled commis- sioners of the county, held a court at the house of captain Howell, the presiding commissioner, Mr. John CoUett being their clerk. Thus it appears from the records of the County, al- though it is said in Mi'. Bacon's collection, that an act passed in 1663, "for seating of lands in Baltimore county," was rejected by the proprietary. All the navigable rivers emptying into the Chesa- peake bay had been fully explored, and trade establish- ed with all the natives of the country, who remain- ed on their shores, yet all the settlements, were w^ithin the six counties of St. Maiys, Kent, Talbot, Calvert, Charles and Anne Arundel; — As the county last in- cluded all the western shore, until the creation of others, so Baltimore county maybe considered at first, con- taining all the lands within the province, north of Anne Arundel, on the west of the bay, including even Cecil beyond Elk river. — The lines of Anne Arundel in 1698, were the high lands north of Magothy to Patuxent ri- ver, and Baltimore was bounded westward by that or Charles county, until Prince George's was laid off, then including Frederick, Sic. in 1695. 1662.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. o There is an inventory of the Estate of Mr. Abra- ham Kaldman on the records of the oi-phan's court,takeu 1666, by Messrs. William Hollis and Joseph Fallen, deputed by the Governor, as commissary General, for these courts were not established until after the Inde pendence. It appears that in 1662, the y»ar after the first county Court was held, contracts were made for To- bacco deliverable at JVoiih Point; that Mr. Abraham Clarke, a shipwright, was amongst the first settlers on the north side Patapsco river, and that Mr. Charles Gorsuch, of the Society of Friends or Quakers, took up and patented 50 acres of land on Whetstone Point; it being the practice while there were few competi- tors, to take up but little waste land, though the pur- chase money was only 4s. the quit rent 4s. per annum, and alienation 4s. sterling per 100 acres, payable in Specie, Tobacco or other products. The next land taken up which lies within the pre- sent limits of the City, was the glade or bottom, on each side of the run now called Hartford run, in 1663, by Mr. Alexander Mountenay, for 200 acres, and called Mountenay's neck. In 1668 Timber neck, laying between the heads of the middle and north branches of Patapsco, was patent- ed for Mr. John Howard, and in the same year, that tract north of it, upon which the firet town of Saltimore was laid out, was granted to Mr. Thomas Cole, for 550 acres, and called Cole's Harbour, — This tract extended from (j ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1668. Mouiitenay's land, westerly, across the north side of the river, one mile, and northwardly from the river, about half a mile, but in the form of a rhomboid, di- vided into two nearly equal parts by the stream after- wards called Jane's Falls. Copus's Harbour, Long Is- land point, Kemps' addition and Parkers' Haven on the east, Lunns' lot and Chatsworth on the west, on the south David's fancy, and on the north Salisbury plains, Darley Hall and Gallow barrow, were patented for different persons at later periods, and have been add- ed to the town, with other tracts since. It seems that Mr. Cole left an only daughter, who became the wife of Mr. Charles Gorsuch, and they sold and conveyed separately., in 1679 and 1682, the tract called Cole's Harbour, to JNIr. David Jones, who gave his name to the stream, and therefore believed to be the first actual settler, having his residence on the north side of it near the head of tide water, and where the stream was crossed without a bridge, by the great eas- tern road ; this, passing down a drain or gully north west of the Parish Church Lot, from the southwest, after cros- sing turned north easterly, in the direction of what is now called French Street. Cole's Harbour came into the possession of Mr. James Todd, who was the step- eon of Jones, and also the whole or pai't of Mounte- nay's neck, having intermarried with the owner's daugh- ter, as is supposed. Mr. Todd resurveyed the first Tract and procuicd a new patent for it, by the name of Todd's range, in 1696, for 510 acres; and in 1702, Todd and wife, jointly conveyed 135^ acres of Mounte- 1702,] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 7 nay's neck, and 164^ acres of Cole's Harbour to Mr. John Hurst, who was an Inn-keeper and kept an Inn at or near Jones's, and the remainder of the latter tract, to Charles Carroll, Esq. agent of the proprietary. Immediately after his purchase Mr. Hurst mortga- ged his 300 acres, of the two tracts, to Capt. Richard Colegate, one of the County Commissioners, who lived on a creek bearing his name, below the north branch of Patapsco. In 1711, Mr. Carroll sold 31 acres of his part of Cole's Harbour, with a mill seat, to Mr. Jonathan Han- son, millwright, who erected the mill of which the re- mains are yet standing near the north west intersectio]\^ ef Holliday and Bath Streets. In 1726 Mr. Edward Fell, a merchant from Lancas- shire of the Society of Friends, who had settled on the east side of the Falls, took an escheat warrant and employed Mr. Richard Gist to survey Cole's Harbour or Todd's Range, and the next year purchased the right to it of John Gorsuch, son of Charles; but the sons of Mr. Carroll, then lately deceased, entered a Caveat, and prevented a new grant. Within a few years past, that is, above 100 years af- ter tlie new patent had been granted Mr. Todd, a very respectable young gentleman of the family of Mr. Jones, came from England to inquire for his ancestors' Land, but on learning the above circumstances, gave up aJJ further pursuit. 8 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1126' By Mr. Gisf s return of the survey, it appears the then improvements consisted, besides the mill, in two dwellings. Tobacco houses, Orchards, &c. The land being about one half cleared and midling in quality; and on vacancies added, another dwelling, Tobacco houses, &c. In 1682, John Boring Esq. is presiding Justice of the County Court, Thomas Hedge, Esq. Clerk of the County. When in 1692, the seat of Government was moved from St. Mary's to Annapolis, and the Protest- ant Episcopal Church was established in Maryland, in consequence of the Revolution in England, and the gov- ernment of Maryland had been assumed by the crown, "Baltimore County was, like the rest, divided into parish- es; all christian sects being equally privileged until then. St. Paul's, St. Andrew's, St. George's and St. John's were the first and only parishes in tliis County for a long time. There were not Clergymen in the Country to supply all the parishes erected, so that cer- tain fees were appointed besides usual compensations in Tobacco per poll, and magistrates were prohibited from performing marriage rites, to encoiu'age ministers to emigrate, as was expressly stated. It is probable that the first Church in this parish and perhaps in the County, was in Patapsco neck on or ad- joining Mr. Partridge's land, near Bear Creek, though it is certain. Friends or Quakers, had meetings at Mr. John Giles' who was one of them, and, as early as 1720, purchased Upton coui-t, being the land on Whetstone point, and between the Town and Ferry branch and 1692.] ANNALS OF DALTIMORIX 9 perhaps meeting houses near where the town now is. So early as 1G76, Mr. Jeremiah Eaton devised 500 acres of land for the first protestant minister settled in the comity, which was in 1719, confirmed to the rector of St. John''s parish, in which the land was situated, and his successors. The grant was of more value, as in the same year, Charles lord Baltimore succeeding his father Cecilius, suspended the grants upon condition of emigration^ and soon afler fixed the price or consid- eration money at 200 lb. Tobacco per 100 acres. It is known that there were three or four Protestant Episco- pal Churches in the province at the time Mr. Eaton made the above donation and it is probable the people of that society assembled to worship in Patapsco neck, long before they had parishes created. In 1693 Georg'e Ashman Esq. was presiding Justice of the county court and in 1698 Henry Wriothesly Esq. was county clerk. In the year 1695 Prince George's county was taken from the north west side of Charles and Anne Arundel, and became the limit of Baltimore, until in 1748, Frederick county was taken from the north west side of Prince George's. In 1705 Aquilla Paca Esq. was sheriff of Baltimore county, and in 1 706 he was succeeded by Francis Dal- ahide Esq. in 1708 colonel James Maxw^ell was presi- ding Justice of the county court, and so continued a- bout twenty years, during which period the sheriffs' office w^as filled, three years each, by Messrs. James Prcsbury, appointed in 1710; John Dorsey 1713; John I or Guest, as in some records, who had settled on the south side of Patapsco as early as 1682, and died be- fore the river became the bounds of the county ; Doc- tor Buchanan, who came from Scotland, purchased lands and practised medicine in the county, from the year 1723; Colonel Hammond was probably the son of Mr. John Hammond, who settled on the north side of Patapsco, upon lands for which he paid 40s. sterling per acre, as early as 1695; Mr, Hamilton purchased lands in the county, as appears by the records, in 1710; Doctor Walker with a brother James, had practised medicine in Anne Arundel county some years, but came to reside in this county about the year 1715, and was tlic proprietor of that well known seat and tract of land, on the west side of the town, called Chatsworth, and Mr. Buckner had not apparently been long settled in the country, but in 1 726 became purchaser of several tracts of- land in Patapsco neck. These commissioners were appointed for life, since they were authorised to fill their own vacancies; appoin- ting their own clerk, and were directed to purchase b}' agreement or obtain by valuation of a jury, the above mentioned 60 acres of land, being part of Cole's Har- liour or Todd's- range, which they were to lay out m 16 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE, [1729. the most convenient manner 'into 60 lots; to be erected into a Town to be called Baltimore town; which, as well as the name given to the county, was in compli- ment to the proprietary, whose ancestor received his title of Baron from a sea port of that name in the county of Cork in Irclandi Tlie first choice of one lot was reserved by the act for the owner of the land, and none to take up more than one lot during the first four months, nor any but the inhabitants of the county, within six months; after which, vacant lots might be taken up by any other persons. The takers up of lots to pay the owners of the land, in proportion to their lots. This was to give such persons an absolute estate in fee simple, to such lots, provided they erected there- on witliin eighteen months, a house that sliould cover 400 square feet; if not so improved any other person might take up and enter upon such lots, paying the commissioners the valuation first set on them, with the same condition of building thereon; but all such lots as were not taken up witliin seven years, reverted to the owner of the land. The lots of some other towns were to pay the proprietary of the province Id. sterling each per annum; in this there was a saving of rights only, to secure the quit rent and portion of gold and silver mines for the crown, agreeably to the original charter. On tlie first of December the same year, Messrs. Richard Gist and Wm. Ifamilton and Doctors Buchanan and Walker, agreed with Mr. Charles Carroll, acting for himself and brother Daniel, sons of the agent lately deceased, for the 60 acres, to be paid for at 40 shil- lings each, in money or tobacco at Id. per pound. 1730] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. I7 OxN the 12th of January 11 SO, neio stile, assisted by . Mr. Philip Jones, the county surveyor, the commis- sioners laid off the Town, commencing at a point neaf the north west intersection of what are now called Pratt and Light streets and runnin* north westerly, along or near Uhler's alley, towards the great eastern road and a great gully or drain at or near Sharpe street, then across Baltimore street, east of the gully north easterly with the same road, afterwards called the Church road and now McClellan's alley, to the precipice which overhung the falls, at or near the south west corner of St. Pauls street and St. Pauls lane, then with the bank of that stream, southerly and eas- terly, various courses unto the low grounds ten perches west of Gay street, including the Fish street church lot, then due south along the margin of those low grounds to the bank on the north side of the river, near the south east corner of General Smith's house, and then by that bank various courses, nearly as Wa- ter street runs, westerly and southerly to the first men- tioned point; making thus by its original bounds, the form of an ancient lyre ; so that the first plan of the new Town of Baltimore, did not resemble the town of the same name in Ireland, which stands on a promon- tory in the sea; whereas here, the base of the lyre fronts towards the sea and the top points inland. Within, our town was divided by Long street, now called Baltimore street, running 132f perches from east to w^est and four perches wide, intersected at right angles by Calvert street, then not named, 561 perches from 18 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1730. the hill near the falls north, to the river side south, also four perches wide and by Forrest street^ after- wards called Charles street, 89i perches in the same course, and three perches wide. There were also six lanes of the width of one perch, since widened and called East, South, Second, Light, Hanover and Belvidere streets and three lanes of the same width, Still called Lovely, St. Paul's and German lanes. The lots, containing about an acre each and numbered one to sixty, commenced on the north side of Baltimore ;Street and running westward, returned eastward on the south side. On the fourteenth and on several of the following days, the office was open for takers up^ and it appeals that the proprietor, Mr. Carroll; chose number 49, which was the east side of Calvert street next the the river bank; Mr. Gist taking the lot on the opposite side of Calvert street. Other lots were taken by Messrs. AValker, Jones, Jackson, Hammond, Price, Buckner, Sheridine, Powell, Bidgcly, Trotten, North, Hewitt, Oorsuch and Harris, all inhabitants of the vicinity. Trom a very early transfer by Messrs. Jackson and Price. to Messrs. Peel and Gordon, of Annapolis, it is probable that the former were mere agents. Some of the others did not improve in time, and their lots were taken by new settlers in succession ; but some lots fell to the original proprietor, not lieing taken up within seven years. From the small quantity of ground originally taken for the town, and from the difficulty of extending the town in any direction, as it was surrounded by hills, 1730.] A>mALS OF BALTIMORE. 19 water courses or marshes, it is evident- that the com- missioners did not anticipate either its present com- merce or population. The expense of extending streets, of building bridges and of levelling hills and filling marshes, to which their successors have been subjected, and which, unfortunatel}^, increases that of preserving the harbour as improvements increase and soil is loo- sened, have been obstacles scarcely felt in other Amei'- ican cities; but requiring immense capitals of them- selves, against which nothing but the great local advan- tages for internal and external trade would have ena- bled the citizens to contend. The alluvion of the falls, spreading from the shore, from Hartford run to South street, already limited the channel of the river on the north side of it, and formed some Islands which con- tinued to be overflowed by high tides, until the islands and shoals were made fast land as they now are. Cer- tainly the commissioners were not regardless of the navigation, or they would not have located the town by the water, yet the exterior lines no where reached the ^liore, and one street only, Calvert street, appeared to communicate with it; for between the east end of Baltimore street and the falls, there was a marsh, and on the south, Charles street terminated at Uhlers spring branch, or rather a precipice which stood on the south side of it, as did the north end of Calvert street, at a greater precipice, where indeed other commission- ers closed the street by erecting the Court House, which their . successors first arched, to procure a passage un- der it, and others finally removed altogether- 20 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1730. The situation relative to other parts of the country liowever, afforded the most direct communication; the proximity of better soil ; the great security presented by the harbour; the abundance of Stone, Lime, Iron and timber, and the proximity of seats for water works, all contributing to make the first part of the town the centre around which additions have been nearly equal- ly made, affords some proof of the commissioners' judg- ment and foresight. It is to be noticed also, that the lots towards the river were all taken wiihiu the first three days, and not one of those on Baltimore street except that on the north side, next adjoining the great public road, now McClellan's alley. In the same year, Mr. Wm. Fell, ship cai*pentcr and brother of Edward, bought of Mr. Lloyd Harris, the tract on the Point, called Copus's harbour, and erected the mansion, still standing on Lancaster street, gome time after. It appears that Roger Mathews, Esq. was presiding justice at this time, and Thomas Sheridine, Esq. sheriff, but the latter was succeeded the same year by John Hall. Esq. The acts of the ensuing session furnish another evidence of the zeal of the founders of our city. Find- ing the money appropriated by law three yeai's before, for erecting a parish church, was not employed, they procured the passage of an act the ensuing session di- recting the vestry to purchase a lot for that purpose, and building the church in the town, to be called St. Paul's church. Lot No. 19 was selected, being the most elevated nSi.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. ^1 ground on the plot, and part of that on which St. Paul'si church now stands; and the Rev. Mr. Joseph Hooper the Rector became a taker up of lots the same year.— He was succeeded by the Rev. Benedict Bourdillon be^ fore the chui'ch was finished ; which was not until about the year 1744. Down to tlie year 1 758, we have no knowledge of any other churches or meetings for worship here, but of the established churches and of the Society of Friends, or Quakers, of which latter Society it appears, a very great portion of the first settlers of Baltimore county consisted. It was a short time before the set- tlement of the county that they first ai'ose, and w'cre now persecuted in England; and from the time of tlie establishment of the Episcopal church in the prO' vince, tli^ right of affirmation and other privileges were extended to them and th eir meetings ; that of worship, they and all other christian sects enjoyed from the first planting of the province. In this vicinity, there were the families of Gorsuch, Giles, Fell, Hopkins, Mathews, Taylor, and others who were Quakers, for whom the last mentioned gentleman appropriated grounds near the one mile stone on the Hartford road, where they erected a meeting house and worshipped many years. The county town of Joppa, being afflicted by small pox, the legislature suspended the sessions of the court part of the year 1731. — A circumstance the more un- fortunate for that place as Baltimore was then prepar- ing to become its rival. 2Z ANNALS OK UALTIMOKE. [1732 In^1732, a new town of ten acres was laid off into twenty lots, valued at 150 pounds of tobacco each, on that part of Cole's harbor which was first improved, east of the falls, and where Edward Fell kept store ; belong- ing, it is said in the return of the jury, to the orphan children of Richard Colegate, and called in some re- cords, Jonas^ but afterwards Jones's town, in com- pliment to one of the former owners of the land; of which major Thomas Sheridine, captain Robert North, and Messrs. Thomas Todd, John Cockey and John Boring were commissioners, who also appointed doctor Walker their clerk. Messrs. Sheridine and Cockey being then county justices. Major Sheridine had taken up land in the county as early as 1721 and in 1731-, purchased the Kingsbury lands at the head of Back river, whore the furnace was afterwards erected, and general Smith built a niill. Captain Robert North, who took the lot No. 10 at the north west corner of Baltimore and Calvert streets, and erected the house on lot No. 2 Jones street, in which Mr. John Gross now resides, upon the laying out of Jones's town, had visited the Patapsco and carried freights in the ship Content, which he connnanded, as early as 1723. Mr. Thomas Todd was the son and heir of captain Thomas Todd, who removed from Vir- ginia and purchased the land at North Point in 1664, which had been first taken up by Messrs. William Batten and Thomas Tliomas. Mr. John Cockey pur chased lands near Patapsco in 1728, the year after his brother Thomas settled in the Limestone Valley, on the York road. Mr. Boring was a merchant, whose 1732] ANNALS oi? BALTIMORE. 2S father had bought several tracts of land on Patapsco neck, as early as 1679. This town consisted of three streets, or one street with three courses corresponding with the meanders of the bank of the falls, from a gi'eat gully at Pitt street, to the ford at the intersection of the old road where French street commences, and which was afterwards called Front, Short and Jones streets; on the last of which, at the south west corner of Bridge street, as since called, and the only cross street, stood Mr, Fell's store. In consequence of which, the course of the eastern road, instead of passing through French street was directed into these streets by Bridge street, even before the bridge was built. The conditions of settlement were similar to those of Baltimore town, ex- cept that the possessors of lots in this town, were to pay the proprietary one penny sterling per lot, annually. It is stated that there were 60,000 hogsheads of To- bacco exported annually from the two colonies of Vir- ginia and Maryland, besides 21,000Z. sterling worth of lumber and skins, employing 24,000 tons of shipping, the two colonies being nearly equal in white population and wealth at that time. But great depression was expe- rienced throughout the province, and the low price of the staple caused an insurrection and the destruction of many fields of plants. ■ However, the creation in 1733, of bills of credit as a substitute for a currency, as other colonies had done already, appears to have produced a change for the bet- ter, and improvements were soon made on the east side 24 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [17^2 of the falls, by which, and from the early settlement of Cole, Gorsuch or Jones, it obtained the name Old town. The communication with the first town being obstruct- ed by the passage of the falls was so inconvenient by the ford, a bridge was soon erected where Gay street Bridge now is, by the respective inhabitants of the towns. Ed- ward Hall, Esq. was presiding justice in 1732, and sheriff in 1734, when colonel William Hamilton was presiding justice. In this year, a town was laid out at Elkiidge Landing, from which produce was brought to the ships laying off Moales' point for many years after. It would seem however, from the patent to Mr. Car- roll of the tract called Orange, now granted, that ex- cept on the river side or the soil was very good, there yet remained much vacant land even near town. In 1 735, masters of vessels and others were prohibit- ed under a severe penalty, from casting ballast into any creek or river cm})tying into the bays, and into the bay itself, above Cedar point. Messrs. Hanson and Walker having procured a leasehold estate, by virtue of the law for appropriating mill seats by valuation, m addition to the fee simple ob- tained of Mr. Carroll by the former, sold both in 1740, to Mr. Edward Fotterall, a gentleman from Ireland, who imported the materials and erected the first brick house^ with free stone corners, and the first ^vhich was two stories without a hip-roof, in the town. It stood near the north west intersection of Calvert and Chatham ^streets. Mr. Fotterall returned to Ireland, where he died, •and the Mext year his acUninistrators sold the mill pro- 1735.] ANNALS OF BALTIMOREl. 2b perty to Mr. William Fell, who had just purchased of Mr. William Carter that tract on the point, adjacent to Copus's harbour, called Carter's Delight. In 1736, John Stokes Esq. clerk of the county, died, and was succeeded by his son Humphrey W. Stokes Esq. Colonel William Hammond was sheriff, and Richard Gist Esq. presiding Justice. Ip? 1738, colonel Nicholas Ridgely was sheriff. Mr. Edward Fell died, leaving a daughter or daugh- ters in England, but bestowed his property here on his brother's son Edward. In 1740, Mr. John Moale died, bequeathing his lands near Baltimore to his two surviving sons John and Richard. In 1741, Thomas Brereton Esq. was clerk of the county. It appeared to the inhabitants of Cecil cotmty that a place called Long pointy on the west side of North East river, would be an eligible situation for trade, and in 1 742 they procured an Act to lay out the town called Charlestown, with very suitable regulations, including a public wharf, warehouse and inspection of Flour, which apparently, was brought to the neighbourhood already from the counties of Chester and Lancaster in Pennsylvania. But the efforts of the founder of that Province, who travelled as a preacher among the (Qua- kers on the continent of Europe as well as through the British Isles, to give celebrity to his establishment. 4 26 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1742. and which procured a great influx of Irish and Ger- mans there, did not prevent them when arrived, from discovering the advantages presented in other provinces, and a great many who landed on the Delaware, passed the southern boundary and settled in Maryland, by which the scite of Baltimore became more eligible than Charlestown, and the latter was soon deserted. In the same year Mr. Thomas Harrison, merchant, arrived from England, and built a house near the north east corner of South and Water streets, buying the lots nearest the water on each side of South street. St. Thomas's parish was taken from St. Paul's and the new parish Church of that name, was erected about ten miles north west of the town on the decease of the Rev. Benedict Bourdillon, who was succeeded in St. Paul's by the Rev. Tliomas Chase. Major Thomas Sheredine was presiding Justice, and John Ridgely Esq. sheriff. In 1744, a new town by the name of Baltimore was laid out upon Indian river, which empties into tlie At- lantic, and was then in AVorcester county, now in Sus- sex in Delaware ; but with still less success than the others at Elkridge or Charlestown. The name however is still retained by one of the Hundreds of Sussex county in which the intended town was located. f In 1 14-Oyl the two towns -of Baltimore and Jones- town, were erected into one to\^^l by the name of Bal- timore town, and major Thomas Sheredine, doctor G. Buchanan, captain Robert North, colonel William Jlanunond, captain Dai'by Lux and Messrs, Thomas 1745,] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 21 Harrison and William Fell appointed commissioners the two first being then delegates, with John Paca and John Hall Esqrs. Captain Lux commanded a ship in the London trade as early as 1733, and in 1743, pur- chased the lots number 43 and 44 on the west side of Ligrht street where he resided and transacted much bu- siness. Mr. William Lux, his son, was appointed clerk to the commissioners in the place of doctor Walker, who died in the last mentioned year. The property of wharves, houses or other buildings, made or to be made out of tJw icuier^ or where it itsu- ally jlows is secured to tlie improvers by this act. The commissioners were authorised to levy three pounds for the clerk but had no compensation themselves. It was now thought necessary as is usual in Village settlements, to proscribe the geese and sicine from run- ning at large. At the same session, (a law was passed providing for the guage of barrels for pork, beef, tar, pitch and tui'pentine, the weight of pork and beef in barrels and the marking of tare on flour barrels. ; Mr, Wm. Fell dying in 1 746, was succeeded by Mr. Alexander Lawson as one of the commissioners. The communication by the Bridge, which brought the great eastern road from the Ford directly through both parts of the Town gave value to the intermediate grounds, and the whole land and marsh containing twenty eight acres in all, was purchased of Mr. Carroll by Mr. Harrison in 1747 for 160/ sterling, and at the ensuing session an act of assembly was passed by which Gay and Frederick and pait of Water and Second streets 2H ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1747. were laid off, with eighteen acres of ground. This addi- tion, principally on the west side of the falls, contained all the fast land between the eastern limit of the first town and the falls. Takers up of lots were to agree with and pay the owners of the grounds, as for the former addition. The commissioners were authorised to open and widen streets or alleys with the consent of the propri- etors, and remove nuisances, and also to hold two an- nual fairs, the first Thursday of May and October, with privileges from civil process during the fairs. House keepers were subject to a fine of 10s. if they did not keep ladders for extinguishment of fires, or if their chimnies blazed out at top. But, lest the corporate pow- ers granted under this or former laws should be miscon- strued to increase the privileges of the citizens, dimin- ish the authority of the provincial government or in- fluence improperly the legislature, it was cautiously, "provided nevertheless, that this act nor any thing herein contained, shall extend or be construed to extend, to ena- ble or capacitate the said commissioners or inhabitants of the said town, to elect or choose delegates, or bur- gesses to set in the General Assembly of this prov- ince as representatives of said town." How different have the fortunes of Baltimore been in this respect, from that of all the other great cities of this continent. They were not only represented in the legislatures of the different provinces or colonies, but, being seats of government, were provided with well digested and suit- able laws, from the personal attendance and knowledge of v/hole assemblies; and, whilst the proceeds of taxes 1747.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 29 ' drawn to the treasuries within them, went into circula- tion again through the inhabitants, those contributed by the Baltimorians go directly from them, and never re- turn but partially to their hands again. In 1 748 Messrs. Leonard and Daniel JBarnetz, from York in Pensylvania, erected a brewery on the south west corner of Baltimore and Hanover streets, lately replaced by stores. These gentlemen, if not the first were among the first of the Germans, or the decen- dants of Germans, whose successive emigration from that province, with capital and industry employed here, contributed so essentially to aid the original settlers — the arrival of whom or of their ancesors, it has not been thought necessary to mention in ail cases. Captain Darby Lux v/as elected a delegate in the place of Col. Hall. Talbot Risteau Esq, was clei^ of the county at this time. Messrs. Thomas Sheredine and Thomas Sleigh had bought of Mr. Hurst the year before, and in 1750 of Richard Colegates' sons, John and Thomas, their sev- eral rights to the residue of Cole's harbour and Moun- tenay's neck east of the Falls, when High street from Plowman street to French street, with lots on each side including eighteen acres of ground, are added to to the town. A Tobacco inspection house was erected on the west side of Charles street and near the head of the inlet into which Uhler's spring emptied; and a pub- lic wharf commenced at the south end of Calvert street, a Jong time called "the County wharf;" Messrs. Lawson„ 30 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1750, Hammond and Lux, three of the commissioners, entered notices of their intention to improve into the water, and did actually erect houses on the bank ne«r the shore, the first of wood, on the east, and the last of brick, on the west side of Light street, near the west end of Bank street, and the other further east, near South street. All this part of the town was now closed by a fence, having a gateway for carriages on the north end of Gay street, and another at the west end of Baltimore street, with one smaller for foot passengers upon the hill near the church and towards the old road. For the purpose of making this enclosure there was a general subscription and it was kept in repair by the same means three or four years. — The fence it seems became a prey to the wants of needy inhabitants, and Lloyd Buchanan Esq, was employed to prosecute some of them but found the commissioneps not clothed with sufficient legal authority, and their inclosure was discon- tinued. In 1 750 doctor Buchanan died leaving besides the above son Lloyd, Archibald who was a merchant, An- drew, George and William, noticed hereafter. The doctor was succeeded in the board of commissioners by Mr. Brian Philpot, an english merchant tlicn lately ai'rived, and in the assembly, by William Smith Esq. of the north part of the county. Thomas Franklin Esq. was presiding Justice, and so continued more than twenty years, during which time the following gentlemen were appointed to the office of sheriff, viz. Messrs. Roger Boyce in 1750; William Young 1754; Charles Christie 175C; Aquilla Hall 1761 ; Robert Adair 1765; Daniel Chamier 1768 and John R. HoUiday 1770. 1751] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE 31 There were other lists of subscription besides the following no doubt, but the object of it was not effected until ten years after. It is also probable that this delay was induced by the opposing interest and influence of the settlers on the two sides of the falls. The preamble and copy annexed, shows how anxious the first settlers continued to be to improve the town — '^Whereas, seve- ral acts of Assembly have been made for the enlargement and encouragement of Baltimore town, and foras- much as the said town increases as well in inhabitants as good buildings and trade, and the situation thereof renders it convenient for navigation and trade, as well with the inhabitants of Baltimore and Anne Arundel counties as the back settlements of this province and Pennsylvania, but no provision hath yet been made by law or otherways for purchasing a lot or lots where- on to build a market house, town house and other necessary buildings for the benefit of said town, and conveniency of such persons as bring their butcher's meat and other commodities to sell at market in said town . Wherefore,for the further encouragement and im- provement of Baltimore town, we whose names are here^ unto subscribed, do hereby promise and oblige ourselves^ our executors and administrators, to pay to the commis- sioners of Baltimore town, or their order, the several sum or sums of money to each of our names affixed, to be applied to the purchasing a lot or lots in said town and building thereon a market house and town hall, in such manner as the commissioners of said town shall direct and appoint, provided the said lot or lots shall be -purchased and building began within two yeai"s from the 32 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [iT5r. date hereof, witness our hands aud seals this twenty third day of April, 1751." Subscription Thomas Sheredine 19/. cvr. Wm. Hammond 5/. cur. Thomn« Harrison 15 cnr. Alex. Lawson 10 cur Brian Pliilpot 10 stg. Wm. Rogers 10 stg^ Wtp. Lyon 5 stg. Thos. Sleigh 10 stg. Thon»as Chase Tj cur. John Randall 5 sfg. Lloyd Buchanan 5 cur. Wm. Lux 5 stg. N. R. Gay 5 cur. Captain Thomas Franklin and Jolm Mathews, Esq. were elected delegates in the place of Messrs. Lux and Sheredine, and in November, William Govane, Thomas Franklin, L. Buclianan Esqrs. and Major Charles Ridg- ley were elected, but the return was defective and they were re-elected in March follovring. In 1752,; John Moale, Esq. son of the former gentle- man of that name, sketched a plan or view of the town, tv'hich, after corrections by Daniel Bowley, Esq. was published a few years ago by Mr. Edward J. Coale, and exhibits the then state of improvements west of the falls. Including the buildings already noticed, it appears there were about 25 houses, four of which were of brick; and the only one of these now standing, built and occupied by Mr. William Payne, as a tavern, is on the north west cor. nerof Calvert and Bank streets, but the first one erected was that of Mr. Edward Fotterall, between Calveii: street and St. Pauls lane. It was pulled down after being with the rest of his property confiscated and sold, because he had returned to Ireland, where his heirs re- sided at the time of the revolution. It also appears that one brig, called the Philip and Charles, belonging to Mr. N. Rogers, and one sloop, thd 1152-] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 35 Baltimore, Mr. Lux's property, and represented in the sketch, were the only sea vessels owned in the town ; but there must have been several vessels owned on the river and neighborhood, for it is stated that in the month of October, there were upwards of 60 wagons loaded with Flax Seed came to town. Mr. William Rogers kept an inn in the house represented in the vieiv^ near the north east corner of Baltimore and Calvert streets and Mr. James Gardner, a school near the intersection of South and Water streets. In the same year, thirty two acres of Coles' harbour, which Mr. Joshua Hall had purchased of Mr. Carroll, were added to the town, being part of that tract which lay between the town and the lines of Lunn's lot at the south, west and north of the first town ; commencing at the same point on the river, and including the grounds between McClellan's alley and Forest lane ran to the falls side, north of the church and city spring, where Mr. John Frazier rented a shipyard and resided. Special penalties were enacted against obstructing the hai'bor or throwing earth, sand or dirt into the river at this period. In the Maryland Gazette of 27th February 1752, is inserted an advertisement for a schoolmaster "of a good sober character, who understands teaching English, wri* ting and arithmetic," and who, it is added, "will meet with very good encouragement froril .the inhabitants of Baltimore town, if well recommended." In the Gentlemen's Magazine for 1753, the popula- tion of the county the preceding year, still including Harford, is stated to consist of 5 34 ANNALS 1 OF BALTIMORE. [1152.. 2692 White men, SI 15 boys, 2587 White women, 2951 girls, i 11,345 695 men servants, 126 boys, do. 200 women servants, 49 girls, do. \ 970 472 men convicts, G boys do. Mulattoe slaves 116, 87 women convicts, 6 girls, do. , free 196, \ 571 312 Negroes, including eight free. 4035 total, 17,238 In the same year 1 753 a Lottery is advertised for the purpose of raising 450 pieces of eight., or dollars, towards building a public wharf^ of which lottery Messrs. John Stevenson, Richard Chase, John Moale, Charles Croxall, William Rogers, Nicholas Rogers, John Ridgely, N. R. >< Gay, William Lux and Rrian Philpot were managers. Mr. George N. Myers, a Pennsylvania German moved to Baltimore and another,'" Mr. Valentine i' ( Larsh built an Inn at the south west corner of Balti- more and Gay streets, and Mr. Andrew Steiger, butcher, who first bought of Mr. L. Goodwin, the south west corner of Baltimore and Charles streets. (JNIr. Steiger afterwards, that is in 1756, procured the lot at the iiorth east corner of Gay and Baltimore sti'eets, but on the gable end of the house arc fixed the figures 1741 still there, being four years anterior to the laying out of tliat part of the town, and fifteen yeai's before the lot was deeded to him, and in 1759, he purchased of Dr. William Lyon, drained and cleared the wooded marsh in the bend of the falls and then on the east sidr of the stream, for pasturage for his cattle. 