Introduction. xliii

unlimited tolerance to all Christians, and that the proposed extreme measures
would have the effect of banishing the posterity of the early Catholic settlers
(p. 485). The Lower House in reply asked by what authority the state-
ment was made that the Papists had been promised asylum here (p. 626).

The answer of the Tipper House to this question is a lengthy one, covering more

than six printed pages of this volume, and is an admirable presentation of
the whole subject (pp. 507-512). It reviews the history of the settlement and
the early acts of the Assembly assuring religious tolerance to all Christians,
and gives citations from the writings of such authors as Bowen, Ogilby, Mor-
den, Doctor Douglass, and Salmon on the subject of Catholicism and religious
freedom in Maryland (pp. 510-511). It denies that the Catholics of Maryland
had in any way aided the French in the present war, and asks whether the
Lower House believes that if the measures proposed do not banish them from
the Province, a double tax will better affect them to it. The Upper House then
suggests a form of oath pledging allegiance to George II, but with the galling
provision of the English Act of I William and Mary omitted, and declares that
the proposed oath will meet all the requirements of the situation in Maryland
(P- 512).

Towards the end of the session the Lower House adopted a number of
resolves. One of these called attention to the large possessions of lands and
negroes owned by societies of Popish priests and Jesuits living in a collegiate
manner, and to the necessity of a double tax upon them because their prin-
ciples were incompatible with all Protestant establishments, and insisted that
their disaffection should be distinguished by some public discouragement (p.
675). The Supply bill failed of passage and nothing was done at this session to
further harass the Catholics.

INDIAN AFFAIRS

At this critical time when the French and their Indian allies were devastating
the frontiers of the colonies, every effort was made by Great Britain and the
colonies to win the support of the southern Indian tribes. Governor Sharpe on
May 5, 1757, sent a message to the Lower House announcing that the Chero-
kees had declared in favor of the British, and that sixty-two men of this tribe
had arrived at Fort Frederick and offered their assistance against the French.
He asked that presents be voted for them and that food and necessaries be
given them. The message was accompanied by two letters from their " head
warrior ", one addressed to the Governor of Maryland, as " my brother ",
telling him of the depredations of the French Shawnees on the frontier, and
offering the assistance of himself and his warriors; and the other a letter
addressed to a band of Catawbas, then at Fort Frederick, who were also
friendly to the English, asking them not to return to their homes until they
had avenged the murders of their white brothers (pp. 92-94).

The Assembly promptly passed an ordinance appropriating £100 for the
purchase of presents for the Cherokees then at Fort Frederick (pp. 98-99). A
message was then sent by the Lower House to the Governor on May 7, asking
him to issue a proclamation to the Cherokees and the Catawbas, to be also pub-