HISTORICAL SKETCH. 93

In addition to the Governor and Secretary of State the
following State officers are located in Annapolis: Comp-
troller, Treasurer, Commissioner of the Land Office, Tax
Commissioner and Commander of the State Fishery Force.

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 indipendent
colonies, was ratified; and here, tradition tells, the first con-
ference of State 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
Cap. 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 Marylands who accompanied Braddock's expedition
against Fort Du Quesne in 1755.