HISTORICAL SKETCH OF BALTIMORE.

IN presenting the present edition of our Director to our
patrons, we have thought it would not be unadvisable to offer
something like a brief view of our city, from its earliest au-
thentic history. In 1659 patents were issued for lands in
Baltimore County to a colonel Utie, and it was at this period
that it was erected into a county.

In the year 1661, the first county court was held in Bal-
timore county. On the succeeding year contracts were
made for tobacco, deliverable at North Point. Amongst the
first settlers north of the Patapsco river was n Mr. Abraham
Clarke, a shipwright; so that we find even at this early period
of our history, this deservedly popular class of mechanics,
among the first to give tone and character, by their industry

and enterprise, to that small beginning which has subse-
quently grown with such giant strides, into a large, health-
ful, and populous mart of commerce. But to come nearer
home, and to develope something which may be considered
as looking more like an approximation towards the nucleus of
our city, it may be worthy of remark, that Mr. CHARLES GOR-
SUCH, of the Society of Friends, the same year took up and
patented 50 acres of land on Whetstone Point. So slow and

hardy was the spirit of settlement at this period, that although

the purchase money was but 4s the quit rent 4s sterling, per
annum, and the alienation 4s sterling per 100 acres, payable

in specie, tobacco or other products, the competitors for the

proprietary grants were few in number. and applicants for

them were viewed in the light of conferring, rather than re-

turning favors.

The next land within the limits of our city, which was taken
out was by Mr. Alexander Mountenay,who took out a patent
in 1663 for 200 acres running on eithnr side of what is now

called Harford Run. In 1668 Timber Neck, lying between the
roads of the middle and North branches of the Patapsco, was

patented in the name of Mr. John Howard, and in the satne
year, Mr. Thomas Cole obtained a patent for 550 acres on the

north of that granted to Mr. Howard; which he called Cole's

harbour. This trnct extended for a considerable distance on
the side of what is now called Jones's Falls, and it was here
It the first houses of Baltimore town were built. Mr. Cole

an only daughter, who married Mr. Charles Gorsuch, and

y jointly sold Cole's Harbour to a Mr. Davi'i Jones, from
in the stream thence took its name, as also Jones's street.

ch, by the sacrilegious interference of the ministers of

the law, has been changed into Front street. We say sacri-
ligious. because we hold it that the ancient landmarks of
ns, cities, and countries, should be cherished with the

the reverential regards of family heir-looms. A