1753.] A.NNALS 01^ BALTIMORE. S5 In the meantime 1754, Mr. Moale built the brick store, south east corner Calvert street and Lovely lane, and the dwelling now standing in the rear of St. Peters church. The same year the buildings at the mount were erected by Charles Carroll Esq. barrister, of which the brick was imported. Mr. Sheredine dying was succeeded by Lloyd Buc- hanan Esq. and the same year Mr. Nicholas Ruxton Gay, who was surveyor, succeeded Col. Hammond, who had been one of the first commissioners of the town. Mr. John Sly came to settle in Baltimore and erected a house on the north side of south Gay street, and Mr. Conrad Smith another on the opposite side; and three years after Mr. Jacob Keeports another one adjoining; in the mean time, Frederick and Peter Myers arrived. John Paca, Wm. Govane, Lloyd Buchanan and Wal- ter Tolley Esqrs. are elected delegates, but Mr. Buchan- an being appointed prosecutor, is succeeded by Wm. Smith Esq. Beale Bordley Esq. is clerk of the county. The savages, after Braddocks defeat by the French and Indians in 1755, had passed the forts Cumberland and Frederick and got within eighty or ninety miles of the town, in parties of plunder and murder. Although the French abandoned fort Du Quesne on the Ohio 1758^ the country this side of that river was but partially relieved. There is no doubt the growth of Baltimore was promoted by the continuation of the war, preventing the extension of the settlements wes- terly, for within a year after peace the town had cei*- 3(6 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1755 tainly become the greatest mart of trade in the prov- ince, if not before the war began. Many of the French neutrals forcibly deprived of their property and expelled, took refuge here from Acadia or Nova Scotia in 1756, the place being taken by the British. Some of them were received in private houses, others quartered in Mr. Fotterall's deserted house, in which they erected a temporary chapel. For although the province had been a refuge for perse- cuted catholics in particular, they were surpassed in number by Protestants before any settlement was made in this county, and they had no place of worship in it as yet. At first assisted by public levies authorised by law, these emigrants soon found means by their extraor- dinary industry and frugality, to get much of the grounds on south Charles street, erecting many cabins or huts of mud and mortar, which part was long dis- tinguished by the name of French town. By the same means they or their children converted their huts into good frame or brick buildings, mostly by their own hands, and there are yet some of the original French settlers living there at the age of eighty five years and upwards. Among these French neutrals Messrs. Gut- tro, Gould, Dashiel, Blanc (White) and Berbine, who had suffered least perhaps, attached themselves mostly to navigation and the infirm picked Oak- um. Several houses erected on the west side of the street, from timber cut on the lots by themselves, and yet standing, were occupied by some of them more than sixty years. 1756.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 9f On the other hand the defenceless inhabitants were greatly alarmed lest the Indians should reach the town ; and we learn from the respectable relict of Mr. Moale, who was a daughter of the late captain North and the oldest native of the place now living, that the women and children were put on board of boats or vessels in the har- bour to he rescued by flight down the bay if necessary, w^hile the inhabitants of the adjacent country were fly- ing to town for safety. At the general election in September 1757 ]Mr. William Govane, captain Thomas C. Deye, doctor Sam- uel Owings and captain John H. Dorsey were chosen delegates, and again in 1758. In 1 758 Mr. Jacob Myers took the south east corner of Gay and Baltimore streets and built an inn. At this period there also arrived and settled on lots north of Baltimore street, Messrs. Levely, Conrad and Grand- chut the last of whom erected a brewejr^on north Frederick street. Mr. Daniel Barnet and others .who were German Lutherians, bought the lot and erect a small church on Fish street. In 1759 Messrs John Smith and William Buchanan, from Carlisle, the first a native of Strabane in Ireland, and the last of Lancaster county in Pennsylvania, pur- chased of Mr. Harrison after having been refused wa- ter lots on terms which they would accept, by Messrs. Moale and Fell, the lot fronting on Gay and Wa- ter streets; building, besides the dwelling houses still 98 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [17o9. tliere, two wharves of piae cord wood about one thou- sand feet long each, to the channel of the river. Mr. Jo- nathan Plowman, an English merchant lately arrived, bought several acres of ground of Mr. Sligh, adjoining the last addition east of the falls, and built at the nortli cast cornej' of York now Baltimore and High streets. In 1760 Mr. Philpot purchased of Mr. Sligli, most of the peninsula between the falls and Harford run, and built the house at the north east corner of Balti- more street bridge, which caused the bridge afterwards built to be known by that name. llie same year, Messrs. Larsh, Steiger, Keeports and others, who were German or Dutch Presbyterians, bought the ground north of the church of Mr. Carroll, and built a small place of worship for that religious so- ciety, of which Mr. Faber was first minister. In 1761, Messrs. William Smith anjd James Stcrrett njoved from Lancaster, Pennsylv^Tnia, and improved the first in Calvert street, and the latter at the north west comer of Gay and Water streets, w^here he erected a brewery, which was burned and rebuilt and burned again soon after the revolution . Mr. Mark Alexander, from Cecil county, purchases part of the original lot number one, on the north side of Baltimore street, and afterwaids the water lot west side Calvert street, and erects extensive buildings at both places as well as the house south west corner of Cliarles and north west, now Saratoga street. "Mr. INIelchor Keener, a German ari:ived from Penn- 1761] ANNALS OF BALTIIVIORE. 3d sylvania, and two years after erected the house in North Gay street which bears his initials with the date in a niche of the front, for an inn; building a wharf and warehouse on the grounds added to the town by Mr, Howard, below Hanover street, afterwards. In the mean time Mr. S teiger erected the dwelling next to the corner of Baltimore street and Mr. Lytle took the cor- ner house for an Inn, and Mr. Amos Fogg rented the White Horse Inn, south east corner of Front and Low streets. John Paca, Thomas C. Deye, John H. Dor- sey and Corbin Lee Esqrs. are elected delegates. From Mr. Edward Fell of William, who held a com- mission in the provincial army, the mill property was purchased by Mr. William Moore, who came from Ire- land and first settled at Brandj'wine mills, but removed to Baltimore in 1762. The next year Mr. Moore sold the upper mill seat to Messrs. Joseph Ellicott and John and Hugh Burgess, from Bucks coimty Pennsylvania, who built the mill opposite the present jnil. Mr. Ellicott sold his interest to Burgess and went away, but returned with his broth- ers John and Andrew, purchased the lands and erected the mills on Patapsco ten years after. The Canadian war having terminated in 1763, Messrs. Plowman and Philpot laid out some grounds between the falls and Harford run, into streets running north west to south east and nearly parallel with the former stream, with other streets at right angles with them; and Mr. Fell laid off part of the tracts of land cm the east and which his father had. pui'chased of Har^ 40 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1765 ris, Carter and others, buying of Sligh himself part of Mountenay's neck and all two years before rcsurveyed and patented by the name of Fell's prospect; with streets north and south and east and west, except on the extreme point itself, where he was governed by the course of the river; which locations were confirmed, and the same added to the town by act of Assembly ten years after. The duties on negroes and Irish ser- vants not protestants, imported by forei^ners^ were at twenty shillings sterling and twenty shillings currency more on all accounts^ to both were added in 1763, forty shillings currency. . On all kinds of liquors except from England the duty was three pence per gallon; on Pork six pence per hundred weight, or one shilling and six pence per barrel ; Pitch one shilling; Tar six pence; on dried Beef or Bacon exported the duly was one shilling per hundi-ed weight; and on pickled Pork and Beef one shilling per ban^el of two hundred weight; part of which with one shilling per hogshead on Tobac- co exported, was appropriated to the general ex- penses of the province and part to the free schools; to the proprietary one shilling sterling per hogshead, with half a pound of powder and three pounds of shot, or the value, on every ton of foreign shipping entered; three pence per hhd. to the governor, and the duty of five per cent or tonnage and jwundage u^on all imports,to the crown. The navigation act of Great Britam confined all the trade to British and colonial merchants and ships, and intercourse with her dominions of Europe only was allowed for Tobacco, no other trade but to her do- minions and the south of Europe. Restricted thus by 17C3.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 41 a government in which they had no share, the Americans contemned their revenue laws, and whilst they were enforced by the civil authority only as they still were wealth was increased and few complaints were made even by the merchants, on whom all such exactions fall in the first instance . Some time before Doctors John and Henry Steven- son arrived from Ireland, the former conducts an exten- sive trade with that and other countries, and the latter entered into the practice of medicine, and commence s the stone house rough cast near the York road In the same year, 1763, Messrs. John Brown, Ben- jamin Griffith and Samuel Purviance settled in Balti- more; the former from Jersey, having learned his trade in Wilmington, erected a pottery on the east side of Bridge, now Gay street, and the latter, who came from Donegal by way of Philadelphia, erected a distillery on the south east corner of Water and Commerce streets with a wharf; Mr. Griffith who came from New C astle county, having purchased FelPs lot adjoining the bridge, rebuilt it by contract and thence it was, to distinguish it from the others when afterwards built, called by his name. A new Tobacco inspection house was erected on Mr . Harrison's grounds, near what is now the south west intersection of Water and South streets, and a Powder magazine on the falls side, under the hill, near the north east corner of Washington Square streets ; Messr s. William Lyon, Nicholas R. Gay, John Moale and Archibald Buchanan, a majority of the G 4-2' ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1763. town commissioners, took the corner lot on the north of Baltimore street and west of Gay sti'eet on lease of Mr. Harrison, at eight/, sterling per annum, for a market house, which was built by the subscriptio^of the citizens principally. The justices of the peace whose jurisdiction out of court, in relation to small debts, had been first limited to the sum of sixteen shillings and eight pence was extended to fifty shillings and some chancery juris- diction was extended to the county courts. In 1 764 Mr. William Spear, who came from Lancas- ter, took the water lot near Gay street and wharfing out about a 1000 feet to a small Island, erected a bakery there. Mr. Robert Long, who, it is said had persuad- ed Mr. Fell to lay off' that part of the town, commenced some improvements at the corner of Ann and Thames streets, moved to the country and left his buildings un- finished; some lots were also conveyed to Mr. John Bond by Mr. Fell, but sold out by him. James Heath Esq. was elected one of the delegates in the place of M. Dorsey. In 1765, captain Charles Ridgely and Mr. Griffith purchased water lots of INIr. Fell, west of the public wharf; the latter building a wharf and warehouse, which was the first there; and Mr. Benjamin Nelson, ship- wright, who had moved from Charlcstown, Cecil county^ established a ship yai*d in Philpot street; three years after Mr. Isaac Griest, also from Cecil, took the water lot east of the public wharf. The ensuing year captain 1751 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 43 George Patton, who came from Ireland, erected the wharf on the west end of the point, and three years af- ter, Mr. Jesse Hollings worth another on the east. The remainder of the water lots being chiefly taken and im- proved in the mean time, by Messrs. Pm'viance, Wells, Smith, Mackie and Vanbibber, the point containing all the artisans and articles requisite for building and fitting vessels, was already a rival of the town. Mr. Hollings worth, from Elkton, and Mr. Yanbibber from Charlestown, Cecil county, joined by their brothers afterwards moved from the point to the town, and made other considerable improvements. The first settlers were in fact at great loss to deter^ mine in which part to buy, as most likely to improve-, and those who had sufficient means or enterprize, gene- rally took lots both in town and point. Mr. Cornelius Howard, from part of the tract of land called Lunn's lot, then lately re-surveyed by Mr, How- ard, added thirty five acres of it, including the streets cal- led Conway and Barre after those successful opponents of the stamp act in the British parliament, and the dwelling house near the south east intersection of Hanover and Pratt streets, and running between the west side of Forest and the east side of Liberty to Saratoga street, which addition was confirmed by law the same year, aud Messrs. Keener, Myers, Yanbibber and others toqk water lots of him. Messrs. Stevenson, Smith, Lyon, Buchanan, Sterett, Spear, Plowman and others, Presbyterians erected a church on East now Fayette street, where the present church stands, in this year, doctor Patrick Allison be- 44 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1705. iiig their minister, having three years before leased a lot on which they erected asmall place of worship on the oth- er side of the same street near Gay street, which they now dispose of to captain Ridgely, who owned the house at the south west corner of Gay and Fayette streets. The next year, a law was passed to compel Messrs. Harrison, Lawson and Philpot to fill up the mai'sh be- tween Frederick street and the falls, and nine commis- sioners, viz. Robert Alexander, John Smith, William Smith, Jonathan Plowman, William Spear, Andrew Steiger, Charles Ridgely, junr. John Merryman and Benjamin Griffith, or five of them were appointed to lay it off as an additi(m to the town; a law was also passed prescribing a quarantine at the discretion of the govern- or, on all passenger ships infected by diseases, and an- other relating to the roads of the county. In this year, 1766, died Mr. Edward Fell, leaving one son, William, an infant. At the election of 1767, John Ridgely, Thomas C. Deye, John Moale and Robert Adair Esqrs. are elec- ted delegates. Hitherto, the noi^th side of the county appeared to have its share of representatives, but none of these (xentlemen resided remote from the town. Mr. Adair who was sheriff resided in the house standing at the south east corner of Baltimore and South streets, which was about that time, struck by lightning and a Mr. Richardson of Annopolis killed. Such had now been the increase of the town, and the inconvenience to which the inhabitants were subjected in attending courts at Joppa, that a law was passed in i/ft jf- 1763.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 1768, authorising Messrs. J. B. Bordley, John Ridgely Ji —John Moale, Robert Adair,(Kobert AIexandeiJ> Wil- liam Smith and Andrew Buchanan, commissioners, to build a court house and prison, "on the uppermost part of Calvert street next Jones' falls." The former built of brick and two story high, with a handsome cupola, stood where the Baltimore monument now is, until the present court house was erected in 1808; the latter, the prison, of stone, two stories high, also stood on the west end of the same lot, adjacent to St. Pauls lane, now street, until the present county jail ■was -built, in 1800. C''\'\ ; v The same commissioners w^ere directed to sell the court house and prison at Joppa, the courts being ac- commodated in the mean time in the Hall erected for public assemblies over the market, and the prisoners lodged in a log building, near Mr. Chamier the sheriff's house on the east side of south Frederick street. The subscription towards building the court house, amounting to near 900Z currency, chiefly by inhabitants of the town, did not reconcile the people on the north and east sides of the county and the removal of the records by Mr. Alexander Lawson, son of the late Alexander Lawson and now clerk of the county, was at- tended with some violence and outrajrc. T>^ A SOCIETY formed by Messrs. David Shields, James Cox, Gerard Hopkins, George Lindenbergcr, John Dea- ver and others, aided by a general subscription, procu- red an engine for the extinguishment of fires in 1769, which was called "The Mechanical Company." This was the first machine of the kind here, though there are 46 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1769. now no less than eight others, much larger, besides six hose companies, all which latterly ai-e aided by the funds of the city to the amount of about four thousand dollars a year. The first engine cost ninety nine pounds or 264 dollars — ^but the same company have procu- red a larger and more powerful engine, as all the oth- ers are. Doctor Stevenson converts his new and elegant house, which on that account was called Stevenson's folly, to the very laudable purpose of a small pox in- firmary, by appropriating part of it for the reception of young gentlemen whom he inoculates successfully be- fore the practice had become general. The exports from Virginia and Maryland at this time included 85, 000 hogsheads of Tobacco, and from tJie middle colonies 751,240 bushels of wheat, 45,868 tons flour and bread ; the amount of all the imports into Eng- land from the two first mentioned colonies ^4,401,820, exports $3, 779,061 present currency at four shillings and six pence sterling per dollar ; there was therefore an apparent gain to Virginia and Maryland of above ^600,000, but the surplus went then as it does now to the greater importing and manufacturing inhabitants of the east. Messrs. McNabb, Walsh, Stenson, Ilouk, Hillen. Brown, Wlielan, with the Frencli emigrants and others; Roman Catholics having sometime before obtained the lot of Mr. Carroll, erected a part of St. Peter's Chapel on Saratoga street in 1770; but they had no settled Priest until the arrival of the Rev. Mr. Chai'lea SewalJ. ten years after. 1770.] AN^NALS OF BALTIMORE^ 47 By a ludricrous suit against Ganganelli, Pope of Rome, for want of other defendant, to recover the advances of Mr. McNabb, become a bankrupt, the church was some time closed at the commencement of the revolution, and the congregation assembled in a private house in south Charles street until possession was recovered. This was sooner than was expected, by the address of captain Galbraith's company of volunteer militia, who were guarding some Scotch malcontents from North Carolina but desirous not to omit worship insisted upon being marched directly to the church, of which some were members, and demanded and obtained the key. In 1771, an act of assembly was passed, "to prevent the exportation of flour, staves and shingles not mer- chantable, and to regulate the weight of hay and mea- sures of ^ain, salt, flaxseed and firewood." The commissioners of the town were authorised to appoint the inspectors. Mr. Jonathan Hanson, son of the former gentleman of that name who had erected the third, fourth and fifth mills on the falls', was appointed inspector of flour, which continued to be sold by weight until after the revolution. The tobacco or warehouse system which was intro- duced for flour at Charlestown, was wisely abandoned. It is of less importance by whom inspectors are appoint- ed, than that they should, like the administrators of the law and all other Judges between man and man, hold their office during good behaviour. Whilst tobacco was a legal tender, than which no system could be better adapted to tempt every planter to become a counterfeiteV 48 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1771. and produce a bad article, county warehouses and local inspectors were indispensable, but when the tobacco of the state is almost all brought to one place, and no tender one system should be common to both flour and tobacco. Messrs. Cumberland Dugan and Lemuel Cravath, from Boston, and the latter the first New England gen- tleman who settled here, traded largely thence; Mr. Du- gan, who had gone from Ireland and married at Boston, took the lot on Water street and built the house standing obliquely with the street but parallel with the shore, near Cheapside; about this time also, Mr. William Moore, built the stone house at the south east corner of South and Water streets. South street, originally an alley of sixteen and a half feet, was widened from Baltimore street to the Avater, by the new inspection house, at the instance of N. Rogers' guardians. Samuel Owings and George Risteau, Esqrs. were elected delegates in the places of Messrs. Ridglcy and Adair. The merchants of Baltimore, like those of other English colonial ports, had found the Mcditcranean trade the most profitable, and they had the address to limit the exactions of the English ministers by evading the payment of the customs in some instances. Among the number of those who arrived and car- ried on trade from Baltimore about this period, besides others mentioned, were Messrs. Hercules Courtcnay James Clarke, Thomas Usher, .James M'Honry, David Williamson, David Stewart, Daniel Carroll, David Phm- kett, James Cheston, John Ashburner, Matthew Ridl^)^, Wm. Russell, Thomas Russell, Jonathan Hudson, Ro- 1771] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 49 Robert Walsh, Mark Pringle, James Somervel, Thomas Place, John Riddle, Charles Garts, Wm. Neil and Johnson Gildert, and from other states or other parts of this, Messrs. John McKim, George Woolsey, James Calhoun, William Aisquith, Joseph Magoffin and Henry Schaeffe; and different trades or manufactm'es were established by other gentlemen, who lately arrived from other parts of the country or from Europe viz. Messrs. George Lindenberger, Barnett Eichelberger, Francis Sanderson, Richard Lemmon, Jacob Walsh, William Wilson, George Presstman, Richardson Stew- art, Robert Steuart, Englehard Yeiser, Christopher Hughes, also Mr. John Cornthwait, who established a tanyard on Wilkes street, the west side of Harford run, and Mr. William Smith, who established the Rope Walk near Bond street, which was the first except that of Mr. Lux's, but several tanyards had been estab- lished on the west side of the falls, above and below Gay street, at or before this period. The members of the bar who resided here, were Robert Alexander, Jeremiah T. Chase, Benjamin Nicholson, Thomas Jones, George Chalmers, Robert Smith of W. Robert Buchanan of W. Francis Curtis and David McMechin Esqrs. The practising Physicians in and near the town, were Doctors Lyon, Hultz, Stenhouse, Weisenthall, Pue, Stevenson, Boyd, Craddock, Haslet, Gray and Coulter. L\ May 1773, Charles Ridgely, Thomas C. Deye, Aquilla Hall and Walter Tolley, Esqrs. were elected 7 50 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1773 Delegates to the General Assembly, and the subversion of the colonial government taking place before the usual period of issuing writs for an election, which was three years, they were the last delegates under that government, Messrs. Moale and Steiger were authorised, at a session in June, to add eighteen acres of ground lying between Bridge now Gay and Front steeets. It was not carried into effect until eight years after, but about eighty acres of Plowman, Philpot and Fell's lands were added to the town on the east. The markets were regulated by law, and the commis- sioners authorised to hire stalls, appoint a clerk, &c. Hitherto the relief afforded the poor was determined by the justices, who levied annually from 400 to 1200 pounds of tobacco for each person, and there were above 200 at this time, who received the value of their levies themselves, or by the hands of some reputable neigh- bour, as was the practice in all the counties until within a few years. The system was liable to great abuses and had become very burdensome, so that the govern- ment loaned 4000 pounds to the county, and Messrs. C. Ridgely, William Lux, John Moale, William Smith, Samuel Purviance, Andrew Buchanan and H. D. Gough, being appointed Trustees of the poor, erect the centre building and east wing of the house on north Howard street. The same law provided for the em- ployment of the poor, as well as a workhouse for va- grants, and the relief being determined by the discretion of the Trustees, no certainty is aflorded to tempt idlers ; experience soon proved the benefits of the system, and it has undergone no material change in this respect. 1773.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 51 The house caught fire accidentally, on the 18th Sep- tember, 1776, and was mostly consumed, but was, except a cupola, rebuilt and the west wing afterwards added. At different times Courts of Assize and nisi prius? composed of one or more judges of the provincial court, held circuit courts in the counties, and sometimes prisoners for «mall debts were relieved by a general in- solvent law, but those law matters were oftener deter- mined at the seat of government, and individuals una- ble to pay their debts obtained special acts for their re- lief. These circumstances, with the necessity of resort- ing to Annapolis to get registers for vessels, to enter and clear them, helped to impede the growth of our Town. However at this time the jurisdiction of the county courts was extended to causes real or mixed, to all debts and criminal offences. A tonnage duty of four pence was laid on the entry of ships towards erect- ing a light house on Cape Henry and fixing buoys in the bay jointly with Virginia. That colony had appro- priated 10,000 I. for the purpose, and Maryland 3,600/. but the difficulties of the times prevented the execution of the law, until about the year 1 788. The taxable inhabitants, that is all male persons and female slaves above sixteen years, being 10,498, the free white population about 20,000, it became exceeding- ly troublesome to assemble from distances of thirty and forty miles, to which the limits extended northwardly from Baltimore, and it had been necessary in 1 769 to authorise the holding of the election for delegates at Bush town after the polls had been closed at Baltimore. The county was therefore divided, and that part lying 52 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1773. north of the little falls of Gunpowder was erected into a new county, by the name of the. then proprietary Mr. Harford, and at the same session, the justices or any three of them were directed to hold three courts a year for the trial of criminal offences exclusively. This was required as the result of an increase of population only, and if any should imagine that it w as a differ- ent kind of servants from those introduced amongst our neighbours, they are invited to remember that the se- verity of the British penal laws guaranteed us from any worse description of people than are sent forth from penitentiai'ies daily. After the new limits were fixed, the county became as it is now, a pentagon or five sided figure, bounded on the south by the Patapsco, on the east by the bay, north east by Harford, north by the Pennsylvania line and on the west by Frederick county. It is about forty miles from east to west, and thirty from north to south; divided into seventeen hundreds and twelve election districts, exclusive of the city, and, with it, is said to contain 622,084. acres of land. No map has yet been made of the county except that contained in the general map of the state, and a topographical map which would delineate the improvements and natural resources for additional ones, on a large scale, would be as useful to those who contemplate future works, as it would be gratifying to such as have been engaged in those already made. At this time. Gay street bridge was rebuilt of wood, and a new one erected at Baltimore street, first of stone, which gave way when finished and the centres removed. 1773-] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 53 and then of wood, and on Water street for the first time, another of wood ; to the two last of which it was necessary to raise causeway^from Frederick street across the marsh. On the 20th of August, Mr. Wm. Goddard, printer, of Rhode Island, moved from Philadelphia and com- menced the publication of the first newspaper, which was issued once a week, under the title of "IMaryland Journal and Baltimore Advertiser," from a house in South street, east side, near the corner of Baltimore street; until which time it was usual to take the papers from and send advertisements to either Annapolis or Philadelphia. Soon after, INIr. Joseph Rathel issued proposals for a Circulating Library here, but without success. The importance of the trade and intercourse had al- ready produced the establishment of a line of packets and stages, by the head of Elk, to and from Philadel- phia, and a coffee house or hotel was opened at thePoint. The bills of credit had depreciated in all the colo- nies, and fell here to 2001. for 100/. sterling before the year 1750, but had recovered their credit in INIary- land, and bills of exchange were quoted at sixty five and two thirds to sixty two and a half; Wheat six shil- lings per bushel. Flour twenty shillings per cwt. Bar Iron twenty six pound per ton. Pig Iron eight pound per ton. Salt two shillings. Sugar forty five to sixty shillings, Pork eighty five shillings. Tar thirteen shillings, Tur- pentine twenty two shillings and six pence. Tobacco was generally shipped for account £»f the Planters, but Eastern shore was not worth more than eleven 54 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1773. and three pence and Elkridge from twenty to thirty shillings, there was none of the kinds now cal- led bright yellow or kit^foot, cultivated then. Although the legal currency and money of account remained as fixed by the coins one hundred years be- fore at six shillings per dollar, the par at this period must be considered by general assent, at seven shil- lings and sixpence, and so the legislature established the money by the law entitled "an act for the payment of the public creditors," and this rate was confirmed directly after the declaration of Independence. Messrs. Douglass and Hal) am had presented the inhabitants with some theatrical performances, in a w^arehouse which stood at the north west corner of Bal- timore and Frederick streets, and now encouraged by the friends of the Drama er-ect a small Theatre neai* the intersection of Albemarle and George, now Water street, where they performed until the war; all those amusements being then prohibited, they removed to the English West India Islands. However a company with Mr. Wall performed in York, now Baltimore street in 1781, and Mr. Hallam returned after the war, with Mr. Henry and built another Theatre near Queen, now Pratt street, to accommodate the town and point. Until this period tlie hills on which the Cathedral and Hospital are erected, and the grounds west of Greene street where Mi'. Lux had established a Rope walk, and the south shore of the river from Lee street, where Mr. Thomas Mogan set up the frame of a ship, to the fort point were covered with forest trees or small plan- tations. The grounds between the town and point, cal .1773] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 5 5 led Philpot's hill, remained an open common. The last fair was held on Mr. Howard's grounds between Liberty and Greene streets, where races were also ran before the revolution. Most of the timber fell a prey to the wants of necessitous inhabitants during the cold winters of 1 779 and 1 783, and improvements did not commence even on Mr. Philpot's grounds for some years after. Messrs. John and Charles Wesley had visited Geor- gia as missionaries in 1 735, but soon returned to Eng- land. In 1740, Mr. John Whitfield arrived there and passed through Baltimore on several visits to the north . But now several followers of 3Ir. Jolin Wesley having arrived in America and visited Baltimore, amongst oth- ers the Rev Messrs. Asbury, Rankin, Webb and King, are joined by Messrs. Jesse Rollings worth,George Wells, Richard Moale, George Robinson, John Woodward and others, and a society is formed and a church erected in 1 773, in Strawberry alley, and the next year part of the same society erect another church in Lovely lane. — Two years after on the twenty first of May, the preach- ers held their first conference in this town, three former being held in Philadelphia ; but the society was yet only an auxiliary to other churches, as the preachers were still considered laymen, the members received the sacra- ments with the societies to which they had been attach- ed until after the revolution. Messrs. Griffith, Shields, Lemmon, Presstman, McKim, Cox and others buy the lot and erect a part of the church on Front street for the Baptist society the Rev. John Davis from Haii:ord officiating!: or 5(j ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [I773 casionally, but they were not regularly constituted until 1 785, when the Rev. Lewis Richards was chosen minister. The German Lutherans, of whom were Messrs. Lindenberger, Wershler, Hartwig, Hoeckle, Rock, Grasmuck, Levely and Bai netz, doctor Wiesenthall and others, with the aid of a Lottery, erected a new church in Fish now Saratoga street, the Rev. Mr. Gerock being their pastor, having been assisted in religious duties by visiting clergy of that society from York or Lancaster until now. As this town did not appear to be the Capitol of the Province and the population and wealth of the place had not y t attracted the notice of the British govern- ment, the teas upon which it was intended to raise a re- venue were like the stamps, sent to Annapolis, where they meet that fate which would have attended them here, and Baltimore was, like the rest of the confedera- cy, saved from these fatal impositions altogether. At the last session of the provincial Legislature which assembled twenty third INIarch 1771, an act pas- sed providing for the appointment by the commissioners of a guager, prohibiting the sale of liquid merchandise before guaging; and another appropriating the sum of 4000/. or 10,6661 dollars as a loan to make the three great roads leading to the town, to be expended under the direction of Isaac Griest, Benjamin Griftith and Jesse Hollingsworth, and thirteen gentlemen in the county named in the act, supervisors. The British government had determined not only to 1774.] ANNALS^F BALTIMORE. .57 increase the exactions on the trade of the colonists, but to enforce them by military poAver, so that their evasioii become almost impracticable. — They were no longer mere matters of form, but tangible substances, and most likely to be resisted where the trade was most extensive and the grievance more severely felt, as was the case to the eastward. In the Maryland Journal of the twenty eighth of May 1774, a notice appeared of which the following is a copy, "On Tuesday last, a few hours after the arrival of an express from Philadelphia relative to the situation of affairs at Boston, a number of merchants and respectable mechanics of this town met at the Court House and appointed a committee to correspond with the neighbor- ing colonies, as the exigency of affairs may make it occasionally necessary." The news was the arrival of governor Gage with a bill for blocking the port of Boston, and the retreat of governor Hutchinson from the town to Fort William?} now Fort Independence. Committees appointed by tliC several counties met at Annapolis on the twenty second of June, in which Bal- timore county and tov/n were represented by captaih Charles llidgcly, Thomas C. Deye, Walter Tolley Jv. -^Robert Alexander, William Lux, Samuel Purviance Jr. and George Risteau Esqrs. By them, nonimportation resolves were entered into ; collections were to be maftc for the relief of the Bostonians and congressmen were appointed. The congress which met at Philadelphia on the fifth of Sp])tomber, having adfipted similar mea- H 58 ANNALS OF BACTIMORE. [1774. sures, recommended the appointment of town and coun- ty committees thi'ougliout the colonies: and on the twelfth of November a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of Baltimore county and town, enti- tled to vote, was held at the comt house and the fol- lowing gentlemen were chosen to compose the commit- tee for Baltimore town, viz. Messrs. Andrew Buchanan Robert Alexander William Lux John Moale John Merry man Richaid Moalc Jeremiah T. Chase Thomas Harrison Archibald Buchanan William Buchanan William Smith James Calhoun Benjamin Griflith Gerard Hopkins William Speai'- Jolm Smith Barnet Eichelberger George Woolsey Hercules Courtenay Isaac Griest Mark Alexander Samuel Furviance Junior Francis Sanderson Dr. John Boyd George Lintenbcrgcr Philip Rogers David iVIcMcchen Mordccai GisL and John Dcaver in all twenty nine, and thirty eigiit oilier gentlemen for tlie county, of whom Mesjirs. Thomas C. Dcye ca])tain Charles Ridgel} AV alter Tolley junior Benjamin NicholL-on. Sanmel AVorthington John JMoale doctor Joim Boyd William Buchanan. 1774.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. or any three of them were a committee to attend the committee meetings at Annapolis, and Messrs. 'Robert Alexander John Moale Samuel Purviance junior Jeremiah T. Chase Andrew Buchanan William Buchanan doctor John Boyd William Lux. or any four of them a committee of correspondence for Baltimore town. Of the Baltimore committee, Samuel Purviance, Esq. was elected chairman, and possessing much ardour in the cause which his excellent talents enabled him tn promote in an eminent manner, so continued until the new government was organised. Mr. Chase was the first secretary, but as other duties were confided toliim,- was succeeded by Mr. George Lux. After the separation of Harford county, there remain- ed twenty three justices for the town and comiLy, of whom Andrew Buchanan, Jonallirn Plowman, John IMoale, William Buchanan, William Spear, Jolai Smith, Isaac Vanbibbcr, James Calhoun, Hercules Courtenay and William Russell, Esqrs. resided in or near town. Mr. A. Buchanan was presiding justice, Mr. Alexander Lawson, son of Mr. liawson b(;forc mention- ed, clerk of the count}', and Robert CHjristie, Esn. sheriff. Thomas Jennings, Esq. of Annapolis, being at- torney general, attended the courts as occasion required. Doctors llultse, Wcisenthall, Craddock and Haslet attended the poor of the county, and Messrs. Oliver Cromwell and Henry Stevenson were the inspectors ot (jO ANNALa Oi' BALTIMORE. [1774 tubacco, receiving each cerUiin salaries out of the levy, annually. The number of taxable inhabitants in the county, in- cluding the town, was 7410, and the levy 172 pounds of tobacco each, j;er /JoW, together, 1,271,-520 pounds. Al- though the rate was in tobacco, the taxables had the option of paying in current money at twelve shillings and six pence per 100 pounds, and the price of the ar- ticle being then from fifteenio twenty five shillingsin Bal- timore they generally did so of course. Besides 1 1 1,150 pounds towards the poor house, the alms of this county included in the above, amounted to 124,700 pounds, re- lieving above 200 persons. It is true, that a great part of the levy was not for current charges ; in particular, the quantities: ^Qi- grounds aud a new tobacco house, erecting at the Point, 183,556 lbs. To repay the bills loaned for poorhouse, roads, &c. 177,840 Iiidemnity to Harford county, for pub- lic buildings in town which they had contributed to build, 77,333 Due former SherilT, 64,724 Bridge on Gunpowder, 20,000 Town market house, 3,000 526,453 lbs. Being above two fifths of the whole levy of the yeaf, as above. Although this levy was rendered still more burdensome by the parish rate of ten pounds of tobacco per poll on two thousand eight hundred and thirty one 1774.] ANXALS OF BALTIMORE. 