Letter of Transmittal. ix

as members of the new Council, and that he now held office by virtue of this
commission from the guardians. This explanation seems to have entirely
satisfied the Lower House. Recognition of the increasingly strained relations
with the French is shown in the report, June ipth, of the committee appointed
to examine into the condition of the arms and ammunition belonging to the
Province. The anti-Catholic agitation, revived a few years earlier by the
futile attempt in Scotland to place the Young Pretender on the throne, and
stimulated anew by the encroachments of the French on the Ohio, blazed up
again in the Lower House when the Committee on Grievances made a lengthy
report to that body on what it termed " the growth of Popery " in the Province,
which was adopted by the Lower House, but does not seem to have been con-
sidered in the Upper House. This report charged that, contrary to law, Catholic
schools for children were maintained, that land was owned by Jesuits and other
priests upon which " mass houses " were erected, that prominent Catholics sent
children abroad to be educated at St. Omer's and other " Popish seminaries,"
and that magistrates with Catholic leanings had failed to prosecute Catholics
who had " spoken treasonably of the King." The report further charged that
Henry Darnall, the Attorney General, and his brother John Darnall, one of the
judges of the Provincial Court, were of Papist families and without doubt
Papists themselves, as were the families of three other judges of the Provincial
Court; and that most of the receivers of quit-rents on the Western Shore were
known Papists. It was also charged that Mr. Charles Carroll, a powerful
Papist (father of Charles Carroll of Carrollton), had used his influence to
secure the election of delegates to the Assembly known to be friendly to the
Catholic party.

Most of the laws enacted at this session were of minor importance. Acts
were passed to prevent the manumission of slaves by will or the setting free
of disabled or superannuated slaves; to determine the method of punishment
for fornication and adultery; to change the testamentary laws; to regulate the
appointment and duties of constables; to facilitate the release by non-resident
feme coverts to dower rights in Maryland lands and the assignment by them
of other interests in lands here; to fix the allowances to petty jurors and wit-
nesses; to relieve from imprisonment charges witnesses who were unable to
furnish surety; to prevent the sale of liquors and the running of horse races
near the yearly meeting of Quakers; to erect a Chapel of Ease in St. John's
Parish in Baltimore County in the forks of the Gunpowder; and to print the
session laws and the Votes and Proceedings of the Lower House. In addition
various local laws to encourage the destruction of crows, squirrels, red foxes,
and wolves were passed. It will be noted that most of the acts passed were to
remain in force for a limited period, the usual period being three years, and