PREFACE.

         The winter of 1696/7 was severe and long beyond all precedent,

       and was followed by a very sickly summer. Many of the sick having

       found benefit from drinking the waters of the Cool Springs in St.

       Mary's county (near the site of the present Charlotte Hall) the Assem

       bly purchased the land and built cabins for the sick poor, providing also

       Bibles and other religious books for their use, and persons to read to

       them.

         The war between France and England had its effects on this side the

       Atlantic. Frontenac, the Governor of Canada stimulated the Canadian

       Indians to harass the northern English settlements, and small roving

       parties perpetrated various murders, some of which the English charged

       to their friends, the Five Nations. An uneasy feeling spread through

       all the Indian tribes, and extended as far South as Maryland and Vir

       ginia, though no serious outbreak occurred.

         The name Onondio (p. 66) given to the governor of Canada, had

       its origin from the following circumstances. When Montmagny, the

       second governor, assumed his office, he had a conference with chiefs of

       all the Indian tribes allied with the French. On their asking the gov

       ernor's name, the interpreter translated it into their tongue,” Onondio,”

       which signifies “Great Mountain.” The Indians understood this to be

       the title of the office, and thenceforth called every French governor

       Onondio.

         The seas at this time were much infested with pirates, and many

       references to them and their doings occur, particularly to the notorious

       Every or Avery, the hero of many a truculent story. In Philadelphia,

       it is said, they walked the streets boldly, strong in the support of the

       merchants, who drove a profitable trade with them.

         Considerable space is given to the affairs of the turbulent Cood and

       his abettors. It might seem that the profligate and blasphemous

       wretch, whom Nicholson once caned with his own hand for drunken

       brawling in church (p. 452) was hardly worth the governor's attention.

       But Cood was a man of considerable ability, utterly unscrupulous, and

       a vigorous hater. He had put himself at the head of the revolution