61 taxables then rated, the venerable rector, Mr, Chase, undertook the edcuation of several children. A number of others learned the languages &c. fiom the late Dr. Archer, of Harford, ind Mr. James Alcock. On the 8th December, the deputies appointed by the several counties met at Annapolis, and resolved, "that they would maintain the association just entered into by congress," purporting a settled and united resistance of the late acts of the British Parliament, recommending the enrolment of the militia aiid a voluntary contribu- tion of 10,000 pounds, of which 933 pounds by Baltimore county, for the purchase of arms and ammunition. Messrs. Richard Moale, William Spear, Isaac Vanbib- ber and Isaac Griest were appointed a committee of this town to observe and report the arrival of vessels. In the course of this year, the office of deputy postmas- ter general was taken from Dr. Franklin by the Ministry, and the communications by mail exposed to the control of English agents. Mr. Goddard, editor of the Mary- land Journal in this town, devised and succeeded in es- tablishing an independent line from Massachusetts, first to Virginia, and afterwards to Georgia, and he was ap- pointed surveyor of the post roads by congi'css, but they having restored his office to Dr. Franklin the ensuing year, Mr. Goddard was disappointed, and retiring him- self, made his sister ostensible editor of the newspaper. The sister. Miss Mary K. Goddard, who was aided in the editorial department of the paper by several gentle- men of talents and public spirit, kept the post office also, for many years after the return of her brother, and until the establishment of the federal government in 02 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1774 1789, having by her attention and integiity obtained the entire confidence and esteem of the public. In the course of the next year 1775, Mr. John Dun- lap of Philadelphia established a weekly paper by the title of "Dunlap's Marylaiid Gazette,'^ under the direc- tion of Mr. James Hayes who became editor in 1778 but discontinued it, to be revived by his son, as Mr. Goddai'd's paper was by himself. Early in this year a few gentlemen undertook a cen- sus of the town and it ^vas found that there were five hundred and sixty four houses and five thousand nine hundred and thirty four persons of all descriptions. — The Baltimore committee of observation, imitating the committees in other places, determined not only to pro- liibit the use of Tea, but the landing of English Salt, although- the price was near a dollar and two thirds a bushel, and so much wanted, unless a duty of two pence per bushel was paid for the use of the Bostonians. The committee had accepted the explanations given by several persons charged with inimical acts, but the people accused Mr. James Dalgleisli, a foi'eign mer- chant, who had declared his aversion to the cause and therefore as soon as he had been published as an enemy he fled for safety. The laws against Roman Catholic teachers still existing, some persons actuated by woi-se motives, broke up Mr. John Hefrernan''s school and he also left the place. Other individuals were also expo- sed to personal violence as it was allcdged, from tlie mistaken zeal of the committee itself or ignorance of the principles by which they should be governed, they 1775.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. CB published a declaration on the nineteenth of April "that they had in no instance exceeded the line pointed out by congress and the provincial assembly, and abhorring every idea of proscription, the committee call upon persons v^^ho have circulated such reports to disclose the author," they also declare that their meetings had been held in public "and their records free and open for inspection." An instance of moderation occurred in the case of Mr. James Christie: A letter of his to a rela- tion in the British service, which was intercepted, cau- sed him to be arrested and protected, while the conven- tion, upon his appeal, fined him 500/. sterling and or- dered him to leave the province. Pursuant to a recommendation of congress, the com- mitte e prohibited the fair then approaching by desiring the inhabitants to abstain from such assemblages, as well as horse racing, cock fighting, &c. Several members of the German or Dutch Presby- terian society attached to the Rev. William Otterbein form a separate religious society which they distinguish by the name of the "German Evangelical Reformed," and they purchased a lot where their present church is on Conway street and worship in a small house ihere. Before the 1 9th of April when the battle of Lexington took place, the town had formed several companies of each description of arms, and every exertion was made to procure ammunition. Amongst others general Bu- chanan the lieutenant of the county, distinguished him- self by his zeal and took command of a company of ;entlemen of riper years, and a company of their sons nd othors. mostly immarried. who armed nnd rquippfd G4 tNNNALS of BALTIMORE. [1775. themselves in an elegant scarlet uniform, put themselves under the command of captain, afterwards general Gist, lieutenant Thomas Ewing and other officers, who with some of the privates became distinguished in different commands in the regular service afterwards, being train- ed by Mr. Richard Carey adjutant, who had arri' Ved from New England and had been a member of the ancient artillery company of Boston, then lately com- manded by John Hancock Esq. first president of congress. The provincial convention having entered into arti- cles of association in August, declaring in the name of the inhabitants that "they would to the utmost in their power, prosecute and support the then opposition carry- ing on, as well by arms, as by the continental associa- tion." Provided for regular elections of their succes- sors, and of committee men, by "the freeholders of each county and other free men having a visible estate of forty pounds sterling, or qualified by law t(j vote for burgesses." Baltimore county and town were allowed to send five delegates and to have thirty seven commit- tee men, whose powers extended to the general police and local government of the county; the county was also directed to furnish five of forty companies mhmtc men. Several gentlemen volunteered and joined the army before Boston, amongst others Messrs. Richard Carey, David Hopkins and Ja^nes Mc Henry, the latter 1 laving made some progi'ess in medicine became surgeon. At or before this time there arrived and s -ttled in the town, Messrs. Hugh Young, Alexander Donaldson, Clnisloplier Johnston, James Sterling, John Weather- 1775.J ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 6.3 burn, George Salmon, John McFadon and others who were foreigners, and Messrs. William Young, Hezekiah Waters, Benjamin May, Peter Hoffman, George War- ner, Anthony Houck and others from this or neigh- bouring provinces. Messrs. Robert Alexander, Benjamin Nicholson, John Moale, Walter Tolley Jr. and Jeremiah T. Chase, were elected delegates. The committee of observation was composed of Messrs. Moale, Chase, Calhoun, Nicholson, A. Buchanan, Craddock, Sellers, Gittings, Alexander, Purviance, Wilkinson, Ridgely, of William^ Tolley, Darby Lux, John Cockey, William Smith, William Buchanan, William Lux, Dr. Boyd, John / Smith, Zacariah Maccubbin, captain Charles Ridgely, Harrison, Griffith, Randall, Thomas Gist, Cromwell, Griest, Deye, Mordecai Gist, Stevenson, Towson Wil- liam Aisquith, John E. Howard, Risteau and Britton^ Mr. Purviance, Chairman, Mr. William Lux, Vice Chairman, Mr. George Lux, Clerk, and Mr. McMechen, assistant Clerk. Messrs. Purviance, William Lux, Chase, Alexander and doctor Boyd, were appointed a committee of correspondence. Messrs. Purviance, John Smith, William Buchanan, Griffith, Griest, Tho- mas Gist Jr. and Darby Lux, were a committee to superintend the trade and import arms. Theie was another committee, consisting of Messrs. Moale, Harri- son, Calhoun Sollers, Aisquith, Ridgely of William, and John E. Howard, selected to license suits at law, as re- commended by the Convention, to prevent the abuse of them which the disaffected might make; for some debtors had been rescued from the^shetjff already; but 9 tSfij ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1775 the courts being still open, they were restored to cus- tody by captain Buchanan and captain Gist's companies, which received a vote of thanks from the Convention. Many vessels returning home, learned the commence- ment of hostilities by being searched and stripped of their arms and ammunition, but they soon retaliated, and powder and ball were distributed to the militia. It was soon discovered that it would be highly essential to the safety of the town, to erect a fort on Whetstone Point; a water battery, planned by Mr. James Alcock, was commenced under the superintend ance of Messrs. Gricst, Griflith and Lindenberger, captain N. Smith commanding the artillery there. Three massive chains of wrought iron, passing through floating blocks were stretched across the river, leaving a small passage only, on the side next the fort, and the channel was protected by sunken vessels also. In a regiment of regular troops, commanded by Col. Smallwood, Messrs. Mordecai Gist, Samuel Smith, David Plunkett, Brian Philpot, and William Ridgely held commissions and raised men in Baltimore. A Bermudian sloop was purchased, armed with ten guns, called the Hornet and put under the command of captWm. Stone; she joined the expedition under commo- dore Hopkins from the Delaware, and on the arrival of which at New Providence that place was surrendered,and the stores and ammunition brought away; but the Hor- net was driven ashore and lost attempting to enter the Delaware. Congress had recommended a general fast for the 20th July, and it was kept here by the meetings of religious societies for worship. 1776.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. ^^ On the 8th March, 1776, the Otter ship of war and tenders, made their appeai'ance a few miles below tlie town. To a population unaccustomed to war, the alarm was great of course, but the Avoracn and children flying, were met by volunteers entering to their relief; and cap- tain James Nicholson, of the state ship Defence, which had been a merchantman recently bought of Mr. John Smith, manned partly by captain, now general Smith's company, as marines, and volunteers from the town, who succeeded, not only in driving away the enemy's flotilla, but recapturing some merchant vessels of which they had got possession. The 5th June, captain Nicholson obtained his com- mission from congress, being the first -officer in rank in the United States naval service, and soon after took command of the Virginia frigate. Captain AVilliam Hallock was also commissioned by congi'ess 10th October, and commanded the Lexing- ton, of 16 guns; in the mean time Mr. Joshua Barney, who had been with the expedition at New Providence, received a commission, and in the Andrew Doria and other vessels, evidenced the utmost courage and address. Governor Eden adjourned the assembly from time to time, and by his conduct generally appeared averse to the ministerial measures; but, upon the interception of despatches from the government to him delivered to general Charles Lee, at Charleston, the general wrote to the Baltimore committee to have him arrested: The Chairman, Mr. Purviance, applied to major Gist, com- manding the regulars in the town, who sent captain Smith with his company to prevent the escape of the 06 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [l77^. governor, and deliver a letter to Mr. Johnson, president of the council of safety. The council being called to- gether, captain Smith was told that his sermces mere no longer necessary. Soon after, the Convention, in support of the authority of the executive, summoned the chairman and military officers to their bar, and some moderate censure was passed on the principals ; but, satisfied themselves at the time, that the duty of Mr. Eden as governor was in- compatible with the interest of the public, they requested him to leave the country ,which he did June24,by a vessel sent for him by Lord Dunmore, who had commenced hos- tilities and been plundering the Virginians a long time. Dunmore coming into the Patowmack, obliged the convention to order a draft of three thousand four hundred militia for a flying camp. Sensible of the gene- ral danger, the members became willing to enlist the feelings and interests of a community so important as that of Baltimore. They now invited the inhabi- tants to participate directly in the government of the state, by authorising them to choose two delegates for the town exclusive of the four for the county. Notice of an election of a convention to form a constitu- tion of the state, was published the 3d July, to be held the 5th August, for the freemen '-'-except such as Juts been published as enemies to this country^'' to attend and give in their votes. There appears to have been \12 votes taken, and Messrs. John Smith and Jeremiah T. Chase, were duly elected for the town; and IMessrs. Chailes Ridgely, Thomas C. Deye, John Stevenson and Peter Slieppard for the county, 853 votes being taken at their 1776.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORfc. 69 polls. By a census taken of the Point, the population there consisted of S2\ persons of 146 whom were mas- ters of families or house keepers. In the mean time, that is, on the 22d July, the De- claration of Independence was proclaimed at the court house, at the head of the independent companies and the several companies of the militia, with the discharge of cannon, and, says the editor of the Journal, "with universal acclamations for the prosperity of the Uni- ted States." In the evening the town was illuminated and an effigy of the late king which had been paraded through the streets, was publicly burned. ]VIr. Christie who, as sheriff, had the preceding month published a writ of the governor for a new elec- tion, which the convention had suspended, was notwith- standing invited by the committee to read the act of con- gress, but refusing from a sense of official duty, that respect for his person and character which had produced the invitation was as prompt to excuse him. These feelings were not universal as it appears, and the com- mitteee issued the following resolve dated tiiirtieth July. "This committee do declare their utter disapprobation of all threats or violence being offered to any persons whatever, as contrary to the resolves of congress and the sense of the convention of this province: — That tliey conceive themselves bound to protect (as far as in their power) the civil officers in the discliarge of llieir duty. That they do expect of, and call upon every good citizen and friend of his country, to assist them 'n\ their endeavours to preserve the peace and good order of society; and to prevent nil riolS» and tumults and 70 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1776 personal abuse ard violeRCe to individuals. That the good people of Baltimore, having hitherto been so re- gpectfidly attentive to the resolves of this committee, 6n all occasions, they flatter themselves that due regard vrill be paid to this recommendation." Never was a ]?eople more united in opinion on any subject, than were the Americans, botli natives and em- igrants in condemning and opposing the acts of the parliament of England taxing the colonists. Some however saw in these acts only the selfish design of one class of subjects to relieve themselves by thro^ving their burthen upon others, and believing the king and the English people generally, exempt from such motives, thought the evils temporary ; so that when the more en- terprising politicians, they who looked to the future in- crease of population and wealth which was to take place here, and foresaw that ihe separation must some- time happen, let the administration of the British gov- ernment fall into the purest hands; joined to the Cath- olics and dissenters, who had besides the common grie- vances, others of a religious and more delicate kind, and not likely to be removed at any time; — ^when these descriptions of people united, had declared that the country should be free of all colonial dependence, many individuals of great private virtue and highly esteemed by the people, withdrew from the country. Of these may be mentioned Robert Alexander Esq. who had been a delegate to the convention and to congress; Daniel Chamier Esq. late sherilTof the county; doctors Henry Stevenson and Patrick Kennedy; Mr. James Somcrvel. Merchant, ike. These and others in rcti- 1776] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 71 ring determined generally, that if they could not join their oppressed fellow subjects, they would not oppose them. Some ended their days in peace and obscurity abroad; others improved the opportunities which they afterwards had to render important services to the sol- diers of liberty who fell into the hands of their enemies, and returned afterwards to remain here. The Maryland regiment under major Gist, the col- onel and lieutenant colonel being on couits martial or otherwise absent on duty, was engaged with the British at their landing on Long Island on the twenty seventh of August, and lost in killed, wounded and taken about two hundred and fifty men. In the flying camp there entered the army from this town and county, Messrs. Howard, Hamilton, W. Sterett, James Winchester, G. Winchester, Ewing, INIoore, Croxall, Norwood, Oldham, Colegate, Cromwell, Wilmott, Toole, Riley and INIcCabe, who recruited men in the town and its vicinity. The American army obliged to abandon New York, were joined by the flying camp, including the Mary- land quota, and several companies raised for the defence of the state, called independent companies. These com- panies with the first reg-iment under colonel Smallwood himself at White Plains, occupying a post on the right, were attacked on the twenty eighth of October, and lost above one hundred men, but the regiment covered the retreat of the army to Trenton. The organization of the troops was so defective in many respects and the terms of enlistment having near- ly ran out, they were disbanded; the oflicers of the regi- ment and flying camp generally with those of the inde- 7;g ANNALS OF BALTIMORE, [1776. pendent companies entered into the brigade to Avhicli colonel Smallwood was promoted the year after. The ])rigade was formed of iseven regiments. To it was at- tached some German and rifle companies ; in the fornier of which Messrs. Peter Mackenlieimer, George P. Iveeports, John Lohra, Christian Myers, Samuel Gerock, John Lindenberger, John Mackenheimerj John Ritter and George Cole held commissions-, Messrs. Nathaniel Smith, John Fulford and Alexander Fiirniv al commanded artillery companies, and Messrs. N. R. Moore, D. Plunket, R. Smith of W. and D. Hopkins took commissions in the cavalry. The convention met on the fomleenth of August to form a constitution, allowed to the town its representa- tion of two members, as it still enjoys. Mr. Chase endeavoured to procure a provision for an increase, wJiich he so confidently looked for that he agreed that the town should lose the two they allowed it upon be- coming less populous by one half than any county, if the convention would allow four members when the town should have become as populous as any county; but it being moved to divide the proposition, the ques- ' tion was taken on the first clause and carried without a division, and though the last clause was so amended, that to have the increased delegation the population of the town should be equal to that of the largest county, it was negatived by a vote of thirty seven to fourteen. It is probable tliat Mr. Chase was so disappointed, that he retired, or that advantage was taken of accidental absence on the question, and as Mr. Sheppard was sick and absent with leave the yeas included only four mem 1776.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. tJ bers of the town and county. Thus we find some of that je-jlousy of the town which was manifested by the provincial legislature thirty years before, operating with a patriotic convention, as it still does with a* republican assembly, to exclude the people of Baltimore from means which other Americans possess to secure their rights and promote their happiness. However, the convention finding that the private arm- ed vessels of the port, and amongst others the Enter- prise, captain Campbell; Sturdy Beggar, McKeel; Har- lequin, Handy; Fox, George Buchanan, &c. would soon bring in enemy's property for adjudication, estab- lished a court of Admiralty, appointing Benj. Nicholson Esq. judge, David Stewart Esq. marshal, and Wm. Gib- son Esq. register, and beft)re their adjournment suspend- ed the levies to reimburse the loans made for the Alms house and roads, ordering the sums collected to be cre- dited the citizens of the town and county in their common county charges. The balance of these loans was exhibited by a committee of the assembly, at ■^18,478 in 1817, notwithstanding the suspension, which otherwise, might have been paid in depreciated paper, and if any levies remained in the sheriff's hands, his property fell to the state under the confiscation act afterwards passed and out of the reach of the county authorities. Congress assembled in Baltimore on the twenty sixth of December and occupied Mr. Jacob Fite's house at the south east corner of Baltimore and Liberty streets, being then the farthest west and one of the largest built in the town and was a long time called Congress Hall. 10 74 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [lllii. Philadelpliia, from whence congress adjourned, was then rescued by the capture of the Hessians at Trenton on the same day, and the attack of the British at Princeton- eight days after, so happily planned by gen- eral Washington and so boldly executed by the troops, including part of the Maryland line under his command. The establishment of the new government was at- tended by no internal difficulties of importance. Charles Carroll, Esq. Barrister, of Mount Clare, one of the late convention and council of safety, was elected a member of the first senate of the state, and the town and county respectively returned the delegates who had represented them in the convention. Mr. Carroll, barrister, was also appointed chief justice of the gene- ral court but did not accept. Most of the gentlemen who were in the commission of the county and town were reappointed county jus- tices by the new government. Andrew Buchanan Esq. being the presiding justice was also lieutenant of the county, and in that capacity commanding the militia. Seven of the justices were constituted an Orphans court and Thomas Jones Esq. register of Wills. — Thomas Jennings Esq. was appointed Attorney General, but declining, was succeeded by James Tilghman and B. Calloway Esq. successively and in 1778 Luther Mai'tin Esq. being appointed, settled in Baltimore. In the mean time W. Gibson Esq. is appointed clerk of the coimty court. Mr. Lawsor> former county clerk, retiring to the Eastern Shore, returned after the rcvo lution and resided here until his death. Mr. Robert I 1777.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 75 Christie, appointed sheriff in 1774, was superseded, of course, and at the election held agreeably to the consti- tution, Henry Stevenson Esq. was returned and duly commissioned for that office under the new government In the mean time Mr. Christie was compelled to leave the town, but, declaring that the public was indebted to him, appointed Mr. Moses Galloway to settle his affairs, and went to England. The jurisdiction of justices of the peace, in matters of debt out of court was extended from fifty shillings to five pounds or thirteen dollars thirty three and one third cents; a new list of Tobacco fees was enacted, and the money fixed at seven shillings and six pence per dollar, as it was in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Jersey and current here sometime. The vendue or auction Ijusiness was carried on by JNIr. James Long and Mr. Thomas Brereton acted as a broker, neither of whom were subject to license as yet. The collection of duties which had been prevented by the times was formally suspended in 1777 except the duty on imported slaves. Levies were made as usual but most of the public expenses being for military purposes, were defrayed by paper money of the state or confederacy, and in a year or two the money depreciated, so that the sums levied bore no proportion to the prices of goods and necessary expenditures. The committee of observation being superseded by the officers of the new government, and fears being entertained by some, that the ordinary course of law would be inefficient to secure the triumph of liberty, there was a private society called the Whig Club, or- 70 ANJsALS OF LALTIMORE. [1777. ganized this year, to detect violaters of the law, as they declarec!,wljich vexed the citizens unnecessarily perhaps. The pacific doctrine of the Methodists like that of the Quakers, caused the English preachers amongst them, to he suspected of dangerous political views, and My. Asbuiy himself was taken near town and fined, and afterwards going over the bay, quit preaching and lived in retirement in Delaware some time. The conscien- tious scruples of the ministers of the late establishment, relative to the fonn of prayer for the new instead of the old government, of the Quakers, JMethodists, preachers and others, subject them to pay the treble tax imposed on non-jurors, or leave the country, as most of the rec- tors and ministers of the establishment did. Mr. Goddard the printer, became obnoxious for the freedom of his remarks, and was constantly alarmed, and the interference of the club in his case, was formally cen- sured by the legislature during the first session, and Go- vernor Johnson issued a proclamation for his protection. By the act of April session 1777, the number of troops of all arms, to be furnished by the state consisted of 2902 men to be taken from each county in proportion to its number of militia. Frederick county was to fur- nish 309, being the most populous, and Calvert the least 74, Baltimore county including the town, was to furnish 281, which was between a tenth and eleventh part of the whole number from the then eight- teen counties of the state. Tt seems that the proportion of men and money which the state was required to fur- nish for the general defence, was about the same^ that is to say, one tenth oi- nearh^ of the whole. 1777.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 77 A great part of the Mainland line, under general Sullivan, was in the attack on Statcn Island, 22d Au- gust, '77, and in some lesser engagements in the Jersie^ soon after. On the 2 1 st August, I^ord Howe's lleet anchored near the mouth of Patapsco river, but proceeded to Turkey Point, on Elk river, near which the British army undei- Sir William Howe was landed. The governor issued a proclamation the next day, ordering two full compa- nies of each batallion of militia to march immediately to the head of the bay where the continental army would meet the enemy. The independent company now under captain John Sterett, trained as infantry, mounted their own hoi-scs, proceeded to watch the enemy on the bay side, and amv- ing before them at the head of it, joined the main army including the Maryland line near Ndwport, but were then ordered back by the commander in chief to assist in protecting their homes. On the 1 1th September was fought the battle of Brandywine, at which the Maryland line was present and shared the disasters of the day. General Smallwood, with Maryland militia, including captains Sterett, Cox and Bailey's companies from Bal- more, joined General Wayne the 21st September, im- mediately after Grey's sanguinary night attack on the Americans at the Paoli. Those companies in which many citizens who left nu- merous families, dispersed about the country or exposed to the depredations of the maritime forces of the enemy in the bay, went in the ranks volunteers, shared in the 78 ANNALS OF BALTIftlORE. [1777. route of Wayne and in the more equal conflict at Ger- mantown 4th of October, at which place the patriotic Cox with several of his townsmen, laid down their lives in their country's cause. At the same time colonel Smith commanding a small detachment of continental troops at fort Mifflin with the aid of commodore Hazle wood's flotilla, in which lieuten- ant Barney then served, was successfully opposing the passage of Howe's fleet, which had returned from the Chesapeake into Delaware, for which congress voted the colonel a sword ; however, the fort was not long tenable and it was abandoned, some days after he had been wounded and retired across the river. The gloom occasioned by the passage of the fleet to Philadelphia was soon reversed, and confidence generally and forever restored, by the news which arriv- ed here on the 2Tsi October, of the success of General Gates at Saratoga and the surrender of General Bur- goyne and his whole army four days before. It was now found tliat topsail schooners, sailing best upon a wind and adapted to the use of sweeps in chas- ing, were most likely to escape the heavy ships of the enemy. Amongst the first of the kind fitted out here was the Antelope, built at N. Point creek by Mr. J. Pearce for Messrs. John Sterett and others, and armed with four- teen guns, under the command of captain Jeremiali Yel- lott, who was himself an Englishman lately settled in Baltimore, which made a great many naiTo^v escapes and some captures, bat alwa3'^s fortunate voyages. The Felicity, comnmnded by captain J'rederick Folgei", who '1777.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 79 had been first officer of the Antelope was scarcely less successful. However, the ship Buckskin, captain Johns, who had the commission of a lieutenant in the navy from congress afterwards; the Nonsuch, captain C. Wells and some other vessels, safely went to and returned from France. A part of a committee of congress then at Little York, constituting a navy board, of which William Smith, Esq. was a member, assembled here. The Virginia fri- gate of 28 guns, was built at the point, west side of the public wharf, by Mr. Wells, and put under the command of captain Nicholson, but being chased by the enemy 31st December, 1 777, v/as run on the middle ground and aken. Capt. Nicholson escaped in the ship's barge, but lieutenant Barney with his brother William, who was an officer of the marines, and the rest of the crew- fell into the hands of the enemy. William Buchanan, Esq. was appointed by congress, commissary general of purchases for the continental ar- my, James Calhoun Esq. his deputy made purchases of supplies here andN. Rogers Esq. became an aid of General Ducoudrais and afterward of General Dc Kalb. In this year died at an advanced age, at his seat in the county, Cornelius Howard Esq. who laid out that part of the town, called Howard's Hill, leaving three sons, the eldest of whom was colonel John E. Howard, and two daughters. Early in 1778, count Pulaski's legion of cavalry and infantry, raised partly in this state, was organized here. 80 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1778. The corps sufFered severely in Jersey in the same year, and the next lost their gallant commander JnGcoigia. On the twenty eighth June the British were unsuc- cessfully attacked but finally retired from the fields of Monmouth in Jersey, wliere the Mai-yland line shai'ed the danger and the glory of the day. In the militia of the town Messrs. John McClcllan, Benjamin Griffith, George Lindenberger, James Cid- houn, Daniel Bowley, Mark Alexander, Stephen Stewart, James Young, Isaac Griest, Britm. Dickin- son, Henry Schaeffi^i, and George Wells held commis- sions, most of whom had been at camp with captains Moore, Sterett, Cox, or Bailey. They were often on duty, as may be supposed, and on one or two occasions, they assembled courts martial in Baltimore for the trial of offences against military law, but none capital occurred. On the organization of the court of appeals Thomas Jones Esq. was appointed one of the judges, and AV'il- !iam Buchanan Esq. youngest son of doctor George Buchanan, deceased, succeeds to the office of Register of Wills the next year in the place of Mr. Jones. British goods having become scarce, several manu- factures, which had been prohibited in the colonies, were now established in or near tliis town: Among others a bleach yard by Mr. Riddle; a linen factory by Mr. IMcFadon; a paper mill by Mr. Goddard; a slitting mill by JNIr. Whetcroft; a card factory by Mr. McCabc; a wooUeu and linen factory by Mr. Charles Carroll; a Nail factory each by JNIr. Geo. JMattliows and Mr. Richardson Stewiirt; Mr. Charles 1778] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 81 Williams carried on the Dyeing business, and Mr. William Stenson, who had sometime kept a coffee house near the corner of Ilolliday and East, novrf Fayette streets, opened another on a modern and extensive scale, at the south west corner of South and Baltimore streets. In the course of this year too, a treaty of alliance was made with France, and, soon after the British left Philadelphia a large fleet under count D'Estaing made its appearance off Chincoteague on this coast. The British appear to have abandoned much of their hopes of reducing the States by force and offered terms which would have been accepted three years before. On the other hand the Americans, who had suffered severely for want of camp equipage and materials of war as well as in battle, considered themselves relieved from gi'eat exertions, by the arrival of the French and the certainty of effectual aid of their forces, and a period of langour succeeded which was not favorable to general improvement,while the depreciation of the current money and the absence of IMessrs. Howard, Rogers and other gentlemen of landed property, who had gone from our town to join the army, contributed, no doubt, to retard its progress here. It was, however, in the middle of the war arrived and settled hero, Messrs. Richard Curson, William Patterson, Robert Gilmor, Charles Torrence, Andrew Boyd, Aaron Levering, Henry Payson, Joseph Williams, Peter Frick, George Reinecker, Michael Diffenderffer, Christopher Raborg, John Leypold, Abraham Sitler, George Heide, John Shultze, Baltzcr 11 gj2 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1778 Schaeffer and others, who, by their wealth, credit and enterprize contributed to revive the business of the place . On the 4th February, 1779, Mr. Sterett's extensive brewery, with the warehouse on the south west corner of Frederick and Second streets, then occupied by Mr. Hugh Young, were set on fire designedly as was sup-' posed, and both entirely consumed. The Episcopal congregation had increased so much as early as 17C2, as to require a chapel of ease and one was erected at a place called TL, near the head of Middle River: about the same time that additional lots were purchased in town for the use of the parish. The Rev. Mr. Thomas Chase, who was above thirty years rector of St. PauFs parish, and tlie last appointed by the Proprietary, died the 4th of Apiil 1779, aged 79 years, and the Rev. Mr. William West was chosen to succeed him by the vestry, when a new chm'ch was erected in front of the old one, and a law procured to open the street in front of it, called New Church, now Lexington street, on the south side of which the vestry leased out lots. Early in 1779, the Maryland line was formed into two brigades, the second of which was put undei' command of colonel Gist, promoted brigadier general, and doctor McHenry became a secretary to the com- mander in chief. Benjamin Nicholson, Esq. colonel of the town mili- tia, resigned the command to colonel Sniith. This being the only corps kept up after the peace, sustained that military spirit which was infused into the 5th and 1779.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 83 other regiments and which the militia of Baltimore have so lately displayed. On the 9th July some of the people, offended at Mr. Ooddard for the part he took in favor of general Charles Lee after the decision of the court martial which sus- pended that officer, Mr. Goddard was persuaded to sign a public recantation, Avhich he after^vards disclaimed but saved himself by it from personal abuse ; from which, however, one or two persons who defended him did not escape, as they were put into the cart intended for him and carried about the sti*eets. A society was formed by the principal merchants, and contributions made by them ^ in October to the amount of 93,000 pounds to be employed in reducing the price of salt by retail, which article they bought and sold at about forty five pounds, or 120 dollars per bushel, paper money, reserving only the expenses. The enemy sent a small force into the bay under general Matthews, and the town assembled its forces again, under general Buchanan, who was also about this time chosen to fill a vacancy in the senate, but did not accept. Matthews landed at Portsmouth but c^ime not much further then. David McMechen and Mark Alexander, Esqrs. suc- ceeded Messrs Smith and Chase as delegates and Joseph Baxter Esq. is elected sherilf in place of Mr. Ste- venson whose time had expired. Died here, while on a visit to his relatives, on the 5th September, Edward Biddle, Esq. one of the representa- tives in congress from Pennsylvania. 34 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1780 As LONG as the navigation was obstructed by ice, which was until the 9th of March, the winter of 1779 to 80 being more severe than any noticed at this place before, the suffering poor were relieved at their own houses by distributions of meal and fuel; a consid- erable amount, say LiOOO/. bein§ subscribed by the more fortunate inhabitants. Hitherto the merchants of Baltimore had been oblig- ed to get registers, and enter and clear vessels at Anna- polis, but the custom house is now opened, and Thomas Sollers, Esq. naval officer, was authorised to grant registers for vessels here. The two years for which the old customs were sus- pended, having elapsed, duties were laid on enumerated articles again, in real money, viz. spirits two pence per gallon, Madeira wine four pence, other wines two pence, coffee and cocoa one shilling per one hundi-ed weight, loaf sugar one shilling and six pence, domestic liquor one shilling, negroes from other provinces thirteen pounds, abroad five hundred pounds, a prohibition; and on exports, tobacco five shillings per hhd, pig iron three shillings and nine pence, and bar fifteen shillings per ton. There appears to have entered in one week in May, one brig from France, one ship, three brigs and five schooners from the West Indies. The legislature also made provision for the defence of the bay by equipping one large galley, one sloop or schooner and four large barges, and for recruiting the army, besides calling out 1200 militia volunteers, which forces were encreased the following years by four gal- lies and eight barges. The men were to be paid at the IT80,] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. S5 rate of half a dollar per cla}^, in real money, l)y tlie state which received itself, the public dues in cattle, grain, &c. which were often taken by appraisement at this pe- riod. The state provided for its own troops in the con- tinental army as well as it could, first by new bills of credit, to the amount* of nearly ^1,000,000, besides the state's quota of continental at least 20,000,000 more, which were redeemed by new bills called bkick money, at forty for one. Internal improvements received some aid by the sales of many valuable lots in town and estates in the neigh- borhood confiscated, which were in the first instance to 1)0 paid for, one fifth in specie and four fifths in the black money. Even these bills depreciated to six or seven for one, but delays attended the payments, and the red money created the next year, for the redemption of the black., fell at first to two or three for one, but soon recovered, and sustained its credit, because there was actually a greater amount of property sold, than the sum in circulation. Matthew Ridley, Esq. of the house of Ridley and Pringle, was authorised to borrow and negociated a loan in Holland for the use of the state. In consequence of the purchase of FotteralPs estate near town, a contest arose for the mill property, which had been sold by his administrators forty years before, and it was decided after ten years litigation, that the fee simple property so disposed of, including the old mill on Bath street, should go to the purchasers under the confiscation act. Of the number of fifty six debtors to British mer- 86 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1780. chants or manufacturers, who paid the amount of their debts into the treasury of the state in depreciated mo- ney, there were but four or five residents of Baltimore town and county, and these werc actuated by feelings which their patriotism inspired more than a desire to avoid a payment, for the merchants here generally, con- demned the measure and memorialised the legislature against its adoption. Those few who had not paid be- fore prohibited in 1776, paid eventually, the full amount without the intervention of the courts of justice to en- force- the stipulations of the treaty of peace, on the subject. Such were the difficulties attending the transition of one currency to another, that seizures of provisions, for the troops were authorised, which, in ordinary times would have been intolerable, and the rate of the levy which, in the early part of the ycai', had been fixed at one fourth of the whole valuation of taxable property, was reduced to one and an half per cent, with the option of paying in Wheat at seven shillings and sixpence. Tobacco at twenty shillings, &c. and a scale of deprecia- tion for the settlement of public and private contracts was established on equitable principles. General I^inooln had been obliged to surrender Charleston 12th. May, 1780, and the three southern states seemed to have been entirely lost to the union, when general Gates took command of the southern army, including all the troops from Delaware and Maryland south, and notwithstanding the determined valour of these troops, the disasters at Camden and •other places, where the Maryland line suffered severely, IISO.