3. It is the proud boast of Maryland that her soil was never polluted by the obnoxious stamps. In unanimity, firmness and success, she exceeded all the other colonies. The Assembly could not speak until September, 1765, when it solemnly protested against the measure, and indignantly complained that they had for two years been deprived of the power of publicly declaring their lasting opposition.

4. The people of the colony, however, had previously taken the matter in their own hands. — Hood, a native of Maryland, was appointed stamp distributor for the province. On his arrival at Annapolis with the stamps, there was a great excitement. The people would not suffer him to land; the vessel was compelled to draw off, and land Hood secretly, at another time and place. The country people gathered into the city, prepared to show their detestation of the man who could consent to become the instrument in enslaving his own country.

5. The people not only refused to buy his goods, which he offered at reduced prices, to secure favor, but they even destroyed the house in which he was to place them, lest it should also be a depository for the hated stamps. Having insulted him in various ways, they at length threatened personal

Questions.-3. What is the boast of Maryland? When did the assembly protest? 4. How had the colony shown its hostility? 5. What was Hood compelled to do?

violence.

FREDERICK COUNTY COURT.

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He fled for refuge to the governor, who could not protect him from popular fury. He then escaped to New York, but was followed even there by a number of daring spirits, who compelled him to renounce and abjure forever, under oath, his office and the exercise of its functions.

6. When the Assembly met, it made a solemn declaration of their rights, which the people had vindicated, by measures in which the principal men in the province had borne a part. The Assembly appointed representatives to the "Congress of Deputies," and instructed them to see that whatever petition was presented to the English government, it should contain an assertion of the right of the colonies to be free from taxation "save by their own consent, or that of their representatives, freely chosen and appointed."

7. The law had made stamps necessary in many business transactions; for a time, therefore, there was a cessation of business. The Frederick county court had the high honor of first deciding, in a legal manner, the unconstitutionality of the stamp act. In the public offices at Annapolis, however, business still continued to be interrupted. The officers hesitated to treat the law as a nullity, and feared to attempt its enforcement.

8. To meet this difficulty the inhabitants of Baltimore and the adjoining country formed themselves

Questions.-6. What did the assembly do? 7. What court made the first decision? 8. What did the people of Baltimore and the country do?

into an association, called "The Sons of Liberty," and adjourned to meet at Annapolis. They came together in great strength and compelled the courts and public offices to be kept open, without the stamps. Business was again renewed, and the stamp act, though still unrepealed, was a dead letter in Maryland.

9. In 1766, the obnoxious act, long since dead in all the colonies, and never enforced in Maryland, was repealed. The House of Delegates did not fail to express their sense of gratitude to those who had, in the British Parliament, proved themselves the friends of the colonies. They decreed a statue of marble to Chatham, and a portrait by some eminent hand to Lord Camden, but through the action of the upper house, the decree was never carried into effect.

CHAPTER XXI.

THE DUTY ON TEA-Tax on Tea, &c.-Massachusetts' Circular Non-Importation-- The "Good Intent". Alarm of the British Ministry-Defection of other Colonies.

1. The English government still clung to the idea of raising a revenue from the colonies.

But

Questions.-9. When was the stamp act repealed? How did the House of Delegates show their gratitude to the friends of the colonies? 1. How did the English government now proceed?

MASSACHUSETTS' CIRCULAR.

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they determined to proceed in a more cautious manner. A tax, under the specious pretence of regulating commerce, was laid on tea, paints, glass and paper, imported into the colonies.

2. The old spirit of resistance broke out; the press teemed with appeals to the public; and the colonists were soon prepared to meet it, as they had met the stamp tax. The Legislature did not assemble until the 24th of May, 1768, but public opinion had already settled its course. Instructions had been received by the various governors to dissolve the assemblies of their provinces, if they manifested any disposition to unite in measures of opposition.

3. But the Assembly of Maryland was too wary to be thus circumvented. It prepared its measures in advance. Massachusetts had issued a circular advising the sister colonies to frame petitions to the crown. The Assembly took into consideration the Massachusetts circular, and appointed a committee to draft a petition to the king.

4. The governor warned them that they would be prorogued if they persisted. Without reply or delay, they instantly adopted the petition, passed a series of resolutions, which they had already framed; and, having taken every step the occasion demanded, drew up a sharp reply to the gov

Questions.-2. What is said of the press? Instructions to governors? 3. What had the Assembly of Maryland done? 4. What further took place?

ernor, stating their readiness to be prorogued.— They were accordingly dissolved.

5. The colonists were not yet prepared for an appeal to arms. Having tried petition and remonstrances, they determined to resort once more to "non-importation" which had been introduced in the days of the stamp act.

6. At an early period of the struggle, county associations had been formed in Maryland. For the purpose of united action, it was now deemed expedient to embody them together. On the 20th of June, 1769, the people assembled at Annapolis, and entered into articles of non-importation of British superfluities, for promoting frugality, economy and the use of American manufacture.

7. In the beginning of the ensuing year, the spirit of the associators was put to the test. "The Good Intent," a British bark, arrived in the harbor of Annapolis, with a cargo of obnoxious articles. It was resolved that the goods should not be landed, and the bark was compelled to return to London with her whole cargo.

8. Long before the destruction of tea in Boston harbor by disguised men, the patriots of Maryland, calmly, openly and in the presence of the governor and the provincial officers, discussed and set at

Questions.-5. To what did the colonies now resort? 6. What is said of county associations? Of the meeting at Annapolis? 7. What test of their determinations did they now have? 8. What is said in this section?