members-three from each county-elected for a term of four years. The house is composed of twenty-one members, elected for a term of two years. The governor is elected by the people, for a term of four years. The judicial power is vested in a Court of Errors and Appeals, a Superior Court, a Court of Chancery, an Orphans' Court, a court of oyer and terminer, a court of general sessions of the peace and gaol delivery, a registers' court, justices of the peace, and such other tribunals as the legislature, by a vote of two-thirds of each house, may establish. The right of suffrage is granted to every white male citizen, of the age of twenty-one years or upwards.

MARYLAND.

This colony was founded in the year 1622, by Cecil, Lord Baltimore, an Irish nobleman, whose father had been secretary of state to James I.; and was one of the original associates of the Virginia Company. In the year mentioned, this nobleman visited America, for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not some portion of the territory of Virginia, or New England, might not be rendered promotive of the interests of his family, and at the same time afford a safe retreat for the persecuted professors of the Roman catholic faith, to which he had become a convert. A portion of the territory of Virginia was selected by him; and he had influence to obtain from King Charles I. a grant of sufficient land for his purpose: but before he could carry the plan of colonisation into effect, his lordship died, leaving to his son the task of consummating his design. To the latter, therefore, in 1632, a charter was

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granted, by which the territory was separated from Virginia, and erected into an independent colony by the name of Maryland-a designation it received as a mark of respect to the queen of the royal donor. The first settlers in the colony were brought to it in 1634, by Leonard Calvert, the brother of the founder; and one of the earliest acts of the colonists allowed religious liberty, which contrasted generously with the conduct of the people through whose over-rigid zeal they had been compelled to abandon the homes of their fathers, that they might worship God according to their consciences, in the wilds of a far-distant country. And again, in 1649, the legislature of Maryland passed an act granting perfect religious toleration to people of all sects and creeds. By this liberal concession to religious principle the new colony speedily became strong in point of numbers, as well as in intelligence. In twenty-six years from its foundation, the population of the district amounted to 12,000 persons; and, in 1671, it had increased to 20,000. The first legislature assembled in 1639, and passed many useful laws. When the civil war in England took place, the government of Maryland was much disturbed, as, under Cromwell, a new governor was appointed, who was adverse to the interests of the proprietors. The first settlement was made at St. Mary's; and this place continued the capital of the province until 1691, when it was removed to Providence, now known as Annapolis, the present capital of the state. In 1688, the government of Maryland was assumed by King William; and, in 1691, Sir Leonel Copely was appointed governor. In 1715, the government was

restored to the proprietors, who continued to exercise their authority until the American revolution commenced, when an effort was made by the people to establish an independent government. In 1776, an election took place for members of the legislature, under the constitution; and they met, February 5th, 1777. Thomas Johnson was the first governor.

The boundary line between Maryland and Pennsylvania, for more than a century, has been of discussional interest. The heirs of Lord Baltimore and of Penn were, for many years, contesting the location of the line between their respective grants. It was finally determined to have the line permanently fixed upon certain agreed stipulations; and to that end, on the 4th of August, 1763, Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon, "two mathematicians and surveyors," were appointed, in London, to establish the boundary. They arrived in Philadelphia, November 15th, 1763, and immediately proceeded in the discharge of their duties. At the end of every mile a stone post was set up, with the letter P, and the arms of Penn engraved on the north side; and the letter M, with the arms of Lord Baltimore, on the south side. These gentlemen nearly completed the survey, and were honourably discharged on the 26th of December, 1767. The Indians prevented the completion of the undertaking at that time; but, in 1784, the residue, some twenty-two miles, was surveyed by others.

Mason and Dixon's line is often referred to in American discussions, because it is a line between the slave and the non-slaveholding states. At the present time, the whole of the states south of the line are slaveholding states, and

all to the north are non-slaveholding. Upon the north is the state of Pennsylvania, extending from the Delaware to the Ohio river and Lake Erie; to the south are the states of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia.

The soil of Maryland is rich, and yields excellent crops of grain, including wheat, rye, oats, Indian corn, hay, &c. The timbers are oaks, chestnut, walnut, sycamore, poplar, locust, &c. The section lying east of the Chesapeake bay, is called the eastern shore. The lands are very level, and well cultivated. West of the bay, the country is rolling or undulating, the soil rich, and well cultivated. The western end, Alleghany County, is mountainous; and it abounds with iron ore, and the richest bituminous coal. The greatest width of the state is about 120 miles; but at Hancock it is but scarce four miles. At this place the mountain ranges commence, and extend some 100 miles westward. The great national road, running across the Appalachian chain of mountains, passes through this part of the state, from east to west. The constitutionality of making this and other roads, as internal improvements, in connection with the establishment of a national bank, were the leading causes that created the great whig party, headed by Henry Clay. President Jackson was against those measures, and Senator Clay was in favour of them. The Jackson party succeeded in 1836, but in 1840 it was most signally defeated by the whigs.

On the 14th day of August, 1776, the first constitution of Maryland was adopted "by a convention of the delegates of the freemen." Subsequent to that date divers amendments were adopted; but in 1851 the whole

constitution was reframed by a convention. The powers of government are vested in the legislative, executive, and judicial departments. The legislative is composed of a senate and a house of delegates, jointly styled "the General Assembly." The senate consists of twenty-two members, each elected for a term of four years. The house of delegates cannot exceed eighty, or be less than sixty-five-depending upon population—each elected for a term of two years. The general assembly meets biennially. The executive, or governor of the state, is elected by the voters of the whole state for a term of four years. The judicial power of the state is vested in a Court of Appeals, circuit courts, courts for the city of Baltimore, established by law, and in justices of the peace. The judges are all elected. Every free white male person, of twenty-one years of age or, upwards, resident as to time. according to law, is a voter.

The railway and canal facilities for transportation are very complete. Its shipping interest is very large; the people are energetic and enterprising.

CONNECTICUT.

In 1633, William Holmes, of Plymouth, erected a house, and fortified it, at Windsor, on the Connecticut river; and, during the two subsequent years, many people from Massachusetts emigrated to Connecticut. Prior to this date, however, the Dutch had established a fort where Hartford is now situated. In 1638, the inhabitants of this new province formed an independent commonwealth; and, in 1643, the colonies of Massachusetts and Connec