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 87 made it necessary to recall major general Gates and place that department under the command of major gen- eral Nathaniel Greene. The new commander in chief of the southern army passed through town with M. general baron Steuben 6th of November. On the 27th. Mrs. Washington passes to the north and the ladies of Baltimore raise contributions for the soldiers, going to camp. By an accident which happened in trying can- non at Northampton furnace, several persons were wounded and captain Fulford of the artillery, Avas nnfortunately killed. The mercury ranged within doors and in the day time, from ninety to ninety seven degrees of Farenheit from the fifth to the tenth July, the first day ninety three and the last ninety seven. Early in 1781, wc learned the joyful news of the success at the Cowpens, rendered still more acceptable to the people of Baltimore, by the conspicuous part colo- nel Howard had in the victory, and for which he was voted by congress the compliment of a silver medal. In March an association was entered into here to circulate the new paper at par value, and in August, a committee of the associators exercised the authority they had assumed, by holding up to public vieu\ through the Gazettes, one of their number who had attempted to take for his goods four times the price at which the same would be sold in specie. Arnold and Phillips landed in Virginia, and the enemy ships traversed the Bay to its head, burning and plundering on both sides, and on the twenty sixth April-, six ships 88 ANNALS Ox^ BALTIMORC. [1781 then at North Point, the citizens assembled and ap- pointed Messrs. James IMcHenry, Nathaniel Smith, Nicholas Rogers, W. Smith, I. Creist, T. Henderson, and Thomas Johnson a committee to prepare for defence. On the 1 Ith of June the volunteer troop of cavalry of town gentlemen, of which captain N. R. Moore was commander, set off to join the army under the Mar- quis De Lafayette in Virginia, and having performed the tour of duty required, returned to town the fourth of August. It was in this year Fell's Prospect was first laid ofi" by the commissioners, and added to the town, on the east, and the eighteen acres of Messrs. INIoale and Steiger ly- ing between Bridge, now Gay, and Freiicl) streets, for which authority had been given eight years before. The weight of Flour per barrel was now fixed at the pre- sent standard of one hundred and ninety six pounds nett, with some other regulations respecting that sta])le. Messrs. John Cornthwait, Gerard Hopkins, George JMathews, John and David Brown, and others of the society of Friends, who until now had held their meet- ings at tlic house on the Harford road, buy a spacious lot and build a meeting house between Baltimore and Pitt streets, where they inter their deceased members. On the eighth of September 1781, was fought at Eu- taw, the last severe battle of the war, where part of the Maryland trooi)s under Colonel AVilliams, signa- lized themselves again. Hero they lost Captains Dob- son and Edgerly, and Lieutenants Duvall and Gould, killed, and Colonel Howard, Capt. Gibson, Capt. Lieut Hugon, Lieuts. Ewing, Woolford and Lynn and ensign 1781.] ANJTALS OF BALTDIORE. S9 Moore were wounded, besides a number of Infantry and artillery men. Many of our officers including capts. Plunket, and Sterett and Dr. McHenry had been made prisoners and subjected to the hardships of that state, but were duly exchanged or escaped by their address. According to the dispensations of a blessed Provi-' dence, not one oflicer who had gone into the army from this toAvn or county had yet died in the enemy's hands or fallen in the field of battle during this sanguinary contest. It was only at the moment when peace was about to crown their gallant exertions, in an entragement at James Island where there were but few men on either side, Lieutenant Wilmot of the county, closed an hon- orable carreer.* Lord Cornwallis continuing his march to the northward was met in Virginia by detachments of the main army under Generals La Fayette and Wayne, some of which passed through Baltimore, and the French fleet under the Count De Grasse having entered the Cay, General Washington suddenly quit the maiil army and arrived before York to"^vn, where the British were immediatel)^ invested. General Washington ac- companied by the count Rochambeau, general Haicd, .major general baron Viomenil, brigadier general Cha- telux and Gen. Clinton passed through town the eighth September, most of the allied army going by water from Elkton to Annapolis. On this occasion the town was illuminated and the following address and answer was published soon after. n 90 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1781. His Excellency George Washington Esq. General and commander in chief of the armies of the United States of America. May it please your Excellency, — The citizens and inhabitants of Baltimore, impressed with the warmest sentiments of respect and esteem, and with the most lively sense of the important services, rendered by you to them and their country, beg leave thirougli us, to congratulate your excellency upon your arrival in this town, and to express the general joy, diffused through every breast, at the return of your excellency to this place. It has been with the highest satisfaction, we have found our most sanguine expectations, fi'om your mili- tary talents, exceeded by the abilities you have display- ed, during a series of various fortune, as well in the day of battle, as the hour of distress: your fortitude and perseverence under all our cahmiities, the wisdom of your counsels, the judicious and mild regulation of the army, your sacred attention to the civil powers of the respective States, and the great address with whicli our military operations have been conducted, under your excellency's direction, demand the warmest elTusions of gratitude that can flow from the hearts of a free people. Permit us also to congratulate your excellency upon the man)' signal successes that have lately attended the American arms in the southern states, obtained with such distinguished honors to our gallant officers and soldiers, and on the arrival of the fleet of our magnani luous all}^, aided by whose noble and generous exer- tions, we look forward, with pleasing hopes, to the day 1781.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 91 of peace, when we may freely enjoy the bounties with w^hich .all-gracious heaven has enriched our country. May your present operations prove successful, and may the grand work in whicii you aie engaged, be hap- pily terminated. Our prayers are for your excellency's preservation, that you may continue approved by heaven, esteemed by virtuous men, and dreaded by tyrants: and, on the restoration of public tranquility, that you may, in peaceful retirement, enjoy that satisfaction of mind, which the sense of great and noble deeds always in- spires; and may posterity, in the full possession and ex- ercise of that freedom which "your sword has assisted to establish, venerate and do ample justice to your vir- tue and character to the latest ages. With sentiments of the most profound esteem and respect, we are, in behalf of the citizens and inhabi- tants of Baltimore, your excellency's most obedient and most humble servants, Wm. Smith, ^ Sam'l Purviance, Jr. | John Moale, i Committee. John Dorsey, [ James Calhoun. J To the citizens and inhabitants of the town of Bal- timore. Gentlemen — With the warmest sense of gratitude and affection, I accept your kind congratulations on my aiTival in this town. Permit me, gentlemen, to assure you, that from the pleasure which I feel in having this opportunity to pay go ANNx\LS OF BALTIMOKL. [1781. my respects to tlie worthy inhabitants of the town of Baltimore, I participate in your sensations of joy. If during the long and trying period, in wiiich my services, as a soldier, have been employed for the in- terests of the United States of America, and for the establishment of their rights, I have acquitted myself to the acceptance of my fellow-citizens: If my various fortunes — if my attention to the civil powers of the states, have subserved the general good of the public — in these things I feel myself happy — and in these con- siderations, I rejoice in your felicity. The happy and eventful successes of our troops in the southei-n states, as they reflect glory on the Ame- rican arms, and particular honour on the gallant offi- cers and men immediately concerned in that depart- ment, fills my heart with pleasure and delight. The active and generous part our allies are taking in our cause, with the late arrival of their formidable fleet in the bay of the Chesapeake, call for our utmost grati- tude, and with the smiles of heaven on our combined operations give us the happiest presage of the most pleasing events — events, which in their issue, may lead to an honourable and permanent peace. I thank you most cordially, for your prayers and good wishes for my prosperity. May the author of all blessings aid our united exertions in the cause of liber ty and universal peace — and may the particular bless- ing of heaven rest on you and the worthy citizens of this flourishing town of Baltimore. I am, gentlemen, your most obedient servant, Geo. Washington. 1781.] ANXALS OF BALTIMORE. 93 On conducting our brave defenders to the south- ward, the marquiss De La Fayette borrowed a con- siderable sum of money of the merchants of Baltimore, which he employed in buying materials for clothing to be made up in part by the ladies, and of which the repayment was duly effected some time after. On the 1 9th of October, lord Cornwallis capitulated, and his whole ai'my being made prisoners, there re- mained no^ longer any doubt but that the independence of the states would soon be acknowledged and general peace established. The citizens were soon favoured with opportunities which they joyfully embraced, to offer their congratulations to the commander in chief, the marquiss De La Fayette and others, who had had a share in the glorious event. The 13th of December, was appointed and kept as a day of general thanksgiving. The land office was opened by an act of assembly passed this year, and the price of the lands fixed first at 7s 6d, and afterwards, as the money became more valuable, at half that sum per acre. There were still many thousand acres unpatented in the north west part of the county, and many considerable vacancies were discovered in other parts of the county and taken up several years after the peace. The period limited for the first senate was now ex- piring and at the election held this year, Charles Car- roll, Esq. Barrister, was re-elected to the new senate with Messrs. John Smith and James M' Henry of this town. Thomas C. Deye, John B. Howard, Charles Ridgely of William, and Samuel Worthington, Esqrs< 94 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1781. were elected delegates for the county. Henry Wil- son, Esq. succeeded Mr. Alexander as one of the mem- bers for the town. When the news of the surrender of the british army at York town reached England, the Parliament refused to support the war any longer, Mr. Fox was brought into the ministry, to terminate the war, and negotiations of the preliminaries commenced by him, were prosecut- ed by Mr. Pitt in the spring of 1 182. At tlie first ses- sion of this year, colonel Howard laid off part of the tract adjoining his father's first addition and that before made by Mr. Hall, and annexed to the town all the grounds east of the street, to which the colonel gave the name of Eutaw street. Beyond that and on the street which he called Lexington street, he laid off a spacious lot for a public market, which was improved and appropriated to that purpose twenty years after. The colonel ap- propriated another spacious lot of ground on Baltimore street west of Eutaw, for the use of the state, should the general assembly accept and make it the seat of government within that period; though an effort was made to carry the removal in the house of delegates at the same session, it was rejected by a vote of twenty to nineteen, and lias failed as often as it was proposed as well during the twenty years limited, as afterwards; and whether it is or is not a matter of less interest to the citizens, it is certain that they now view it with more indifference than they do the proportion of repre- sentation allowed them. nS2.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 95 Until this time none of the streets of Baltimore Town except here and there on the side-ways, were paved, and the main street especially, from the depth of soil, was actually impassable some part of the spring and fall seasons, from the market house at Gay street to Calvert street. The town commissioners were there- fore aided in effecting its improvement, become indispen- sable, at the November session, by the creation of com- missioners, of whom there were seven, called special commissioners, empowered to "direct and superintend the levelling, pitching, paving and repairing the streets and repairing the bridges," to begin with Baltimore street, in part, and then from place to place as circumstances required. The owners of lots on streets to be paved^to pay ^1 66f per foot front, on lanes or alleys half price. An auction duty was laid, major Thomas Fates being appointed first and sole auctioneer, a tax on public ex- hibitions, to be licensed by the commissioners and 33a cents per 100 on the assessed property, with an an- nual Lottery towards defraying the expenses. The same law prescribed the extent of porches and cellar doors, the breadth of carriage wheels and removal of nuisances or obstructions in the streets or harbour. Tliis Board, which was composed in the first instance of IVIessrs. William Spear, James Sterett, Englehard Yeiser, George Lindenberger, Jesse Hollingswortb, Thomas Elliot and Peter Hoffman, were made a body politic and corporate, autliorised to fill their own vacan- cies, appoint a Treasurer, collect all fines to the use of the city and appoint constables, were also to render their accounts to the Town Commissioners, who now 96 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE, [1782. in fact, had little else to perform and little more was wanted at that time to make the charter complete. But at the ensuing session, it was thought too much power had been bestowed on a body of men so constituted and provision %yas made for their removal, or others in their place, by electors to be chosen every five ycai's. The town commissioners at this period xvcre Messrs. "William Smith, John Mode, Richard Ridgely, Dar/iel Bowley, Hercules Courtcnay and John Sterett. Mr. Charles Rigdely of John, and others, at Novem- ber session, procured^ the addition to the Town of those grounds called Gist's Inspection and Timber neck lying south of the former additions and upon the mid- dle branch ; and Mr. Benjamin Rogers and others, those which lay between Fell's Prospect and Harris's creek. These were the last specific additions by act of Assem- bly, and the power given to the corporation to admit other grounds by the consent of the owners, being ex- ercised only in one instance relating to some lots on north Howard street, between Saratoga and Mulberry streets, no change of limits was effected for many years, nor until the population of the precincts had become equal to a third of the City itself. After repeated conquests and sometimes the conquer- ed, captain Barney was made commander of the Penn- sylvania ship Hyder Alley, mounting 1 G sixes, and on the 5th of June 1782, captured the British ship general Monk of 20 nine pounders; on which occasion the Le- gislature of that state presented him a sword, and the prize being purchased and fitted out by the naval com- missioners of the United States, the command of l)or then called the JFas/migYo?*, was given to liim. 1782.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 97 It was in this year also, that Mr. Gabriel P.Yanhorne with Mr. Nathaniel Twining and others, established a line of stage Coaches between Philadelphia and Balti- more, which was secured to Mr. Yanhorne exclusively until 1 794 ; he afterwards extended the line of stages to Alexandria. Count Rochambeau returning with his army from York town halted in Baltimore and some of his troops remained until the close of the war. Besides the Cavalry and Infantry of the legion of the Duke De Lauzun, the division included the regi- ments of Bourbonnois, Deux Fonts, Saintonge and SoissonnoiS. The officers among whom were Count Dillon, Baron Yiomenil, General Lavalette, &c. were lodged with private families. The Legion encamped on the ground where the cathedral stands, and the rest of the troops on that eminence near the York road, which the late Mr, John McKim improved and occu- pied. The urbanity of the officers and the correct deportment of the men, established an intercourse be- tween them and the citizens upon terms the most friend- ly and cemented that partiality for the French nation to which the alliance had given rise, and has been so often manifested by the people of Baltimore. Upon his departure the merchants presented an address to General Lavalette the principal officer then here, ex- pressive of the above friendly sentiments. The town was then said to contain 8000 inhabitants, having eight places of worship, viz. Episcopalian, Pres- byterian, Lutheran, Dutch Calvinists, Roman Catho- 13 98 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1782. lies, Baptists, Quakers and INIetliodists, that is one for each society. Our Bay was visited by ships of war of France and England alternately; some armed barges were particu- larly troublesome to the coasters. On the 5th of July, Captain Simmons in the Brig Ranger, going out of the Patowmack, with his pikes beat of and killed Barry and wounded Whaland, two famous barge men, but, on the thirtieth of November three of them attacked and after killing Captain Whalley, killing and w^ounding sixty five out of seventy five men, the brave survivors being without small cartridges, which had taken fire early in the action, were captured, with the States Galley. This was said to be and with great propriety no doubt, the most bloody conflict which had taken place during the Avar. Most of our vessels were too formidable for those sanguinary marauders, and the let- ters of marque were numerous and successful . Amongst others the Favourite, captain Buchanan; Dolphin, Forbes; Matilda, Belt; Three Brothers, Travers; Iris, Cole, &;c. • The loans obtained abroad and the payment of gold and silver to the French troops, procured a supply for circulation, and the Bank of North America being opened the paper was superseded altogether. Lord North was removed and the earl of Shellburne and Charles J. Fox first, then Mr. Pitt, his successors, made overtures and proposed the acknowledgement of the Independence of the United States. Preliminaries were signed in November, and Charleston was evacu nS2.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 99 ated in December. In the mean time the command of the British army devolved on Sir Guy Carlton. Samuel Worthington Esq. was elected in the place of Mr. J. B. Howard for the county, and William Fell son of Edward, Esq. in the place of Mr. Wilson, late delegate for the town, and William M'Laughlin Esq. was elected sheriff. Samuel Sterett Esq. was appointed secretary to the president of congress. Died at Annapolis on the 29th of May, aged eighty two years, Charles Carroll Esq. who was proprietor of that part of Cole's liarbour which the commissioners purchased of him forty-two years before, for the first town: On the fourteenth of October, in this town, at an advanced age Thomas Harrison Esq. one of ^e town commissioners in 1745: At Mount Clare near town the 23d of March, CharlesCarroU, Esq. barrister, one of the framers of the Constitution and senators of the state; and on the 30th at his seat in the county, Walter Tolley Esq. formerly a member of the house of delegates, and of the convention of 1774. It may be remarked as of the military, that of the characters in civil life who were instrumental in the es- tablishment of our town and government none, except Mr. Cornelius Howard, were removed by death during the eventful period of the w^ar. Hostilities were suspended 11th of April 1783, by Congress, and the joyful news of peace and independence ,was celebrated on the 21st, and at night the town was illuminated. The first act of the Legislature^ was to lOO ANNALS OF BALTlMOKli. [1783. admit the entry of vessels from the British dominions, and British subjects were, for some months, permitted lo hold registered shipping. Messrs. Samuel Smith, Samuel Purviance, Daniel Bowley, John Sterett, Thomas Russell, Richard Ridge- ly, Robert Henderson, Thomas Elliott and William Patterson were appointed Wardens of the port of Balti- more for five years, to be renewed by election of the electors of the special commissioners every five years in succession. They elected Mr. Purviance chairman^ and were authorised to make a survey and chart of the basin, harbour and river Patapsco ; ascertain the depth and course of the channel, and provide for the cleaning the same ; and a sum of one penny per ton of every vessel entering or clearing, which was raised to two cents and sanctioned by Congress after the adoption of the Constitution, was imposed, to defray the expense. They were also authorised to make rules respecting wharves and wharfage, and keeping them in repair. There was still no public whaif but that of about 100 feet on Calvert street, and no private wharves extend- ed above 200 except those of Messrs. ^pear, Smith and Buchanan ; so that the space occupied by the water at that time was perhaps equal to double the surface of the present basin and docks. Messrs. John and Andrew Ellicott purchased the water lot and extended a wharf on Light street, for fil- ling of which, they used a drag and, with a team of horses, drew the oozy sediment from the bottom of the river. They also procured iron scoops to be used by hand or windlass, with which the same operation is 1783.] ANNALS OF BALTlMOllT-. lOl performed, and was improved by Messrs. Cruse and Col- ver, with the use of horses. By this means, any part of the upper harbour, called the basin, is made nine feet deep; the water of the point and the river, generally being double that depth at common tides. A company chiefly composed of citizens of Bal- timore, was incorporated to make a canal on the Sus- quehana. Soon after the Patowmack Canal Company was established, and in 1799, another to make a canal to unite the Chesapeake and Delaware bays. The defects of the original plan of the town now be- came more burthensome, and on the petition of a num- ber of inhabitants, a law was passed authorising the commissioners of the town to make Hanover lane the width of sixty-six feet, being an extension to the street of that name in Mr. Howard's addition, assessing the damages sustained and the benefits from which the same should be paid. By the consent of the proprietors of the grounds, the commissioners also opened Holliday street of the width of eighty feet, Lemmon street thirty- three feet. Orange lane eighteen feet, and widened East lane, now in Fayette street, from Holliday street to Gay street, to forty feet: Holliday street was extended northwardly fifty feet wide in 1810. In 1787, Light lane was widened to thirty-eight feet and a half, re- serving the Jiouse standing on the west side^ corner of Baltimore street^ and called Light street, but a street called Walnut street, then bounding the town south westerly, was entirely closed, and Forrest street north of Baltimore street which had been laid out sixty-six feet, was limited to a lane of eighteen, in 179;2, when 102 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1783. Tammany and Chatham streets, now part of Fayette street, were opened to the width of forty feet. Charles street was extended across two or three docks from Camden to Barre street in 1796, and the docks filled up and from thence Goodman street was opened south. Sharping lane was widened to forty-nine and a half feet from Gay to South streets, and called Second street, of Avhich it was an extension, in 1798 Most of the gentlemen of the town, who had gona into the army and navy, and held commissions, includ- ing Messrs. Thomas Yates, James M'Fadon, Young Wilkinson, John Deaver, Philip Graybell, and Sabrit Bowen, whose names and perhaps others, should have been included in preceding lists, returned and settled here. The following officers of the army of other parts of the state or other states, also settled here, besides general Williams, viz: Messrs. N. Ram.say, John Swann, Rob't Ballard, Tench Tilghman, John Strieker, William Clemm, Martin Eichelberger, David Har- ris, Frederick Yeiser, Samuel Sadler, John Bankson, John Lynch, Clement Skerrett, and John Brevitt; and Paul Bentalou, esq. who was first a captain of caval- ry in Pulaski's legion, and had become chief officer and commander of the survivors of that gallant corps. Several French gentlemen established commercial houses during or directly after the Avar, viz. Monbos, Latil, Zacharie, Pascault, Dumeste, Delaporte; and the chevalier D'Anmour, his most christian Majesty's con- sul for Maryland and Virginia, fixed himself in Balti- more. 1783.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 105 Captains Plunket and Moore had returned in conse- quence of ill health or reform of the corps in which they had served, and organized the Baltimore troop, the latter acting as lieutenant until declining health obliged the former to go to sea. The following gentle- men, several of whom had seiTed in the Independent Infantry company were amongst those who entered the troop — viz: . David Plunket, captairty Thomas Russell, lieutenant^ Lyde Goodwin, surgeon, Thomas Hollingsworth, William Neill, Thorowgood Smith, Christopher Johnston, Abraham Vanbibber, Luther Martin, David Williamson, John M' Henry, James Jaffray, Richard Ridgely, John M'Lure, David Hopkins, Archibald Moncrief, John Jeffers, Francis Grant, George TurnbuU, John Foster, Nicholas R. Moore, lieutenant, Mark Pringle, cornet, Matthew Ridley, quarter master, William Hammond, Alexander M'Kim, William Patterson, Samuel Hollingswoiih, Robert Lyon, James Sterling, John Spear, Thomas Yates, William Knox, John Kirwan, ^Villiam Taylor_, James Rj'an, Larkin Dorsey, Nathan Levy, John Stewart, John M'Alister, George Hammond. General O. H. Williams married and settled in Bal- timore, being appointed collector and naval officer, in the place of Thomas Sollers, Esq. deceased. Directly after the peace several merchants from other states or other parts of this state settled hero, among 104 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [178^. whom were Messps, Slubey, James Carey, W. Potts, William West, Haxall, Van Wyck, Contee, Dall, Stouf- fer, Starck, Kimmel, Isaac Solomon, George Evans, Elisha Tyson, Barton, William Young, Henry John- son and Johonnot; and a number of European gentle- men; among whom were Messrs. S. Wilson, R. Oliver, A. Campbell, James Buchanan, Riddell, S. Liggatt, J , Salmon, G. Salmon, A. Stewart, A, Robinson, Grundy, J. Hollins, Caton, Coopman, Hodgson, Buckler, Nich- olson, Neilson, Schroeder, Seekamp, Ghequiere, Ratien, Konecke, Labes, M'Causland, Hacket, Zollickoffer and Messonier, and established houses of trade; Mr. Adrian Valck being consul for the United Netherlands. By the Minerva, captain Belt ; Harmony, Lysle; Paca, Kell, and other vessels, there were brought a great many Irish and German rcdemptioners ; and a society for the aid of the Germans not speaking the language of the country, was formed. But the late emigrants or refugees from the country were also returning, and it being feaied disturbances would ensue, the inhabitants, imitating other places, held a meeting and resolved that they should not be admitted, until the meeting of the genei'al Assembly. Those justices who resided in or near town and most frequently occupied the Bench were A. Buchanan, John Moale, W. Buchanan, J. Vanbibber, A. Vanbibber, Geo. Lindenberger, James Calhoun, William Russell, Thomas Russell, James M'Henry, Peter Sheppard, Henry Wilson, Thomas Elliott, John Merryman, Ro- bert Lemmon, Thomas Sollers and Jesse Bussey Esqrs. and the gentlemen of the Bar, besides the attor- 1783.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. IO5 ney general, Samuel Johnson, Richard Ridgely, Aquil- la Hall, Robert Smith, Zeb. Hollingsworth, James Car- roll, W. H. Dorsey, William Moore, Rinald. Johnson, x-irchibald Robinson, Robert Milligan, Robert Golds- borough, Henry Ridgely, Peter Carnes and Thomas Gittings Esqrs. Resides some of those gentlemen of the faculty before mentioned and yet living, the prac- titioners at this period were Doctors Johnson, Good- win, Troup, Andrews, Coale, Gilder, and not long after Doctors Rrown, Littlejohn, Ross, A. Wiesen- thall and Ruchanan. On the 16th May 1783 Mr. John Hayes commenced the publication of the paper entitled, "the Maryland Gazette." This paper with the Journal^ then edited by Messrs. Goddard & Angel, gave way to others, and the number has been increased successively to five daily papers; they are chiefly devoted to commerce. On the 30th of September,the inhabitants gave a pub- lic dinner to Maj. Gen. Greene on his return from Carolina. An address to the General congratulating him on the successes of the army under his command, was received and answered by him in the most obliging manner. On the 4th of November Mr. Sterett's brewery was burned down. Overcome by this second distressing calamity in which the citizens warmly sympathized with the then venerable sufferer, Mr. Sterett declined business during the remainder of his life. Rut Mr. Thomas Peters moved from Philadelphia and erected the brewery near Water street bridge in the course of U jQQ ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1783. the year, which was also destroyed by fire some years after and rebuilt. The British army evacuated New York the 20th November; the Americans entered it the 25th, and the 1 1 th December was a day of thanksgiving through- out the United States. In the last week in December, there were cleared out two ships, three brigs and two schooners; a proof of enterprize which did not escape the penetrat- ing eye of General Washington, who, in answer to the address of the citizens 1 8tli December, at a public din- ner ;;iven to him, then on his way to Annapolis to re- sign to congress there, that body being threatened at Phil- adelphia by the discontented troops of the state about to be disbanded, thus expressed his pious good will, a good will which Heaven seems to haveblessed in our favour, "receive this last public acknowledgment for the repeat- ed instances of your politeness, and believe it is my earnest wish that the commerce, the improvements and universal prosperity of this flourishing town, may if pos- sible increase with even more rapidity than they have hitherto done." In the course of this year, regular lines of stage coaches were established to Fredericktown and Anna- polis. Col. Howard commenced his improvements at Belvidere and William Gibson, Esq. his dwelling on Price street, west of the town. In May, James McHenry, Esq. was appointed a mem- ber of congress in the place of Edward Giles, Esq. de ceased; Zachariah Allen, Esq. was appointed Nota- ry Public, being the first here; and in October, John 1783] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 107 Sterett, Esq. was elected a delegate to the Assembly in the place of Mr. Fell. The ensuing: winter J3rovedl exceedingrly severe ; the bay was closed by ice almost to the mouth of it, and the harbour which closed the 2d January, was not clear to admit vessels until the 25th March, nor then, but with much labour in cutting passages, which was sixteen days later than in 1780. At both periods much injury was sustained by the shipping in the bay and on the coast and considerable sums collected to re- lieve the poor. It was stated that the winter had been very moderate in Nova Scotia, while at New Orleans, the river Mississippi was fast closed by ice, which had not been known there before. Happily there has not occurred here such severe winters since, the navigation being generally open until the 5th of January and sel dom closed after the 10th of February, but sometimes open all the year. In the 5'^ear 1784, the Roman catholic congregation having much increased, the Rev Mr. Charles Sewall is settled in Baltimore, and a considerable addition is made to their church on Saratoga street. INIr. James Rumsey of Cecil county, procured an exclusive privilege of this state for making and vending boats to be propelled with or against currents by steam, then lately invented ; and an obscure individual navi- gated a large canoe from the Susquehanna into the ba- sin, by turning a crank with a water wheel on each side, which mechanism, applied to the power above mentioned, is like the construction of our present steam 108 ANNALS OP BALTIMORE. [1784. boats. Five years after Mr. Cruse erects a steam mill near Pratt street wharf, but the experiment failed. Proposals were authoiised and published for es- tablishing a Bank, and subscriptions raised to a consid- erable amount, but which then shared the fate of the one proposed by the state four years before. A com- pany was incorporated to cut a canal from the basin at Forrest street to the cove in Ridgely"'s addition, and which could have been then effected by the brick ma- kers of the vicinity, free from expence to the public as was believed, if not opposed by some of the proprietors of the ground through which the canal would pass. William Murphy a Bookseller, succeeded in establish- ing a circulating library south side of Market one door east of Calvert street, which was soon after purchased and continued by Mr. Hugh Barkley, and Peter Carnes Esq. exhibited the novel spectacle of raising a balloon from the park. The Marquis De La Fayette visiting General Wash- ington, was entertained hereby a public dinner thr first of September, and received and politely an- swered a congratulatory address from the citizens; at which time the legislature declaimed the Marquis and his heirs male for ever, citizens of IMaryland. Provision was made for lighting the streets, and the town commissioners, clothed with the authority of justices, pursuant to law passed this yeor, appointed three constables and fourteen watchmen, to guai'd the town. A law was passed to license and regulate public sales and major Yates appointed sole auctioneer, to pay 1784.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 109 iialf per cent on amount sold, to the special commis- sioners for the use of the town. By the account of the special commissioners there was expended and due for paving streets the last year 99521. 6s. W. and their per diem 149/. 10s. Od. of which 2680Z. 8s. 2d. was received for auction dues; from individuals at 12s 6d. per foot front 5949/. 17s. Od. licences, fines, &c. 703/. 17s. Id. the balance paid by the tax of 2s. and 6d. per 100/. on private property, which yielded 1105/. 18s. lOd. in the gross. At the close of the war congress had stated the debts of the confederacy at ^44,000,000, near 8,000,000 of which was due in France and Holland, and solicited the states to impose duties, as follows, Jamaica Rum id. other Spirits 3d per gallon, Madeira Wine Is. other 6rf. Bohea 6d. other tea 2s. pepper Sd. loaf sugar 2d. brown i, others Id. molasses Ic/. coffee and cocoa Id. and goods ad valorem five per cent, and this state passed an act for the purpose, on condition all other states did the same. This was not done, and in 1 784 the follow ing duties were levied here; vessels of the state six pence, others one shilling per ton ; spirits two pence ; Maderia wine six pence; Port and Claret four pence; other three pence; coffee five shillings per hundred weight; loaf sugar six shillings; brown one shilling; green tea nine pence; Souchong six pence; bohea two pence; salt eight pence; ad valorem goods two per centum ; and on exports tlu-ee years only. Wheat flour three pence ; and tobacco two shillings per hogs- head, with a deduction for state built vessels. Three fourths of the proceeds for the continental treasury. — 110 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [178^1, At the next session the duties upon exports were abo- lished, but considerable additions were made to the du- ties on imports, and if by British vessels, there being no treaty, the duty was doubled. It is probable that the nett amount received from the customs here previ- ously to the adoption of the federal Constitution and the establishment of United States Collectors was above $200,000 per annum, which the mer- chants of Baltimore advanced then, but is not to be compared with the sums collected here since, for the Treasury of the United States. The old market had become wholly insufficient; great divisions took place in locating a new one, and situa- tions on Light and Holliday streets were proposed and preferred by many, but the executors of Mr. Harrison, offering to appropriate the sjmce in Harrison street, in- tended originally for a canal or dock, to that purpose, the inhabitants of the districts subscribed money to erect a market house there. As this would not accom- modate the inhabitants on Howard's hill, they also sub- scribe to erect one at the north west corner of Hanover and Camden streets. The legislature then ordered the old one to be sold; the proceeds to be applied, three fourths for the Centre market and one fourth for the Hanover market to aid them, and extend the old regu- lations to each ; the first to hold the markets as before, on Wednesda3'^s and Saturdays, the other on Mondays and Thursdays. In the mean time the inhabitants of the Point proceed to erect a Market house on a space appro])riated to the purpose by Mr. Fell, holding theii- markets on Tuesdays and Fridays, which the legisln 1784] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. HI ture confirmed the year after. The Lexing^ton market was erected pursuant to law by the Western Precincts in 1803, and another was provided for the Eastern pre- cincts in 1807, on ground given by colonel Rogers, though not erected till 1819. The proprietors of ground on Calvert street and in the meadow, then north of the falls, desirous to extend that street, raised a sum of money to underpin the Court House by three arches. Having obtained permission of the legislature, immediately effected it, removing the eaith to the depth of twenty feet; and so it continued to stand, a curious monument of the ingenuity of Mr, Leonard Harbaugh, the architect, as well as of the en- terprise of the contributors, who guaranteed the work- manship to stand more than twenty years. . A new survey was nc^w ordered to be made of the town, and the inhabitants began to discuss the necessity of a charter. Messrs. Garts and Leypold erected a sugar refinery on Peace alley, the east side of Hanover street between Conway and Camden streets; and John Frederick Amelung, Esq. arrived with a number of glass manufac- turers from Germany, and erected an extensive factory on the Monococy, which was afterwards, that is in 1799, established on the south side of the basin by his son, and since enlarged by Mr, J. F. Friese. As the jurisdiction of the Protestant Episcopal Church in America remained in the bishop of London, the revolution prevented regular ordinations, and the Rev. Samuel Seabury, of Connecticut, went there to procure higher orders, but encountered many delays l\2 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1784. and did not return until June of the ensuing year. In the meantime, the application of the methodist preach- ers produced from Mr. Wesley the appointment of a supenntcndant of his own here, in the person of Dr. Thomas Coke, in the course of this year. On Christmas day the first grand conference of that society was held in Baltimore, when the doctor, assist- ed by other preachers who came with him, constituted a new church, and on the presentation of preachers to the number of sixty, conferred the same station on the Rev. Mr. Francis Asbury: and, the next year, the socie- ty sell the church in Lovely lane and build a new Church on Light street. According to the Gazette, there were entered at the custom house, since Mai'ch 25th, twenty one ships, for- ty one brigs and 49 sloops and schooners, and cleared twenty seven ships, thirty six. brigs and forty six sloops and schooners. By the act to raise supplies of 1 785, two boards of five gentlemen each, commissioners of tax, were ap- pointed ; one for the town, which was to be assessed separately from the county ; and in the same law, the precincts were described to contain nearly the same ground which have been lately added to the city. The mode of raising the public charges by -poll^ or masters of families and labourers according to their number, had been abolished by the Constitution, and the state tax or supply which had varied with the value of the current money from three-fourths to one and a half per centum, by the present act, was one dollar on one hun- 1785.