THE STATE HOUSE.

The first State House built at Annapolis was erected in
1696. It was burnt down in 1704.

The second State House was erected in 1704. This re-
mained until 1772, when it was pulled down to make room for
the present edifice,

The building of this, the third State House, on the same
site of the two preceding ones, was commenced in 1772, but
the dome was not finished until after the Revolution.

This building is greatly admired for its fine architectural
proportions, its commanding site and lofty dome, but its
chief attraction is its historic associations; in it and on its
site the freemen of Maryland have always maintained their
rights; here the Father of his Country returned his military
commission to his countrymen; here the treaty of peace with
Great Britain, that made us thirteen free and independent
colonies, was ratified; and here, tradition tells, the first con-
ference of States was held that led to the adoption of the
Constitution and the formation of a more perfect union of
States.

MARYLAND STATE FLAG.

The flag of the State bears the escutcheon of the great
seal—the Calvert and Crossland arms quartered. This device
seems to have been adopted by common consent, as there is no
record of the formal adoption of any design, as the official
flag of the State. That the colony had a distinct flag or
standard we know. The first recorded instance of the use of
a Maryland flag occurs in Leonard Calvert's report of the
reduction of Kent Island (February, 1638), in which he says
that he and his force marched with Baltimore's banner dis-
played. At the battle of the Severn, in 1655) where the sup-
porters of the proprietary government, under William Stone,
the Governor were defeated by the Puritan party, under
Captain William Fuller, Stone's forces marched under
the flag of Maryland, borne by William Nugent, "standard
bearer of the Province," while Fuller's party displayed the
flag of the Commonwealth, charged with the crosses of St.
George and St. Andrew. It is also said that a Maryland flag
was carried by the Marylanders who accompanied Braddock's
expedition against Fort Du Quesne in 1755.