5. Fort Cumberland being so far from the frontier, was found to afford no protection. Governor Sharpe, therefore, selected a site for a new fort, near the present town of Fort Frederick, which was of troops by the middle of

Hancock, to be called ready for the reception August, 1756.

RUINS OF FORT FREDERICK.

6. Provision having thus been made, the confidence of the people to the westward was somewhat restored. But the petty warfare of posts and defensive expeditions, while it exhausted the force of the colony, could produce no permanent results.

7. The neighboring colonies of Virginia and Pennsylvania, at length, with that of Maryland. became convinced that the only way to protect

Questions.-5. What new site for a fort was selected? 6. What is said in this section? 7. Of what were the colonies now convinced?

their frontiers was by expelling the enemy from their stronghold.

8. It was hoped by the colonies that active and energetic measures would now be taken. Virginia, which was most interested, had one regiment in the field. The forces of Maryland amounted to five hundred men, aided by Indian allies, under Col. Dagworthy.

9. In September, 1758, an advanced body having proceeded about ten miles beyond Laurel Hill, Major Grant, with a body of more than eight hundred men, consisting of three hundred and thirty Highlanders, one hundred royal Americans, one hundred and seventy-six Virginians, ninety-five Maryland, one hundred and twelve Pennsylvania, and thirteen Carolina troops was detached to reconnoitre.

10. In the night, unobserved by the French, Grant took a post upon a hill about eighty rods from Fort Duquesne, and in the morning, by way of bravado, beat the reveille, and sounded the bagpipes in several places.

11. As soon as the English were discovered, the Indians sallied out from the fort, and having reached a height that overlooked Grant's position, surrounded him and commenced the attack.

Questions.-8. What forces were now in the field? 9. What is said of Grant? 10. What further? 11. What did the Indians do?

12. The Highlanders, suffering from the deadly fire, at length gave way. The Maryland troops, joined by the Carolinians, took cover in bushes and behind trees, and keeping the enemy at bay, sustained the action. The Virginians were two miles behind guarding the baggage; as soon as the action began they hastened up to the assistance of Grant, but were unable to maintain their ground. The English were defeated with a loss of two hundred and seventy-three killed, and fortytwo wounded.

13. The Marylanders behaved with great gallantry, and, although they suffered severely, succeeded in covering the retreat of the remainder of the troops. Out of ninety-five men, their loss was twenty-three privates and one officer.

14. The main body was still toiling on its way, and did not reach the scene of the conflict until a month after the battle. It was determined to defer any attack until the next campaign. But the enemy were not so slow The troops from the fort, with the Indians, to the number of one thousand men, attacked the English on the 12th of October. After a hard fight, they were repulsed. Prather, of Maryland, was killed.

Lieut.

Questions.-12. What the Highlanders? Who kept the enemy at bay? What about the Virginians? 13. How did the Marylanders behave? 14. What about the main body? Who attacked it? Result?

15. After this battle, several skirmishes ensued. In one of these, Capt. Evan Shelby, of Frederick county, killed, with his own hand, one of the leading chiefs of the enemy.

16. The Indians now abandoned their allies, and left the fort, saying it was an easy matter to deal with the regulars, but impossible to withstand the provincials. On the 22d of November, after a painful march, the English succeeded in reaching Fort Duquesne, which they found had been abandoned and burnt by the French. A new fort was built, named Fort Pitt.

17. Gov. Sharpe, in sympathy with the joy that filled the colony, appointed a day of public thanksgiving and praise. The Assembly appropriated money to be divided among the brave men who had served in their forces.

18. From this time, Maryland had little concern in the war, and the principal features of its history are of a pacific and legislative character. Yet that legislative history is full of interest, for it is the history of that continuous struggle for the rights of the people, that led eventually to the war of the Revolution.

Questions.-15. Who was killed? 16. What did the Indians do? When did the English reach the fort? What did they find? 17. What is said in this section? 18. And what in this?

CHAPTER XIX.

THE DAYS BEFORE THE REVOLUTION-The Democratic and the Aristocratic Elements - Claims of the Two Houses-Peace-Debt-Condition of Maryland—Influence of the French War-The Old Controversy Revived —Preparatory Steps to the Stamp Act.

1. The Charter of Maryland contained the germs of two contending principles-the aristocratic and the democratic. From the earliest period of its history, there had been contests between the parties representing these principles.

2. The result of the contest, in every stage, was in favor of the democratic element. The spirit of the people, and the necessities of the times, contributed to its vigorous growth. The contest was now verging to its final issue.

3. The representatives of the people, who sat in the lower house, insisted upon the right to frame and amend bills for raising money. The upper house, consisting of the governor and his council, claimed for themselves a share in the imposition of

taxes.

4. As long as danger was threatening the existence of the colony, the commons did not insist upon

Questions.-1. What is said of the charter? 2. What was the result of every contest? 3. Upper and lower houses? 4. What was the claim of the commons