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 113 valued by the law, at an average of $3^%, and, being the last supply^ the valuation has not been altered, in respect to lands. The property in the town and coun- ty was assessed at the sum of 1^103,6221 or 4,542,992 dollars, and the above state tax was ^^ 17,036 and the levy of the county for the next year 7s. per 100 dollars, 5^15,991 60. The commissioners principal duty appearing to be that of securing the collection of the tax payable to the state, the utility of the ofBce may be doubted, as well as the propriety*6f fixing the value of property, perhaps three fourths less than the actual current value, when assessors are renewed, as often as there is a general assessment, and all the levies are made by, and all pay- ments made to the councils or levy courts specially ap- pointed, by acts passed ten years after. John 0'Donnell,^Esq. arrived from Canton in the ship ^allas, 9th August, with a full cargo of China goods, being the first direct importation from thence into this port, the value of which he realised here ; and regular packets to and from Norfolk (Va.) were estab- lished by Capt. Joseph White and others of this place. Mr. Harrison's wharf before spoken of, was extended each side of South street, by the late Daniel Bowley, Esq. one of his executors, and it thence became known by the name of Boideifs ivharf; Messrs. Purviance, McLure, Thomas and Samuel Hollingsworth, William Smith and Jesse HoUingsworth's wharves, and the private wharves generally, with Cheapside, were ex- tended. Piles, with the machine for driving them, were introduced by the bnilders of wharves. 15 114 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1785. The German Calvinists erect the church at the east end of Baltimore street bridge, Mr. Boehme being Pas- tor. That part of the congregation attached to Mr. Otterbein, erect the church on Conway street, called Evangelical Reformed, which was slightly injured by lightning the 10th of August, 1792, when a young man was killed on Smith's wharf, the opposite side of the basin to the church. The other church was sold to the Episcoplians in 1 795, and the society erect their present church on Second street, which was struck by lightning 1 5th July 1 804, on raising the steeple and affixing the town clock. The plan of a charter for the town, including a Mayor's Court, was introduced by bill into the Assem- bly; but, placing all power in bodies organised like other old corporations, and leaving the citizens but lit- tle share in their own government, it was wisely op- posed by and as wisely not pressed upon them. Richard Ridgely, Esq. who had moved from Anne Arundel and been some time a member of the Baltimore bar, was ap pointed one of the delegates of this state in congress. Col. Howard and George Lux, Esq. presented the- commissionei's a lot of ground on the west side of the town, for the interment of strangers, which is sanc- tioned by act of Assembly. No companies were yet chartered for insuring vessefe,. and property at sea, but policies prepared by Hercules Courtenay,Esq. wore subscribed by merchants and other individuals, to very large amounts. Similar insurances were effected afterwards on policies prejiared by Capt Keeports. . 1785.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. . 115 Capt. Philip Gray bell was elected Sheriff for the ensuing year^ by a poll for the town and county, of 984 votes, after a severe contest with Henry Stevenson, Esq. who had 859 votes, and Capt. Edward Oldham, 837, and several other candidates; but no opposition was made to the return of the sitting members of the Assembly. The rigid execution of the British navigation act, their regulations for the bank fisheries and occlusion of the West India ports, began to be felt seriously by the farmers and traders ; and the importation of great quan- tities of paper, glass, stoneware, powder and shot, soap, and candles, butter, beef, pork, porter, cheese, hats, shoes, nails, hoes, scythes, sickles, jewelry, sadlery, cop- per and tin ware, and other articles of which the coun- try already manufactured considerable quantities, was prejudicial to the tradesmen ; made all classes anxious for relief, and societies were formed in this and all the sea ports northward, some of which urged the necessity of refusing to admit British goods; others of creating a' paper money, and all, the want of greater federal pow- ers in the confederacy. Of the tradesmen, a committee composed of Messrs. David Stodder,Adam Fonerden and John Gray, commenced a correspondence on the means of protecting and promoting domestic manufactures. After Mr. Harrison's addition to the town in 1747, it became the practice to dispose of lots by leases for long terms, mostly ninety nine years renewable forever; the rent received before the war being for a few shil- lings or even a few pence per foot front per annum, and f ■ ^ . IIG ANNALS or BALTLMOKL. [1786. frequently without any consideration in hand, so tliat the landlords derived no adequate compensation when the value of money had fell and property risen: On the other hand, the rents stipulated after the war were so high, that, upon the depression which now took place, the lessees or tenants frequently abandoned the lots, and the town lost some valuable citizens who fled from prosecution, though their only fault or error was an ex- cess of enterprise. Similar causes have produced sim- ilar effects in later times ; and it v/ould seem adviseablc that, in order to avoid the injury which either party is exposed to sustain, from the variation of the current mo- ney, or in the value of necessaries of life, that some commodity of that description, as Wheat or Flour, should be made a standard for rents reserved in leases hereafter to be made, as was the practice of mer- chants and others both in France and America, in rela- tion to ordinary contracts, during the depreciation of the pajier money in each country. On the 17th August, 1786, a new theatre built of wood, by Messrs. Hallam and Henry, near Queen, now Pratt, and Albemarje streets, was opened by the old company. On the 5th October there was a great fresh, the ciu- rent of the falls being met by the tide, overflowed the Centre market space and nearly all the made ground and wharves; John Boyce, Esq. lost his life in attemptihg to ford the falls below Hanson"'s, now Keller's dam, all the bridges which were wooden ones, being carried away, and much property and merchandise lost. Bal- timore street bridge >vas rebuilt by Mr. Jacob Small, 1786] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 117 Senr. of wood, in one arch, of a segment of a circle nine* ty feet span, the others in the usual way. On the 24th of July, 1788, a storm of wind and rain raised the water in the harbour above many wharves, and much proper- ty was lost, by being overflowed, but all those wharves have been raised and no such damage has been expe- rienced since. About ten years after the bridges were all rebuilt, with a new one on Pratt street; after the lapse of another ten years, stone bridges, of two arches each were erected on Baltimore and Gay streets, and di- rectly after, another of three arches at Pratt street, the abutments and piers restmg on piles; the commission- ers not succeeding in an experiment to lay the founda- tions in stone at Baltimore street. By a considerable freshet on the ninth of August, 1817, the wooden Bridges on Bath and Water streets w^ere floated against the stone ones on Gay and Pratt streets, which were considerably injured by the ob- structions to the passage of the water, and the Centre ]Market again overflowed. An entire new stone Bridge of one arch, was afterwards erected at Gay street and the other repaired. None of those freshets are attend- ed by hurricanes, nor has the buildings or shipping ever suffered any material injury from wind or Hail at this place. The consumption of foreign goods had greatly in- creased after the war, not only by increase of popula- tion in towns, but even in the country, where formerly articles of common clothing had been wrought. From the great importations of these, with other foreign goods, mostly on credit or on foreign account; from 118 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1786. the want of shipping to convey much of our own pro- ducts or, so far as concerns this state, any other cui- rency than specie, and other causes before alluded to, still increasing, the distress of the people increased also. Cotton was not then raised for exportation, and the prices of the staple articles of flour and tobacco, falling very low, that distress became pretty general thi'ough- out the Union. The certificates of pay due the army, was only worth about twelve per cent for some time, so great and deplorable was the discredit of the confed- eracy. But the legislature through the perseverance of the senate, although much importuned and invited by the example of other states, still pressing them to unite in a general and efficient tariff of duties on im- ports, refused to resort again to the paper money sys- tem. The youth of Baltimore intended for the learned professions hitherto, were sent abroad and mostly to schools in Pennsylvania; but now an Academy was es- tablished under the patronage of the Rev. Doctors Carroll, West and Allison, on north Chai'les street, where Edward Langworthy Esq. taught the classics, and Andi^ew EUicott of Joseph, Esq. surveyor of the United States, the Mathematics, Natural Philosophy, &;C. which unfortunately, was not long continued. According to reports in the gazette of this year there were entered here fifteen Ships, fifty seven Brigs and one hundred and sixty Schooners and Sloops, and there were cleared twenty Ships, fifty seven Brigs and one hundred and fifty Schooners and Sloops, to and from foreign ports and places only. The commissioners of the town were authorised to appoint inspectors of salted provisions. 1786.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. l\9 James McHenry Esq. resigned his seat in the senate early in 1786. He was succeeded by Daniel Bowley Esq. and at the senatorial election afterwards, John Smith Esq. was re-elected, with Richard Ridgely Esq. Captain Charles Ridgely, Colonel J. E. Howard and Richard Ridgely Esqrs. electors for this county and town ; and in 1 788, James Carroll Esq. who had moved here from Annapolis, was chosen to fill a vacancy, and in November 1789, Daniel Bowley Esq. was again chosen to fill another in the senate. Jesse Hollings worth Esq. was elected one of the delegates in the place of Mr. Sterett. . On the twelfth of March 1 786, died at his residence in the county, Andrew Buchanan Esq. many years pre- siding justice of the county court and Lieutenant of the county: and in town, unmarried, on the tenth of October, lately a delegate in the Assembly, William Fell Esq. son of Edward, who laid out the point. In closing the year by noticing the deaths which oc- curred, the method of annalists is copied, but in connect- ing them with another event which regularly returns, the annual elections, reference to the laws frequently occurs before the names of those by whom they were passed. In 1787 Mr. Oliver Evans' newly invented steam carriage, elevator and hopper boy were patented by the assembly, and the two last generally introduced into the mills about Baltimore, not without claims to origi- nality, on the part of some of the proprietors of mills in this neighbourhood. Me«*srs. Septimus Noel. Isaac 120 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1787, Vanbibber, Robert Henderson, Thomas Johnson, Jer- emiah Yellot, James Clarke and Thomas Elliot were constituted a board to examine and license pilots, with powers of renewal etc, and the rates of pilotage was established. The Baltimore fire insurance company was incorpo- rated, but this was succeeded by another company, call- ed, the "Maryland fire insurance Company" four years after, and this was succeeded by another, of the former name, in 1807. In the mean time, that is in 1794 the Equitable Society for mutual insurance was incor- porated, and in 1816 the Phcenix fire insurance compa- ny; but when the first company was chartered, provision was also made by law for regulating the transportation through the town and storage of Gunpowder. The grand jury, Stephen Wilson Esq. foreman, had represented the state of the roads as a public grievance, and that the usual method of repairs was insuf- ficient, two years before. The evil had increased and the Frederick, Reisters town and York roads were laid out anew, for which special and permanent taxes were laid and turnpike gates established with rates of toll towards defraying the expense of the county in making; and repairing them. In 1790 a turnpike road was au- thorised to be made by subscribers of stock, from Washington to this city, with corporate rights, tolls, &c. But, with others for roads to Frederick and Reister.^ town, past the next year, was not carried into effect. The two latter roads, with the York and Falls road were severally granted to corporate companies created in 180i and soon completed, and since that the 1787.] ANNALS OF BALTLMORE. 121 Washington, Havre de Grace and Harford road compa- nies have been incorporated; indeed all the main roads to and fromthe city. It was also in 1 787 that Baltimore street was extended westwardly beyond colonel How- ard's addition, and an attempt was made to raise a com- pany to introduce into the town a copious supply of wholesome water by pipes, not effected for several years. In December Cokesbury College in Harford county, was opened and soon after incorporated. Mr. Asbury and the council of the Methodist church make some progress in establishing Sunday Schools for pei'sons of all descriptions, free of expense. To procure the country a greater unanimity in coun- cil, the protection of domestic manufactures and securi ty to its revenue and intercourse with foreign nations, a new form of confederacy was happily resorted to, and the constitution of the present general government which was formed in 1787, was signed by James McHenry esq. of this city, one of the members of the convention, though opposed by his colleague Mr. Martin. The Grand Jury, James Calhoun esq. foreman, present as grievances the number of justices, being twenty; the criminal code, and state of the roads; recommending a circuit court of one law character with a limited num- ber of associate justices, the others to receive fees, &c. On the thirty first December Mr. D. Stodder is robbed between town and point, but by his pursuit five persons were taken and tried, and two, Donnelly and Moony, condemned and executed. Captain G. P. Keeports is appointed Notary Public. 16 \22 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1787. Samuel Chase esq. having moved from Annapolis, is elected delegate, in the place of Mr. Hollings worth, and Gol. Howard appointed member of congress. On the 1st of January. 1 787, died, John Sterett, Esq. late delegate and formerly captain of the Independent company. Next year Mr, McHenry and doctor John Coulter are returned, by a large majority of voters to the conven- tion of the state, which, on the 28th April, 1788, rati- fied the new government; after which, on the 1st of May, there was a grand procession of artists with the ship rigged boat Federalist, which captain Barney navi- gated to Mount Vernon afterwards, and presented to Gen, Washington on the part of the merchants of Bal- timore. . The price which the state of Maryland would pay for the advantages of a better union, in abandoning without reserve, the resources of revenue to arise from her cen- tral position and means of trade, could scarcely be an- ticipated, and the security of tlie home consumption for the products of mechanical lal)our, required by the tradesmen and intended by the new government, render- '6dits adoption a triumph to them particularly; but care should be taken perliaps, that a reaction does not tak^ place, and foreign markets be sought for at the expense of a more numerous class of citizens, whose labour is employed in procm*ing more essential commodities. The legislature elect Col. Howard governor of the state in November, 1 788, and he was re-elected the two succeeding years, as allowed by the contitution ; an honor .] 1788.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 1^8 not before conferred on the town; and not since repeated, but in the election of Charles Ridgely, of Hampton, Esq. in 1815, 181 tj and 1817; in which latter year the for- mer governor's son, John E. Howard, Jr. Esq. was chosen a member of council and re elected the two suc- ceeding years, being the only member selected from this town or county, fo that Board. Already the port wardens had expended since their organization, the sum of 712/. or ^1,898 66f, and some progress made in deepening the harbour. It appears that the representations of the grand juries were duly appreciated, for a criminal court was organis- ed for the county and town, consisting of five justices^ Samuel Chase, Esq. being appointed chief justice. Male persons convicted of felonies and some other offences, might be condemned to work on the roads leading to the town, on the streets or harbour; the convicts from other counties being also sent to the same labour. With the chief justice, who received a fixed salary in the county levy, were associated four of the county jus- tices, paid a per diem as they always had been, and who first were, John Moale, William ilusscll, Otho H. Wil- liams and Lyde Goodwin, Esqs. and last of whom were George Salmon, George G. Presbury, Job Smith and Nicholas Rogers, Esqs. William Gibson, Esq. clerk of the county, was clerk, and the sheriff for the time being sheriff of this court also. This court appointed the con- stables and superintended the night watch, and was an abridgement of the authority of the special commission- ers favorable to the town police, because the court held 124. ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1788. its commission by a more certain tenure and was better compensated for time devoted to public duties. James McHenry Esq. and Doctor John Coulter were elected to the Assembly after a very warm contested election, 600 to 500 votes, and Thomas Rutter Esq. was elected sheriff. At the entrance of Chester river, on the 17th of May, at night, captain John De Corse of the packet, was murdered by two ruffians he had taken on board here as passengers. The vessel was brought back to the middle branch and abandoned. Exertions were made to discover the murderers, which resulted in the arrest of Patrick Cassidy, who had forfeited his pardon for former oifences by remaining in the state, and was, with one John Webb another convict, execu- ted some time after. On the sixth of July the lightning- killed a woman and two children between town and point. In March Samuel Purviance Esq. formerly chairman of the com- , mittee of this town, and member of the convention of | 1774, whilst descending the Ohio, with others, was made captive by the Indians and put to death soon after, as was reported and believed. On the twenty fifth of October, died in town, aged sixty five years, the Rev. John S. Gerrock, first minister of the German Lutheran Congregation, being some time assisted and now suc- ceeded by the Rev. Daniel Kurtz. Early in 1789, William Smith Esq. is elected by general ticket, one of the six representatfves of this state in congress, and Robert Smith Esq. in the same r 1788.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 125 manner, one of the eight electors of Pi'esident and Vice-President of the United States. General Washington having been unanimously cho- sen President of the United States, passed through Baltimore the seventeenth of April, 1789, on his way to congress at ^'ew York. On this occasion he was entertained at supper by the citizens, and, to the ad- dress delivered him, he replied, "the tokens of regard and affection which I have often received from the citizens of this town, were always acceptable, because I believed them always sincere" &c. adding this decla- ration, by the strict adherence to which he secured for his memory that reverence which is now and probably will ever be paid to true merit by civilized man. "Hav- ing UNDERTAKEN THE TASK FROM A SENSE OF DUTY, NO FEAR OF ENCOUNTERING DIFFICULTIES, AND NO DREAD OF LOSING POPULARITY, SHALL EVER DETER ME FROM PURSUING WHAT I CONCEIVE TO BE THE TRUE INTER- ESTS OF MY COUNTRY." Laws having passed by congress to carry the federal constitution into effect, the President appointed General O. H. Williams, collector, Robert Purviance Esq. Naval Officer, and Colonel Robert Ballard, sun^ey- or of this port. High duties were imposed on wine, spirits and other luxuries, and duties sufficient to pro- tect the domestic manufacture of soap, candles, hats, shoes, nails &c, were laid, fifty cents per ton on foreign vessels, and on other articles imported , seven and a half to ten per cent which were soon after increased to twelve and a half and fifteen per cent, ad valwem. 120 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE, [1789. Other appointments were, Thomas Johnson esq. but he declining, William Paca esq. judge of the District court for Mai-yland; Richard Potts esq. attorney; colo- nel Nathaniel Ramsay, marshall, and captain Joshua Barney, clerk ; who held their first session in Baltimore the first June of the year following, but occasionally, at Easton and Annapolis for some years. John White esq. agent for the settlement of continental accounts at Annapolis, declining, captain A. Furnival is appointed post master. Alexander McGilvray a well educated half blood chief and other chiefs of the Creek Indians, who had lately been formidable enemies to the south, pass through Baltimore on a visit to the government, and fifteen years after a number of Osage chiefs and others from beyond the Mississippi visit the town. Doctors Johnson, Boyd, Goodwin, Brown, Gilder, Buchanan, Wiesenthal, the two last then lately return- ed from Europe, and others form a medical society, of which the first named gentleman was president. The body of Cassidy, lately executed, was obtained for dissection but was discovered by the populace an(i taken from the gentlemen who were then studying anatomy or surgery in the town. However, doctor George Buchanan delivered a coui'se of lectures on obstetricks. The ensuing year doctor Andrew Wies- enthal delivered a course of lectures upon anatomy, when lectures upon other branches of medical science were also announced; viz. by doctor George Brown on the theory and practice of Physic, by doctor Lydc 1789.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 127 Goodwin on the theory and practice of Surgery, and by doctor Samuel Coale on Chemistry and Materia Medica. The essay to form a medical school which those learned gentlemen so early undertook, failed then, to be successfully accomplished by others, when the popula- tion had increased with the wealth and wants of society. A great many persons joined the Methodist congre- gation and for the first time, a preacher was stationed in the town, and a church built by that society on Green now Exeter, near Gay street. Messrs. Englehard Yeiser and others owning the grounds, cut a new channel for the falls from the lower mill at Bath street, across the meadow to Gay street bridge; of which channel the bounds are fixed by ordinance of the city in 1B03, and the old course of the falls by the court house, gradually filled up. After which it became a dispute to whom the ground thus made belonged, which was finally divided between the parties owning the adjoining lands,.where there were dis- tinct owners. Mr. Christopher Cruse who had improv- ed the mud machine whilst in the employ of the port wardens, aided by his son Englehard, erected a grist mill near Pratt street, introduced steam power and ground corn as now done, but failed after expending a considerable sum to effect the completion of his inven- tion, for w^ant of capital. A society for promoting the "abolition of slavery, and for the relief of free negroes, and others, unlawfully held in bondage," was organised, of which Philip Kogers* 128 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1789. Esq. was chosen President and Mr. Joseph Townsend Secretary ; but some opposition on the part of the state legislature in 1 792, caused them to discontinue ; upon which they transfen^ed the building they had erected on Sharpe street, for an African School, to the religious people of colour, who made additions to it. Another society called the Protection Society, was formed in 1817, which was intended nearly for the same objects. Of this society the late Mr. Elisha Tyson, of the socie- ty of Friends, was a most active member. Actuated by motives no less benevolent, but guided by more pru- dence perhaps, than their predecessors; many useful persons of colour were duly protected, and incorrigible servants sold and transported, without interference of the magistracy or of the society. Samuel Sterett, Esq. was elected in the place of Dr. Coulter one of the delegates to the Assembly. As a relief to the pecuniary distresses of the inhabi tants an association was formed by Messrs. Caton, Yan- bibber, A. McKim, Townsend and others to carry on the manufacture of cotton upon a small scale, and some jeans and velvets were made. The carding was per- formed by the newly invented machinery and small hand jennies were introduced, and if circumstances had required, would no doubt have been extended and con- tinued. With the commencement of the French Revolution, there happened a real or fictitious scai'city in France, Portugal and some other European countries, which im- mediately raised the price of the staple q^ wheat from 1790.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. \29 80 to \25 cents per bushel, and flour in proportion; which soon rendered these means of pubHc relief unne- cessary. It was indeed at November session 1790, that Messrs. Samuel Smith, William Patterson, Jeremiah Yellot, Englehard Yeiser, Robert Gilmor, Thorowgood Smith, Charles Garts, Thomas Rollings worth, James Edwards, James Carey, Otho H. Williams and Nicho- las Sluby, were authorised to take subscriptions for the Bank of Maryland. ^200,000 were subscribed in shares of ^100 each, in fourteen days, being two thirds of the capital, which was paid in during the ensuing year, and the institution went into operation upon a por- tion of the capital. William Patterson, Esq. being elected President, and Ebenezer Mackie, Esq. Cashier. The entire capital of ^300,000 was afterwards com- pleted. The state granted peculiar advantages to this institution, which was pei^Dctual, and reserved no part of the stock or direction. Few of the notes of "the Bank of North America," at Philadelphia, had reached Baltimore at the time, and none of the Banks of New York or Boston, but the officers of "the Bank of the United States," chartered by congress in 1 790, thought proper to open a branch here early in 1792, of which the parent board appointed George Gale, Esq. President, and David Harris, Esq. Cashier. The exorbitant dividends made by the first Bank hv dicated the want of another, notwithstanding the loans afforded by the office of the United States Bank ; but liy 17 130 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1790. their means, a mucli larger sum was obtained, with much less difliuclty, for a nevf one. Accordingly in 1795, the "Bank of Baltimore" was chartered, af- ter an ineffectual attempt to increase the capital of the first Bank. The capital of this was ^1,200,000, George Salmon, Esq. President and James Cox, Esq. Cashier. The charter of this Bank was limited to twenty years and the stale reserving tlie right to subscribe for 6000 shares at 300 dollars each, has actually paid ^106,200, and appoints two of seventeen directors annually chos • en. The charter has served as a model for others, and has been itself renewed. By an act passed the same session, 1790, Messrs. John Hollins and Joshua Barney arc appointed auction- eers, and commence business under the firm of John Hollins & Co. after which the limitation was removed and, by the charter, the auctions are licensed by the city. The Rev. Dr. John Carroll, who, in the early part of the revolution had been employed, with others, in a political embassy to the Canadians by congress, on the application of the Catholic clergy, was consecrated in England a Bishop of that church, to reside in Balti- more, and returned here in 1790. In 1796 a small chapel was built on the Point, which was succeeded by St. Patrick''s church, on Point Market street, in 1807. The German Catholics erected the church on Saratoga street, in 1799, and St. Mary's, a Catholic church at the College, of which Maximilian Godfrey, Esq. was architect, was finished in 1807. Under the auspices of the Bishop, the foundation of the Cathedral in Charles street, the design of which was furnished by 1790.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. ISl the late Benjamin H. Latrobe, Esq. was laid in 1806; and four years after the Bishop became an Arch Bishop. Sea vessels paid wharfage one dollar first two days each, and four dollars per day afterwards; and three pence per cord of cord wood. It appears that the port wardens received this year 88/. 19s. 8d. and expended the same, and that the amount of taxes received or charges paid by the special commissioners, was each 1,927Z. 17s. Sd. exclusive of paving accounts. The ex- pense of the new court of Oyer and Terminer of the town and county for the year, was 1,994/. 9s. GcZ. ; forty five watchmen and officers, 8167. 3s. Id. total 2,840/. 13s. Id. The first account was levied upon town and county property, viz. 1,424,50,2/. 3s. 9d. at 3s.: and Id. per centum; the latter sum was provided for in a balance of fines, licenses and special taxes. There was besides, the amount of fifty five pounds paid for a slave condemned to work on the roads: This might be compensated in his labour, and fair enough ; but, the pro- priety of taxing the public to pay for slaves executed, as still practised, whilst free widows and orphans are de- prived of their husbands and fathers, executed pursu- ant to law, without compensation, is more than doubtful. According to a list published, the sea vessels belong- ing to this port, consisted of twenty seven ships, 6701 tons; one snow, eighty tons; thirty one brigs, 3770 tons; thirty four schooners, 2454 tons, and nine sloops, 559 tons, together 102 vessels, 13,564 tons. 132 ANNALS OF BALTIIMORE. [1790. Exports from Baltimore, from 1st October, 1789, to 1st July, 1790. Bees Wax 74 casks Gciiseng 14 casks Butter 25 lirkins Pig Iron 671 tons Bread 5,558 bbls. Bar Iron 4 tons Bricks 16,100 Meal 2,954 bbls. Beef 196 bbls. Pork 383 bbls. Candles 23 boxes Peas and Beans 4,145 bushels Cheese 2,390 lbs. Rice 1,286 casks Corn 208,195 bushels Shingles 2 ,118,724 Cotton 134 bales Scantling 516,690 feet Deer Skins 61 packages Staves 874,598 Flour 127,284 bbls. Tobacco 9,442 liluls Furs 20 packages Tar 1,140 bbls JFlaxseed 2,152 casks Turpentine 50 bbls Fish 1,344 bbls. I \Vheat 228,062 bushels According to the first census taken by the general government, the population of the city and precincts in 1790 amounted to 13,503 persons of all descriptions, viz. white males 6,42^ ; females 5,503 ; other free per- sons 323; slaves 1,255. In the fall of 1789 and spring of 1790, there raged throughout the country, commencing at the south, an epidemic called the injluenza which was fatal in some instances. It was remarked that the summer of the former year had been uncommonly warm, the mean temperature of the air at Philadelphia for September, being seventy five, and for October sixty-three, with great drought; and that, like the yellow fever which fol- lowed, it was contagious in the atmosphere but not by personal communication. It was called by some of the faculty an epidemic putrid cold, and was said to be pro- duced by sudden vegetable putrefaction, as the other disease is thought to be. 1790.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 133 On the 7th of May, 1790, the first session of the cir- cuit court of the United States for this district, was held here, by John Blair Esq. of Virginia, one of the Judges of the Supreme Court, and William Paca Esq. district Judge. Samuel Sterett Esq. is elected by general ticket, one of the six representatives of this state in congress. — There was a Chesapeake ticket and a Patawmack tick- et, the former of which prevailed, but Mr. Sterett who succeeded Mr. William Smith, was on both tickets, and, David MclVIechen Esq. late member, and colonel Sam- uel Smith were returned to the house of delegates as representatives of the town, without opposition. On the 28th of June 1790, died at his residence near town, captain Charles Ridgely, one of the framers of the Constitution and many years a delegate of the coun- ty to the general assembly. In 1791, Messrs. Robert Gilmor, John O'Donnell Stephen Wilson, Charles Ghequiere, John Holmes and others erected a Powder Mill on Gwinn's falls, which was continued by the same or others, until 1 7th of Sep- tember 1812, it was blown up a second time and not rebuilt, other mills having been erected in the mean time, that is, the Etna works, on the same stream, built in 1812, and chartered in 1815; and Bellonaon Jones's falls, built in 1802 and chartered in 1814, which last has twice exploded, and on each occasion several lives lost, but rebuilt and continued. The president appoints George Gale Esq. supervisor of the internal taxes levied by congress. 134, ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1791. Judge Chase, stilljudge of the Criminal Court, is ap- pointed chief justice of the General Court of this state, in the place of Thomas Johnson, Esq. appointed one of the judges ot the Supreme Court of the United States. By a new organization of the courts of justice, the state is divided into five districts; this county with Anne Arundel and Harford forms the third, and the justices (jf the peace cease to hold courts or receive any per diem either for civil or criminal matters. The new courts are composed of one Chief Justice for each dis- trict, paid a certain salary from the Treasury, and two associates in each county; a per diem was levied for tlie associates in the Levy of the counties, and ccirtain taxes imposed towards reimbursing the salaries of the Chief Justices, who had the authority of Justices of the Peace, except in matters of small debts, which the latter justices were still to determine without any fee or reward. Thomas Johnson, Esq. was appointed Chief Judge of this district, but he did not accept; and, the jurisdiction of the admiralty court being superseded by the general govennnent, Benjamin Nicholson, Esq. is appointed Chief Judge of this district early in this year; the asso- ciates were General Williams and James Carroll, Esq. Judge Nicholson departed this life the year after his appointment and Avas succeeded by Joshua Seney, Esq. who resigned in 1796, and Henry Ridgely, Esq. suc- ceeds. In 1 792 Col. Howard and William Russell, Esq. were appointed the associate judges of this Court, and successively, Samuel Sterrett, William Owings, Wil- liam Winchester, Edward Johnson, and Elias Glenn. 1791.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 13,5 Esqrs. the two last, with Judge H. Ridgely forming the Court when re-organized in 1805. A new Presbyterian Church built on the scite of the former one on East street, and is now the north west corner of Fayette and North streets, was dedicated by the Rev. Dr. Allison on the third of July. The plan which is spacious and handsome, was executed by Messrs. John Dalrymple and J. Mosher, builders. The remains of the dead, who had been interred on part of the lot, were then removed to the new cemetry belong- ing to the society, Fayette street. The new church was struck by lightning on the afternoon of the third of August, 1805, but received no material injury. A small church was erected on Pitt street, in 1800 by the associate Reformed Presbyterians, who were visited occasionally by the Rev. Mr. Annan. The number of Presbyterians being greatly increased , a "second Presbyterian Church," on Baltimore street, was built in 1804. Mr. George Milleman architect Rev. John Glendy w^as first minister. A church is erected on Fayette street, Mr. Robert Watts architect, in 1813, also reformed, for which the Rev. JohnM. Duncan was appointed minister; the congregation disposing of the one on Pitt street to a society of Cove- nanters, who chose the Rev. John Gibson for minister. The Presbyterians in 1822, erected another called the third Presbyterian church, on north Eutaw street, of which the Rev. W. C. Walton was first minister. An assize of bread was fixed by the special com- missioners, the two penny fine loaf to weigh thirteen o\inces. This regulation was sucreoded bv another 13G ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [179J. directing loaves to be of one pound eight ounces or three pound weight, ten years after, by the corporation. Virginia and Massachusetts having ceeded their rights to the north western territory, and the settlements ex- tending beyond the Ohio, a territorial government was organised by congress in 1787, and General Arthui' St. Clair appointed governor. But the progress of the settlements was viewed by the Indians as a usurpa- tion of their territorial rights, if not a prelude to their extirpation ; and, countenanced by the fortifica- tions of the British within our lines, they formed a powerful coalition and commenced their warfare on in- dividuals. The general government found it neces- sary to raise a small army for the defence of that fron- tier, in which several of our citizens took commissions ; amongst others, Messrs. William Buchanan, Campbell Smith and George Chase. On the 4th November, 1791, Gen. St. Clair, Avith a part of the army were suddenly at- tacked near the Miami and actually sun'ounded by an immense number, who were expert in firing from behind trees and bushes. The Americans defended themselves with great bravery, and finally fought their way through the enemy, but lost in killed and wounded, above 800 men, ensign Chase was killed and captain Buchanan wounded. More troops being placed under the com- mand of Gen. Anthony Wayne, he, on the 20th August, 1791, after a bloody contest in which Capt. C. Smitli was dangerously wounded, defeated the Indians near the same place and negociatcd a treaty of peace with them. On the tenth of August a youth was killed on Sniitlis' wharf by liglitning, which also struck 1791.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 137 the Gemian church on Conway street. James Cal- houn and William Russell Esqrs. and Colonel N. Kogers were appointed justices of the Orphans court for the ensuing year. Colonel Smith and Mr. RIc- 3Iechen were again returned to the assembly, and Robert Gorsuch Esq. was elected Sheriff on the expi- ration of Mr. Rutters time of acting. Samuel Sterett, Esq. agent of Messrs, Vanstaphorst & Co. procured from the state and -paid them the amount loaned during the war of Independence; and Jas. Barry, Esq. who had lately came from Portugal, was appointed vice consul for Maryland and Virginia. At the periodical election of 1791, John O'Donnell, Esq. was chosen an elector of the Senate, and John E. Howard, Samuel Chase and James McHenry. Esqs. were elected members of the Senate of Maryland. Mr. Chase declined and Daniel Rowley, Esq. was chosen in his place, and he, resigning in 1793, was succeeded by Robert Smith, Esq. In October, 1792, Mr. Potts resigned the office of Attorney of the United States for this district, and was succeeded by Zebulon Rollings worth, Esq. The at- torneys wdio have succeeded him, were John Steplien, Thomas B. Dorsey and Elias Glenn, Esqs. On the 1st November, 1792, was held in this city, the first re- gular general conference of the Methodist church. On the 17th September, 1792, the Rev. Thomas J. Clag- gett was ordained Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Maryland, and the Rev. Joseph G. J. Bend succeeds Dr. West, Rector of St. Pauls, deceased. 