whose importance to Maryland, and particularly to Baltimore, can never be over-estimated.

5. Upon its completion, Mr. Swann resigned. The presidency of this corporation, which exercises so controlling an influence over the whole business of Maryland, and even of neighboring States, fell into able and trustworthy hands. Such judicious connections have been made with western roads, that the distance between the seaboard and the great west, finds its shortest line along the Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road, which is, therefore, destined to form a part of the great highway between the two oceans.

6. The southern boundary line of this State was described in the charter as a "right line drawn from the promontory, or head-land, called Watkins' Point, unto the main Ocean on the East." In 1661, a dispute arose as to the precise location of Watkins' Point.

7. This dispute was settled by articles of agreement between Philip Calvert, commissioner for Maryland, and Edmund Scarbrugh, commissioner for Virginia, in the year 1668. (See page 74.) By this agreement, Watkins' Point was defined to be the whole body of land between the north side

Questions.-5. When did Mr. Swann resign? Who is the present president? What connections have been made? 6. How was the southern boundary of the State described in the charter? When did a dispute arise? 7. How was the dispute settled?

of the Pocomoke bay and the south side of Annamessex bay, now Big Annamessex river.

8. The commissioners ran what was intended to be an east line, from "the extremest part of the westernmost angle of the said Watkins' Point."

9. All of the existing maps of Maryland and Virginia being incorrect, the points named did not conform with the provisions of the charter; and, the time and manner of the early settlement of the boundary line being almost forgotten, the old question of the locality of Watkins' Point was revived. In 1858, Thomas J. Lee, Esq, was appointed commissioner for Maryland, in conjunction with a commissioner from Virginia, "to retrace and mark the boundary between Smith's Point, at the mouth of the Potomac, and the Atlantic."

10. The commissioners, in retracing the line from Watkins' Point, discovered that it did not run east. By the agreement in 1668, it was intended to be an east line, or a parallel of latitude; and such a line would add about twenty-three square miles to Maryland. But as the error in the line was probably due to not taking into the account the variation of the compass, and as its direction was fixed by marks, the commissioners simply

Questions.-8. What was the line intended to be? 9. What is said of the maps of Maryland? Of the settlement of the dispute? When was a commission appointed to retrace the line? Who was appointed for Maryland? 10. What did the commissioner discover? What is the probable cause of this error?

renewed such landmarks as were either lost or destroyed, and did not look to any change in the present limits of the State.

11. In 1877, however, the dispute was finally settled by a joint commission appointed by the States of Maryland and Virginia. The line claimed by Maryland was established by this commission.

Questions.-10. Did they propose any change? 11. How was the dispute settled?

CHAPTER XXVI.

CHARACTER OF THE PERIOD Election of LincolnThe Feelings of Maryland-Its Geographical Position

- Not Prepared to Secede-Slave Property-Excitement-Riot in Baltimore.

1. The period upon which we are about to enter is one of great gloom. It was characterized by that civil war, from the effects of which the whole country is still suffering.

2. The election in 1860, of Abraham Lincoln as president of the United States, by the anti-slavery party, alarmed the people of the South for the safety of the institution of slavery, and gave to the leaders of the secession movement in that section of the country an argument that rendered that movement more popular than it had hitherto been. They persuaded the people, or at least, enough of them to gain control, that the compact of the constitution had been violated by previous acts on the part of the Northern States, and that their rights, both political and personal, were in danger. Under these circumstances, by means of sovereign conventions, the people of the Southern States declared they had the right of separation, and one by one, withdrawing from the union, united under the name of The Confederate States.

Questions.-1. What is said of this period? 2. What was the effect of the election of Lincoln?

3. The people of Maryland were devoted to the union, and loyal to the Constitution; but the sympathics of many were upon the side whose interests and institutions were identical with their own. These people looked upon the preparations of the Federal Government as a violation of the Constitution, and as an unlawful aggression upon the rights of the Southern people.

4. The geopraphical situation of Maryland rendered it desirable to the Southern States that she should join them. The Federal Capital was within her border, and should Maryland secede, Washington would become the capital of the Southern Confederacy. But this geographical position, on the other hand, operated to deter her from that step. On the north and east she was bounded by Pennsylvania and Delaware whence, as there was no barrier to prevent an invasion, she could be overrun by the Northern forces. The South, to meet these forces, would be compelled to send adequate numbers to the borders of Maryland, and thus this State would be the battle-ground of the two sections.

5. Notwithstanding their sympathy with their Southern brethren, the people of this State were not prepared to think they had sufficient cause

Questions.-3. What is said of the people of Maryland? 4. What of its geographical situation? 5. Did the people of Maryland think the act of secession a wise one?