xiv Preface.

William Parks, the printer, issued his compilation of the Laws of the Prov-
ince in 1726, with the following loyal dedication: "To the most Noble and
Illustrious Lord, Charles, Absolute Lord and Proprietary of the Provinces
of Maryland and Avalon, Lord Baron of Baltimore, etc., as also to the Hon-
ourable Benedict Leonard Calvert, His Lordship's Brother, and Governour
of the Province of Maryland, and to the Honourable the Upper and Lower
Houses of the General Assembly of the said Province, this Collectidn of
Laws of Maryland is most Humbly Presented, With all Dutiful Acknowl-
edgement of Their Favour and Encouragement therein, by Their most Duti-
ful, And most Obliged, Humble Servant, William Parks." He followed up
this publication by the series of pamphlets containing the Statutes passed at
each session. The first of these Session Laws appeared in 1727, and soon
afterwards the Lower House employed him to print its Votes and Proceed-
ings. A copy of these for the Session of 1729, containing 58 pages, is in
the Library of the British Museum.

Madox, in his " History of the Exchequer," wrote a prefatory letter to
Lord Somers, in which we find these words: " No doubt the publick records
of the crown and kingdom are the most important and most authentick of all.
And these are the foundations which sustain the whole fabrick of this His-
tory. A foundation solid and unshaken." This foundation the Maryland
Historical Society has been constructing in the publication of the Archives.
That we have the material for this foundation is due in no small measure to
the action of the General Assembly, under the inspiration of Governor Cal-
vert, at the sessions, the proceedings of which are included in this volume.
Through his initiative a large number of volumes of the records was ordered
to be copied, and a suitable repository for the records constructed. These
actions furnish a strong reason for gratitude from the people of Maryland to
the memory of Governor Benedict Leonard Calvert.