13 138 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [179;^, In 1 792, the clergymen and ministers of the different gects or churches were incorporated, to receive alms for the poor of every society. The Roman Catholic clergy were incorporated, and in 1795, trustees of that church, when the German re- formed congregation was also incorporated. In 1797, the German Evangelical Reformed and Presbyterian churches, and in 1798, the Baptist congregation and the vestry of every parish. In 1800 the Methodist and I^utlieran, and in 180S, every christian church in the state. An act is passed providing for the inspection of pot and pearl ashes. An act dividing the state into districts to elect members of congress, was passed in 1791, in anticipation of the census then to be returned. Con- gress having fixed the ratio of representation at one member for every 33,000 persons, the general ticket system is abandoned and the state divided into eight dis- tricts, of which Baltimore town and county was the 5th, and elected colonel Samuel Smith one of the eight mem- bers to which the state was entitled. As the principles of an independent government are here combined with those of a confederacy of govern- ments, and the constitution of the United States admits the senators as the representatives of the states, it is necessary that the representatives in congress should be elected by the people as direct as possible, and not by the body, or by their state governments, or the con stitution is not fairly executed and its principles violated. Nor can the delegates to the Assembly constitute them- selves electors of President, while the constitution pro- 1792.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 139 vides for a distinct body to make choice of that officer, and to retain the authority to elect or appoint others to be electors, which the members of the state government are prohibited to be themselves, is an evasion of the con- stitution, if not a dereliction of its terms. The dis- trict system vras therefore wisely extended to the elec- tion of electors, after General Washington's re- election, in which Messrs. William Smith and J. E. Howard were two of ten electors for this state, and before a canvass was commenced for a successor in 1796. That is in 1795, provision was made for the election of electors of President by districts also, and for this the state was divided into ten districts, of which Anne Arundel county, Annapolis and Baltimore town was the fifth and chose one elector. By an act passed in 1802, that is after the general census of 1800, the state was entitled to nine congressmen and the city and county to two members, that is one residing in eac h, jointly elected. Part of Montgomery county, with Anne Arundel and the cities of Baltimore and Annapo- lis, being one of nine districts, elect two electors of President and Vice-President. In 1805, regulations for the election of senators of the state legislature were passed, the city and county of Baltimore electing one each. Seldom more than three of the justices attended the orphans court and the governor and council were di- rected to appoint that number only, any two of whom to act, and by special commission Colonel N. Rogers, G. Salmon and William McLaughlin Esqrs. were ap- 140 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1792, pointed ; Colonel S. Smith was elected member of con- gress and John O'Donncll Esq. delegate to the assembly. The war which commenced on the continent of Europe in 1 792, being extended to Great Britian in the commencement of 1 793, it became necessary to protect our commerce by a declaration of neutrality, which was announced by the President the twenty third of April, and the merchants of Baltimore presented him an approbatory address soon after. The ftgents of the French convention at Cape Francois, having tendered their liberty to such slaves as should take arms against the former government of Hispaniola, General Galbaud and Admiral Gambis attacked the town, and it was plundered and burned by the seamen and negroes the twenty first of June ; and on the ninth of July, fifty three vessels bearing about 1000 white and 500 people of colour, flying from the disaster, ar- live in Baltimore. Many were quartered in the hou- ses of the citizens, who besides, subscribed above % 12000, for the relief of such as v.ere destitutCi Those more fortunate who brought capitals, entered into trade, others introduced new arts or cultivation hi the neighbourhood, and with succeeding arrivals from the southern and western parts of the Island, contribu- ted to encrease the wealth as well as the population of the town. Philadelphia being visited by an alarming mortality from the disease called, "yellow fever," then generally supposed to be imported and contagious, Governor Leo. interdicts all direct intercourse with that city and th« 141 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1793. admission of infected vessels, appointing Doctors John Ross and John Worthington to be health officers, xi temporary hospital to be procured for mariners of such vessels, and a duty, confirmed by congress, of one cent per ton is granted towards the expense. Messrs. Thomas Yates and Daniel Bowley commence their improvements on the water between the falls and Harford run. Messrs. Cumberland Dugan and Thomas McElderry commence their wharves below the Centre market, extending from Water steeet to the north side of the channel, a distance of 1600 feet. Nine years after Judge Chase commenced his wharf binding on the west side of the falls. Since the last notice in 1783, there had been a great accession of settlers, amongst whom were Messrs. Hugh Thompson, Edward Ireland, William Lorman, Thomas Tenant, John Holmes, Joseph Thornburgh, Robert Miller, John Donnell, Luke Tiernan, Solomon Birkhcad, Solomon Betts, James H. McCulloh, Steuart Brown, Leon Changeur, John Carrere, Henry Di- dier, A. McDonald, J. P. Pleasants, Barclay and Mc- Kean, S. Etting, James Corrie, James Armstrong, &c. The subject of a city charter, which had occupied the vv^riters in the papers and the citizens generally for near ten years, was taken up by the legislature in 1 793, and an act passed for consideration, but the inhabitants of the Point, and the mechanical, the carpenters and re- publican societies, then lately formed for other purposes, took part in opposition, and it was not carried into effort. 1793.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 142 There was an effort made by a number of merchants to open an exchange for the transaction of business, and the buildings at the south west corner of Water and Commerce streets were fitted up and used for the pur- pose, but after some time was discontinued. George Hammond Esq. having been appointed consul general from Great Britain to the United States; Edward Tliornton Esq. now Sir Edward Thornton, is appoin- ted vice consul for Maryland and comes to Baltimore. Several I^odges of free masons had been established in Baltimore under the grand lodges of Pennsylvania or Virginia, and as early as 1788, D. Stodder, worshipful master of No. 1 5, now 6, and officers, obtain a warrant from the Grand Lod^e of Maryland^ held at Easton at different times since the year 1 783, On the eighth of May, 1794, the Grand Lodge, Henry Wilmans R. W. G. M. Lambert Smith G. Secretary, assemble in this town. A company of mounted volunteers had put themselves under command of capts. Plunket and Moore again, of which Samuel Hollingsworth Esq. who had been an officer in the troop, became commander soon after. A volunteer company of artillery w^as formed, com- manded by captain Stodder, and a company of riflemen by captain James Allen. The Neutrality being much infringed by the mar- ritime powers at war, the President announces a gene- ral embargo for thirty days by congress, and the news was received here with much satisfaction on the twenty eighth of March 1794. On the expiration of which, a captain Ramsdall, who in a fit of intoxication, had 14S ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1794. hoisted his colours half mast, at the point, was violently seized by the populace andtaiTed and feathered, as well as a young man namned Sinton, who had been an appren- tice to JMr. Stodder, who was a ship carpenter, for which the latter was arrested, and denying intentional participation in either case, after much altercation, gave bail, and was with Mr. John Steel and others dischai*- ged. The extraordinary pretensions and naval power of the British rendered them most obnoxious and it was thought a war with them could scarcely be avoided ; but as the surest means of preserving peace with honour, the President invited serious preparation here both for offence and defence, whilst his minister Mr. Jay, with the terms of accommodation prescribed, was waiting in London their acceptance. The fort at Whetstone point was repaired and the star fort of brick work, added. It was afterwards ceded to the United States and called fort McHeiiry. Agreeably to the act of congress of the year before and the provisions made by the legislature, Governor Stone appoints Colonol Smith Major General of the third division. Colonel Hall and Howard declining, and Col. Swan and Charles Ridgely of Hampton esq. Brigadier Generals, the first for the third brigade and the latter for the eleventh brigade of Maryland Militia, and a general enrolment takes place. Considerable amendments were made by the assembly during the par- tial hostilities against France in 1798. In 1807, a new law was passed, and General Swan's declining health obliged him to resign, when Colonel Strieker was appointed Brigadier General in his place. 1794] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. I44 The cavalry being placed under their own field officers in 1809, General Ridgely resigns, when he is succeeded by Tobias E. Stansbury, Esq. Captain Barney having resigned the office of clerk of the district court the year before, took command of a merchant vessel, in which he was made prisoner by the British. They took hsm to .Jamaica, condemned his vessel and affected to try him for piracy ; but he was ac- quitted at the moment he was demanded by the Presi- dent, and indemnity was received for the vessel after- wards. Captain Barney was selected to command one of the frigates to be built by the general government, but not being satisfied in respect to rank, he declined, soon after went to France, and entered into the ser- vice of that republic. Commanding in 1797, on the St. Domingo station, he visited the Chesapeake, eluded the British and returned to the cape in safety. Capt. Bar- ney was succeeded by Philip IMoore, Esq. as clerk of the District Court. The government intending to fit out sev^eral vessels of war at this port, captain Jeremiah Ycllot is appointed navy agent, and Mr. David Stodder, builder. The criminal court was abolished in 1794. The justices of the county court being then Joshua Seney, Esq. chief justice, William Russell and William Owings Esqs. associates, made justices of the criminal court also. Judge Seney resigiKxl, being succeeded as before men- tioned, by Henry Ridgley, Esq. and in the year 1797, the criminal business of the city and county was sepa- rated, and so continucnl uulll a new criminal court was organisofl in 1800. 1794.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 145 The opponents of internal taxes, burn the house of Mr. Nevil, excise officer near Pittsburg, and on the 7th of August, the President issues a proclamation and or- ders out drafts of Militia to go against them; above 500 leave Baltimore under the command of General Smith, Colonels Strieker and Clemm, on the 8th September, who return from the westward, on the submission of the insurgents, towards the close of the year. Before their departure, however, the yellow fever made its appear- ance in the town, and Messrs. Gustavus Scott, George Salmon, Jos. Townsend, Alexander M'Kim, Jesse Hol- lingsworth, Thomas Johnson and Thomas Dixon were appointed a committee of health. There were 344 deaths by the fever and other diseases, during the months of August and September; The malady did not cease until the 15th October, and Capt. James Alien, who had conducted his company of Riflemen as far as Frederick, returned invalid, and, with other meritorious citizens, fell a victim to the fatal disease. The site of the Hospital was then selected by Capt. Yellot and others, as a temporary retreat for the Stran- gers and Sea-faring people ; which being purchased of him in 1798, by the Commissioners of health, for the City, and aided by the State, was improved and contin- ued to be so used, until in 1808, it was leased oncer tain improving conditions, to Doctors Smyth and Mac- kenzie, who receive the seamen by agreement with the government, or individuals, on terms which tlie respec- tive parties make; visitors being appointed by the cor- poration which may also send patients at a .stipulatrd ]9 146 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1794. price ; but the Legislature has assumed the property and control of the premises, after the expiration of the lease, by their acts of 1797 and 1816. It was also in 1794, that the same Commissioners purchased for a pot- ters field, a lot of ground opposite the hospital ; for which purpose other lots have since been pm'chased on the East and on the West of the City, at the expense ol the corporation. After the interval of three years, the City was afflicted with this disease again, and lost many in- habitants; also, in 1799 and 1800, and partially in 1819 and 1820. It was at these periods, and particularly on account of the fever, that many citizens fled from the town with their families, where it appears the fever did not reach them, and some of them erected country residences which now ornament the vicinity. Notwithstanding these apparent obstacles, Messrs. Wignell and Reinagale aided by a subscription of shares, completed a small wooden Theatre on Holliday Street, which Messrs. Warren and Wood, with like as- sistance and during the blockade of 1813, rebuilt of brick, by a design of Mr. Robins, artist attached to the company; Messrs. Robert C. Long, William Steuart and James Mosher, builders. George G. Presbury, Esq. was appointed one of the Justices of the Orphans Court. Alexander M'Kim and Jas. Winchester, Esqs. arc elected delegates to the As- sembly, and Henry Stevenson, Esq. is again elected Sheriff. On the 9th June, Died John Smith, Esq. one of the framcrs of the Constitution, and lately a Senator of tlie State Legislature; and on the 15th July, Gene- ral Olho II. Williams, collector, late of the Maryland 1794.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. M7 line and Adjt. General of the Southern army. General Williams is succeeded in the collectors office by Robt, Purviance, Esq. Col. Nathaniel Ramsey becoming Naval Officer in the place of Mr. Purviance, Jacob Graybcll, Esq. is appointed Marshall of this district, and he has been succeeded by Messrs. Reuben Etting, Thomas Rutter and Col. Paul Bentalou, successively. On the 27th July 1795, a town meeting was held at the Court House, and a committee chosen to address the President on the subject of the treaty with England, ad- verse to its ratification. The answer of the President referred the citizens to his answer to the select men of Boston; in which, being disposed to adopt the treaty, he appeals to the principles of conscious rectitude contain- ed in his answer to the address of this town, on his first election to the Presidency, and hopes that experience will justify him. In 17 bo an act of Assembly had passed to authorise the acceptance of a lot on Saratoga Street presented the protestant Episcopal congregation by Col. Howard, for a parsonage, which is now finished and occupied by Doctor Bend . The Vestry of St. Paul's parish, purcliase the church at Baltimore Street Bridge, which was erected by Jacob Myers and others, Dutch Calvinists, in 1785, and had been injured by the fresh of the ensuing year and re- paired, for an additional protestant episcopal church, to which the Yestry gave the name of Christs Church, and in 1801, they raise the steeple and procure a choir of six Bells. Upon this acquisition, the Rev. John Ire- Ti8 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1795. land was appointed associate minister of the parish, and ]>lr. Michael Diffenderfler and others, of the Dutch Calvinist society, wlio had procured a pars(3nage on Se- cond Street for their then minister, the Rev. Mr. Boehme, erect their present Church, the steeple of which built by Mr. George Rohrbach in 1803, was slightly in- jured by lightning at the time of raising. The success- ors of Mr. Boehme were, the Revd. Messrs. Pomp, Truitenier, Troyer, Baker and Helfenstein their present minister. The tonnage of the State reported soon after the adoption of the Constitution, was 36,305 tons register- ed and 7,976 tons licensed and enrolled vessels, but in 1 795 the former was 4807tons, and thelatterS l,470tons, of which the proportion of the district of Columbia north of the Patowmack was about one seventh; so that in the space of five years only, the proportion of small- er vessels, which at the first period had been less than a fourth of the larger kind, had become equal to one half of the increased tonnage, and afforded a conspicu- ous evidence of the great and growing importance of the Chesapeake Bay; while the favorable situation of this town to reap tiie advantages of its navigation is shown, not only by the known increase of the exports and im- ports, but by observations made by Judge Jones from his then residence at North Point, at which place had been counted passing to Baltimore, in 1795, 109 ships, 162 brigs, 350 sloops and schooners and 5,464 bay craft or small coasters. Reference to the increased inspec- tions of fish, will exhibit another practical benefit we di.'rivc from this great Southern I..ake. According to 1196.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 149 the reports published, the value of goods entered at the Custom House for exportation from 1st Oct. 1790 to ist Oct. 1791, was $1,690,930; to 1792, $1,782,861, to 1793, $2,092,660; to 1794, $3,456,42 1 ; to 1795, $4,42 1,924, together, $1 3,444,796, and the exports from Maryland $20 026,126; so that this town already ex- ported two thirds of the whole amount exported by the State. The receipts into the treasury of the U. States for the space of five years, amounted to $2,235,914, of which however, a deduction is to be made for drawbacks paid after the monies were remitted from Baltimore ; and as to the reports of exports, it is to be observed, that no certain rule is enforced to ascertain the value, and that, depending on the discretion of the shipper, it is proba- ble that the quantities and value of the shipments exceed the entries for exportation. At this period Mr. Josias Pennington, who had married a daughter of Mr. Hanson, the original owner and Mr. John Taggert, obtained the 3d and 4th mills on Jones' Falls; and, at great expense in cutting a race through a spur of the granite ridge, which there ap- proaches the town, united the water power of both, for a new and extensive mill, which is now owned by Messrs. Keller and Foreman, within a mile of the navi- gation. vNot long after, the Messrs. EUicotts, taking up the water from Gwinn's Falls a mile and a quarter ) above, convey it along the east bank, and obtain an elevation sufficient for three mills of above twenty feet fall each, in succession, tvhich they build at the place 'where the great western road by Frederick Town. 150 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [I795 passes the stream, and within three miles of the wharves in the town. In consequence of these improvements, and others of the kind made in the neighborhood by Messrs. Tyson, Holhngsworth, &.c. the manufacture of flour was greatly increased and little or no wheat was exported afterwards ; and it may now be remarked, that the introduction of other mechanical improvements, which employ an increased population, that are con- SHmers, and not growers of wheat or manufacturers of flour, has produced a great disparity between the quan- tities of this article inspected and that exported, yield- ing a certain market for a great proportion of the pro- duct of agriculturists and millers labour, independent of commerce or the demand abroad, j The rule adopted for the General Assessment of pro- perty being less than a fourth of the current value, had liilherto prevented the difficulties which now occurred between landlords and tenants in relation to the pro- portion of taxes on grounds and improvements, sepa- j^ately assessed. It was found that the taxes upon the ground, even at the low valuation of property, absorb- ed the rent and sometimes exceeded it, where the pro- perty had been leased at an early day, and where in fact it had become the most valuable. To avoid this for the future. Judge Chase, and other proprietors of lots, commenced the introduction into their leases of a stipulation that the rent reserved, whatever it might be, should be clear and fr^e of all public dues, and the law expressly provides for the performance of the contract in those cases, but is silent as to the others. To do justice in the former cases it seems to be necessary that 1795.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 151 the landlords interest in the ground, as far as concerns the pajmient of taxes, should be determined by the amount of his rent, estnnating the capital upon which he shall pay, at the legal rate of interest, reducing tliat capital again by the difference between the current and the assessed value of the improvements and other pro- perty; so long as such difference is suffered to exist, only; and that the lessee or tenant, who alone is bene- fitted or affected by the rise or fall of the whole premis- es, should pay all the surplus of the tax, or so much less, when so ascertained, be the same more or less. Inequalities in the assessments will not be so appar- ent, whilst there is less value assessed, and injustice is often suffered even by many who conceive themselves favoured. But, what is of more importance perhaps, the want of means to enforce the payment of taxes upon the unimproved property of absentees or minors, of which generous minds refuse to become the purchasers, and the taxes upon property of so little value to offer no compensation for the expense of collection, gi'eatly enhances the amount of taxes upon those who can and do pay all, sooner or later. The lien for taxes being permanent, there should be an officer designated to as- certain and receive them, at the time of alienation or any other time, and provision made for disposing cf vacant lands and lots for arrears of public dues, at a certain time, and with certain exceptions, the same as if they had never been surveyed or patented and they actually belonged to the State, the county or the city, to whichever the arrears are due. The Baltimore and Maryland Insurance companion 152 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1795. are formed and incorporated, the first upon a capital paid in, and the latter upon a tenth part and the sur- plus, in negociable notes received with suitable endor- sers, annually. The Chesapeake, Union and Marine Insurance Companies are incorporated in 1 804, the two last of which have been discontinued, and in 1813, the Patapsco and Universal Companies, which are still in operation. On the 4th of December 1795, Cokeburry College erected at Abington in Harford county by the Metho- dist Society in 1785, was burned, by design as was supposed, and the next year, that is 1796, the same society purchased a spacious building erected by the proprietor of the Fountain Inn for an assembly or ball room, contiguous to the Light-street Church, and es- tablished an academy and free school there. During divine service on the 4th of December of the same yeai', the church was discovered to be on fire, and both build- in<^s were unfortunately consumed. The concurrence of these destructive fires on the same day of the year and within so short a period, not only reduced the means of the society, but discouraged them from any similar undertaking of the kind for many years. Perhaps it wsls a provi lential dispensation to instruct them that their well intended munificence might be better applied. It may indeed be said, that some of the charities destin- ed to create artificial wants and refinements in a num- ber of fellow beings who might be otherwise exempt from them, would be employed in a way more consist- ant with real benevolence, if appropriated to assuage the tortured minds of those who were involuntarily 1795.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 153 placed in situations more exposed. By extending to all, the means of polished life and bringing together youth of different circumstances, the one inhales the pride of command which defies parental authority, and the other a spirit of envy, begetting desires which can- not be gratified, and destroying that filial attachment in which the parent should find a reward, while society, which furnishes no adequate substitute for either, be- comes a prey to the want of both. Children of fortune fallen heirs to misfortune, oftener occupy the cells of the Hospital, while they who would not experience a reverse of fortune, without the interference of others zeal are forced to the work house of ignominy from the many necessary and reputable occupations of laborious industry. Alas! how many there are of both descriptions, especially in commercial societies, who, coming short of real wisdom, envy the child of nature, and by the inebriating draft, or other means, premature- ly cut the thread of life and hasten to an awful eterni- ty. There are however, institutions for instruction of young and old whose utility is no way equivocal, which are an accumulation of means in the hands of those destined to be the benefactors of society, and do not abruptly interfere with its organization — Amongst such a circulating library claims a conspicuous rank; and in the same year. The Right Revd. Bishop Carroll, the Revd. Doctor's J Patrick Allison and Joseph G. J. Bend, Doctor George/; Brown, Messrs. Richard Caton, Thomas Foultney, ' James Carroll, George W. Field. Robert Gilmorj^Jich- ' 2Q 4> 154- ANNALS OF BALTIIVIORE. [1795. olas Biice, David Harris and others, form a Library com- pany, which was incorporated the following year, the ^ above^amed gentlemen being elected officers and man- 'agers. John B. Bernabeu, Esq. now Chevalier De Berna- beu, was appointed his Catholic Majesty ""s Consul for Maryland, and came here to reside. David M'Mechan, Esq. is again elected in the place of Mr. M'Kim, one of the delegates to the General Assembly. Early in the year 1796 Samuel Chase, Esq. Chief Justice of the general court, was appointed one of the associate judges of the Supreme Court of the United States, and James M'Henry, Esq. Secretaiy of the war department. Judge Seney resigned, and Henry Ridge- ley, Esq. is appointed Chief Justice of the judicial dis- trict. Doctor Andrew Weisenthal is appointed one of the Judges of the Orphans Court. The jurisdiction of single justices out of Court, in matters of debt, which had been extended from /5 to HO, in 1791, was still without fees or perquisites ; they then ceased to hold courts, and received no per diem of course; their fees were regulated at this time, 1 796, as they now contin- ue: Though they were at all times lower than any where else, and no check to vexatious litigation, the jurisdic- tion was increased to ^50 in 1800, without increase of fees; but, high or low, justice and peace would be promo- ted if the fees were paid into the City Treasury as a fund for Justices salaries. The house of General Smith on the North Side of Water Street, was erected on a plan furnished by him- '• 1796.] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 15 j self, and executed by Messrs. John Scroggs, Robert Steuart and James Mosher, builders. The charitable ]Marine Society was formed and in- corporated in the names of Thomas Elliot, David^^ Porter, Thomas Cole, Daniel Rowland and others^* masters of vessels, or their friends. The second general conference of the methodists was held this year, and repeated ev^ery fourth year suc- cessively thereafter. The legislature authorise the filling up and wharfmg Light street, from Pratt street to the opposite side of the harbour, including all the space eastward of Charles street. That part of the city would have been benefit- ted, had the front of the streets leading from the west, been converted to public docks, to secure a greater ex- tent of landing, especially as the canal to the middle branch, for which new commissioners were now ap- pointed, was not opened. At length, on the last day of the year 1 796, a law is passed to constitute the Town a City, and incorporate the inhabitants by the name of "the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore;" and that the best means were sought by our Legislators, to restrain the errors and promote the happiness of a numerous and nuxed society, is proved by the enlightened views which they have concisely expressed in the following preamble: "Where- as it is found by experience, that the good order, health and safety of large Towns and Cities, cannot be preser- ved, nor the evils and accidents to which they are sub- ject, avoided or remedied, without an internal power COMPETENT TO ESTABLISH A POLICE ANJ) REGUTATJjONS, \5Q ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1796 fitted to their particular circumstances, wants and exi- gences." The act of incorporation, which of course abolished the port wardens and town and special commissioners and transferred their powers and some additional au- thority, to a chief executive officer, by the usual title of IMayor, having a qualified negative on the city laws, and a legislative body or council of two branches; the first of two members for each of eight wards, into which the city was divided, pursuant to the act, and beginning at the west, elected directly by the voters of the ward annually, and the second branch of one member for each ward and the Mayor, elected by electors chosen every second year, two for each ward by the voters thereof. A certain residence and a property qualifica- tion were required in all, and the Mayor was ex-qfficio2 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1824 then by Mr. Thomas; Mr. Le Villain, who succeeded him, died here in 1800, and was succeeded by Messrs. Sotin, Dannecourt and Arcambal, who was Consul General of the French Empire. Mr. L. F. Le Loup, succeeded Mr. Arcambal, as Consular Agent for the Empire, and in 1815, after the restoration, the Marquis de Fougeres succeeds Mr. Le Loup, Consul for France, and this Agency or Consulate has since been com- mitted to Messrs. Le Loup, Angeluci, Danneri, Theirry, Pelavoine and Henry, in succession. F. C. Graff, Esq. is appointed Consul for Hamburg. J. F. HoogewerfF, Esq. is appointed Consul of the Netherlands, in the place of C. S. Konig, Esq. deceased. Messrs. Geo. W. Rodgers, H. E. Ballard, Jos. J. Nicholson, Wm. Goodwin, J. Woodyear & T. Coale, en- tered the navy in 1804, and afterwards, W. K. Latimer, Jno. Galagher,Wm.C. Nicholson, Benj. Goodwin,Thos. Rutter, H. Henry, H. Scott, F. Sanderson, G. N. Hol- lins, D R. Steuart, Edward C. Pinkney, Franklin Buchanan, Wm. H. Campbell, J. G. Rogers, J. P. Wil- son, H. Y. Purviance, Henry Pinkney, J. M'Kean Buckhanan, W. M. Glendy, C. H. Little, A. K. Long, George Adams, J. S. Sterett, C. H. M'Blair, Fre. Cha- tard W. Basset, and Wm. M'Blair. Congress having created a Navy Board, Captain John Rodgers is appointed a Commissioner and President in 1815, and is continued except when employed in com- mand on foreign service. Colonel N. Towson was appointed Paymaster Gene- ral soon after the war. The following gentlemen 1824] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 243 entered the Army at different periods, that is to say, in the Artillery, Messrs. J. Schmuck, J. A. Dumes- te, J. H. Winder, Joshua Barney and William Turn- bull ; and in the Infantry, James H. Hook, T. Mont- gomery, Bennet Riley, William Belton, William Camp, Reuben Gilder, Thomas Wilson, Henry Thompson, E. H. Courtney, Jos. M Baxley and Thomas NoeL On the 21st of December, 1823, a town meeting was held in the Exchange, for the purpose of obtaining the opinion of the citizens on the subject of Canals; not that there were any doubts about the advantages of them, but to know whether the citizens would prefer one to be made first to the Susquehanna, or to the Ohio river; supposing the latter to be continued to Baltimore eventually, and as was provided for by an act of Assem- bly two years after. It appeared that a great majority of the persons attending, gave a preference to the first project. And at the Assembly then in Session, an Act was passed to authorise the Corporation of the city to make a Canal to the head of tide water on the Susquehanna, and from thence to the Conewaga Falls, in Pennsylva- nia, if such an extension was permitted by the Legisla- ture of that state; and another act to incorporate a com- pany to make a Canal from tide water on the Potomac to the Ohio, if assented to by the general government and the states through which it would pass. G. Winches- ter, Esq. Judge Bland and Jno. Patterson, Esq. having been commissioned by the state to survey a route for the first mentioned Canal, and report an estimate. The next year, that is at the Session of 1824, the 244 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1824 Assembly adopted and confirmed an act of the Legisla- ture of Virginia, incorporating tiie Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company; and in 18^5, Stock to the amount of the States' interest in the Potomac Canal Company, with five thousand additional shares, were to be vested in the new company on the part of Maryland. The same amount of five thousand shares was to be taken in the Susquehanna Company, then again incorpo- rated — the old Susquehanna Canal Company's interest being secured in this, if the same should be effected. Finding the summit on the direct route to be 1000 feet, the Commissioners proposed a Canal of 93 miles from the Falls to the tide, to cost 1,622,000 dollars, and from thence across the necks or points of land, to the city, '36 miles, to cost 764,000 dollars, and at the Ses- sion of 1826, another act is passed, entitled the Penn- sylvania and Maryland Canal Company. Both this project and that of the Canal to extend to the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, were abandoned soon after for the introduction of Railways- The city, how- ever, authorised by the state, appropriated ^5000 a year for ten years, towards* clearing away the obstructions in the bed of the river Susquehanna- General Andrew Jackson, then a member of the Se- nate of the United States, was waited on at Washing- ton by Messrs. Winder, Riggen, B- C- Howard and R. S Hollms, on the part of many of the citizens, with an invitation to a Ball to be held in honor of the victo- ry of the 8th of January, at New Orleans, which he po- litely declined; but, retiring from the Senate passing 1824] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 245 homeward, the ensuing year, a Ball was given him on the evening of the 5th March. On the 7th October, General Lafayette landed at Fort M'Henry, from the steam boat which had been sent, with a deputation of the corporate and military of- ficers for him, to the head of the bay. He was received on landing, by the Governor of the State and the Mayor of the city, and by General Smith, Colonel Howard, Mr. Carroll, Generals P. Stewart, Reed, Benson, and Strieker, Colonel Bentalou, and Mr. Boismartin, as old acquaintances whom he had not seen for 40 years, and addressed them with sentiments of the purest friendship, which was met by like feelings on their part. From the fort, the General was accompanied by a mi- litary escort, and the same gentlemen in open carriages to the city, his own in advance — The General entered Baltimore street by Paca street, uncovered, passing un- der very handsome triumphal arches at Eutaw street and the Bridge — crowds of both sexes saluted him as he passed. Returning from Fell's Point he alighted at the Exchange, and was again welcomed by the Mayor, who, with General Harper, presented to him the civil and military officers, and Messrs- S- Hollingsworth, Wil- liam Patterson, Alexander M'Kim and Nathan Levy, being most of the survivors of the city volunteer troop who had served under him in Virginia, in 1781, and whom he also received in the most feeling manner. That evening the city was brilliantly illuminated in honour of the Nation's Guest, and on the next evening he was entertained at a splendid ball and supper in the Theatre, Holiday street. 246 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1824 He was accommodated at the Fountain Inn, Light street, at the public expense; and there and at the Ex- change, he was every day engaged in receiving the inha- bitants of both sexes, finding time with difficulty, to dine with the Society of Cincinnati and Free Masons, and to call on a few of the families which he recollected of former days, until the 1 1 th, when he left town with an escort for Washington. Having made the tour of the Mississippi and the Lakes, General Lafayette visited our city, for the last time, probably, on the 31st July, 1825- He referred on several occasions and in terms of gratitude, to the assistance received here in 1781, as well from the hands of the ladies, in working up cloths for his troops, as from those of the gentlemen, by lending in specie ^7,256 be- tween them, to purchase materials, already noticed in these Annals; but it may be proper to record the names of those individuals and commercial houses, who were Messrs. Samuel Hughes, Hugh Young, William Smith, William. Neill, Stewart & Salmon, Stephen Steward, William Patterson, John Smith, jr. S. & R. Purviance, Russell & Hughes, John M'Lure, Jacob Hart, James Calhoun, Alexander Donaldson, John Sterett, Russell & Gilmor, Richard Curson, James M'Henry, Ridley & Pringle, Chas. Carroll, Rarrister, Daniel Rowly, Nicholas Rogers and Thomas Russell, Nathaniel Smith. 1824] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 247 At the Session of the Assembly commencing in De- cember, it was proposed to alter the constitution of the State in relation to the test, to the oath of the public officers and the representation of the city in the House of Delegates. The first admitted the Jews to hold office, and the second, reducing various oaths to one, were duly confirmed the ensuing year; but the last, giv- ing the citizens two additional Delegates, was rejected in their house by a vote of 36 to 28, though the citizens at the solicitation of the writer, had generally, and with- out distinction of class or party, petitioned for the change. The Delegates from the Southern counties on each shore, with few exceptions, voting in the ne- gative and against the city. The general government procured grounds by assent of the state, and erected Light Houses on Pool's Isl- and and Thomas' Point, Chesapeake Bay. Acts were passed extending the jurisdiction of City Justices of Peace in matters of small debts, to one hun- dred dollars, and to Justices generally, a new jurisdic- tion in actions of trespass, not exceeding fifty dollars damage. These might have been extended with advan- tage to all cases of rent in arrear, which is yet under control of landlords and bailiffs, as in the times of feu- dal vassalage. It is due to the promotion of industry, that landlords should have more prompt means of expel- ling tenants; but, at least, rent should be proved to be due before their property is committed to an executing officer. Among the evidences of a more liberal jurispru- dence than before however, was an Act of the Session of 1820, to provide compensation for the maintenance of 248 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [|824 debtor's in confinement on Magistrate's judgments, at the expense of their creditors; and now another to pro- hibit the imprisonment of females for any debts what- ever, which many wished extended to both sexes. On the 13th February there was a town meeting held to protest against the caucus of Congressmen, to nomi- nate candidates for President and Vice President, and in the course of the summer, ward meetings were held by the friends of General A. Jackson and John Q. Adams, Esq. On the 18th of April the boiler of the Eagle steam boat, returning from the Patuxent and Annapolis, ex- ploded, and Henry M. Murray, Esq. State District At- torney, passenger, and some hands, were severely injur- ed- Mr. Murray languished until the 28th, when he died from the accident; which was the first fatal explo- sion in the Chesapeake. There was a thunder storm on the 29th June, and one person killed by the lightning, which also extin- guished the gas lights corner of Baltimore and Charles streets. Acts of Assembly are passed granting corporate pri- vileges to the Gunpowder Company; the United States Beneficial Society, and the Mutual Insurance Compa- ny — also to remove an obstruction on the south side of Water street; and to open and extend Pleasant street to the Falls, so as to make a direct communication with Hillen street on the opposite side. In order more ef- fectually to promote the intercourse between the east and the west, and the general health of that part of the city, it were to be wished that provision had also been 1824] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 249 made, before too much improved, for regrading and raising the pavement of Calvert street, from Monument place to Mulberry street; or, at least at the foot of the declivities in Pleasant and other cross streets. The city expended ^18,000 on the harbor, and re- ceived but ^2,300 from tonnage duty allov^^ed by Con- gress. Property valued at ^3,000,000 was taxed at 2^ per cent; which, with ^22,000 from Auctions, and ^43,000 from Licences, Rents, Fines, &c. were to de- fray the interest of a stock debt of 465,000 dollars, at 5 and 6 per cent per annum, amounting to 24,000 dol- lars; and also to defray the Watching, Lighting, Sala- ries of officers, &c. Flour inspected 539,900 barrels. Herrings inspect- ed 46,575 barrels. Tobacco exported 15,523 hogs- heads, leaving 6,287 hogsheads in the warehouses of the city at the end of the year. Judge Bland was appointed Chancellor of Maryland, on the death of W. Kilty, Esq.; Elias Glenn, Esq. is appointed District Judge in the place of Mr. Bland, and Nathaniel Williams, Esq. is appointed Attorney of the District in the place of Mr- Glenn. Thomas Kell, Esq. is appointed Attorney General of the State. John Barney, Esq. is elected a representa- tive to Congress in the place of Isaac M'Kim, Esq. John Montgomery, Esq. is elected Mayor- B. C. How- ard and J. S. Tyson, Esqs- are elected Delegates to the Assembly, and Colonel Standish Barry is elected She- riff, At the election of Electors of President and Vice President, Messrs. Geo- Winchester and Dennis Claude; 32 250 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1825 candidates favourable to General Andrew Jackson, were chosen for the District- On the 24th May, General William H. Winder departed this life, after a short and severe illness, in the 49th year of his age, and was in- tered with civic, military and masonic honours. As Senator, General Winder is succeeded by Jno. Scott, Esq. A rifle regiment newly organized, had chosen the General their Colonel, in which command he was suc- ceeded by Colonel Standish Barry, and as master of the Grand Lodge of the State, he was succeeded by Colonel B. C. Howard. On the 19th December, died of a paralysis under which he had suffered many years, William Buchanan, of Geo. Esq. Register of Wills of this county, and D. M. Perrine, Esq- was appointed to the same office soon after. The whole number of deaths for the year is stated at 1468, of whom there were 48 slaves and 368 free per- sons of colour. Among the unproductive expenditures referred to in the year 1819, of these Annals, might have been dis- tinguished those twelve handsome buildings, erected by Messrs. Robert Mills, John Ready, James Hines and others, on grounds leased of the Water Company, at the intersection of Calvert and Monument streets — And those eight commodious dwellings, erected on part of the grounds of Lewis Pascault, Esq- by that gentleman, M. Rezin Wight and others, on Lexington near Pine street; all of which, being considered too distant for men of business, as most all of our citizens are, would 1825] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 251 not command rent nearly equal to common legal inter- est. And here it may be added, that of 185,000 dol- lars invested by the State in three Baltimore banks, there was a diminution of the stock and a loss, exclu- sive of all interest thereon since, of 64,000 dollars. The first private house of extent, beauty or cost erected afterwards, was that on the N. E. corner of Franklin and Cathedral streets, on a plan of Mr- Mills, of common quarry stone, stuccoed, for John Hoflfman, Esq.; afterwards ceded to and occupied by his brother, George Hoffman, Esq. and now, Hugh Birkhead, Esq. erects the spacious dwelling on Charles near Lexing- ton street, according to designs furnished by Mr- J. W. Collins, the builder. It is built of brick, and of that fine material and workmanship for which Baltimore is justly celebrated, or ought to be, and like Mr. Hoflfman's, raised several steps, some of which are within and un- der cover. The Directors of the Athenaeum having procured a charter and the spacious lot on the S- W. corner of St. Paul's and Lexington streets, erect a brick building, 80 feet front on the first and 120 feet on the latter, ac cording to the designs of Wm. F. Small, Esq, Archi- tect, who superintended the building, which was stuc- coed in imitation of free stone, by Mr- John Gill. The builders were Messrs, R. A. Shi ply, James Symington and D. Trumbo- For this institution the writer was appointed Secretary, but the multitude of reading rooms opened at the time interfered, and the company rent out offices and places of meeting for other societies. The same Architect and builders are employed by 152 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1825 Messrs. D. Barnum, W. Shipley and J- Philips, jr. to erect the house of public entertainment on grounds ob- tained of various persons, at the S. W- corner of Cal- vert and Fayette streets, running 120 feet on the former and 200, including two mansion houses serving for private entries and accommodations, on the latter, on a basennent of granite, and elevated four stories of brick, stuccoed, and an attic of frame work. The whole contains above 200 rooms or separate apartments for public accommodation. At the instance of the writer, who considers the folding sash of Continental Europe alone suited to our climate, they were adopted by Mr. Small for the basement of this house. Early in January, the Chamber of Commerce deter- niined that the hundred weight of sugar, hemp, iron and other merchandise, which had consisted of 112 lbs. should be reduced to the 100 lbs- only, as tobacco, cot- ton, rice, coffee, &-c. always were- Some years after, the Legislature determined that hay and straw shall be weighed in the same manner b}'^ the city inspectors. At the session of the present year, the Executive are authorized to appoint four Justices of the peace in the city, to be called and exercise the duties of County Jus- tices, except in the recovery of small debts. Instead of reducing the number or locating any, and adding to the independence of the office, thirty-six are still appointed promiscuously; like the constables, whose fees are in- creased at the same session beyond all proportion, rendering the former more dependant on the latter than they were, for a very inadequate pecuniary compensa- tion, degrade the Commission and abandon both small 1825] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 253 creditor and small debtor, that is the poor generally, to the cupidity of those who should be servants of the office. The Legislature resolve to establish houses for the inspection of tobacco at the expense and for the benefit of the state; and those of Messrs. Dugan, O'Donnell and Williams, on the wharf west side of Centre Market dock, and that of Mr. M. Sheppard, on Light street wharf, are purchased and fitted up extensively for the purpose. The government of the University of Maryland is transferred to a new Board of Trustees, of which the Governor of the state is President ex-officio, and twenty- one gentlemen named in the law, among whom vacan cies are to be filled by the Executive of the State ; and this Board, besides common corporate powers, is autho- rised to choose a Vice President, appoint and dismiss Provosts, Professors, &c. The proceeds of a Lottery are appropriated to pay for the infirmary, to purchase che- mical apparatus, and for the use of the Faculties of Arts and of Law; all very limited in amount, not paid in hand but uncertain, and not commensurate with the wants of such an institution or the capacities of the State- At a meeting of the Trustees next year, Charles H. Han- son, Esq. was appointed professor of Political Economy, John p. Kennedy, Esq. of History, and Edward C Pinkney, Esq. Rhetoric and Belles Lettres; the other Professors being continued as they then were. A Board of public works, composed of the Governor for the time being, and others, is created and assemble in this city occasionally; and provision is made for the establishment of Public Schools throughout the State; 25^ ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1825 but, at the option of the counties, with power in the corporation to adopt them in Baltimore; the whole to be under the direction of trustrees and a general superin- tendent, which is accepted by the city and several counties. A toll bridge had been authorized and erected over Patapsco, at Elkridge Landing, and now others are erected at two lower ferries, at the expense of the pro- prietors, and the communication with Washington and Annapolis thereby secured. The Post Master General made a report to Congress on the mail route to Phila- delphia, recommending the construction of a Turnpike Road 35 miles, to cross the Susquehanna by Port De- posit Bridge and connect the Turnpikes already made between the cities; this was to increase the distance three miles; but from surveys ordered by Congress, it appeared that the old route is only 94 miles, and by it the post still travels in winter, and when the mails can- not be sent by steam boats. The government of Hayti send an agent to invite the free people of color to migrate to, and offer them means of settling on that Island; of which a considerable num- ber avail themselves, being also encouraged by a society which had been organised the year before by the Mayor, Judge Brice, P E. Thomas and others. Two revenue cutters are built here and afford some relief to a class of tradesmen exceedingly well qualified for the construction of fast sailors, but latterly too little encouraged by the General Government. President Adams and family passed through the city in September, on their way to Quincy, but declines the 1825] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 253 public civilities which the citizens tendered, as he did on their return. Horace H. Hayden, Esq. published a very ingenious Essay on Geology, including the subject of original formations near this city and elsewhere, in 1820. And now Daniel Raymond, Esq- publishes a Treatise on Political Economy, containing new and interesting prin- ciples on accumulation, consumption, &c. The Legislature assume for the State the entire con- trol of the Flour Inspection, taking from the city au- thorities the appointment of the inspectors. Fire wood brought by water for sale in the city, is regulated entire- ly by the state government; Lumber, Boards and Staves, as well as Hay, were all partly under state con- trol. Having before taken the tobacco warehouses from the government of the county, these measures render the quality of the products of the state, though used or shipped from this city, wholly exempt from the regula- tion or control of the city authorities. The remaining articles of Beef, Pork, Potash, Flaxseed, &c. in the qua- lity of which the Legislature take no interest, because prepared or brought here from other States chiefly, are the only objects left to city management. The inco herence of these measures, point directly to the right of Congress to regulate commerce, and the establishment of particular weights, &c. and the revenue drawn by the State or City, through licences to inspectors of merchan- dise, or otherwise effecting produce, appears to be unconstitutional. Acts are also passed to give a preference to deeds ac- cording to time of record, securing the rights of mort- 256 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1825 gagees; to licence limited partnerships, and to determine the liability of agents and factors. Among other acts more especially interesting to the city, are those incorporating the Academy of Sciences, R. Gilmor, Esq. President; the Maryland Institute of Arts, W. Stewart, Esq. President; the Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland Steam Navigation Company; the Fireman's Insurance Connpany; the Lafayette Be- neficial Society; the Patapsco Fire Engine Company; the ^tna Company for the manufacture of iron, and the Seamen's Union Bethel Society; which last obtains a lot and erects a small place of worship on Philpot street. Fell's Point, of w^hich they elect the Reverend Stephen Williams Chaplain- Although the commencement of the Sessions of the General Assembly was transferred from the first to the fourth Monday of December, in each year, and this change took effect at this session, it is intended that the Acts of the Session, though passed in the ensuing year, shall be considered as Acts of the year in which the Ses- sion began generally, as for the ofiicial year and as heretofore done in this work- Mrs. Iturbide, widow of the late Emperor of Mexico, arrives and takes lodgings in this city, and Commodore Porter, who had fitted out here the armament against the West India pirates, and succeeded in arresting their career, being suspended by Court Martial on a charge of exceeding his orders, resigned his commission and en- tered into the Naval service of the Mexican States, de- clared a confederate Republic. 1825] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 257 On the 15th of January, General Robert G. Harper died suddenly at his town residence, after a very dis- tinguished and useful life, and was interred at Oakland, his seat in the county with civic and military honors. General Strieker declines, and General W. M'Donald of the 3d. brigade, is appointed Major General of the 3d. Division, in place of general Harper; and colonel G. H. Stewart succeeds general M'Donald in command of the 3d. Brigade. Some of the uniformed volunteer militia of the city, consisting of a regiment of infantry, riflemen, cavalry and artillery each, are formed into a brigade by law, and colonel Geo. H. Steuart is appointed their General. The summer was long, dry and warm; the ther- mometer being frequently as high as 94, but the city was not unhealthy. Christopher Hughes, Esq. is appointed charge to the kingdom of the Netherlands. W. H. Allen is appoint- ed land commissioner, and Wm. Pinkney, Esq. collect- or at Key West, in Florida. Christian Mayer, Esq. is appointed Consul General from Wirtemburg, and Ch. Tiernan, Esq. Yice Consul for Mexico; Colonel Wm. Steuart of this city, is cho- sen a member of the executive council of the State, and so continued during three years successively. B- C. Howard and J. S. Tyson, Esqs. are elected to the General Assembly of Maryland. General John Strieker died of a protracted illness, much esteemed and regretted, on the 23d day of June, and was interred with civic and military honors. 33 258 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1826 For some time the public continued to be entertained by different projects for canalling from the Susquehanna to the City; but before the proposed companies could be formed, accounts were received of the success of the Rail Roads in England, and of two small ones made at Quincy and Mauch Chunk, giving a new turn to the spirit of improvement here entirely in favor of the lat- ter mode of transportation- It was on the 12th of February following that a num- ber of citizens assembled to hear accounts of those roads, and agreed to undertake one- Accordingly, at the ensuing session of the Legisla- ture, a charter was granted to the Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road Company, appointing Messrs. Isaac M'Kim, Thomas Ellicott, Joseph Patterson, John M'Kim Jr. William Steuart, Talbot Jones, R- L. Colt, Geo. Brown and Evan Thomas to receive subscriptions for a capital Stock of three millions, in shares of 100 dollars each, reserving 10,000 shares for the State and 5,000 for the corporation of the City. Different from Turnpike Road Companies, this has the exclusive right to travel or car- ry' on the road; but the price of carriage is limited at rates much below the former cost of transportation, that is, to four cents per ton eastward and six cents per ton westward, per mile; and three cents per mile for persons, including carriage and tolls in all cases* There were also chartered at the same Session, a company to carry on Mining in Mexico, by the name of Temascaltepec; and one the next year by the name of Tlalcotal, and another the year after, called the Ceral- vo Mining Company; each with 300,000 dollars joint 1826] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 259 Stock. These hazardous speculations abroad originat- ed with the English, and were followed here from the want of objects of investment at home, partially sus- pended- There originated at this time a plan of forming a Bank to discount from deposits, which is called the Maryland Savings' Institution, and a charter is granted for 18 years, prohibiting however, any infringement of rights vested in other Banks. It was found to succeed as a Joint Stock Company, without issues of notes, and an attempt was made to establish another, which was successfully opposed by the old Banking Institutions. It was discovered, per- haps, that individuals with little or no cash, had become masters of the currency and public credit through the capitals of others, and that the State had been in the prac- tice of conveying away, without valuable considera- tions, a source of patronage and profit which none but the Sovereign should possess. It was accordingly pro- posed three years after, to establish a State Bank by the capital it possessed in the Banks incorporated, and other public institutions; in the Funded Debt of the United States and in the general revenue, the profits of which should come into the State Treasury and supercede the ordinary taxes. And in respect to Charters granted, it was proposed to purchase the Stock of some one or more of the existing Banks for the State. Acts are also passed to charter the Maryland Chemi- cal Works; The Vulcan Furnace Company, and the Independent and Vigilant Fire Engine Companies- 260 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1826 The administrations of the civil authorities of the City and County are further divided, and half of the charges for repairs of the joint property in the Court House and Jail to be provided for by each, that of the Alms House being so already; the Levy Court and the Commissioners of the tax for the city and for the county being abolished; three commissioners to be elected an- nually, to manage the affairs of the county, exclu- sively. Those first elected are George Harryman, Hen- ry Snowden, and John T. H. Worthington, Esqs. The writer had while county Collector, represented the expenses of the Commissioners of tax a useless bur- den; but the policy of limiting the number of Adminis- trators so much, when it appears that from some influ- ence or another, many candidates present themselves, may be considered doubtful if not pernicious. The fees of officers of Courts had been subject to taxation by some late acts, which are repealed at this Session, and a general scale of fees established in dol- lars and cents, instead of tobacco, including those for the City Court. To the several judges of this Court, individually, power is given to try all causes where no jury is required; and it seems now, that to create more independence in the judges and stability to this import- ant police Court, it is only necessary to put it on the constitutional footing of other Courts in the State. The Judges of this Court and of all the County courts, are directed by an act of this session and sup- plements, to hear complaints against Lunatics; and, on the finding of a jury, send them to a Hospital, or to the Alms House, if paupers. Sic even commit them as oth- 1826] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 261 er offenders, if no bail is given. These, with the pow- ers of the Chancellor, may protect society as well as the property of the lunatics, for their interests generally, but does not go to protect their persons or their pro- perty, as the dictates of humanity or the reputation of our Jurisprudence would seem to require. Where the lu- natic dies under suspicious circumstances, there are Coroner's juries, which may indeed bring punishment as a terror to other offenders in cruelty, but, for the helpless living object, there is no protecting Law. For the want of some authorized registry of births and deaths, many live and die amongst Americans unknown to society generally, or to the Laws of the Country. The city authorities provide for the building of a dredging machine by steam power for cleaning the har- bor, and it is used successfully soon after. Of 1,143,544 tons shipping of the United States, it v^ appears that 84,905 belong to Baltimore, and upon the application of the Assembly, a survey of the harbor is made by the general Government, with a view to the establishment of a Navy Yard; so far the result has been unfavorable, the United States possessing no oth- er property here than a Custom House, which cost ^70,000; hiring a Post Office, Warehouses, Hospitals, &.C. But about §85,000 have been received from the gen- eral Government since 1816, on account of principal and interest on the City's advances during the last war. On the 20th of July a procession was fornied, and an oration delivered by General S. Smith, attended by the public authorities, near the Washington Monu- ment, in honor of the memories of John Adams and 262 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1826 Thomas Jefferson, who died at their respective homes on the fourth, at very advanced ages and much respect- ed in their private as well as in their public lives. The Legislature re-elect General Smith a member of the Senate of the United States this session. There was no change in the Delegation to Congress, but the time of election was protracted thereafter, so that this election now takes place immediately before the meet- ing of Congress, and not the year before the members elect take their seats, as it did, unless when assembled before the annual elections, when the Governor is to order an election. U. S. Heath and R. Johnston, Esqs. are elected members of the 11th Senate of the State, but on the resignation of the latter two years after, General J. S. Smith is chosen to fill the vacancy in that body. Colonel Jacob Small is elected Mayor, John Strieker, Esq. is chosen a member of the House of Delegates, in the place of B. C. Howard, Esq. W. G. D. Worthing- ton Esq. is appointed a commissioner of insolvents, in the place of R. W. Allen, Esq. resigned; in 18S0, M'Clintock Young and Richard Frisby, Esqs. are ap- pointed in the place of Messrs. Eighelberger & Schriver. On the 10th of July died at New York, Luther Mar- Esq. in the 83d year of his age. The deceased had been a member of the National Convention, where he opposed the constitution in 1789, and a long time be- fore and after had been the talented Attorney General of this State. At his seat near this city, on the 26th of September, Captain R. T. Spence, of the United States Navy; and 1826] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 26S on the 30th, an order was received from the Navy De- partment to celebrate the memory of a commander who was as distinguished by his literary acquirements and the virtues of private life, as in the duties of his pro- fession. And in this city, from a fall in a warehouse, Colonel Paul Bentalou, Marshall of the district, in which place he was succeeded by Thomas Finley Esq. Whole number of deaths reported here in the year 1826, was 1922, of whom 889 were under 10 years, and 111 above 70 years of age including 429 free col- ored, and 97 slaves ; greatest number 277 in July; least 115 in November; 306 of Consumption, 224 Fevers and 2 1 of Intemperance. State Conventions are held here by the Advocates and by the Opponents of the administration of the gen- eral government. William Patterson, Esq. gives a lot of his ground, part of Fell's Prospect, on the elevation east of the im- proved parts of the City, for a public square and the re- creation of the citizens, which the Mayor and City Coun- cil occupy, and soon after inclosed and otherwise improved, according to the liberal intentions of the donor. On the opening of the subscription here in March, there was more stock taken for the Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road than required, and the commissioners partly, with Mesrs. Carroll, Oliver and others elected directors, who chose Mr. Philip E. Thomas their president the following month. 264 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [|827 According to a report of the managers of the Savings' Bank for the year, there were deposits of ^80 000 Of which were redrawn 44 000 And there remained invested 36 000 Besides the dividends paid semi-annually there were declared of surplussages, now paid, 2 per cent on one year's, 4 per cent on two year's, and 6 per cent on three year's deposits. A number of elections occurring on the first Monday of October, rendered a division necessary, and those for the officers of the City are directed to be held on the third Monday of the same month for the future. The district for electing Electors of President and Vice Presi- dent having been so arranged at last session, that the City with Annapolis and Anne Arundel county, called the 4th district, elect jointly two Electors. At the same Session Acts were passed for extending Ensor and Monument streets, and now other acts for opening Lom- bard street, and for closing Ruxton Lane and French or Euhlers Alley, all of which are carried into effect, ex- cept the provision relating to the Lane and Alley. Subscriptions being raised to aid in the erection of a building for a Free School, upon the principles contemp- lated by the will of the late John Oliver, Esq. a lot is procured on North street by the Hibernian Society, and a spacious school House erected, finished and occu- pied accordingly. In April and May the Ladies of the City got up a Fair and an Oratorio in handsome and successful style, for the relief of the suffering inhabitants of Greece. This method of raising money has since been resorted 1827] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 265 to for objects of charity nearer home, and mostly, with that successful effect which was to be looked for, where so much beauty as our city may justly boast, cannot be displayed in public walks and promenades by the gay and fashionable, as in older societies and places. On the 1 5th of October, President Adams returning from the eastward is invited by his friends and accepts a dinner at Barnum's Hotel, after a visit to the battle ground of the 12th of September. The President ad- dressed the company in a speech of much erudition and energy, referring to the galantry of the Monument- al City, and in the evening was waited on by the Rev. Mr. Eccleston, Vice President of St. Mary's College with the Students, to whom the President made another address, referring the Preceptor to the fact of having occupied a similar station himself, and the youth to the examples of patriotism furnished by the histories of Greece and Rome. The Rev. James Brackenridge sometime the associate of the Rev. John Glendy, becomes pastor of the second Presbyterian Church, and the Rev. F. W. P. Green- wood successor of Mr. Sparks, pastor of the Independ- ent Church is succeeded by the Rev. G. W. Burnap. Dr. Nathaniel R. Smith is appointed to the chair of Surgery in the Medical department of the University in the place of Professor Pattison who resigned, and on the decease of Professor Davidge the ensuing year, Dr. John D. Wells succeeds him in the chair of Anatomy, who, after the Lectures of the ensuing season, also died, and was succeeded by Dr. Benj. Lincoln. 34 266 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [18217 Donations were made and other aid given to a society of colored persons attached to the rites of the Protest- ant Episcopal Church, and they having built a house of worship in North street, Bishop Kemp licensed the Rev. William Levington, colored, to officiate thereat. Hugh D. Evans, Esq. published an essay on Plead- ing, and J. y. L. M'Mahon, Esq. announces his inten- tion to publish an Historical View of the Government of Maryland. At the Session of Assembly of 1827 an act is passed similar to the one incorporating the Ohio Rail Road Company to incorporate a Company to make a Rail Road to the Susquehanna River, as far as the same can be authorized by this State, and Messrs. C. Ridgely of Hampton, Geo- Winchester, Thomas Wilson, James L. Hawkins, R. L. Colt, S. C. Leakin, Jacob I. Cohen, Justice Hoppe, J. B. Stansbury, H. W. Evans, Wm. Frick, R. Purviance and James Smith were authori- zed to receive subscriptions of Stock to the amount of 14,000 shares of $50 each, two thousand shares each reserved for the States of Pennsylvania, Maryland and the City of Baltimore, the whole to make a capital of ^1,000,000. At the same Session the Washington and Baltimore Turnpike Road Company was authorized to open sub- scriptions and make a Rail Road to the District of Co. lumbia, but it was not effected, and the Ohio Rail Road Company authorized afterwards to make a branch road in that direction ; also, to a Company to make a Rail Road from Frenchtown towards Newcastle. Among other Acts passed relating to the City, are 1827] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 267 those for the erection of solitary cells in a new wing of the Penitentiary; for the appointment by the Visitors of a Warden of the Jail, superceding the authority of the Sheriff there, as proposed by the writer hereof ten years before; and of the Auctioneers by the Gover- nor and Council with a tax of one per cent on sales in thecity,frora which ^20,000 are to be applied annual- ly if so much is raised, to deepening the harbor. There were at the same period, great exertions made by peti- tions to Congress, from this City and other ports, to restrict the Business of Auctioneers, as injurious to trade and manufactures generally,but without success. The Legislature appropriate 3,500 dollars per an- num towards educating twenty Deaf and Dumb children of the City and Counties, and pass Acts of incorpora- tion for the Female Penitents' Refuge Society; the Young Men's Bible Society; the Maryland Company for Insurance on Lives, 8ic. Neptune Insurance Com- pany; Mechanical Fire Company, organized before the Revolution, and the Lanvale Manufacturing Company, which last establishment, situated on Jones' Falls and near the City, had been commenced without a charter some years before, by other proprietors. R. H. Douglass, Esq. is appointed Consul from Saxo- ny; Richard W- Gill, Esq. Vice Consul from Colum- bia, and Stephen Lawson, Esq. Vice Consul from Sweeden; General George H. Stewart and John V. L. M'Mahon, Esqs. are elected Delegates to the Assem- bly, and William Ball, Esq. Sheriff. Colonel Jacob Hindman, of the United States' Army, ^ied here on the 1 7th of March, and his death was no- 268 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1827 ticed in special orders from the Commander in Chief, as became the distinguished merit of the deceased, Soldier and Gentleman. On the 12th of October, Colonel John E. Howard, who had been Senator in Congress and Governor, de- parted this life at the age of 15 years and was interred on the 14th with civic and military honors; leaving five children and a child each of two deceased, to divide his property in this City, and every citizen a share in the glory he acquired in the Senate and in the Field, the titles to which have been partly recorded in these Annals. And on the 26th of the same month the Right Rev. Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church, James Kemp, D. D- returning from a Convention held in Philadelphia, was overturned with a stage coach and received injuries of which he died two days after, aged 62 years, much regretted by his pastoral flock, and highly respected by all who knew him for his private charities, assiduous piety and public usefulness. The Bishop was at the time of his decease. Provost of the University and President of the Bible Society of Mary- land, and a zealous officer or member of all the general Benevolent Societies of the City. After which melan- choly event Roger B. Taney, Esq. who had moved from Frederick to Baltimore some time before, was elected Provost; and sometime after, the Bishop was succeeded in the Diocesan Office by the Right Rev. William Stone, of Kent County. In the meantime, the Rev. Dr. Wyatt becomes Rector of St. Paul's, and the Rev- John Johns is chosen Rector 1827] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 269 of Christ Church, for which a separate Vestry is crea ted by law the next year. The winter of 1827-8 threatened to be severe, but although there was much frost and some snow in No- vember, the weather proved afterwards quite mild for the season. Shipping continued to enter and depart without intermission, and there was so little ice made in the neighbourhood of the City that many of the citizens who are provided with ice houses and lay in quantities of that useful article in our climate, either for their own consumption or for sale, were disappointed in getting a supply. Before the summer was half over a trade in ice from the Northern States took place for the first time, and several cargoes were brought here and sold for about a dollar per bushel. The Courts of Justice had been resorted to by the Clergymen and the Congregations of the First Baptists and the Associate Reformed Church, and partial separa- tions of the members ensued soon after. The latter separatists erect a Church on Courtland street, but those of the Baptist Society hire places of Worship from time to time. There was a division among the German Lutherans which resulted in the establishment of a Congregation whose services are in the English Language and they erect a Church on Lexington street, of which the Rev. J. G. Morris is chosen minister. In the meantime the Rev, Johannes Ulhorn is asso- ciated in the German Services of the Old Church with the Rev. Mr. Kurtz. 270 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [IS28 Another division took place amongst the Methodists on account of the Government of Travelling Preach- ers established by Mr. Wesley, and a considerable num- ber of the Society both of the Clergy and the Laity, adopt a more general form, and purchase the Church of St. John in Liberty Street, whose Minister had re- moved to the Western Country and his hearers returned to St. Peter's generally ; and also the Church of the Cove- nanters in which the Rev. John Gibson had oflEiciated, in Pitt street, and this Society erect another in Holli- day street. And there now happened also a division among the Society of Friends or Quakers, on account of doctrines introduced as it was said, by Mr- Elias Hicks, an old and talented Speaker of their Society on Long Island, and the Opponents erect a place of wor- ship on Saratoga street. On the opening of Subscriptions in March for the Baltimore and Susquehanna Rail Road, much more than the requisite number of shares were taken in the City besides a few Shares at York, although the Legis- lature of Pennsylvania had refused to aid or counte- nance the undertaking by a continuance of the contemp- lated Road within that State. George Winchester, Esq. was chosen President of the Board of Directors, who forthwith commenced the necessary surveys as far as the line of Maryland. Having with the assistance of a Board of Engineers furnished by the General Government, located the in- tended track of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road be- yond the Falls of the Patapsco River the work is com- 1828] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 271 menced on the fourth of July, by a grand Procession of Tradesmen, Manufacturers, Farmers and Merchants with their Standards and Implements, and the laying of the first stone at the South-west limits of the City bounds. This was performed by Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Esq. the only surviving signer of the Dec- laration of Independence then near ninety-three years of age, to whom Congress had just granted the privilege of our ex-Presidents of Franking Letters, and who the Colonization Society had made its President on the de- cease of Judge Washington. It was on the same 4th of July the rival enterprize of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, in which this State and City are both greatly interested, was commenced with similar ceremonies. President Adams himself first breaking ground. At the Session just terminated Con- gress had also renewed to this city the two cents per ton duty on vessels entering here, for another ten years. Lawsuits between the City and Messrs. Cumberland Dugan and Isaac M'Kim had been long pending; the first claiming the Wharfage at his property on the West side of Centre Market Dock, and the latter as his property on the East side of Gay street Dock. More recently the owners of Wharf property sue the City for Damages to a considerable amount for the obstruction of the Navigation on the Eastern part of the Point, by a diversion of the washings from the City Dock towards their property, none of which suits are yet finally decided. Benjamin I. Cohen and W. F. Small Esqs. erect those two handsome houses at the South-west corner of 272 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1828 Charles and Saratoga streets of which the latter was Architect. Mr. Evan Poultney opens a Banking House in Bal- timore street in June, on the principle of the private Banks in Europe, discounting and paying interest on deposits on his own account, and meets with that suc- cess which was to be expected by a person who does not become a rival, but lends his own funds and those which are voluntarily entrusted to him to the first good customer, without other preference or responsibility. Messrs. Richard Caton, Charles C- Harper, Evan Poultney and others, having estates in the neighborhood of the City, form a Society and procure charter privi- leges to promote the culture of the Vine which they and others had cultivated partially, but successfully, as ex- periments. A Company is formed and a charter obtained by Messrs. Luke Tiernan, R. H. Osgood, Joshua Mezick and others, to make a Screw Dock for repairing Ships' bottoms, which had been resorted to in other places in lieu of careening and the same being erected at Mr. Ramsay's Wharf, Thames street. Fell's Point, was soon after successfully proved by the raising of a vessel of 260 tons. Messrs- Francis Price and Eli Moore of New York, for themselves; Messrs. Lee, Cooper and others of that city, purchase the lands east and west of Harris' Creek, with the water rights on the north side of the north branch of the Patapsco, from the neighborhood of the Point to the Lazaretto, for which they with Messrs. W. Patterson, Columbus O'Donnel, Ebenezer L. Finley, 1828] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 273 W.Gwynn and others obtain charter rights by the name of the Canton Company, of which Mr. Gwynn is cho- sen President. The enterprize was intended to make an addition to the city, though called Canton, being the name of the principal tract, and the company proceed to clear the woods, lay out streets, squares and lots cor- responding with the plan adopted by the Corporation of the City. By an Act entitled an Act for the despatch of busi- ness in Baltimore County Court, passed at the Session of this year, there were to be Terms every month except two for Harford county in the months of March and August, those of April and November to be county Terms exclusively, with separate Juries for City and County. The powers of each Judge and their compen- sation are extended and the fees of jurymen and wit- neases reduced, and separately and appropriately charg- ed to the city or county according to the business sever- ally. The addition of ^800 a year to our Judges was contingent on the receipt of certain fees, and if other- wise no way proportionate to the salaries of the other Judges of the State Courts, where the attendance re- quired is not so great by one half at least, nor is it afforded. But it vv^as soon found that the Legislature had imposed too great tasks on the Judges and that it would be necessary to reduce the Terms to four, which took place soon after. At the ensuing Session the Courts of each County are authorized to appoint Commissioners to take depo- 35 274 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [\S2S sitions for the parties intending to apply for divorces, to be returned by the clerks to the Legislature. Among other Laws in which our citizens are inter- ested are those chaitering the American Insurance Com- pany, the Maryland and Virginia and the Baltimore and Potomac Companies; the Baltimore Pittston or Coal Company; the Elysville Manufacturing Company; the Baltimore Flint Glass Company; the Maryland Mining and Maryland Iron Companies; and the Phoenix Shot Tower Company, who erect their Tower on the North-east corner of Front and Piit streets, built by Mr. J. Wolf, circular, and 2Si feet high. It may be remarked that the Legislature began to doubt the pro- priety of permanent charters, and frequently reserved a right in the State to regulate and even to tax those Companies during their charters in several instances. On some recent occasious too, the long exploded me- thod of perpetuating trusts of a public character, by power to survivors to fill vacancies is revived, and the number of such Trustees more limited than they have been latterly, all which may be justly considered im- provements in our Legislation. A proposition was made in the Assembly to make the Assessment of property throughout the State ac- cording to the real or current value thereof, as was sug- gested by the writer when county Collector, but the plan failed; on the other hand more rigid penalties were provided against Bull baiting, Cock' fighting and other acts of cruelty towards the brute creation, still perhaps deficient in practical effect. The decent by tlie lliver and water carriage by the 1828] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 215 Bay, of Flour, Whiskey, Timber and other products of Pennsylvania, have greatly increased and will probably continue to increase, with the improvement of the coun- try on the Susquehanna. Mr. John M'Kim erects a Chemical Factory on the South side of the Harbor, and Mr.G- W. Waite, a Manu- facture of Chocolate, Mustard, Ginger, Castor Oil, &c. on the City Block, so that by them and others, many kinds of Medicinal Drugs and Faints are furnished be- yond the home demand Mr. Isaac M'Kim erects a Foundry for casting and rolling Copper by the Steam power prepared for his Flour Mill on Gay street Wharf. The Ship Building and dependent branches have much revived, and several Vessels of burthen and beau- ty are prepared for Baltimore merchants, sustaining a credit those tradesmen have long enjoyed. It may now be added, that new establishments for other vehicles of transport, such as Steam Boats and Stage Coaches, furnish specimens of workmanship and taste which fairly rival the other. Charles Walsh Esq. is appointed Secretary of the United States" Legation to Spain, and Henry Wilson, Esq. Marshal in Florida. At the election of Electors for President and Vice President in November, there was an aggregate Poll of 9077 Votes in this City, and an aggregate majority in favor of Benjamin C. Howard and I. Sellman, Esqs. of 468, which was reduced by the Votes of Anne-Arun- del and Annapolis, the rest of the district, to 315 Votes, favorable to General Jackson, who was elected. 276 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1828 Jacob Small, Esq. Mayor, and General George H. Stewart and T. V. L. M'Mahon, Esq. Delegates, are all re-elected; and George FI. Richardson, Esq. who had recently established himself in this City, is chosen a Member of the Executive Council of the State. Died on the 29th of January, in the 60th year of his age, the Most Reverend Ambrose Marechal, Arch- bishop of Baltimore, to whom the Roman Catholic So- ciety are indebted for many of the decorations of the Cathedral Church, which he consecrated. He was the uniform patron of all the Benevolent Institutions belonging to his Society, and greatly esteemed by the citizens at large for his pious zeal and amenity of man- ners. The Archbishop was succeeded soon after by the Most Reverend James Whitfield, who had assisted several years in the administration of religious duties in the Cathedral. On the 1 7th of July departed this life aged 63 years, John Montgomery, Esq. late Mayor of this City and one of the Delegates to the Assembly. The deceased had formerly represented the 6th District of this State in Congress and as an Officer of the Baltimore Artil- lery, distinguished himself by his gallantry at North Point. According to a report made by the Sunday School Union, there are in the City 66 Schools for Children and Adults of different sexes and colors, separately held; and at the annual Procession of the Children this year, the number was estimated at 4300, and not all attend- ing. This is an undertaking exempt from objections 1829] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 277 which may be raised against Free Schools generally, in a Country where it is advisable to cultivate sentiments of self-respect and independence in those who are Citi- zens, and an inclination to honest labor in those who may become Citizens, without a property qualification. However commendable such gratuitous teaching might be, it is a relief to improvident people, while no- thing is done for the succour of those who have been carefully educated by prudent parents, but have been reduced in circumstances by accident or misfortune, and often miserable, when they are too old to begin the world again and provide for themselves. On the 9th of August, being the Centenary Anni- versary of the passage of the Law for laying out the Town of Baltimore, the first stone was laid by Col. William Steuart, Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge, with appropriate ceremony, at the commence- ment of the Baltimore and Susquehanna Rail Road, which was on the North-west line of the City bounds; contracts being made for carrying the road several miles along the valley of Jones' Falls, in that direction. President Jackson was invited to name the day and assist the Managers in the ceremony of opening the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, but he politely de- clined and tendered the Company his best wishes- This ceremony took place in presence of a great many Stock- holders and others on the 17th of October, and the Canal became a common route for passengers and mer- chandize between the two Bays, affecting in some mea- sure the supplies of this City, but increasing the transpor- tation and Commission Business to an equal value per- 278 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1829 haps;andcertainl} conducing to the comwion defence of the Union, if not to the immediate profit of those who had contributed to its immense cost. On the 14th of December, thirty-seven persons are drawn by one horse, in a Car with four friction wheels planned by Mr. lloss Winans, of New Jersey, on the Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road, at the rate of about ten miles per hour, or as fast as the horse could trot or gal- lop; which was done in the presence and to the aston- ishment of a multitude of spectators, who, not having witnessed such an exhibition, could scarcely realize the effect. One track of Bar-Iron Rails, imported duty free, fastened on pine scantling and supported by cross sills of locust and cedar, had been completed from a Depot on the West end of Pratt street to Gwinn's Falls, after very extensive excavations and fillings on the route. There a Bridge 26^ feet wide and 330 feet long, the span of the Arch being 80 feet 4 inches, and the height 82 feet from the foundation to the top of the Parapet, was built by Mr- Lloyd, of granite, faced and jointed, and called the Carrollton Viaduct; forming one of the best and finest structures among the many which ornament our City and Environs- Another track partly on sills of Freestone, and niore extended Viaduct over Patapsco River from the East to the West mar- gin, which are used several miles, are made soon after. Thus has the Company's wealth been appropriated to present uses, as well as to serve and gratify posterity, inasmuch as the workmanship is both durable and hand- some; and it is confidently believed the cheap and rapid 1829] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 279 conveyance by the road, will render the extremities within a reduced and trifling distance, as it were On appropriating to State purposes the proceeds of licensed Lotteries generally, the Legislature granted certain portions amounting, with the profits of former Lotteries to g 1 78,000, for the completion of the Wash- ington Monument in this City; enacting that the struc- ture should be considered the property of the State, and that it should have an inscription expressive of the gratitude of Maryland to the Hero and Statesman whose honor and memory the monument was intended to per- petuate. This enabled the Managers to proceed with the Artists, and on the 28th of November was raised the Pedestrian Statue of the man who was declared to be "first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his Countrymen." It was cut out of fine white marble from the Quarries on the York Road, presented by Mrs. F. T. D. Taylor, the owner, and placed on the top of the Column in the presence of admiring thou- sands of both sexes, from town and Country. The Statue is 16 feet high and was wrought in three sepa- rate pieces from one block of 36 tons, by Henrico Cau- cici, Esq. an Italian Sculptor of merit; each block weighing about 5= tons when worked, and elevated suc- cessively by means of a pair of Shears attached to the Cap of the Column, by Pulleys and Capstan, planned and directed by Captain James D. Woodside, of Wash- ington, without any delay or accident. A plain but commodious residence is prepared for the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church and his successors, which with the enclosure occupies the whole 280 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1829 front on Charles street of the Cathedral Lot. It is built of brick according to designs furnished by Wm. F. Small, Esq. and stuccoed. The present Archbishop was a principal contributor to the expense, and has caused the surrounding ground to be laid out and plant- ed in an appropriate style. Wra. Howard , Esq. commences his splendid Mansion of Brick painted, at the Corner of Franklin and Charles streets, of which he gave himself the plan with that of an elegant Portico and Pediment supported by lofty Marble Columns, one of which remains an entire piece; and Charles Howard, Esq. his handsome and extensive dwelling on the North-east corner of Washington Place; making with his co-heirs and the sanction of the Legis- lature, an arrangement with the Corporation of the City, to widen Charles from Centre to Madison street to 150 feet, and Monument from St. Paul's to Cathedral street, to ^00 feet, forming thus two spacious avenues traver- sing that Square, and increasing the area around the Monument in that proportion. Several double rows of Shops had been erected in passages opening into Centre Market, but now Mr. Ja- cob Daley and Associates complete two-story rows in better style, from Harrison street to the Falls, commu- nicating with Pitt street on the other side by means of a Foot Bridge licensed by the City Authorities; to which improvement the proprietors give the name of Bazaar. Although it is desirable to have places of general and safe resort for business or pleasure, and gratifying to find such enterprize and taste rewarded by success, where they tend to restrict the open 1827] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 281 ground and air at the risk of the general health, or in- jurious to the value of property as costly elsewhere, the multiplication of such establishments will be dis- couraged rather than promoted. The house which Mr. Peale had erected for his Exhibition of Natural History and the Fine Arts, is sold to the Mayor and City Council for their future ac- commodation, and from a Museum becomes a City Hall; the former establishment being transferred to the extensive brick building on the North-west corner of Calvert and Baltimore streets. The Farmers and Merchants' Banking Company erect a Banking House on Calvert street, between the above mentioned building and Barnum's Hotel ; and the Savings Institution erect a Banking House at the South- east corner of North and Fayette streets. It was proposed in the City Council and Philip Law- renson, Esq. on behalf of a Committee, recommended the introduction of Fresh Water for the supply of the citizens, by the purchase of the water rights at and be- low the Calverton Mills, and canalling a sufficient body of Gwinn's Falls to the elevated grounds on the West of the City improvements, at the expense of the Cor- poration, in preference to the purchase of the Water Works and Beservoirs of the Water Company which were tendered at cost. This would be as likely to aug- ment and perpetuate the draining of the useful and or- namental water course of the latter Falls, as the project of diverting that stream from its natural bed through the centre of the present improvements, an 36 2S2 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1829 advantage which no other of our Sea-ports enjoys, into a course which those improvements may reach hereaf- ter, as proposed after the Freshet of 1817; but neither was agreed to: Nor was another proposition suggested by the writer and applied for by many Petitioners, as well to improve the Police of our overgrown Market as to accommodate the families and tenants in the neigh- borhood, to erect a new Market House on or adjacent to the property of the Water Company and for which that Company offered gratis, a valuable piece of ground on Franklin street from Calvert to Holliday street. The cost of filling estimated at ^^iOOO was the avowed obstacle to the acceptance ; so when he had as- certained that a Topographical plan of the County and its improvenients much desired, could be furnished for about a similar sum, this also produced a failure. At no distant day perhaps, these and all such endeavors to improve the Government of the City, or promote the health of its Inhabitants may be crowned with success; in the meantime these Annals record so many measures effected eventually which were barely talked of sometime before, that the most obscure individual seeking either the public good or his own gratification, must find in the result ample encouragement to persevere. Societies are formed similar to those in the Northern and Eastern States, to receive and instruct Children at early ages, and others to discourage the excessive use of ardent spirits, by total abstinence on the part of the members from all such drinks; and another to establish a house of Refuge for juvenile delinquents; which last i 1829] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 283 receives the patronage of the Legislature by a contin- gent appropriation of a large sum of money. Among the Laws of the last Session interesting to us, were those for the inspection of Fire- wood in Wood Yards, and the formation of a new Rifle Regitnent. Charters are granted for a Congregation of Jews; the Theatre and Circus erected on Front street by Messrs. Wildey, Gross and others; the Baltimore and Rappa- hannock Steam Packet Company; the Sugar Refining Company and the Howard Fire Company, increasing the number of Hose and Fire Companies in the City to fourteen. Plans are adopted by the Council of the City for ex- tending- or widening Bowly's and South street Wharves, which was to increase the Landing at the expense of the Navigation, the proprietors accommodated aban- doning all claim to Wharfage and paying some part of the expense. It would be well to consider at a time when the clearing out of the Harbor is so expensive and the water in the Falls and the Basin has become so stagnant and perhaps unhealthy, if the project of walling in and deepening the bed of the Falls and opening landings on its banks, as proposed in an Act of IST/, and of doing the same with a Canal into the Middle Branch, provided for by a Law above forty years ago, would not at once relieve and benefit the whole City, when carried into effect. A convict of the County made his escape from the Penitentiary and was, with two strangers lately dischar- ged, engaged in some daring but unsuccessful acts of Felony and of an attack on the Mail near Philadelphia 284 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [|829 where they were tried and one of the latter condemned and executed. On the night of the 29th of December, the Steam Sugar Refinery of D. L. Thomas, Esq. was destroyed by Fire, bringing ruin and desolation on a worthy citi- zen and family. John S. Skinner, Esq. commences the publication of "The Turf Register," and soon after transfers "The American Farmer" to G. B. Smith, Esq. by whom it is continued. William Wirt, Esq. late Attorney General of the United States, moves to and settles with his family in this City where he had often displayed his talents at the Bar before. Establishments are got up in and near the City for making Cotton Canvass and for printing low priced Cottons, with some success. Of the first article, how- ever, the Jersey Manufacturers, and of the latter, and even in plain Cottons of which we manufacture so much, the Rhode Island and Massachusetts people rival if not surpass us in our own Market. It may here be the place to observe in relation to the Home Market for our staple of Flour created by the number of Manufactures, reducing the Exportation of that article, which would appear to be the case from a mere comparison of the quantity returned by the Public Inspectors with that reported as exported by the Custom House, the former being actually about double the latter; that such has been the proportion thus stated, for many years and certainly long before the adoption of a Tariff for the avowed purpose of protec- 1829] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 285 tion, or the erection here of extensive Manufactories. If there is an increase of consumption among us or of Shipments coastwise, in proportion to the increase of the article in our Market, it is because there is an increase of City population generally and of Shipments made as returns by our Northern Navigators, or of the cultivation of more Tobacco and Cotton in lieu of subsistences by the Southern Planters. The quantity of Whiskey entered for exportation at our Custom House, bears no proportion to that inspected here an- nually; and though it is feared we use our full share of the intoxicating liquid, yet it would be as illiberal as it would be unjust to charge us with the consump- tion of the apparent balance. This may also be the place and time to invite the attention of the citizens of Baltimore and the State too, to the value of the Revenue derived by the Govern- ment of the United States from our Custom House. It would seem that our advantageous locality for com- merce had assisted the State of Maryland to accumulate a very respectable Capital from very moderate Imposts. And this in the short interval between the recog- nition of our Independence with the general peace of 1783, and the adoption of the Federal Constitution with the transfer of this source of revenue to that Govern- ment in i 788,which has received from it nearly a million of dollars annually ever since; but of which a small portion is restored to the State or City by the disburse- ments of that Government, perhaps the greatest part of that small portion indirectly only, through the expendi- tures of the Executive and Congress in that corner of 286 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1829 the State ceded to them ; when the whole at the rates of duty exacted, might have made the State one of the richest in the Confederacy; riches which, liberally or impartially distributed by our Legislature, would have prevented Baltimore not only from losing the rank it once held among its neighbors, but elevated it at least as fast and as much as any of them. We have there- fore a powerful inducement to strive for an influence in the Government of the Union, somewhat proportionate not only to the means we contribute, but to the attach- ment and fidelity towards it we have sincerely felt and constantly manifested. Charles Browning, Esq. a sister's son of Frederick the last Lord Baltimore, came here and procured suits to be instituted in the Court of the United States, against some of the largest Proprietors on each shore, to recover an alleged interest in arrearages of the Pro- prietary's former estate in Maryland, and the State hav- ing previously confiscated the Manors reserved, and vested the patented lands, including of course the Town Lots, in the possessors, free and clear of Q.uit rent or any such charge, even to its own use and so far aban- doning the right of sovereignty in the people at large in favor of the Landholders, took part with them and on the petition of the parties sued, furnished council to assist in their defence. Upon the cause being carried up to the Supreme Court by consent,it was ascertained that the claim was barred by a compromise long before made between Mr. Browning's parents and the Pro- prietary, and so the Couit decided. Charles C. Harper, Esq. is appointed Secretary of 1829] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 287 the American Legation to France, and follows the new Minister Mr. Rives, to Paris. Colonel James Mosher is appointed Surveyor of this Port in the place of Colonel Lowry; Captain Isaac Phillips is appointed Navy Agent in the place of Mr. Beatty; Lyde Goodwin, Esq- is appointed one of the Appraisers of Imports, and Dabney S. Carr, Esq. is appointed Naval OflScer in the place of Major Barney. Alfred Bujac, Esq. is appointed Consul from the Sicilies; T. I. Bizouard, Esq. succeeds Mr. Cubi, Vice Consul from Rome, and Manuel Valdor, Esq. Consul from Sardinia becomes Vice Consul from Spain, on the removal to Philadelphia of the Chevalier Bernabue, appointed Consul General. Peter Little and James Harwood, Esqs. are appointed Judges of the Orphans' Court by the Executive of this State, in the places of Messrs. Randall and Moore ; Mr. Little declining, Henry Payson Esq. is appointed to the vacancy, but Mr. Randall is restored, and re-enters the Court with Mr. Joseph R. Ford early in 1830, in the places of Messrs. Harwood and Payson. Benjamin C. Howard and Elias Brown, Esqs. are elected to Congress for the District composed of the City and County, in the places of Messrs. Litttle and Barney. Jesse Hunt and John Spear Nicholas, Esqs. are elected City Delegates to the General Assembly. On the 19th of April died Edward Johnson Esq. late Mayor of this City and formerly a Judge of the County Court, much regretted by his friends and highly respected by the public for his amiable deportment and 288 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1829 patriotism. And on the 17th of July, aged 69 years, Charles Ridgley, of Hampton, Esq. formerly General of the 14th Brigade of Maryland Militia, Senator and Governor of tlie State; leaving his property except the Hampton establishment inherited by the eldest sur- viving son, to the younger son, four daughters and the children of two others, deceased, and their freedom to all his slaves between the ages of twenty-five and forty- five. Having reached the completion of the hundredth year of the Annals of his native place, the Annalist proceeds to take leave of the reader by referring him to some ta- bles annexed, showing in one view the great and rapid growth of Baltimore. To such however as are recent settlers and especially to entire strangers, it may be necessary to explain a few terms which are peculiar, and some matters of greater interest not known to others but familiar to us. The streams were called Falles or Falls by Governor Smith of Virginia, who first explored the Chesapeake Bay, probably because the waters fell over rocks or precipices until they met the tide, w^here they become and are called Rivers. The points of land stretching into the Bay and divide them, have been and are still called JVecks. Among us the West or upper part of the Harbor is called Ba- sin, because it is a pond open on one side only and surrounded by hills which preserve much stillness on the surface of the water; indeed the ebbing or flowing of the tide, which at the entrance of the Bay is about five feet, loose their elFects gradually, until here they are governed by the wind more than any other percep- 1829] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 289 tible cause. FeWs Point on the east of the first Town, once ahiiost an island, long separated by an open common and still the chief resortof^Seamen, has be- come as much a part of the City in which it was always included, civilly and politically, as any other district. Situated in 39 degrees 17 minutes of Northern Lati- tude, at about 200 miles by the course of the River and Bay, from the sea, somewhat greater distance from the Ohio and Lake Erie, about 800 miles from each ex- tremity of the Coast of the United States and only 26 miles from the Capital, our position may be considered central. Though the continent is destitute of Volca- noes and we have no mountains in the immediate vicinity to affect our Atmosphere, we experience as do our neighbors , the heat of a parallel Latitude on the Continent of Europe and the cold of England, twelve degrees further north from the Equator, alternately; the changes being also more rapid and violent with us. Actual meteorological observations on the Western border of the City, recorded by Lewis Brantz, Esq. present the general phenomena of our climate in a fa- vorable aspect; for instance, in the years 1817 1819, inclusive, the first being a year of Locusts and the last of Yellow Fevers, there were 2i5 fair days, 206 days of wind in the North-west and South-east quarters, the opposite quarters being known as the most wet or sultry winds; the greatest cold 5 degrees and greatest heat 94, the mean temperature, like the spring water, a little above 52 degrees of Fahrenheit's Thermometer; tlie 37 290 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1829 range of the Barometer, one inch thirty-nine hundredths, and the water fallen 3G and a half inches on au aver- age, annually. Whatever the extremes may be, the writer is not of the number of those who indulge in reports of experienced changes in the course of a moderate life; he is of the opinion that there neither has been nor will be, from cultivation or other common cause, such reduction of heat or cold as others fancy there has been, while the tropical winds are brought on our Coast with the Gulph Stream and the Northern Lakes are covered by ice near half the year. Nor does he believe that an exchange for the climate of any other habitable part of the Globe should be desired, and this for reasons like those which follow. We have in some measure, the warm summer which produces such rapid vegetation in part of Russia sub- ject to greater cold, and our Markets present in their seasons the hardy Apple and Potatoe and the tender Apricot and Cauliflower. The quality of our water fowl and fish is excellent, particularly the wild Duck, Mackarel and Shell Fish, which last seem to grow in quantity with our growth- Long after our Town was laid out, the Inhabitants were taxed to raise premiums for killing Beasts and Birds of prey, which it was the interest of every body to destroy, and with them have partially disappeared the Deer, Pheasants or Partridges and Quails, but of the latter we have occasionally a great abundance even from Baltimore County, as well as veal and butter; our venison comes from the upper branches of the Potomac, from whence also we receive 1829] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 291 the greatest quantity of good Beef and Mutton either slaughtered or on the hoof, and though immense droves of Hogs are sent here from the borders of the Ohio, we esteem the Bacon raised and cured in the neighborhood and other side of the Bay equal to the most celebrated of France or Germany. Our White Wheat and Yel- low Tobacco, both lighter in substance as they are in color, command the highest prices. We receive by water great quantities of Coal and Fire-wood, of which the use is nearly equally divided. All these necessaries and luxu- ries are less costly than formerly, for if our agricultural improvements have not kept pace with the Town popu- lation and consumption our means of communication have; and so continuing, with the extent of Country to which we have cheap access by the Bay and ^livers emptying into it, we should as grateful recipients anti- cipate no future deficiency. Risen with rapidity as Baltimore has, it was not un- til lately that the native Inhabitants out-numbered the Foreigners, who are mostly emigrants from Germany and Ireland; and whatever difference there was in the complexions or figures of the Citizens before, those which are now presented more generally among us, bear the appearance of Americans, as if all descended from a common stock, the prevalence of ruddy faces and robust forms has given way to paler tints and lighter persons; nor do they appear less favored with health and long life, than is known to be enjoyed by the emi- grants, while they preserve the temperate and industri- ous habits of their ancestors. 292 ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. [1829 If there is any excess in the reports of mortality from the list of interments published annually, it may be accounted for in the facts, that the free people of color who compose the greater portion of our common labor- ers and family servants, being like those who are better instructed and should have more discretion, attracted by the facilities, if not the mere novelties of a Town life, come here from the Southern Counties, perhaps as soon as they are manumitted, and almost infallibly when they become aged or infirm; but at no time of life, are as provident as those who have never had any other dependence than that on their parents or their own labor and foresight. A view of Baltimore is best taken from the Signal House, first established by the late Captain Porter with the patronage of the Merchants, on one of the many eminences within or bordering our City, called Federal Hill, South of the Basin, to which Mr. Nelson, with the like patronage has lately added a Telegraphic com- munication with the Bodkin Point forming the left or South side of the entrance of the River Patapsco from the Bay, and from which approaching ships are discov- ered long before they are to be seen from the Signal House itself From this commanding position are seen the Vessels in the Harbor, the remarkable Edifices in the City and the handsome Villas adjacent to it, all dis- tinctly by the naked eye as if they lay at the foot of the observer; and delightful is the prospect, though a sam- ple only of Man's ingenuity and industry. How much more must the admiration be excited and the veneration extended on turning the sight towards those immense 8129] ANNALS OF BALTIMORE. 293 White Rocks which seem to have been carried many miles beyond this Eddy of a Basin and their fellows of original formation, by some tremendous Eruption of Fire, Hurricane of Wind or Deluge of Water; and beyond them at certain seasons, those illumined Balls of day and night, the Sun or Moon, merging as it were from a Horizon of Sea, the design, the work of another and far different Intelligence and Power!! Descending to our Annals, — The writer hopes that, whatever may be their value, or however adapted to Agriculture or Manufactures the situation of Mary- land and the neighborhood of the City may be, the Citizens will continue to cherish the Commercial Enter- prize to which its rise is chiefly due and, as they hope for happiness and prosperity too, they will remember that, while they triumph in the increase of numbers they will have to contend with the usual growth of vice in populous Cities: That Laws being made by Men not Men by Laws, especially in a Republic where there is neither Test nor established Religion, it behooves them to guard against the hypocrisy of Avarice and Ambition, and seek their agents for the Government of the City and elsewhere, among those who have some- times set less value on private than public interest. And, with submission it may be added, these will be found among such only, as, believing their Works do follow them, nor doubting that He who made the eye and the ear will see and hear what His creatures may not, feel that something may be won or lost besides wealth or fame, poverty or obscurity, even here but certainly, much more hereafter. The Population of Baltimore by the several Census. ou I'JJjOUJ 1820. 1st Ward 4,477 2d 7,512 3d 6,548 4th ' 6,645 5th ' 3,091 6th • 3,469 7th ' 3,460 8th ' 3,592 9th ' 3,579 10th • 6,119 11th • 5,882 12th ' 8,364 1800- 18.30. Votes for Mayor 5,433 496 9,263 824 9,766 1050 8,595 927 4,026 563 4,146 552 3.937 458 4,937 595 4,686 537 7,508 777 6 J 17 763 11,611 1175 62,738 80,625 6,717 The second and third columns show the increase general, and the fourth column that, of tlie whole population, more than one- tenth are entitled to and exercise the ri^ht of suffraofe. The numbers in 1830, classed by sex and color, viz: Free White Males 30,021 Free White Females 31,693 Free Colored Males 6,166 Free Colored Females 8,622 Male Slaves 1,661 Female Slaves 2,462 Baltimore CO. census 40,251 State of Md. ditto 446,913 Of which the number represented in Congress is, 405,752. The Houses in the City in 1829, were: — one story, 1,466; two stories, 8,189; three or more stories, 2,143; total, 12,798, of which above 10,000 are of brick. Paupers relieved, monthly City average 409 " " County " 47 Strangers " " 67 Aggregate expense, including Pensions of 156 persons, ^27 33 cents per head. The number of Marriage Licences, City and County, 909; but it does not include all the marriages, since it is still lawful to marry by publication of banns, and the colored people, bond and free, are married without cither formality. Interments.— Males 985 Females 864 Total 1S49; includ- ing Colored, 529; or 429 Free, and 100 Slaves; of whom there were also under 21 years, 993; above 70, 106. £9 S % a OR CD B 5 CD •-» UO = "=> p CR < •-» P O o ^ CO ►1 o :?- o o •1 CD o = •^ CTJ fl> 1 (D m r^ 5 -d " 3 E. - P Oj ;?5iaoaw>- ■^ g: i ?! re 3 SCR g on c c - - o P c« o C ?i-' O 3 .Jo-" •4 - - 1-5 g hsO. C^i o cu «- n n V o o p n ^ ft) l_i " 00 £L p' 2.JJ ffi" "i' ''^ p i-S 3 "^ p CD 'TS n.'^ =■■ 2 o o ^• ►5=3 =• '-I re ~--i W o g P t* ** o' O) H- 3 ^- M CR "> (tt Op " • ■ 9? to o to «£> *odoo -I *- CBOO ■< o ♦^Ts" p » (S J-. CO ^ P-cr O P SOS, p n P< CD P^ S. p oq <=»' p M 2 CO jT H- 05 OJ ^ ;0 o M 5 ►< (S p <-l n . — .■—■!■ O CO CB CD 3 j-coo -a "O P3 •-< to Ci Oi VI f? W O lO B 5 >«« T" 'r' 7* •O n p' <" ^ C5 *■ S B =5- (5 63 ^ -1 CO n o ^^ ^^ CD O 1 3 3- O O £. 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'^{Jt u M 3 Si «3 CO s t— r^ ^ . s f/j • fft to 1 — ■ tn :o~j3 tn en C3 <" tn CO ■— ■ ^ 31 no '-'^ G C5 -H 1^ CS lO -^ o oo~ 1 en o CO §^. ■-'28-i G • 1 1 CO ^"00 CO ^ 1 _C G t/j "^ < G .2 o &-, t^ ^ -s tn fn ^.^1^1 O CO -G < O 1- • o G CO K-^ C O m 3 ^t HP^&hH 6 en 6 d ■^ _a '3 -TS tn o o ^ OD—, t^ ^oooc? S 0(00-1 tn a ^ -G 00 en ^ , , ci ^ CO cS »> Of GO I— 1 ^ ^ in o 1—1 «> «r -^ a • tn ^3 tn ":2 *» CO a ^ ^ ."^ j= s 1 ^ ^• o *>• oo s •5 CD P«H :0 OO -^ Oi^CO_T? ^ e^ 00 1 O) ,„ rt 1 ^ p-i -i (D O 'S Ii<^ 2 t3 O O na S5, rt 15 c- G <1> > C c JH ^ g a -G - O Is 1-* t> br r^ >^ P^uf* u w PQ I a ■ CO c^ o f 5 u j; Or;— (n p^ OOOOOOOOOO 1 oooooooooo f ©_o_o^o^o^o © o o ©_ ! I r^ O Ot lO Ci O ■^ t3< o o o in CI CO © o o © © © © © © o © © o © o o © o •i99j m HBj JO janoaiB ib^ox I (N ■ 03 .2 3 3 >-( 3,561,454 Ditto Foreign ditto 425,401 ) Do. Foreign produce in Am. Ships 895,978 > Do. do. in Foreign do. 81,676 ] 977,654 4,539,108 1830 Balance of Permanent Registered Tonnage 27,629 ^ '• Temporary do. do. 4,953 ^ '• Enrolled do. do. 12,767 |f " Licences under 20 tons do. 398 ||- " Enrolled Steam Vessels do. 4,861 65 Vessels, American and Foreign cleared for abroad 313 Hospital Money 2,948 r'j^ >rt O O O O 1-H "S" — O O O O C3 C! c: C! tr 1— I ^ O, -; Cl^ -<__ C J_ ■-_ C t lO O -r ic CO •-»<" -* •J3 O O OC O C5 O J5 CI O CJ Tj. -^ 0( •X) .— I O tS — o — ' i« O O O O O O X) -^ <-■ — OJ O —I ^. "^^ ""_ '^l "^^ ^^ "^ I -T cj ro CO i~ CO lO ^ »jO O TT -^ ^ -# 01 C» O 'f o o O O ^O C^ C? C) r-l •* C< — I 'i- — ct C5 lO to "* l-~ O CO lo (T! a: lO o <^ o ^__cq_to 00 CO i^ CD t^ '*'" CO cT t-' co' eo' t^ O "^ O CO O 5£> f^f '-< 00 -H ^ 00 00 'J' lO OJ CO CI CJ — C!^ ^, ^, ■''I "—^ <^„ ""l 't' lO* cf t' to .X OO" ai O CO O C5 'O o C< CO CI CO C< CJ CO -f lO to t^ en c) o CI CJ CI C! CI O CO 00 00 OO 00 CO 00 00 «" CiD o • -» to a CO ;5 .1 05 s I CJ O ^ Tji CJ CO CI C5 CJ •— i-ii— itatotoirtto -*t^L.o X>OC(;>?tO -«l— • l« to 1 ! 00 •v as o o t~ ■ S UO d — < O CJ — " : C! 1.0 CO >o Ol to i ) CI CO CO CO CO >-<_ r ^" cf cT o' ci' to' < CJ 00 O — 00 CI ) Tt" lO iCl t^ t- 00 O C3 -h'CJ I I ■ I I I • I I I I ■■ I I I I — 'CJCO'1'i-OtOt— ooo»o !r>C^OTC5C5C50C5CTlO - (^ I, f~ t-- 1^ 1^ «~ »- CO Annual Receipts into the Treasury from the Post Office of Baltimore for 14 years. 1817 - - . 43,183 43* 1824 - - - 36,069 38 1818 - - - 45,377 66i 1825 - - - 40,036 48 1819 - - - 43,541 47 1826 - - - 41,703 30i 1820 ... 36.201 03 1827 ... 43,038 67i 1821 - - . 33,402 74 1828 - - - 45.382 25? 1822 - - . 35,166 66i 1829 - - - 46.795 79^ 1823 - - - 34,924 30 1830 - - - 48,374 18 Principal Expenditures of the United States at or for Baltimore, being for the following objects. Fort M'Henry, on Patapsco ... - 131,00000 Lazaretto, opposite the Fort ... 11,60000 Arsenal at Pikeville .... 80,000 00 Custom House .... 70,000 00 Frigate Constellation, Ordinance, &c. - - - 314,212 00 " Insurgente, repaired ... 53,480 00 Sloop Baltimore .... 56,277 00 " Montezuma . - - - . 55,732 00 " Maryland .... 70,000 00 " Patapsco ..... 73,104 00 Frigate Java - ♦ . . - (say) 275,000 00 Sloop Ontario - . - - " 75,000 00 " Erie ..-.«'• 75,000 00 Cutters, Gun Boats and Flotillas (estimate) - " 200,000 00 Light Houses at North Point (2 towers) Bodkin, Pool's Island (with a bell) Thomas' and Cove Points, Smith's Island, and Floating Light at Hooper's Straights, & Buoys (say) 70,000 00 Surveys of Harbor, Roads and Canals - . (say) 15,000 00 Annual expense of repairs and Artillery-men at Fort and Ar- senal (per estimate) . - - 35,000 00 Seamen at Float Light, repairing and furnishing Lights, in- cluding Salaries of Keepers ... 10,000 00 Seamen (say 1830, 35) at Hospital . . - 3,929 00 Revenue Cutter, Repairs and Crew - - (say) 10,000 00 Cordage, Canvass, Copper, Bread, Whiskey, and other stores bought for the Army or Navy ... 60,000 00 Mail Carriages, per contracts, estimated at the amount of the payments to the Treasury from the Post Office of Bal- timore, for 1830 .... 48,374 00 Revolutionary and other Pensioners paid in the same year (say) 21,500 00 How far the expenditures of the United States on the great West Road, called the Cumberland Road, and on the Canals leading in and out of the Chesapeake Bay, may be useful to Baltimore, is not now susceptible of cal- culation, and may ever remain wholly conjectural. r<- FOR THE ANNALS Line for 20, County last, ■•d, only 4s. 3, extensively, f> yet living/' i> part of, ^3> North, B Washington, ^> dele streets. •*", Barre, read first County, only 2s. then 4». exclusively. yet (1824) living, includinff, 10 £. West. Monument. Front, Megan, and lost, of 146, Loupon, Hugon, declining. Pratt, (Earl of Camden) French. Morgan, and nearly lost. 146 of, London, Hugo, dying. relerred the citizens, was equivalent choir, 4,807, Gerey, large, depreciated, now, customary, successively, Cloppe's, are chime. 48,007. Gerry, larger. deprecated. new. customers. in this church. Clopper's. all their width. meeting,. <=°l°"'-«<' Persons. '^^ thewriterTaSfa Armstrong, Armistead. top ofp^ge,'for 1816, read 1817. "'^• "' Na(l?aniel, ^^^.f^"' 19, James Braikenridge, S^' ft »im ^'^^^- ' ^°^ '» 1819, 1817 to 1819. », Page Line ?9> 12, S5, 37, 38, «», 60, H FOR THE SKETCHES 1738, 1346, \ 27, 18, 21, \ 24, 9> 28, 22. were, IVicholls, Thurlor, 1763, 1759, 1664, had, 1771, Protestant, inalienable. 1664, ' Pi ey, Dudingtoo/ read 1638. 1646, was, Sedgwick. Thurloe. 1663. 1659. 1663. has since. 1671. Royal, concomitant. 1764. Pinkney. Rock run. .4 : \, fK